Spring has come and gone, but the memories remain…
Little Spring, the kitten we’ve been telling you about, has very sadly passed away. Her short life, and her close friendship with bestie Hamburgler, were a heart warming inspiration to us all, say many VOKRA volunteers.
“The most amazing thing about Spring was that her spirit was super strong even though her body was so very frail,” says VOKRA volunteer Susan, who spent a good deal of time with this little kitten. “In her short life she taught us to focus on the positive, make the most of what we have and love unconditionally.”
Spring was born with an inoperable genetic defect, a portosystemic liver shunt, a disorder in which a cat’s blood supply bypasses the liver, leading to increased toxins in the blood. Most kittens with this condition die within weeks of birth, so Spring’s relatively long life (she was 5 months when she passed) is an amazing tribute to VOKRA’s good care.
At first, volunteers at VOKRA’s Operations Centre weren’t sure how long this tiny kitten would be around. At a few weeks of age, Spring wasn’t thriving. She crouched in her cage, too nauseous to nibble on her food or even nudge the hands of volunteers who reached in to pet her cute self.
After a vet visit or two, she seemed to recover and our volunteers made a momentous decision. Another adorable feline had just been rescued from life on Vancouver’s streets. This cat, named Hamburgler as he was found hiding under a McDonald’s dumpster, was paired with Spring.
Spring and Hamburgler
At first, Spring was hesitant. Following some much-needed treatments, Hamburgler had become a happy rambunctious kittie, always wanting to play. He pounced on the little kitten, delighted to spot a new playmate.
But Spring soon learned to give as good as she got. On her healthy days, she and her new bestie chased each other around. On not so good days, Hamburgler began to help his friend, supporting her through her struggles.
Susan tells how he used to help make sure Spring was getting all the attentions she needed. “I was encouraging Spring to eat by getting her to lick food from my finger. It was a bit messy so when we were finished, Hammy rushed over and gave her face a good clean!”
Hamburgler even provided comfort on Spring’s worst days, when her health problems necessitated trips to the vet.
Hamburger in his new furever home
“When Spring travelled to the vet she would cry in the car,” says Susan. “But when Hammy started to accompany her in a shared carrier she was quiet and comforted. He even accompanied her on her last journey and groomed her beforehand to ensure she was respectable before they left!”
Hamburgler now has his own happy ending. He’s been adopted by VOKRA volunteer Leanne, who kindly waited to collect her new companion until Spring was no longer in need and then rushed in so Hamburgler would not have to spend a night alone in the pod he and Spring shared.
Leanne says Hamburgler is settling well into his new home, “He’s playing and giving me all the love and licks of affection.”
Spring’s fighting spirit, and her connection with Hamburgler, will linger in our minds for a long time.
In a final message about Spring, VOKRA co-founder Maria had this to say: “No matter what cards you are dealt, you can walk through life with kindness and love.”
Hamburgler says goodbye to Spring
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Fall?! Not at our Operations Centre. It’s still springtime at Ops! Spring, the kitten we first told you about last month, has had her ups and down, but the good news is she’s found a special friend.
Little Spring is still getting her share of human attention, as our staff and volunteers continue to help her with her troublesome kidneys. But now Spring has some kitty love too! Her new ‘bestie’ and health helper is Hamburgler, an eight-year old cat rescued by VOKRA back in June of this year.
Like Spring, Hamburgler had a bit of a rough time before VOKRA came into his life. As one of Vancouver’s many stray cats, Hamburgler was often hungry and sick. When VOKRA volunteers found him, he was crouched under machinery in a shed behind a MacDonald’s restaurant, covered in fleas and with a serious infection in one eye.
Both Spring and Hamburgler ended up at our Ops Centre where they’re getting the care and love they need, and then someone had a bright idea. The health of both cats was stabilizing, but they seemed lonely. Why not room them together?
At first, Spring wasn’t sure what to make of her new stepbrother. But Hamburgler immediately started nudging her to play and soon brought her out of her shell. It wasn’t long before the pair were tossing toys around, touching noses and snuggling up together.
The sight of the happy twosome cuddled on a cat tree is one of the highlights of a shift at Ops for many a volunteer and staff member. The coming months may still bring some cold weather for these kitties. Spring is not entirely well and most recently she took another bad turn requiring yet another emergency trip to the vet. She will be returning for another vet visit soon for an ultrasound as we continue to diagnose her issues. And Hamburgler could have more problems due to his years on the streets. But for now they keep each other warm with the help of everyone at VOKRA and each other.
Spring and Hamburgler are just two of the thousands of reasons why we Walk for the Kitties.
Each year, VOKRA rescues more than 1,400 homeless cats and kittens from around the Lower Mainland. Unlike many other animal rescue groups, VOKRA is a volunteer-driven, no-kill organization. Our work is made possible through the generous support of volunteers, adopters and people like you.
Medical care accounts for more than 50% of our annual budget. Without your support we wouldn’t be able to afford to rescue all these cats and kittens.
Walk for the Kitties is our largest fundraising event of the year. This 5k fun walk takes place at Jericho Beach and all funds raised go directly towards supporting our rescue efforts. Learn more here.
Can’t make it on September 16? You can still donate today!
Daisy’s a black beauty with cerebellar hypoplasia, which means she has a “wobbly walk” and a tendency to fall down, but otherwise is just like other cats. She enjoys the company of people, whether being brushed, pet or just relaxing on the couch. Despite her gentle nature, Daisy spent the first three and half years of her life in foster homes.
Trace is a cat lover who always had cats in the family home growing up. After receiving a promotion at work, she decided the perfect way to celebrate was to open up her home to a special needs cat. Trace arranged to meet Daisy in her foster home after viewing her profile on our website. During the visit, “Daisy leaned into me to steady herself and let me pet her,” said Trace. “I knew then that I wanted to take her home.”
Although shy at first, with time and patience Daisy slowly learned to trust Trace and embrace her new life as a pampered housecat. She loves playing with cloth measuring tapes and clean, empty pill bottles. Trace thinks Daisy likes the way the bottles move in unpredictable ways – just like her! She also loves sleeping in Trace’s lap or leaning her head on her palm with at least one foot on her person. “I think she feels safe that way,” Trace said. “It’s very cute.”
Daisy’s wobbly mechanics sometimes make mealtimes messy. Like a good cat mom, Trace keeps an eye on her so she doesn’t fall into her food. As a writer Trace spends several hours a day working on her computer, which makes Daisy a little jealous! She’s a vocal cat and not shy about voicing her displeasure at not being the center of attention.
We’re so glad Daisy was able to find such a doting, patient guardian in Trace. Thank you for opening up your home to a special needs kitty.
Trace said it best when she told us, “I like to think the universe was waiting for us to find each other. I love my new fur roommate.”
Would you like to share your Happy Tail? Email us at [email protected].
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Maria Von Trapp (now Cricket) and Flossy (now Cookie) had a difficult time on their own before coming to VOKRA. Maria started life as a street cat and Flossy was removed from a household with too many cats. After an unsuccessful adoption, Maria was placed in a foster home with Flossy. The two cats bonded immediately and the decision was made to adopt out the newfound feline friends together.
Having grown up with cats and wanting to adopt for quite a while, Coby was waiting for the right time to bring a cat (or two) into her home. After catsitting for a friend for several weeks, she knew she was ready to adopt and reached out to us shortly thereafter.
Coby immediately felt a connection to Maria and Flossy when she saw photos of them on our website. She knew she wanted to bring them home as soon she met them. Coby remembers how, “they looked so shy and nervous, which made my heart hurt. I wanted to give them a forever home where they could feel secure and loved.”
Maria and Flossy, now known as Cricket and Cookie, came home with Coby and have adjusted to their new life on their own time. Cookie loves to be the centre of attention and was happy to have couch snuggle time from the start. Cricket, however, took a while to accept she was now in a safe place and preferred to keep her distance under a table. “I’d pet her while she was under the table, which she didn’t mind, and I let her come to me on her own time,” said Coby. “For whatever reason, she has never been afraid of me when I’m in bed… she loves a long cuddle in the morning and really gets into belly and head rubs.”
Cricket has recently come around to life in a safe, happy home and has come a long way from that anxious kitty under the table. “I’m so proud of how far little Cricket has come,” said Coby. “In just the past couple of weeks she has started to snuggle in with Cookie and me on the couch. I’m pretty proud of Cookie too, as she used to swat her away, so Cricket’s first attempts to cuddle were thwarted by her sister from another mister.”
Cats are, by nature, creatures of habit and Cricket and Cookie are no exception. They have set the schedule for playtime, bedtime and TV time! Cricket likes to hang out in her ‘kitty cave’ with one eye on the TV and the other on Coby and Cookie. While Cookie likes to remind Cricket of who’s the alpha kitty in the household, they live a peaceful co-existence and have learned to share the attention and toys.
Cricket and Cookie definately hit the jackpot with their new person Coby! Thank you for giving these girls a loving, happy home. We wish them many happy years of couch cuddles and TV time to come.
Would you like to share your Happy Tail? Email us at [email protected].
PS: Some info about the split screen pic of Cricket. She had just finished having some catnip and was completely spaced out and frozen like that for about 15 minutes. Cookie sat just out of frame staring at her the whole time.
Vela and her kitten Pyxis are two black beauties who came to VOKRA as the result of a hoarding situation. Despite having a rough start in life, these two adjusted well to foster care, having enjoyed exploring their surroundings and investigating the comings and goings of their foster home. Their first adoption fell through, but this turned out to be a blessing in disguise because they found their perfect match in Brian and Gerry.
After losing their three wonderful cats due to illness and old age in a span of only seven months, Brian and Gerry were ready to welcome new feline family members into their home. Having adopted black cats in the past, they saw Vela and Pyxis’ profiles on VOKRA’s website and knew they were the perfect kitties for them.
Pyxis
It’s now been one year since their adoption and Vela and Pyxis are doing well in their new home. The cats have their regular routine of 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. treat time, as well as watching the bird feeder and squirrel activities from the closed-in deck. Pyxis is the more outgoing of the two, always greeting Brian and Gerry after they return home. Vela is a little more reserved, but always welcomes a scratch or two behind the ear.
The cats have also become seasoned travellers! They recently returned from a two week RV trip to the BC Interior with Brian and Gerry. This was their fourth trip and according to Brian, “they are super travellers and campers. They of course remain in the RV and spend a great deal of time watching for wildlife at each location.”
Vela
It certainly has been a happy ending for cats and humans alike. Brian put it best when he said, “it has been a pleasure giving them a forever home and they reward us by making sure we know they are part of our family….they are truly gentle souls.”
Thank you so much Brian and Gerry for providing a loving home to Vela and Pyxis!
Would you like to share your Happy Tail? Email us at [email protected].
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Ali (l) and Mitzi (r)
Marilyn’s cat Mitzi was feeling lonely after her other cat crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Mitzi had started to change his behaviour due to being alone during the daytime and Marilyn decided it was time to bring home another kitty.
Marilyn knew she wanted to adopt adorable Ali as soon as she saw her on VOKRA’s website. Ali had been adopted before but was surrendered when her previous adopter became pregnant. Marilyn had a feeling Ali and Mitzi would get along. “I was a bit apprehensive about how Mitzi would react, but he was so lonely,” said Marilyn. “He gave her a big kiss when they met and they’ve been inseparable ever since.”
Ali
Even though they have different personalities, Mitzi and Ali are best friends. “Even though I have two separate cat perches, they often share the same one,” adds Marilyn “I was also pleased to see that my senior cat Mitzi, 14 years old, now still likes to initiate the same chasing, playing and wrestling games with Ali that he enjoyed with his previous companion cat. Ali will sometimes groom Mitzi’s face and he looks totally blissed when she does this.”
Now Ali has a loving home, Mitzi has a kitty friend and Marilyn has two happy cats. “Mitzi is very talkative, with a loud meow, and always has lots to say when I get home,” said Marilyn. “Ali is very affectionate and quiet; her meow is more like a ‘squeak’…and she likes to cuddle next to me on the couch.”
We’re so happy for Marilyn, Ali and Mitzi and wish them many wonderful years together!
Would you like to share your Happy Tail? Email us at [email protected].
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This beautiful girl is Katrina and, thanks to her foster mom Carrie, she has a chance at a better life.
Katrina came to VOKRA as a stray kitty and when she arrived at Carrie’s home she had a bad cold and was very scared. In fact, she spent the first several weeks hissing and didn’t want to get out of her carrier.
“I felt bad for her,” said Carrie. “She was in the bathroom and I couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t leave the carrier, especially since it was not comfortable at all and now smelling like pee! I had to eventually physically tip the carrier over so that she would leave it and go into the covered cat bed VOKRA had given me. At this point, I was wondering what I’d gotten myself into!”
Carrie is an experience foster who, to date, has taken care of more than 20 VOKRA kitties. They’ve always been calm, friendly cats so she wasn’t expecting Katrina to be so timid. Because she was so used to cats who let her drape them around her shoulders, having Katrina at times was very frustrating. There were days when she wanted to give up and send her back to VOKRA because she wasn’t acting like a “normal” cat. But Carrie’s patience was finally rewarded and she was left with a feeling of pure happiness when Katrina finally decided to trust her.
When asked what her secret weapon was, Carrie said, “Treats! So many treats. I would sometimes sit with her and try to get her to come out of her little cave that I had created for her in a box. She wouldn’t come out for the longest time. Eventually, she FINALLY came out, after tapping my fingers on the floor for God knows how long.”
Today Katrina walks around the house like she owns it, running around all the time after treats and rolling over on her back when she wants you to pet her. There are still set backs – sometimes she nips a bit when being pet, she’s a bit skitterish and she hates being picked up – but she’s come a very long way.
“I’ve gotta say it was a challenge and at many times I thought of her as this troll in the bathroom,” said Carrie. “I would feed her and change the litter every day but not get to see or touch her. It’s such a relief now that she’s out and about, for my sanity and for hers! I hope she’ll find a really nice forever home where she can continue to thrive.”
Thank you Carrie for your patience and willingness to stick in there with Katrina! Thanks to you she’s now on the road finding her forever home where she’ll be safe, secure and loved. Although Katrina’s not quite ready for adoption yet, with Carrie’s continued care we anticipate she’ll be up on our website soon!
VORKA is always in need of fosters willing to work slowly with the scared cats in our care. Because we rescue so many kitties from the streets, we have many who need extra help and patience. So if you’re looking for a rewarding and satisfying way to give back, please consider fostering today. Learn more are www.vokra.ca/fostering.
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Charlie’s very sweet and loves to be around people. He adored cuddling and receiving pets, and if you don’t have time to give him a pet he’ll be sure to patiently wait for one. He enjoys playing with his sister Angel and his favourite toy is the laser. He’s very friendly and will come up on the bed and sit on the pillow in the morning.
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Just like her brother, Angel loves to be around people. Her hobbies include cuddling, being pet and napping in your lap. She also likes playing with her toys and Charlie. For some reason, she also really enjoys watching her human friends in the kitchen, whether they’re cooking or doing dishes! Angel’s a very friendly kitty and was recently a young mama to her three kittens who have now been adopted.
If you’re hoping for a pair of adorable and loving cats to enter your life, look no further!
If you’re interested in adopting Charlie and Angel please visit our website at vokra.ca/adopt to fill out an adoption form.
Special thanks to Laura Bartlett for these great photos of Charlie and Angel!
]]>In honor of Black Cat Day, here are the Top 10 Best Things About Black Cats featuring some of our very own kitties currently up for adoption:
10. When you befriend a black cat, you have a friend for life. They’re some of the most loyal cats around!
Angel loves to be around people, cuddling and receiving pets.
9. They know how to cuddle and they’re experts at it.
Patty Tolan is a confident little fluffball who loves playing and napping, and napping and playing.
8. What they lack in fancy colors they make up for in purrsonality- no two are alike!
7. They have gorgeous eyes that, thanks to their beautiful black coats, truly stand out.
Moogy is super confident and will make herself at home with you in no time.
6. They’re like miniature black panthers, just small enough to fit in your home.
Sesam is very friendly and enjoys spending time with people.
5. They have very distinct meows- you’ll know who’s calling for dinner.
Saffy is a sweet, intelligent lady with an insatiable curiosity for her surroundings and a love for food.
4. They purr so much and so loudly that you wonder how they never run out of purrs.
Lionel‘s a sweetheart and is sure to bring a lot of fun and joy into your life!
3. They usually have a trick or two up their sleeve, like headbutts or hi-fives or turning shoes into beds.
Charlie likes to come up to the bed and sit on the pillow in the morning when he’s hungry.
2. They’re good luck – bring a black cat into your life and it will only get better. And better.
Vidi is extremely sweet and perfect for someone who’s looking for a lap cat.
1. They have sooo much love to give. They’ve often waited so long to be adopted that when they finally are, they will truly be all yours.
Quidi‘s an affection-seeking cuddler who’s always fighting for a spot on his foster mom’s lap.
In honor of Black Cat Day, here are the Top 10 Best Things About Black Cats featuring some of our very own kitties currently up for adoption:
10. When you befriend a black cat, you have a friend for life. They’re some of the most loyal cats around!
9. They know how to cuddle and they’re experts at it.
8. What they lack in fancy colors they make up for in purrsonality- no two are alike!
Sir Pounce, 4 months old
7. They have gorgeous eyes that, thanks to their beautiful black coats, truly stand out.
Ziggy, 6 years old
6. They’re like miniature black panthers, just small enough to fit in your home.
Fishsticks, 2.5 years old
5. They have very distinct meows- you’ll know who’s calling for dinner.
4. They purr so much and so loudly that you wonder how they never run out of purrs.
Jahan, 10 weeks old
3. They usually have a trick or two up their sleeve, like headbutts or hi-fives or turning shoes into beds.
Gustaf, 11 weeks old
2. They’re good luck – bring a black cat into your life and it will only get better. And better.
Bartholomew, 6 years old
1. They have sooo much love to give. They’ve often waited so long to be adopted that when they finally are, they will truly be all yours.
Daisy, 1.5 years old, has cerebellar hypoplasia. This doesn’t affect her health, but makes her a little wobbly when she walks.
In loving memory of Karona, who touched the hearts of many VOKRA volunteers.
Karona