by Nomi Berger
 
#GivingTuesday, created in 2012, has morphed into a magnificent global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
 
It’s THE day that jumpstarts the joyous season of GIVING … not just for today, but for every day of the year.
 
It’s THE day that we call on you, our generous supporters, to honor its intent by making a tax-deductible donation to TCMR.
 
With our extremely high vet bills, unexpected emergencies, and the costs of the medications we administer -- many on an ongoing basis -- we have, so far, spent approximately $14,000 on medical care this year. Your contributions, whatever the amount, will allow us to continue providing for our current kitties, allow us to be prepared for any unforeseen emergencies, and allow us to accept even more needy kittens and cats in the coming year.
 
Donations can be made through the Donate button at www.thecatsmeowrescue.org or directly through PayPal at PayPal.me/tcmr. 
 
It’s THE day that we urge you, our loyal followers, to remember us throughout the year by sending the kitties much needed food and supplies from our Wish List. Please visit www.thecatsmeowrescue.org and click on AMAZON WISH LIST.
 
Without these donations, we, ourselves spend approximately $200 WEEKLY on wet and dry cat food.
 
It’s THE day that we encourage you, our devoted TCMR family, to consider some of the many ways you can make a difference throughout the year.
 
Host a small fundraiser (bake sales, garage sales and yard sales are among the most popular) and donate the proceeds to us. You’ll receive not only our gratitude, but a tax receipt as well. Start a Facebook fundraiser to benefit TCMR. Rather than accepting birthday or anniversary gifts this year, ask your family and friends to make contributions to TCMR in your name. Honor a loved one by making a donation to TCMR in his or her name. Honor the memory of a loved one or a cherished pet by making a donation to TCMR in their name. At your place of work, keep a container on your desk with our name on it, and encourage your co-workers to deposit their spare change inside. Once the container is full, bring the change to the bank (already rolled, paw-lease), mail TCMR a check, and begin again.
 
With the paws-ibilities as limitless as your imagination, all of us -- humans and felines -- at TCMR thank you TODAY and for all the days to come.

by Nomi Berger
 
Held on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this inspired and inspirational global movement both celebrates philanthropy worldwide and jumpstarts the joyous season of GIVING.
 
November 27th marks the 7th anniversary of #GivingTuesday’s inception, and you, our supporters, can honor its intent to encourage and amplify small acts of kindness by making a tax-deductible donation to TCMR.
 
Your contribution, whatever the amount, will allow us to continue providing for the kittens and cats currently in our care, allow us to be adequately prepared for any unforeseen emergencies, and allow us to accept even more needy kitties in the year ahead.
 
In support of #GivingTuesday, Facebook is partnering with PayPal to match up to $7 million in those donations made through Facebook beginning at 7 AM CT and continuing UNTIL THE FUNDS RUN OUT.
 
To have the chance of seeing YOUR donation doubled, please donate as early as paws-ible by clicking the Donate button on our Facebook page (directly below the cover photo).
 
With our extremely high vet bills, unforeseen emergencies, and the costs of the medications we administer, many of them on an ongoing basis, we spent close to $10,000 on medical care alone in 2017. And by the end of 2018, our expenses will be even higher!
 
Because the life of each kitty is purr-ecious to us, no obstacle is too great, no price to steep as we work to ensure each one has the best outcome possible – good health and a loving adoptive home.

Consider little Jake Sully. At a mere 4 weeks, he survived a savage attack by a group of dogs, while two of his littermates perished. His injuries were severe enough to cause temporary paralysis, but with steroids and various medications, physical therapy and good old fashioned TLC, he made, what we considered a miraculous recovery in an astoundingly brief time, and was soon adopted into the most wonderful home.


 While most of those we rescue DO live out our dream for them, others do not. Thankfully, however, our happy tails far surpass our sad ones. And where others may give up on the chronically sick, the physically and the neurologically impaired, we never do. They remain in our care always if necessary, as special needs and sanctuary cats, nurtured, protected, and above all, loved.

Consider Ariel, who is blind and has epilepsy, and requires two medications daily to help control her seizures. Consider Aurora, who is FIV positive and requires two injections every six weeks to help control chronic infections and inflammation in her mouth. Consider Codi, who is FIV positive and has heart disease, and requires two medications daily as well as prescription food. Consider Joey, who is FeLV positive and requires medication twice daily to help prevent the development of crystals in his urine.

Consider the ones we have yet to meet and the “tails” still to be told.
 
Then please consider helping us raise $6,000 to ease our already strained finances so that we may be better equipped to face the challenges ahead.
 
Donations can also be made through the Donate button at www.thecatsmeowrescue.org or directly through PayPal at PayPal.Me/tcmr. 
 
On behalf of the kittens and cats -- past, present and future -- WE THANK YOU!

By Nomi Berger

April 30th is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day and we at The Cat’s Meow ask that you consider saving a life by adopting a pet – purr-eferably one of the fabulous felines WE shelter.

With that in mind, we wanted to remind you of the life-affirming roles cats play in our lives, and of our responsibility to pay it forward by saving the lives of those less fortunate. Millions of healthy, adoptable cats across North America are euthanized annually because there aren’t enough homes for them. It’s vital to remember that every animal adopted opens a space for another animal in need. And so, by choosing adoption as the ONLY option, you’re helping decrease the number of cats left homeless each year.

Being a small, foster-based rescue allows us to KNOW each of our furry friends – their personalities, what they like to eat and how they like to play. This vital information enables us to match the right animal with the right adopter, and ensure, to the best of our ability, that they all live happily and lovingly fur-ever.

To view our gallery of assorted, adorable adoptables, we invite you paw-lease click on http://www.thecatsmeowrescue.org/available-for-adoption.html.

Unable to adopt? There are other ways you can make a big difference in countless small lives.

Paw-lease click on http://www.thecatsmeowrescue.org/help-us-help-them.html and learn how you can help us help them – including donating, fostering, spay/neutering and following us on Face Book.

Become a volunteer and we purr-mise to put your compassion and commitment to good use.

We ask you, however, to remember that Adopt a Shelter Pet Day may last a mere 24 hours, but the need to adopt a shelter pet will continue – hour after hour, day after day, month after month, year after year.

Spread the word.

by Nomi Berger
 
“There’s no place like home for the holidays,” according to the popular 1950’s song.  But for many, there IS no home. Not even for the holidays.
 
The “many” are those kittens and cats, abused or abandoned, surrendered or sick.
 
The “many” are those kittens and cats, perhaps safe for today, while tomorrow remains a question mark.
 
With 2016 drawing to a close, we celebrate some of the “many” we were able to save and place in loving forever homes thanks to the compassion and generosity of our many loyal supporters.
 
Now, as you gather with your families and four-legged companions, we ask that you remember those without either families or companions. As you celebrate at home with those you love, we ask that you remember those with no home and no love.
 
Because this is the season of giving, we hope that you will remember them AND us with the gift of a seasonal donation. For only your continuous support will allow us to remain true to our mission of rescuing and adopting out kittens and cats from Northeast Texas kill shelters.
 
Because our needs and theirs are so great, no contribution is ever too small to make a great difference.
 
To learn how YOU can make a difference this holiday season, please visit us at:
http://www.thecatsmeowrescue.org/help-us-help-them.html.

by Nomi Berger
 
Have you ever found yourself in the position of finding a litter of kittens and wondering what to do next? To keep or not to keep, that is the question.
 
Here, then, are some answers -- together with more questions.
 
1. If you find a litter of kittens on or near your property, watch them, but don’t move them. Their mother may be nearby. If, however, the kittens seem distressed or are very vocal, and if their mother hasn’t returned by the end of the day, she may NOT be returning.
 
2. Unless they're in danger, however, it's best to give their missing mother another chance to return and tend to them. Place them in a carrier or cardboard carton to keep them warm, safe and secure.
 
3. Try to determine the age of the kittens. Are they newborns with eyes closed, weighing less than 8 ounces or are they 8 weeks old, weighing 2 pounds and resembling miniature cats? Not to mention every age and weight in between. Each age brings with it a different set of criteria as to these kittens’ proper maintenance and care. If they are newborns, contact local rescue groups or an area shelter willing to take them in immediately.
 
4. Are they feral (part of a colony of cats born to live and survive outdoors) or domestic kittens born to a family’s lost companion cat? Once again, this will determine the steps you take next.
 
5. If it’s either too hot or too cold outside, raining or snowing, bring the kittens indoors and confine them to a clean, quiet and small room, whether a spare bedroom, bathroom or laundry room. Leave them in their carton or carrier with the door open, and provide them with a high-quality kibble, fresh water, and cat litter.
 
6. Within a few days, decide whether you want to temporarily foster them, bearing in mind that socializing them as quickly as possible will improve their chances of ultimately being adopted.
 
7. Although adorable and impossible to resist, kittens do have little claws and sharp teeth. To protect yourself from unnecessary “battle scars”, wear gloves until the kittens grow comfortable with being handled.
 
8. If you have other pets, keep them separated from the kittens to minimize the risks of their transmitting either parasites or infections to them.
 
9. To make fostering the kittens easier, speak with the volunteers at a local rescue group or shelter and ask for their advice – on all matters from A to Z.
 
10. When it’s time for the kittens to “leave the nest”, either contact your vet (some operate re-homing centers and will welcome yours if there’s room) or the same rescue group you’ve befriended, where the kittens will be spay/neutered, then set on the right path towards finding their fur-ever homes.
 
By your actions, compassionate and caring, you’ll have not only saved several small lives, but you’ll have shared in an extraordinary experience, one you’re unlikely to ever forget.

by Nomi Berger
 
Statistics show that in America, an animal is abused every 10 seconds.
 
And so, April has been designated “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” Month. A month during which everyone is urged to “Go Orange for Animals” to increase public awareness about these unconscionable, and usually unreported, incidents.
 
How YOU can help:
 
RAISE FUNDS
Using your personal Facebook account, create a fundraising page for a specific rescue group or shelter to celebrate an important occasion (birthday, graduation, anniversary, pet’s birthday, etc.) then share it with family and friends. Or instead of gifts, ask them to make a donation in your name to the rescue or shelter of your choice.
 
ORANGE, ORANGE EVERYWHERE
Show your support by wearing something orange all month. For young and old. Female and male. For her: barrettes and bows, scarves and shoelaces, brooches and bracelets, tank tops and teddies, necklaces and nail polish. For him: ties, tie tacks and tee shirts, bow ties and baseball caps, socks, suspenders and sneakers, pocket scarves and pins on lapels. Or go BIG! Tie a broad orange ribbon around a tree in your yard for everyone to see – and hopefully imitate.
 
SUPPORT A SHELTER OR RESCUE
Drawing on your own, personal contacts, team up with a local shelter or rescue group and assist them at a ”Go Orange for Animals” event such as an adoption day or weekend. Or set up your own donation drive – from jars of pennies, animals toys and pet food, to garage, yard and bake sales -- and give the proceeds and/or supplies you’ve collected to the shelter or rescue you’ve selected.
 
SHOW YOUR VIRTUAL SUPPORT
Spread the word about “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” Month by posting on your social media networks using the hashtag #fightcruelty and tagging @aspca.  
 
MAKE ADOPTION YOUR ONLY OPTION
Both shelters and rescue groups have loving animals of every breed and age, size and color, personality and temperament, desperate to find loving homes. By opting to adopt, not shop, you’re saving two lives: the life of the animal you adopt and the life of the animal taking its place. And please, spread the word!
 
IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT
Should you witness an act of cruelty towards an animal, report it the ASPCA and the police in that area. The more information you have the better. If possible, photograph the act of abuse (cell phones and other devices will have the time and date stamped on each shot). If others have witnessed the same act of cruelty, ask for their cooperation by getting their names, contact information, and if possible, brief written statements. Make copies of everything for your own records before giving them to anyone else. Whether you report the abuse in person or call it in, keep a record of the person you contact, the date, and the content and outcome of your discussion. Make it clear that you are interested in pursuing the case, and that you will help in any way you can.
 
Remember. ONE person CAN make a difference. If YOU speak out and speak up, imagine how many other “YOU’S” are doing and will do the same. Imagine what an enormous impact the effect of your combined voices can and will have on the lives of imperiled animals everywhere.

by Nomi Berger
 
For far too long, colonies of feral cats have been a blot on the landscape of far too many communities.
 
But there’s a solution that benefits both these communities and the colonies that live in them. It’s called Trap-Neuter-Return or TNR.
 
Endorsed by such august groups as Alley Cat Allies, the ASPCA, the American Humane Association, and the Humane Society of the United States, TNR is considered to be the most humane, effective and financially sustainable method of controlling the growth of free roaming cats, estimated to be in the tens of millions throughout the country.
 
TNR entails humanely trapping all of the feral cats in a specific colony, having them spayed, neutered, and medically treated if needed, then returning them to their original locations, where their community “caretakers” can continue to provide them with regular food, water and shelter. If these locations are no longer feasible, appropriate or safe, the colonies can, hopefully, be relocated to farmyard homes.
 
Kittens still young enough to be socialized and friendly adults are usually taken in by local rescue organizations, placed in foster homes for continued socialization and training, spay/neutered, micro chipped and brought up to date on all vaccines. Then they are adopted out to loving homes as well adjusted pets and companions.
 
There are many advantages to Trap-Neuter-Return. The most significant one is that, when practiced on a large scale, it greatly decreases the number of kittens and cats flooding the thousands of shelters countrywide. This, in turn, results in lower euthanasia rates and higher adoption rates for those kittens and cats already there.
 
On a community level, TNR swiftly stabilizes the size of each returned colony by eliminating new litters. In urban areas, in particular, the returned cats continue their natural control of the rodent population. The “nuisance” behaviors associated with feral cats -- the yowling and fighting that come with mating and the odor of intact males spraying to mark their territory -- are dramatically reduced. And finally, the returned colony now guards its territory, preventing intact cats from moving in and starting the cycle of overpopulation and problem behaviors all over again.   
 
To date, TNR is not just the best method of managing feral cat populations, it is the only one that works.

By Nomi Berger

Why adopt a rescue kitten or cat? Why not buy one from an ad on the Internet or from a pet store? There are many reasons -- all of them humane.
 
The growth of the Internet has spurred the growth of ads selling pets. But it also provides anonymity to a more insidious growth: that of kitten mills and “backyard” breeders, people who breed their own cats specifically for profit. It helps them avoid accountability when they sell unhealthy or mistreated pets to unsuspecting and overly eager buyers. And it only serves to confirm the axiom: “buyer beware.”
 
Each time a cat is bought from an ad on the Internet, a homeless cat is left without a home.
 
Many pet stores rely on kitten mills and backyard breeders for the pets they sell, and like the Internet, they too rely on impulse buying. A child ogles a playful kitten through a pane of glass, and few parents can refuse the insistent “Please! Please! Please!” of an excited, wide-eyed child.
 
Each time a cat is bought from a pet store, a stray or surrendered cat languishes in a shelter.
 
Although there are scrupulous and legitimate breeders throughout the country, there are also unscrupulous ones. Unfortunately, there are no laws regulating who can and cannot breed cats, and there are few inspections of their facilities.
 
Each time a cat is bought from an unscrupulous breeder, an abandoned cat moves closer to death in a pound.
 
Why, then, adopt a rescue cat?
 
There are tens of thousands of healthy and happy cats available from thousands of rescue organizations across the country. These organizations are usually the last refuge for abandoned and surrendered, stray and senior cats. They are often a cat’s only escape from a kitten mill, shelter or pound. Most, if not saved by those who run sanctuaries, are placed in loving volunteer foster homes, where they are socialized with people and other pets.
 
They are spayed or neutered, updated on all vaccinations, microchipped, and given whatever veterinary care they may need. And all of this is included in the rescue or sanctuary’s modest adoption fees.
 
Adopting a rescue cat is saving not only that cat’s life, but it is also saving the life of the cat that will quickly take its place.  It’s said that saving a cat makes that cat doubly grateful. By extension, then, anyone who saves a cat will be doubly blessed.  
 
What better reasons could there be to adopt a rescue cat?

by Nomi Berger
 
Their bodies may be imperfect, but their spirit remains intact.
 
So it is said about the special needs cat. Although caring for one can be challenging, more and more people are opening their hearts and their homes and adopting them. For this reason, more and more cats that might otherwise be euthanized are being given a new lease on life.
 
Experts stress the importance of not viewing special needs cats as “handicapped.” Although they have certain limitations (including blindness, deafness or a combination of both, cerebellar hypoplasia and three-leggedness), they’re not “aware” of them, and can be as active, affectionate and playful as any other cat.
 
Adopters of special needs cats insist that the rewards far outweigh the work. Many use social media to share their experiences, to interact with owners like them, and to encourage others to adopt. They don’t see their cats’ medical or physical problems as shortcomings, and don’t believe they make them any ”less” of a cat.
 
Those interested in adopting a special needs cat should first fully inform themselves about that cat’s condition and limitations, requirements and maintenance. This should also include meeting with their vet, requesting a tutorial on administering any necessary medications, and openly discussing any concerns they might have.
 
Sadly, cats who are blind or deaf (or both) have been characterized as aggressive and unpredictable, prone to other health issues, even a shorter life span. Studies, however, have proven otherwise, showing that despite their obvious deficiencies, these cats are generally quite healthy and capable of living long, otherwise normal lives. And that, whether blind or deaf, they are no more aggressive or unpredictable than sighted or hearing cats.
 
Blind cats are trained through the use of both sound and scent cues. By relying on their highly developed sense of smell, their noses let them know where and what things are, and when combined with their owner’s reassuring voice and touch, helps them live easily and comfortably.
 
They quickly learn and “map out” their surroundings, and for added protection, have a “go to” place, where their food and water bowls, cat bed and toys (squeakies, crinklies and ones with bells inside are best) are placed on a distinctive mat and never moved. A runner or large area rug provides them with a safe play area because the traction is good and the edges clearly discernible. Sharp edges on furniture can be padded with bubble-wrap or foam pipe insulation to help prevent injury.
 
Deaf cats, who sleep more and meow loudly (they can't hear themselves) watch their owners more closely, taking cues from their behavior. They also pay closer attention to vibrations and air currents, while their “internal clocks” let them know when it’s mealtime. Deaf cats can be trained by using hand signals or the beam of a flashlight with treats as reinforcement. And because they startle easily, if their attention is elsewhere, owners should always approach them by walking with a “heavy foot” to get their attention and avoid being accidentally nipped.
 
Cats with cerebellar hypoplasia will be wobbly and uncoordinated to varying degrees and have characteristic head tremors when they try to focus on something. At times it may seem as if they’re heading in two directions at once, but they DO adapt to these challenges. Given a safe environment and barring any accidents caused by their lack of coordination, they live as long as “normal” cats and barely seem bothered by their condition.
 
Tripods (cats born with a limb missing or amputated) can live long, healthy lives with minimal adjustments (from special ramps and stairs to new litter boxes) in order to compensate for that limb. And because cats are both ingenious (such as adapting to new ways of self-grooming) and nimble, the loss of a leg usually doesn’t stop them from enjoying life to the fullest.
 
As the owners of special needs cats agree, their own lives have been irrevocably changed. By the endearing personalities, grace and determination of the cats they have adopted. By the gift of their cats’ contented meows and purrs, licks and cuddles. But most importantly, by the example they have set and the inspiration they have provided.

 by Nomi Berger
 
“Fostering a cat is not a lifetime commitment, it is a commitment to saving a life.”
 
This is the watchword of cat rescues everywhere.
 
To foster a cat is, quite simply, to save that cat’s life. A foster home provides this same cat with a safe, temporary place of refuge until he/she is ultimately placed in a permanent, adoptive home.
 
Most rescues rely solely on a network of dedicated, volunteer foster homes, and could not survive without them. And rescues NEVER have enough foster homes.
Why? Because there are more cats in need than there are foster homes available to meet that need.
 
There are many benefits to fostering, many pleasant surprises and many unexpected rewards. Foster parents, past and present, describe it as one of the most memorable and gratifying experiences of their lives.
 
Fostering is both a way of enriching the lives of the cats and people involved, and a constructive way for people to give back to their communities. Fostered cats can provide endless hours of entertainment and love for their humans, and provide invaluable life lessons for adults and children alike.
 
By taking a deserving cat into their home, fosters increase that cat’s chances of being adopted. Foster families have the time and the ability to transform their foster cat -- through one-on-one contact, exercise, feeding and training -- into a happy and well mannered companion pet any person or family would be proud to call their own.
 
Fostering provides a needy cat with a stable environment, coupled with love, attention and affection. While the foster family provides the food, the rescue usually provides everything else, including payment of all medical costs to ensure the cat’s ongoing health and wellbeing.
 
Fosters are the essential eyes and ears of rescue. By spending every day with their foster cat, fosters will learn all they can about his/her particular personality. They will be able to identify any behavioral issues that need to be addressed, then work on addressing them.
 
If fosters already have a cat – either their own or another foster -- in residence, all the better. The more animals their foster cat meets, the more socialized he/she will become, the more easily he/she will handle stress, and the more relaxed he/she will be around strangers.
 
For those who have never owned a cat, fostering provides them with the unique opportunity of seeing whether they themselves are suited for permanent “pet parenthood.”
 
But fostering a cat is NOT a form of trial adoption for that particular cat. There is even a term for it: foster failure. The most successful fosters are those who, despite being emotionally invested, know that they are essentially a stepping stone towards their foster cat’s future. And that as one successfully fostered cat leaves their home, another needy and deserving cat is waiting to enter it.
 
Ultimately, then, fostering a cat saves not just one life, but two.