Such a change of heart

Kasper was the last cat I took from Etela’s burnt shelter near Backa Topola. When I went to the site of the fire for the first time he was up there somewhere on the remains of the roof, unapproachable and uncatchable. My second try to trap him was also in vain. It was not until the third time that I finally caught him. He was struggling like a wild beast, scratching and biting, he almost broke out of his carrier, he was growling and hissing at me – it was very dramatic.

I took him to the vet immediately to have him castrated in the hope that he would calm down and brought him to my shelter. He spent the night in his carrier. You cannot imagine my surprise when I heard him purring the next morning! As soon as he got out of his carrier he began to rub his head against my hand, to snuggle and cuddle with me, as though as he knew that he was finally safe. It was such an incredible change!

So Kasper’s new life has begun. He’s affectionate toward everyone he meets and gets along perfectly with all other cats, showing no aggression. He still follows me through the shelter and cuddles all the time, cute as candy. His favorite sleeping spot is in a treetop.

With winter at our doorstep

Winter is approaching fast, it is getting colder and colder every day and this chilly, wet weather affects almost all of my kitties so they are getting sick more often. Especially sensitive are the oldest cats, the chronic patients, and the new kitties that arrived this year and are not yet fully adapted to the life in the shelter. A virus is making rounds, causing fever, sneezing and discharge from the eyes. Older cats are not eating well and are lethargic – I honestly hope they will survive this winter. The fact that some of them are over 15 years old makes me even more preoccupied. Gomboc, one of my chronically ill kitties with FUS is in crisis again, like last year when he barely made it through the cold months. Many recently arrived kitties are already under treatment. With every new day new problems appear and it’s hard and exhausting for me but I won’t let my kitties down. Every kind of help is greatly appreciated and more than welcome.

Last winter was harsh, the shelter was snowed in and heating did not work. This year the heat is on, but the number of cats is much greater and it will not be easy - there is a lot of work and a lot of worry again. I must admit I’m getting tired, but for the sake of my kitties I have to carry on fighting...

Four lucky kitties

Tortoiseshell cats, just like calico cats, are believed to be bearers of good luck. Many cultures have torties in high regard. To me my torties are beautiful creatures that make me smile and bring me joy, affection and love.

Muppet Show was the first of my lucky charms. I picked her up from the street when she was just a tiny kitten, shy, fearful and distrustful. She lived in my garage for months and seemed to relax somewhat. After the spay surgery she didn’t feel well and her recovery was long and difficult. Her stomach remained swollen for quite some time and the vet told me she may have some congenital disorder that can’t be treated. Notwithstanding, she hasn’t shown any signs of illness for years now, she behaves like any other cat and I hope she’ll stay that way.

I found Maja and Masha last winter, or to be honest they found me – both of them approached me on the street in a lapse of several days and literally begged me to take them, running after me, meowing and yowling… I don’t think that they knew each other, they just lived in the same neighborhood. On the grounds that I have never been able to turn my back on a cat in desperate situation (it was freezing outside) I took both of them home. And here they are, sweet and lovable from the very beginning.

Mara is one of Etela’s cats and she was the last one to arrive. She recovered rather quickly from everything she had to endure in Etela’s burnt shelter. She was lucky, and now she is happy too. Undoubtedly, all of my torties are.

From sadness to happiness

Speki is one of the cats rescued from a shelter near Backa Topola that burnt to the ground. Before I went there and took 18 kitties to my shelter (and one more a week later) three of Etela’s cats had already been picked up and sent to some wild “shelter” near Belgrade. Speki was among them.

They have all been brought to me in June, after spending three months in that place. Although he doesn’t look so skinny in pictures Speki was emaciated, bony and terrifyingly thin, full of worms and fleas, he even had mange and some fungal disease. While he was there, he had been castrated at the Center for stray animals but the wound got infected so he had to have a surgery again. When he arrived here, a week of medical treatment was necessary before any intervention. It was really heartbreaking watching him looking so miserable.

It took quite a long time for him to recover but he did, eventually. He still has blurred vision in his right eye (probably due to an old injury) and swollen lymph nodes as well. Thorough examination will be needed to discover the nature of his problems. During the past few months he gained a lot of weight and now seems to enjoy life at my shelter. After all he has been through, Speki became a happy kitty, nice looking, amicable and lovable.

Two silver kitties

Mastika and Silvestra are two beautiful kitties, very much alike, each one of them with a sad life story.

Mastika was found with the most terrible mastitis, after losing her kittens which had presumably been killed. She wasn’t more than a year old. After two weeks of treatment, she was spayed and found a refuge in my garage. She didn’t want to come out for six months, scared to death of unknown people and street life. Luckily, we all moved to the shelter and she can finally enjoy the sun and a nice, playful and comfortable life, completely free of fear.

Silvestra was rescued from a yard in my hometown after an attempt of certain people to put all cats into bags and take them away (and kill hem, presumably). She was scared and confused but recovered rather quickly. Despite her bad experience Silvestra loves people and is lovable and cuddly with everyone. She's a real sweetie!