It's a new year, and many of you might have written resolutions for 2017, like lose weight, pay off bills, or get in shape. Here's a thought for you. How about adding some volunteering to that list? The only thing it costs you is your time, and what it gives back is absolutely priceless.
If you're parents, what a great gift to give your kids. If they're old enough, they can volunteer too, and learn a lifetime of lessons. Just an hour a week playing with the cats (we call it socializing), means that we have information to give a prospective adopter, like does it get along with other cats? Is it a lap cat? Playful, or a 'sit in the sun' kind of cat?
At The Marshmallow Foundation in Detroit Lakes, our volunteer needs are many. There always seem to be folks that want to work with the dogs, but the cats struggle, as they do in shelters all over the country. There's the manual labor of cleaning the kennels of course, but there is so much more needed. For example, we need a list of foster parents, who are willing to take a kitty home with them that otherwise won't survive in a shelter environment. Someone that we can teach to administer fluids if necessary, syringe feed, or just give love and warmth. When we get a cat that has been injured or is obviously sick, we seek out a rescue to take them, and have transported as far as Wisconsin to get them the necessary care. But this time of year, the rescues are as full as we are, and sometimes have to say no.
Maybe you want to help, but are afraid of getting attached, or have an allergy. Another volunteer opportunity that we struggle with is grant writing. We miss out on thousands of dollars simply because we don't have the time to research the available grants and apply for them.
Maybe you're a sales person - how about helping us fund raise? We are ALWAYS raising funds. It might be as simple as selling raffle tickets or calendars, or more involved like organizing one of our fundraisers or putting together our annual calendar for 2018.
Are you creative? We'd love to sell t-shirts, but again, who has the time? I took a stab at designing one, using the Bonfire.com service. I KNOW you can do better than I can!
Now see, I just gave you a bunch of great New Year's resolutions, and none of them cost a cent. If you're in the Detroit Lakes area, please check out the website for The Marshmallow Foundation, and fill out a volunteer application. Call or Facebook us to set up a time to have a tour of the facility, or talk about volunteer opportunities. We'd love to have you on the team!
Showing posts with label cats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cats. Show all posts
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Motherhood at 55
I don't have human kids, but I do have three feline kids, all about 8 months old, and all with different baby daddies. Growing up as they did in a shelter, they came with their share of issues. Leo and Maggie both came home with colds, and they are both still blowing snot everywhere; on each other, on me, on my keyboard, on the wall...it's amazing how far that stuff travels. Getting dried snot off a painted wall is not easy; I finally found the toilet paper and water trick. Put a wet piece of toilet paper over it and it comes right off a few minutes later.
And Meep, well, she's definitely a special needs kitten. She's mostly blind in one eye, and has had breathing issues her entire life. The last Vet I took her to said he didn't hold out much hope for a long life. The possibilities of what are wrong include Feline Infectious Peritonitis (no treatment, fatal), feline heartworm (no treatment, mostly fatal), and congestive heart failure (no real treatments, mostly fatal).
I can imagine what a mother goes through, at least a little. The nights when Meep's breathing becomes so labored I spend hours with her inside a bathroom with a hot shower going. This afternoon, Leo had explosive diarrhea - all over the wall behind the litter box. I discovered that when I picked Meep up and found that she had diarrhea all over the side of her face - of course she had to lay in it!
So after Meep got her bath, I sat down to write this post. Focused as I was, I ignored the odd noises behind me. Until it hit me - that noise was coming from behind the stacked washer and dryer. Leo, practising his tightrope walking skills, decided to explore the back of the machines by walking on the cords back there. He should keep his day job, because he fell down to the ground, and there was no room to walk out. Who exactly would you call to rescue a cat stuck behind a washing machine - the fire department? I used my MacGyver skills and lowered a baking rack in the slot between the washer and the sink cabinet. He finally got the hint and clawed his way to the top so I could grab him.
And now to clean up the snot that Maggie just blew all over my keyboard.
And Meep, well, she's definitely a special needs kitten. She's mostly blind in one eye, and has had breathing issues her entire life. The last Vet I took her to said he didn't hold out much hope for a long life. The possibilities of what are wrong include Feline Infectious Peritonitis (no treatment, fatal), feline heartworm (no treatment, mostly fatal), and congestive heart failure (no real treatments, mostly fatal).
I can imagine what a mother goes through, at least a little. The nights when Meep's breathing becomes so labored I spend hours with her inside a bathroom with a hot shower going. This afternoon, Leo had explosive diarrhea - all over the wall behind the litter box. I discovered that when I picked Meep up and found that she had diarrhea all over the side of her face - of course she had to lay in it!
So after Meep got her bath, I sat down to write this post. Focused as I was, I ignored the odd noises behind me. Until it hit me - that noise was coming from behind the stacked washer and dryer. Leo, practising his tightrope walking skills, decided to explore the back of the machines by walking on the cords back there. He should keep his day job, because he fell down to the ground, and there was no room to walk out. Who exactly would you call to rescue a cat stuck behind a washing machine - the fire department? I used my MacGyver skills and lowered a baking rack in the slot between the washer and the sink cabinet. He finally got the hint and clawed his way to the top so I could grab him.
And now to clean up the snot that Maggie just blew all over my keyboard.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
The Straight Poop on Cat Litter
So you want a cat, or have a cat. You know that you need litter boxes, but what kind? How many? And what's the best cat litter to use? From my 25 + years of having cats, I've tried them all.
Let's start with the litter box itself. Should you get a covered or uncovered box? It seems that a covered box will help with odor control, right? Maybe, but it also traps odors inside the box, which makes it less likely that your picky feline will want to use it. A cat's sense of smell is about 14 times as strong as a humans, so if you can smell the litter, imagine how your cat feels. The rule of thumb for how many litter boxes you need is one for each cat, plus one extra. Some cats are finicky enough that they want their own box, or some will use one box for urine and another for poop. Of course, those with space constraints might not be able to have multiple boxes, so if you can't, just make sure that the box is kept really clean to avoid your kitties from finding other spots in your house to do their business.
Along the same lines, it seems counterintuitive to use unscented litter if you want to control odor, but unscented is the way to go. Scented litter tends to waft throughout the house, and everyone will know you have a litter box. Cat litter manufacturers want you to buy the scented stuff; sometimes it's hard to find the unscented in the store, but from personal experience, it's worth it. As long as you keep the litter scooped at least once a day, no one needs to know that you have cats as soon as soon as they walk in the door.
And for goodness sake, spend a little more and get the clumping litter. Yes, I know that the clay litter is cheaper, but in my opinion it's not worth it. It's what most people donate to The Marshmallow Foundation and it's dusty, smelly, and a mess to work with. And we end up adding baking soda to it anyway to try to control the odor. Plus, with clay litter, you'll end up having to do a complete clean out of the box much more often than with clumping litter.
So for a happy, healthy cat, do make sure that you provide the best possible environment for them; you'll be rewarded with head bumps and kitty kisses for years to come!
Let's start with the litter box itself. Should you get a covered or uncovered box? It seems that a covered box will help with odor control, right? Maybe, but it also traps odors inside the box, which makes it less likely that your picky feline will want to use it. A cat's sense of smell is about 14 times as strong as a humans, so if you can smell the litter, imagine how your cat feels. The rule of thumb for how many litter boxes you need is one for each cat, plus one extra. Some cats are finicky enough that they want their own box, or some will use one box for urine and another for poop. Of course, those with space constraints might not be able to have multiple boxes, so if you can't, just make sure that the box is kept really clean to avoid your kitties from finding other spots in your house to do their business.
Along the same lines, it seems counterintuitive to use unscented litter if you want to control odor, but unscented is the way to go. Scented litter tends to waft throughout the house, and everyone will know you have a litter box. Cat litter manufacturers want you to buy the scented stuff; sometimes it's hard to find the unscented in the store, but from personal experience, it's worth it. As long as you keep the litter scooped at least once a day, no one needs to know that you have cats as soon as soon as they walk in the door.
And for goodness sake, spend a little more and get the clumping litter. Yes, I know that the clay litter is cheaper, but in my opinion it's not worth it. It's what most people donate to The Marshmallow Foundation and it's dusty, smelly, and a mess to work with. And we end up adding baking soda to it anyway to try to control the odor. Plus, with clay litter, you'll end up having to do a complete clean out of the box much more often than with clumping litter.
So for a happy, healthy cat, do make sure that you provide the best possible environment for them; you'll be rewarded with head bumps and kitty kisses for years to come!
Monday, December 28, 2015
Fostering Saves Lives
Meet Meep. She is the poster child for why animal fostering is so important.Upper Respiratory Infections (URIs) tend to thrive in shelters. A URI to a healthy adult cat is like a cold; some are worse than others, but rarely fatal. To a kitten, however, a URI is bad news. For Meep it meant losing most of the vision in one eye, and stunted growth. She weighs less than 2 pounds at 7 months of age.
Meep was special to all the workers and volunteers at The Marshmallow Foundation. And when I started volunteering there she won my heart too. Meep is the sloth of the kitten world - she doesn't move very fast, and would prefer to sleep upside down in the crook of someone's arm when possible. I think she's at least part Ragdoll, which accounts for why she goes limp when picked up, although she doesn't have the characteristic blue eyes of a Ragdoll.
I wanted very badly to adopt Meep, but had already pushed the boundaries by adopting Maggie and Leo when still (temporarily) living with my brother and sister-in-law. Would Meep survive until I moved into my forever home? Poor Yunger didn't make it through the latest outbreak of URI, and he was much healthier than Meep to begin with.
Enter Cassi, a full-time employee at The Marshmallow Foundation. Cassi is one of those unsung heroes that you don't hear much about because she prefers it that way. When an animal has to be put down, Cassi is the one holding them until they pass. When Yunger was failing, Cassi was the one that reached out to try and find a rescue group that could help him.
Cassi knew that Meep wouldn't make it if she had to continue living at the shelter. Her immune system was too compromised by endless rounds of antibiotics and illness. The foster families were already full, so Cassi reached out to her mother for help. If Meep were to have a fighting chance, she needed a quiet, safe environment with lots of tender loving care. Cassi's Mom took Meep in with no questions asked, and provided me with regular updates on her progress.
One day while chatting with Cassi, I asked where her Mom lived. Knowing that I probably wouldn't know where it was, Cassi told me it was a gravel road off of Highway 54 just outside of Detroit Lakes. In one of those rare moments of synchronicity, I laughed and said that my new home was on that very same road. Cassi lit up - her Mom and I were neighbors!
I'll be moving in to my new home very soon, and Meep will move in shortly after that. I'll have to retrain her thinking a bit, since she's apparently a Vikings fan, but nobody's perfect.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
What Does Hemingway Have to Do With It?
You may have heard the term "Hemingway Cat", and even knew that it had something to do with Ernest Hemingway, the famous author.
Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West, Florida, and was given a 6-toed cat by a ship's captain in the 1930's. Cats with extra toes, also known as gypsy cats, were considered lucky by seafaring folk since they were considered superior mousers and kept their balance better on a ship. Cats normally have 5 toes in front, with 4 toes in the back, and when they have more than that they are called "polydactyl". Other nicknames for them include "snowshoe paws", "pancake feet", or "big-foot cats". Hemingway's cat went on to parent many polydactyl cats on his estate, the ancestors of which still live and are cared for there today.
Maggie, a kitten I adopted from The Marshmallow Foundation is polydactly, with six toes on all feet. She's only six months old, and you can see the size of her paw compared to my hand.
So why are they called Hemingway Cats? In my opinion, because it's much easier to say than polydactyl!
Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West, Florida, and was given a 6-toed cat by a ship's captain in the 1930's. Cats with extra toes, also known as gypsy cats, were considered lucky by seafaring folk since they were considered superior mousers and kept their balance better on a ship. Cats normally have 5 toes in front, with 4 toes in the back, and when they have more than that they are called "polydactyl". Other nicknames for them include "snowshoe paws", "pancake feet", or "big-foot cats". Hemingway's cat went on to parent many polydactyl cats on his estate, the ancestors of which still live and are cared for there today.
Maggie, a kitten I adopted from The Marshmallow Foundation is polydactly, with six toes on all feet. She's only six months old, and you can see the size of her paw compared to my hand.
So why are they called Hemingway Cats? In my opinion, because it's much easier to say than polydactyl!
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Nelly and the Six Year Old
Today while volunteering at The Marshmallow Foundation, an animal shelter in Detroit Lakes, I got a phone call from a mother.
"I know our application is still being processed, but we'd still like to come see the cats today if we can. You see, my six year old son lost his cat about a month ago, and said that he wants a cat or kitten. Specifically, he wants a black cat or kitten because he knows that they are harder to adopt."
So I sent a note to the adoption coordinator asking if the application could be expedited, since this family was driving all the way from Mayville. Sure enough, she dropped everything to approve the application, so when the family came in, I happily told them that they could go home with a cat today if they found one that they bonded with.
Two little boys and their older sister came in to the cat room with their parents, and immediately became overwhelmed (in a good way) with the number of cats there. It was in the middle of kennel cleaning, so several were already running around being cats, so the boys were instantly mesmerized. I had a cat in mind that I thought would be a good fit, and introduced them to Nelly. But like, well, kids in a candy store, they wanted to make sure they looked at all of the cats before deciding. So Burbs was in the running for awhile, as were Peanut and Stud. Eventually though, they came back to Nelly, and as of today, Nelly has found her furever home. In the arms of a six year old with the wisdom of the ancients.
"I know our application is still being processed, but we'd still like to come see the cats today if we can. You see, my six year old son lost his cat about a month ago, and said that he wants a cat or kitten. Specifically, he wants a black cat or kitten because he knows that they are harder to adopt."
So I sent a note to the adoption coordinator asking if the application could be expedited, since this family was driving all the way from Mayville. Sure enough, she dropped everything to approve the application, so when the family came in, I happily told them that they could go home with a cat today if they found one that they bonded with.
Two little boys and their older sister came in to the cat room with their parents, and immediately became overwhelmed (in a good way) with the number of cats there. It was in the middle of kennel cleaning, so several were already running around being cats, so the boys were instantly mesmerized. I had a cat in mind that I thought would be a good fit, and introduced them to Nelly. But like, well, kids in a candy store, they wanted to make sure they looked at all of the cats before deciding. So Burbs was in the running for awhile, as were Peanut and Stud. Eventually though, they came back to Nelly, and as of today, Nelly has found her furever home. In the arms of a six year old with the wisdom of the ancients.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
The Cat's Meow
Interesting fact - adult cats don't meow to other cats. They only meow to humans! Tiny kittens, with their "mew", signal to their mother that they want food, but once they leave Mom, they normally won't ever meow again unless a human enters their life. Instead, cats communicate with each other through scent, touch, and noises other than a meow.
So why do they use it with us? Simple answer, because it works! How many cat owners out there will drop everything if they hear their cat meow? We instinctively know that they're calling for us, and we respond by petting, picking them up, feeding them, or with kitty kisses. We humans are well-trained! I also think that because a cat learns to communicate with us, it makes them a lot smarter than we think they are. Remember, cats rule, dogs drool.
The shelter I volunteer at, The Marshmallow Foundation in Detroit Lakes is having an open house this Saturday, December 5th. Patriot Assistance Dogs (PAD) is co-hosting the event, so even if cats aren't your thing, come by with your pet for pictures with Santa from 10 am until 3 pm. We'll also have calendars available for sale. The calendars themselves, although cute, aren't the cool thing. $30 will buy a raffle ticket with chances to win prizes throughout 2016. Prizes are valued between $50 and more than $500, and if your name is drawn for a prize, your name goes back in for another chance! Prize examples include:
January 1, 2016: Astrostart 721 ($500 value) donated by Webber Family Motors
February 5, 2016: $500 cash, donated by Foltz Trucking
March 22, 2016: $50 Zorbaz gift certificate
May 6, 2016: 2 reserved lawn chair admissions to WE Fest
December 2, 2016: $500 gift certificate to I'll Tile and Stone
Some important rules:
So come see me and the crew this Saturday. If you're interested in adopting a cat or dog, fill out the adoption application on the website and submit for approval first. We take making sure our animals go to a good home seriously, so it takes a few days to get approved. In the meantime, come on in during normal business hours and meet the animals. You may think that you want a specific dog or cat based on their photo and bio, but then find that there just isn't that spark of connection between you. No worries; once you've been approved you can adopt an animal that you truly bond with. Tell 'em The Crazy Cat Lady sent you.
So why do they use it with us? Simple answer, because it works! How many cat owners out there will drop everything if they hear their cat meow? We instinctively know that they're calling for us, and we respond by petting, picking them up, feeding them, or with kitty kisses. We humans are well-trained! I also think that because a cat learns to communicate with us, it makes them a lot smarter than we think they are. Remember, cats rule, dogs drool.
The shelter I volunteer at, The Marshmallow Foundation in Detroit Lakes is having an open house this Saturday, December 5th. Patriot Assistance Dogs (PAD) is co-hosting the event, so even if cats aren't your thing, come by with your pet for pictures with Santa from 10 am until 3 pm. We'll also have calendars available for sale. The calendars themselves, although cute, aren't the cool thing. $30 will buy a raffle ticket with chances to win prizes throughout 2016. Prizes are valued between $50 and more than $500, and if your name is drawn for a prize, your name goes back in for another chance! Prize examples include:
January 1, 2016: Astrostart 721 ($500 value) donated by Webber Family Motors
February 5, 2016: $500 cash, donated by Foltz Trucking
March 22, 2016: $50 Zorbaz gift certificate
May 6, 2016: 2 reserved lawn chair admissions to WE Fest
December 2, 2016: $500 gift certificate to I'll Tile and Stone
Some important rules:
- You must be over 18 years old to purchase a calendar or win a prize
- Checks or cash only
- Winners will be notified on the date the prize is awarded, when you'll receive instructions on how to claim your prize
So come see me and the crew this Saturday. If you're interested in adopting a cat or dog, fill out the adoption application on the website and submit for approval first. We take making sure our animals go to a good home seriously, so it takes a few days to get approved. In the meantime, come on in during normal business hours and meet the animals. You may think that you want a specific dog or cat based on their photo and bio, but then find that there just isn't that spark of connection between you. No worries; once you've been approved you can adopt an animal that you truly bond with. Tell 'em The Crazy Cat Lady sent you.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Yes, I'm a Crazy Cat Lady (and Proud of It)
We all know the stereotype - single, middle aged, female with cats. The title of crazy cat lady is not meant to flatter; the emphasis is usually on the adjective "crazy".
I am single, of a certain age, and I do have two cats that I adopted from The Marshmallow Foundation in Detroit Lakes. What makes me crazy is that I volunteer my time at the very same shelter!
Friends tell me that they don't understand how I can do it. "It's so sad", they say.
And sometimes it is. Today was one of those days. Yunger, one of the more affectionate cats, has been sick for several weeks with what was thought to be an upper respiratory infection, which is very common in shelter cats and equivelent to the common cold. He's been to the Vet a couple of times and been treated with antibiotics with no improvement. He has lost a lot of weight, and can no longer stand or sit. Still, when I opened the door to his kennel, he greeted me with a virtually silent meow, and struggled to find his balance long enough to put his paws on my chest to be picked up. I held him several times today, walking around the room petting him, scratching him behind the ears and telling him what a good cat he was. He would push his nose against my cheek telling me that he heard me.
But comforting a dying cat isn't the really sad part. Knowing that if the foundation had more donations, Yunger would be in the hospital right now getting fluids, medication, and the necessary diagnostic tests is the truly tragic story. The wonderful employees and volunteers are even now trying to find transport for Yunger to the Twin Cities, which is the closest veterinary clinic found that would offer no cost or low cost emergency treatment.
Yes, today was a sad day. But knowing that I was there to offer a little kindness to one of God's precious creatures made my decision to volunteer at the animal shelter an easy one.
**Happy Update: Yunger made it to Gregory's Gift of Hope, in New Richmond, WI and is in the arms of caring humans who have the funds to help him. He's not out of the woods, and his vet bill for one night is already $1200. If you'd like to donate, they accept Paypal.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
My Texas Garden
Right around the 1st of April I planted my Texas garden after putting in a sprinkler system first. I spent too much money way too many years on plants that died when I couldn't keep them hand-watered in this heat, so I finally made the investment.
When I left for Minnesota three weeks ago, a couple of my cherry tomatoes were just turning red, and the roma tomato plant was only about 6 inches high. Today, the cherry tomato and the roma plants are about 3 feet tall, and my petsitter reports that several cherry tomatos have already been harvested. The basil will boltif I don't harvest it soon, and my red peppers are growing nicely. I think I'll harvest a bunch of the herbs and bring them into work tomorrow as gifts.
This morning I cut some blooming lilies for a fresh flower arrangement. Then I harvested some chives and a couple of cherry tomatoes for my breakfast. Two eggs scrambed with chives and quartered tomatoes made for a delicious (and healthy) breakfast. There was also a couple of ripe strawberries that didn't make it into the house because I ate them right from the plant. I can do that because my gardens are totally organic this year.
I also cut a bunch of catnip as a treat for my small furry feline friends. I rip ped up the fresh leaves and scattered them on the floor for hours of enjoyment. I suppose I ought to dry some up too for the winter.
When I left for Minnesota three weeks ago, a couple of my cherry tomatoes were just turning red, and the roma tomato plant was only about 6 inches high. Today, the cherry tomato and the roma plants are about 3 feet tall, and my petsitter reports that several cherry tomatos have already been harvested. The basil will boltif I don't harvest it soon, and my red peppers are growing nicely. I think I'll harvest a bunch of the herbs and bring them into work tomorrow as gifts.
This morning I cut some blooming lilies for a fresh flower arrangement. Then I harvested some chives and a couple of cherry tomatoes for my breakfast. Two eggs scrambed with chives and quartered tomatoes made for a delicious (and healthy) breakfast. There was also a couple of ripe strawberries that didn't make it into the house because I ate them right from the plant. I can do that because my gardens are totally organic this year.
I also cut a bunch of catnip as a treat for my small furry feline friends. I rip ped up the fresh leaves and scattered them on the floor for hours of enjoyment. I suppose I ought to dry some up too for the winter.
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