Community They’re in Your Community, Too Anyone can help a community . If you notice cats When you’ve seen a cat who seem to not belong to anyone, ask for help. There in your neighborhood, are a good number of organizations and indepen- chances are you wondered dent rescuers who are committed to making life better whether he belonged to for these animals. Even cats who are truly feral can be someone, or if he was lost, helped by TNR, Trap-Neuter-Return, a process in which or if he was feral. Regard- feral cats are altered and less, you probably worried brought back to their that he might be hungry or home area to be fed by in need of help. “Commu- a caretaker, never again nity cats” is a term applied fighting for food or mating to feral cats, abandoned rights. cats and cats loosely owned by a kind person who puts food out for them. In this issue we’d like to introduce some com- Whether you’ve seen them or not, they’re out there. munity cats we recently They’re everywhere. They’re slipping in and out of the welcomed into the MEOW green belt, peeking from under your neighbor’s garden family. These are a few of shed, living behind the car dealership down the street. the lucky ones. They have been given shelter from the That flash in the corner of your back yard may very likely rain and cold ,and medical treatment to heal their in- be a community cat. Some of these cats are indeed jured bodies. Their meager dumpster foraging has been feral, which means “existing in a wild state, not domes- replaced with fresh and nu- ticated.” However, many of the cats which can be seen tritious regular meals. Their in our neighborhoods and countrysides are not actu- lives have been changed ally wild. They have known the benefit of human touch, forever for the good, and and they crave it again. They belonged to someone all because someone no- once, but have somehow found themselves struggling ticed them. Someone saw to survive in this homeless world something. Someone said that has become their own. something. Someone did Perhaps they lived an indoor/ something. They have outdoor life and lost their way, been promised a future. becoming a stray cat. Per- Their joy is palpable. haps their human companion moved away and decided to leave them behind, in hopes that a neighbor might take them in. Many people hold the mistaken belief that cats can fend for themselves outdoors. Tasha ~ Walking Tall Heathcliff ~ In the Nick of Time

She had found a Over the past few months, residents at a large apartment safe spot for her complex had been seeing a lanky grey cat with a limp hang- new family under ing around. They didn’t know who to call, or what to do, so a model home in they did nothing. Monroe. This sev- en-month-old kit- As time passed, the cat was no longer able to limp. Now his ten was already left front leg dangled as he hobbled on the other three. Fi- mother to a litter nally, a woman acted and was able to get help. The cat was of six little ones. soon caught in a trap. Protecting and raising a family Approaching the covered trap, the strong odor of infection on her own was hard. She was thin and her bone struc- was present. Bad sign. Lifting the towel, the trapper saw the ture could easily be seen under her sparse fur. Tasha is pleading eyes of a thin, silver blue cat. He was most definitely a type of Manx mix known as a Rumpy, meaning that tame. He was clearly in a lot of trouble. She took him straight she has no tail whatsoever. Some of her share the to Clearview Animal Hospital, where she works. Manx qualities of their mother. When this little family was rescued and brought to MEOW in late August, we noted This cat, now called Heathcliff, that Tasha’s right leg had either a congenital deformity was very cooperative, allowing or an old injury causing her to walk on that collapsed the painful removal of his col- hock, rather than completely upright. Sometimes she lar, which had caused his in- would stumble a bit in the litter box. In spite of these jury. His collar may have fit him things, she seemed quite comfortable and was an ex- when he became lost or was emplary mother to her kittens. Weeks later, when the kit- abandoned. Or, it may have tens had become independent, Tasha was seen by an already been too loose. In any orthopedic surgeon to determine whether a correction case, he had gotten his left front might be possible. leg through the collar up to his armpit. Over time, the tight col- In January, Dr. Mark Engen of Puget Sound Animal Hos- lar had cut through his skin from pital for Surgery in Kirkland performed the complicated front to back, slicing layers of surgery to restore stability and strength to Tasha’s right muscle, until finally the collar leg and foot. Dr. Engen had to free up the fused bones was stopped by the underside before placing new bone grafts, a metal plate and six of his bony shoulder joint. Once screws to ensure proper position and function to Tasha’s the antibiotic began to take effect, the doctor inserted a drain foot. and made countless sutures, hoping they would hold until the cat’s immune system was able to mount a defense. She was prescribed cage rest for four weeks after sur- gery, until her x-rays showed that her bones had healed. A few weeks post-op, Heathcliff is doing great. Foster mom Tasha was the very best patient. She didn’t complain at Dr. Amy Cottrille calls this boy a “healing machine.” Heath- all. She is very happy to join her foster mom for cuddle cliff had nearly lost his battle with that infection. Another day sessions on the bed, never trying to jump down. During may have been too late. Up and around again on all fours, her regular splint changes she was calm and coopera- Heathcliff shows his appreciation daily to Amy and her family tive with the hospital staff. She is surely one of the sweet- by purring, nuzzling, and snuggling. He seems to know that he est cats we’ve ever had the pleasure to know. owes his life to the kindness of a few caring people who acted in the nick of time. So much has changed for Tasha. She has raised her family and bid them a fond farewell, her coat and her bodyweight are now healthy, and now she’s strutting her stuff and walking tall. Hunter ~ Sole Survivor Forbes ~ Good Fortune

In the woods above Sul- He didn’t know what had hit him. All he knew was that tan, the first five years of something was very wrong. He had terrible pain in his Hunter’s life had been head. He was struggling to breathe. He couldn’t see,and anything but easy. This he couldn’t move. He was so cold. round-faced red tab- by gent grew up as a He wanted very much community cat, loosely to get up and run away owned by the man who when the people gath- was kind enough to put ered around him. A food out for the approx- gentle man was talk- imately ten cats who ing to someone on his hung around. The man phone. “Please help! described Hunter as There’s a badly injured a survivor. Three years cat here in the street. ago, a coyote or bob- He’s bleeding. We don’t cat had taken the rest know what to do. Please of his cat family, leaving hurry!” While this is not our usual mode of “cat rescue,” only Hunter. His back still bears the scars. Hunter’s left a short time later two MEOW volunteers arrived at the eye had been torn too. He got no medical care. The accident scene. They wrapped his battered body in a man tried to take care of him as best he could, some- towel and placed him in a carrier. times trading his food stamps for . More cats had eventually come along to repopulate the area and Life was about to change for this fluffy young adult brown now the gentleman was asking for help. tabby. The doctors and staff at Animal Emergency Ser- vices – East sprang into action. X-rays revealed a se- When we first met Hunter, his amber eyes were barely vere contusion on the left side of his head, with a large visible, squinting through his swollen lids. The inner eye- blood clot behind the eye. The impact had caused lid of his left eye was torn and protruding. According a condition called pneumothorax, meaning air was to the doctors at Northwest Animal Eye Specialists, this trapped between the lungs and the chest wall, making injury may have been due to trauma, corroborating the it very difficult for him to breathe. Dr. Tucker used a sy- account of the attack. To make matters worse, Hunter ringe to extract the air to improve his breathing and he also had a congenital condition called Entropion Eye- was placed on oxygen. The air continued to seep from lids in both eyes. This is the rolling-in of the eyelid, caus- Forbes’ lung for a time and his pleural cavity would have ing the hair on the surface of the eyelid to rub on the to be tapped again later. eyeball, which is painful and often causes corneal ul- cers or erosions. The corneal scarring can interfere with That first night was a rough one. Although the x-rays vision. Hunter underwent surgery to repair both lids and and ultrasound showed no broken bones, would there the protruding inner eyelid. be neurological consequences? He thrilled us all when in the early morning hours, he stood up. He tasted his In spite of the hardships Hunter had experienced, he food. His breath began coming a bit more easily within immediately warmed to strangers. A tentative touch the oxygen chamber. He gave us reasons to hope. through the wires of the trap caused his hind quarters to rise up in expectation of a gentle hand. Even before Days later, a fragile but very fortunate cat, now named his surgery he seemed to welcome being treated with Forbes, was released from the hospital into the loving eye ointment. He now enjoys watching TV with his foster arms of his foster mom. His motorboat lets us know parents. He isn’t really interested in exploring or playing- that he loves to be held and cuddled and is so happy he just wants to snuggle. And what a motor; he’s a huge to be safe. He takes his seemingly constant medication purr box. doses without a blink of his damaged eye. He’s getting better. We don’t think that his near death experience will Hunter is ready to join his forever home, which is made slow him down at all. In a few weeks he’ll be interview- possible by his will to survive and great fortune of being ing people for a very important position, that of Forever the sole survivor. Family. Forbes is so grateful for his good fortune. In memory of our beloved Bigolo (1998 - 2012). In honor of Jordan and Bailey. Raffaella Geremia Love mom, Jackie Cunningham In honor of Til. Remembering Zoe MacDougal. Merry Obrien Sherry McKinnis In loving memory of Rosa. In honor of Lizzie and Ben. Katherine Hall Janet Mills In honor of Copperfield and in memory of Puck, Oliver Neir, we miss you so much. both MEOW cats. Mom, Dad, Jazz, Rex, Nala and the kids Dorothy Day In honor of my wonderful Willow. In honor of Jan Carroll. Linda Shuger Bill DeJong Barbara & Missy ~ Happy new year. In loving memory of our sweetest, funniest, Sheila & James Woodcock handsome and most loving friend, Sampson (2002 - 2012). In honor of Roxie Navrides. We miss you greatly and forever. Amy Hartwell Randy, Rose, Pooka, Dusty and Minka In memory of Margie Squifflet. In honor of Evelyn Knetzger. Edmond Squifflet Reed Knetzger We love and miss you Sadie. In memory of Stella. Cheryl King Chris Grossman In memory of Bertha Harvey, Thank you to MEOW from Boo and Atticus! who cared for all cats! Marti MacPhee Donald Harvey In honor of Stuart ~ a faithful companion. In honor of Jolie Scheibe’s birthday. Phyllis Albrecht Bob & Barb Batdorf In memory of Toni V. Ripley, In honor of Bill & Elwanda Bryant, 1944-2012, devoted friend of all animals. who fostered for six months for a total stranger. Vicki Russell In memory of Johnson and Whitey. Richard Wagner In memory of Janine Mecallef’s dear parents. Bonne Thank you to MEOW for my beautiful and loving friends, Guy Noir, Garbo and Sonic, In memory of Sheila H’s cat. all three are healthy and the loves of my life! Pamela Kiesel Carol Huber In honor of Stella and Blanche, In memory of Latte and Mocha Ryan. still fun loving, and frisky after 4+ years Marie Good (you knew them as Baby Face and Baby Girl). Gene Freedman In memory of my beloved sister, Frances Black. Mary Burns-Haley Thanks to Kelly and MEOW for helping with Brutus. In honor of Jethro, Mojo and Ellie May. Luana Doulas Bryan & Priscilla McCarty In memory of Tau Ceti Bright Angel (‘Sprite’) In memory of Arthur Beresford, and all those who went ahead. who passed away recently. Sue Schankel He loved and fostered many cats. Kathy Andeway In honor of Calvin & Hobbs, our extraordinary MEOW adoptees 17 years ago! In honor of Mister Maxter Motormouth, Andrea Lorig our operatic MEOW cat. Linda & Jay Bruce In memory of Tootsie, a rascally little tuxedo kitty! J. A. Buehler Happy birthday, Mom! We are having a tile made in honor of Logan & Max. In memory of Bigolo, lovingly cared for by Raffaella Geremia. LaFay Dillon In memory of Cassie, beloved cat of Shirley Vanderbilt. In honor of TC. City Kitty The Stewarts In memory of Heidi. In memory of Mama. Royal & Kris Goldfarb Dieter Schafer In honor of Jill Keeney. Colleen Allen Tree of Life ~ Leaves of Love pussycat Pantry Now and forever ~ Help stock the shelter shelves A tribute to the In our homes Canned and Cat Foods And in our hearts Royal Canin BabyCat Royal Canin Special 33 The Tree of Life in our lobby is growing beautiful Leaves Unscented Clumping Clay Litter of Love. This permanent mural offers the opportunity to Postage stamps express your feelings for a special animal in your life, Kitchen drawstring Garbage bags past or present. With a minimum contribution of $200, a Paper Towels bronze leaf, engraved with sentiments of your choosing, Hand Sanitizer will be added to the tree. Each leaf can have up to four Liquid Laundry Detergent HE or as few as two lines; character spaces are limited to Bleach 18 per line. Your ’s name and a dedication will honor your relationship. You may wish to declare your love for a current pet or to memorialize a beloved pet who has Register Today passed on. The Leaves of Love on the Tree of Life will Wine Tasting Open House – April 21, 2013 serve as a lasting tribute to your dear friend, the mo- Sips for Snips ~ a Spay/Neuter Fundraiser ments you’ve shared, silly times, sad times. As the Tree of Life grows Leaves of Love, our Mercy Fund will grow from We’re doing it again! Northwest Cellars in Kirkland will your donations. The Mercy Fund is designated for emer- host a wine tasting to benefit MEOW Cat Rescue’s public gency veterinary care for injured, ill or abused animals. spay/neuter fund on Sunday April 21st from 1 to 4 pm. Thank you for honoring your animals and supporting Five of their sumptuous wines will be available for tast- MEOW in this way. An easy form can be found at www. ing. You will also have the opportunity to purchase two meowcatrescue.org/donate/fundraisers. custom MEOW labeled wines: their Chardonnay ($16) and Merlot ($19). 40% of these wine sales and 100% of the tasting fee ($10 in advance, $15 at the door) will be donated to MEOW. Here’s looking at you! Please stop by and have a sip or two, to benefit MEOW’s Zabel was heard crying public spay/neuter fund, which allows us to provide no in an air duct at a local cost spay/neuter surgery vouchers to pets of our com- motel when the winter air munity members who need help. Make sure you get was bitterly cold. He was, your custom labeled wine (they make great gifts). Order no doubt, looking for a now by going to www.northwestcellars.com, select the place to stay warm – and wine you’d like, and enter “MEOW” in the comment area he found one! He was as you check out. Deadline for ordering is April 14th. If healthy, but it was appar- you can’t attend the wine tasting, you may pick up your wine order at Northwest Cellars after the event. ent right away that his left eye had suffered some sort Register for the event and learn more about Northwest of trauma. We could only Cellars at www.northwestcellars.com, Northwest Cellars see a very small portion of is located at 11909 124th Ave NE in Kirkland. We hope his iris and pupil through a you can join us! haze of white. Northwest Animal Eye Specialists identified the condition as a tag of symblepharon attaching the lower and upper lid to MEOW MEWS & CANINE CONNECTION each other. After surgery and treatment with eye oint- E ~ News Updates ~ Are You on the List? ment for several weeks, he is as good as new today! Every month or two we issue a fun, newsy email to update Full of life, love and happiness, on a scale of 1 to 10…. our supporters on current goings on at MEOW. If you aren’t Zabel is about a 100. receiving either the MEOW MEWS or CANINE CONNECTION (new in 2013) and would like to, please let us know. Send us an email at [email protected] and indicate to which list you would like to be added. Maybe you’d enjoy receiving both! Non-Profit Org P.O. Box 58 U.S. Postage Kirkland, WA 98083-0058 PAID Kirkland, WA

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ness depends on us. Watch our website later this spring spring this later website our Watch us. on depends ness

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good time with friends and get some great deals while while deals great some get and friends with time good

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Sun. 12PM - 5PM - 12PM Sun. a wonderful place for an event. We’ll be hosting wine wine hosting be We’ll event. an for place wonderful a [email protected]

Sat. 11AM - 5PM - 11AM Sat. again the beautiful Seattle Design Center in Georgetown, Georgetown, in Center Design Seattle beautiful the again [email protected]

Fri. 12PM - 7PM - 12PM Fri. interesting, and lots of fun. This year our venue is once once is venue our year This fun. of lots and interesting,

Thurs. 3PM - 7PM - 3PM Thurs. ing radio hosts, promise to make the evening exciting, exciting, evening the make to promise hosts, radio ing 425 822-MEOW (6369) (6369) 822-MEOW 425

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companion animals, providing shelter and care for each each for care and shelter providing animals, companion

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With respect and compassion for all animal life, MEOW MEOW life, animal all for compassion and respect With Save the Date ~ Saturday July 13 July Saturday ~ Date the Save