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Lovey Dovey, that was his nickname at the shelter where we chose to look for our "new" cat. We laughed at the sign and when we looked inside, all we saw were 2 big yellow eyes staring back. Almost at once a paw came through the cage grabbing at our hands, we smiled and pulled back. We looked at calicos and dabbled whites and younger kittens as well, but there was something about this "Lovey Dovey" that kept drawing me back to his cage. I didn't want a black cat and thinking back I really couldn't put my finger on the reason why. Maybe it was the lack of color or perhaps the old myth that black cats are unlucky. Well I thought "Why not check him out, what can it hurt"......I asked the assistant how old it was, what sex etc. As it turned out it was a male and was about 15 months old. Well, another strike against this "Lovey Dovey" guy. I wanted a younger cat, a kitten to be exact and certainly NOT a black cat, (weren't they suppose to be unlucky or something.....). But again "Lovey Dovey" reached out to me through his cage, giving me that LOOK and saying "please hold me!" Oh what the heck, I finally asked the assistant to let me HOLD him. Actually thinking back, I realize I didn't have a choice, I truly believe THAT CAT WILLED ME TO HOLD HIM! : ) He was all black except for the white spot on his neck. He wasn't a big cat but was well shaped, as most black cats are. He wasn't afraid at all, and he felt good in my arms and he loved being held. He was trusting and loving, pushing his face against me as if to say..."I LOVE YOU people person". I had never felt a connection with an animal so quickly. I knew I had been taken in by this beautiful black creature with those big golden eyes. In the meantime my husband was still going from cage to cage looking for that special connection between animal and human,"come look at this one, honey" he said, pointing to a beautiful calico female. I only smiled back and walked over to him and gently placed "Lovey Dovey" into my husband arms. Mr. Black Cat with the golden eyes begin purring his heart out. I could see my husband smiling and when he turned to me there were tears in his eyes just like mine. We had found our little soul mate. Needless to say my husband said "this is the one!"

We named him Bear and call him Beary. He is the most wonderful cat I think we have ever brought into our family. He is loving and well mannered. He is gentle,good-natured,curious and playful. Since then I have read up on cats and these are the qualities usually found in the black cat. Later through the years we introduced 3 more cats into our family, and not once has Beary objected. He always greets them with curiosity and letting them know he wants to be their playmate. He is a treasure. A couple years after we adopted Beary we adopted another black cat, a special one. His name is Bo and he has a serious liver ailment and we are sure he has been brain damaged from abuse. He needs to be on medicine daily to control his disease. I can not begin to tell you how sweet he is. When he looks at us, it is as if he knows that we saved him from certain death and is trying to say thank you. The vet told us he'd live a year, MAYBE. He's going on his third year with us and we hope many more to come.

This summer we fostered 3 feral kittens until the shelter had room for them. We were already at our absolute limit of 4 adult cats in the house, so to keep the three kittens was out of the question. However, if it had been up to Beary, we would have kept them all : ) During our back and forth trips to the shelter, we noticed that they had several black cats. Beautiful animals similar to our Beary. The shelter said that black cats are the hardest cat to place in a home. She said because of superstition and the fact they are associated in literature with witches and bad luck that a lot of people don't even consider adopting a black cat.(Oops, that sounds familiar) Yet, the black cat is probably the gentlest of all felines and the smartest. They were always considered good luck in England and are still considered good luck throughout most of Europe. They adapt very well to apartment living but can be a good mouser in a country living atmosphere as well. Please, if you decide to adopt a kitten or cat, consider adopting a black cat. Their fur color ranges from jet black to the darkest sable brown. In fact they are quite elegant, whether they are lounging on a velvet cushion or a sunny spot on the porch. You will never be disappointed because of their natural good disposition. Don't forget to consider an older cat too, they can bring just as much joy to the family as a young kitten. ~ Shari : )
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If you have a story that you would like to share with us, you may send your story to THE PATCH. All stories must be original and true life stories. We can't guarantee all stories will be published but we would love hearing from you. ~ Shari

 

Want to read more true stories? Go to.....

OUR FURRY LITTLE ANGEL STORIES
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Pet Humor

Lovey Dovey Pics

 

CAT QUOTES by Shari

1. If it's smaller than a bread box and not nailed down, a cat will carry it off.
2. There's nothing more comforting on a cold winter morning than a warm cat.
3. A cat has 2 minds, one of his own and one of his own.
4. Cats were not put on earth to please people, but people were put on earth to please cats.
5. To have one cat is enough but to have more than one is never enough.
6. The love of cats is definitely a virtue.
7. To find your cat, open the fridge.
8. Stray cats have a way of finding 'nice' gullible people.
9. I'm convinced that cats are 'angels' among us.
10. A cat is nothing more than a very shrewd dog in disguise.
11. Our cat is so curious that he will upset the water bowl just to see where the water flows.
12. The only thing that separates a cat from humans is that they're more intelligent.
13. If you have one cat on your bed, it's called companionship, two cats, it's chic, 3 or 4 means you might be a little lonely, more than 5? You're definitely a redneck.

MOMMY, WHY DOESN'T FLUFFY COME BACK HOME?
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Is Fluffy ever safe? Are you letting your kitty run so he/she can 'Do It's Thing'? Hopefully you will reconsider. Every spring I see toms cutting through our backyard in search of females. All of them oblivious to traffic and everything else except that one goal, doing their thing! We don't have that much traffic on our street, but neighbors near us had an un spayed female and last year, in one single week, two beautiful big tomcats were killed by cars. These cats were certainly someone's pets since they looked so well taken care of. I know the owner's must have waited for them to come home,wondering why they were late or why the food bowl was left untouched, perhaps reading the lost and found section of the newspaper to see if they had been taken in by someone. Of course these pets would never return to their loving homes. Pets that are struck by cars rarely have a chance and are left to be picked up like so much garbage. Others are left to be picked at and eaten by other animals, few given the respect they deserve.

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There are two deadly feline diseases. FIV a blood carrying disease, is transmitted from cat to cat usually during cat fights. Feline Leukemia, another fatal disease, is contracted through simple contact with an infected animal, such as touching noses or mating. Indoors, the leukemia virus can live in carpet and other materials for more than 6 months, infecting new cats brought into the house. The sad thing is there are no cures for these diseases. Please have your cats tested for the viruses and make sure they have the proper vaccines. See article below, for more information.

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One cat during mating season can infect every cat in the neighborhood, including Fluffy and her kittens. When Fluffy doesn't come home, think the worst, because that is more likely the case. Most of all, have your pets spayed or neutered. I know this is an old line and you have heard it over and over, but in saving Fluffy, you can save many others. ~ Shari

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WHY YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE DECLAWING YOUR CAT!
. Irish, our Manx cat has taken to clawing on furniture and even wallpaper.  Usually, a firm word is all it will take for him to stop. Then there are those areas on the drywall in the basement, etc. etc. We thought about having him de clawed, after all the wallpaper and furniture were expensive items to replace and what was he going to damage next.  Even our vet had her office cats de clawed. Isn't she suppose to be the 'smart' one?   We had made up our minds to go ahead, when I read the following article.......
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Here are quotes from John M. Broder/ New York Times

The West Hollywood City Council......is turning it's progressive eye to banning what it calls the barbaric practice of de clawing cats......Councilman John J. Duran, who proposes a ban, said he had de clawed his two cats to protect his furniture but saw the light after he learned of the radical and painful surgery involved. "I didn't know it was the equivalent of removing everything from the bottom knuckle, meaning muscle, tendon and skeleton were ripped out," Duran said "I was horrified at what I had done to my kittens." The procedure, called an onychectomy, amounted to the "full amputation of the claw" and was an unusual mutilation of a house pet. The council went on to say the ordinance declared that those with pets are "guardians" of their animals --not owners -- "Cats are trainable.......make it clear that scratching furniture is a no-no. It's like having a kid.......There's going to be crayon on the walls, food on the carpet. Since when are couches more important than animals?"

The article clearly made up our minds.  Irish, our Manx, will keep his claws.  I will add more scratching posts and clearly understand that his welfare is worth way more than any piece of furniture.  Putting myself in his place, I'd prefer to keep my fingers and toes.

NOTE: Regular clipping of your kitties toe nails and available scratching posts is a better way to save your furniture etc.

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WHY YOUR CAT NEEDS TO SEE A VET

Feline Leukemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

A cat infected with Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) may continue to live quite happily for many years. Early detection is important to help you care for your cat, and to prevent the spread of these contagious diseases. The following steps are recommended by veterinarians.

1. Keep your cat indoors to limit its exposure to other infections and to prevent your cat from spreading the disease.

2. Keep your cat's environment as stress-free as possible, providing it with a comfortable place to rest, and limiting its interaction with people or other pets that may annoy it.

3. Provide your cat with plenty of fresh water at all times.

4. Keep your cat on a regular healthy diet

5. If you have other cats in your household, have them tested for FeLV and FIV as well.

6. Schedule regular veterinary check-ups to monitor your cat's condition and to diagnose and treat any secondary infections early.

 

Warning Signs of FeLV or FIV

Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) are contagious and potentially fatal diseases. These viruses are associated with the illness and death of more cats than any other group of infectious diseases.

Vets have long considered them hard to diagnose but new research has identified symptoms and behaviors that indicate when infection is most likely, and when a cat should be tested.

These symptoms for both FeLV and FIV include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, abscesses, gingivitis, weight loss, and swollen lymph nodes. One in four cats with even one of the signs listed above is likely to test positive.

However, a cat with no symptoms may test positive for either virus. Cats most at risk are outdoor cats, cats that fight, or share food and water with other cats, and cats in multi-cat households.

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DON'T FORGET TO VISIT...

 

HEROES
Did you know that Carolyn Gracie, a QVC show host, is an avid pet lover, having some 50 pets at her home, and is involved in pet rescue organizations.

ANGELS FOR ANIMALS,of Canfield Ohio, rescues, and spays/neuters over 1000 cats/dogs every year. Their adoption program is the most successful in the state of Ohio, if not the country, because of people who care! Read more at Angelsforanimals.org

Please adopt from your local shelter today!.
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