Bongo

I promised you a while back that I would introduce you to Bongo. After me, she's been here longer than any one else but I think she minds it a little more than I do. Bongo is a shy, quiet girl who sticks mostly to herself. She likes to curl up inside a condo or deep inside a bed for a nap and only comes out with things are calm.

Bongo lived in a foster home as a baby along with her siblings Lee, Levi, Osh Kosh and Wrangler - get it? But that's the only home she's ever known. She came here in July of 2003 and has never left. While Bongo doesn't seek attention she does enjoy it if you take the time to seek her out. She's a nice lady. Why don't you come in and meet her some time? You'll be glad you did. And, remember, I'll be here to show you around.

Adopt A Shelter Cat Month

June is "Adopt a Shelter Cat" month. Let's face it - around here that's every month. We are shelter cats are we are here to be adopted. But June is the month that American Humane has picked to highlight the wonderfulness of those of us who live in shelters. June is a great time to do it because the spring and summer are typically kitten season.

Some people get worried about adopting a cat from a shelter because they think we are here because something is wrong with us or they worry they won't know our history. The fact is you only know a complete history if you get a cat from a breeder or when it's very young straight from the home where it was born. And while the first few months of my life are a mystery the volunteers here know me very well and will be happy to tell you about me or any of my other roomies. They take the time to get to know each of us to be sure the home where we end up is the right home for us.

And look at all the choices you have when you adopt from a shelter. You want a skinny cat, fat cat, short-haired cat, playful cat, young cat, old cat, talkative cat, lap cat, yellow cat, black cat, a cat that will play fetch or any number of other kinds of cats. Odds are really, really good you are going to find exactly what you want.

Adopt a shelter cat. You'll be glad you did.

Smudge, Part 2

Smudge is at it again - stealing hearts and earning fame. Leesia Teh, a professional pet photographer (she calls herself a dog photographer but we chose to ignore that) was at the shelter taking some shots. And who won her heart? The one and only Smudge!



Here is her blog - you must check it out to see some of the beautiful pictures she took.



http://leesiateh.com/blog/?p=4037



Thank you Leesia for the kind words on your blog and for helping to spread the word about Good Mews. Now, I'm ready for my close up.

Fostering...when having a cat temporarily is okay

Yesterday's photo was Michelle with two of her three babies. Michelle and her family are currently in a foster home until the babies are old enough to come into the shelter to be adopted.

Good Mews is always looking for new foster homes. Little ones are highly susceptible to illness so we like to keep them out of the shelter until they are older and stronger. Fostering is a tough job but highly rewarding. You get to spend some quality time with a cat but you also have to make sure it's ready for the shelter when the time comes. That may mean giving medicine or spending a little extra time making sure the cat(s) is ready to be around strangers.

And it's not just kittens who need foster homes. Sometimes a grown up cat has had surgery and needs a foster home for a while or needs a lot of individual loving to get over a bad situation. We've taken in cats after Hurricane Katrina as well as cats from hoarding situations that needed a little time before they were ready for the hustle and bustle of the shelter.

It takes a special person to foster. You can't help but get attached to a cat when they are living in your home. Before you know it, it is time to give them back so that they have a chance at their forever home but the benefits, to you and the cat, are boundless.

If you are up for the challenge, consider contacting your local animal shelter and ask about their foster program.

If you want to read the tales of a famous former foster, check this out:

www.coveredincathair.com/tweetie_chronicles

Wordless Wednesday

Thank You, Romeo

I'm pleased to announce that Good Mews has been chosen as the FURPOWER organization of the month. Romeo is a real cool cat that has his own blog at www.romeothecat.com.

FURPOWER is the name of his fundraising program. Each month, Romeo and staff chose a different rescue organization to benefit from their fundraising efforts.

Romeo understands how important fundraising is to helping take care of me and all my roomies while we wait to be adopted. Don't forget we've got to get Sawyer a new wrap for that cast! But it's also great to have new people learning about Good Mews.

Your doing good things, Romeo, and I'm proud to know you.

Get Well Wishes

We had a scary moment in the kitten room yesterday when Sawyer took a tumble off of a cat tree but my little buddy is on the mend now. To add to his indignation, however, is the pink wrap on his cast. We'll see what we can do about that but, in the meantime, rest and recover my friend. When you are back on sound footing we will have a talk about the proper way to go from tree to shelf.

And here's to Kate. You are a good sister for hanging out with Sawyer last night so he wouldn't be lonely and scared. Having someone to snuggle with is always nice.

Blog Hop

I've joined my first blog hop, y'all. Welcome to those who are visiting for the first time. It's nice to meet you.

They Call Me Uncle Mickel

Uncle Mickel is what a lot of folks call me around here. See, I like to hang just outside the door to the kitten room. Sometimes I'll play with the little guys by kicking a toy under the door or sticking my paw in. Other times I have chats with the youngins' that will sit still long enough to listen to me. You got to pick your battles - some of those little balls of fur are either bouncing off the walls or sleeping with nothing in between and I know they aren't going to listen to me. I like to impart wisdom when I can and I like to play. I mean, everyone knows how cute those little ones are and I think spending time with them keeps me young. Party on, kids. Uncle Mickle is here for you.

Smudge

I think it's time for you to meet some of my roomies here at Good Mews. From time to time I will introduce you to some of the more special cases as well as those who have been around for a while.

Without further ado I would like to introduce you to Smudge, so named because of the coloring around her nose. Smudge is a beautiful young lady of six who came to Good Mews in November of 2004 putting her third in terms of seniority behind yours truly and Bongo whom I will be sure to introduce you to very soon.

She likes to play but will also occupy a lap if one is available. Smudge is a bit of a celebrity - she was featured on a Good Mews sweatshirt and she is also an internet sensation. Check out our girl on YouTube.



I will admit that is a little silly but I find it endearing. We all like to get a little crazy sometimes. I just prefer not to take it out on my own bodyparts.

Smudge hasn't let the fame go to her head. She's one of the gang just like always. Perhaps you'd like to come by and meet Smudge for yourself? If so, you are likely to find her curled up sleeping on top of the television. But remember that she likes laps so I'm sure she'll gladly give up one of the most treasured napping spots in the place to say hello.

The "Staff"

Yesterday I mentioned all the volunteers that come through the shelter. On any given day there are people here to do clean and feed, meds (yuck!), clean the windows, take pictures for the website or newsletter, taking cats to and from the vet (double yuck), picking up recyclables to help make money for the shelter, meeting potential adopters, giving tours of the shelter, coming to do inventory of supplies and to get supplies together for offsite events. It takes a lot of volunteers to help keep this place running.

Maybe later we can get into specifics but I just first wanted to say thank you to everyone who does volunteer at Good Mews. We cats have a great place to live because of you. And while I'm at it let me say thank you if you volunteer at any animal shelter, anywhere! I know there are a lot of animals in shelters waiting to be adopted that are being taken care of by volunteers.

If there is any cause that you feel passionate about - animals, kids, reading, water, trees, or just anything - find an organization that supports that cause and support them. Consider giving a few hours a month to help them out. It's a great way to learn even more about the cause you care about and meet other people who are interested as well.

If you'd like to volunteer at Good Mews you can get all the information you need on the website - www.goodmews.org. I'll be here waiting to meet you and tell you all you need to know.

Don't Cry For Me

First let's get my story out of the way. I've lived at Good Mews for 10 years. I came here when I was only a few months old. I've never had what's known around here as a "forever home." Some find that sad. I say you can't miss what you never had. Plus, I like it here. I have it better than a lot of other cats. I've got a place to live so I don't have to worry about bad weather, or scary dogs chasing me - or mean people chasing me for that matter - like cats who have to live outside. I don't have to find my own food - it's almost everywhere you turn around this place. And when you consider the number of volunteers it takes to get thing done at a shelter like this, each cat around here can claim to have their own personal staff of about 2.7 people. No, don't feel sad for me. I've got it made and consider myself a lucky guy.

Would I like to have a forever home? I'm game for a new adventure, sure, but I'm not going to let myself get down when people come in and want a younger cat, or a girl cat, or a flashier looking cat, or a lap cat or any of the other things I hear them say. I take pride in having been here longer than all the others. I've seen and learned a lot and I'm happy to help some of the newer residents who seem unsure or scared. I consider that a very important job and I want to do it well.

Hello Blogosphere

My name is Mickel and I live at Good Mews, a cat shelter in Marietta, GA. You'd be amazed at all the weird and wonderful things that happen here. Stay tuned for my stories...