It has been several months since the last newsletter as life has been very busy at PurrEver Ranch. There have been lots of changes, some good--some terribly sad. In September, we went to Mississippi & Louisiana to bring back some Katrina kitties. We've had some new rescues check in and cried unashamably when we were forced to say goodbye to two very sweet. old gentlemencats, Puff & Mr. Gray. In addition to running the Sanctuary, I also work a full-time day job & recently changed jobs to ensure that I have health insurance but took a huge cut in pay--pay that was going to care for the homeless kittizens at PurrEver Ranch. Which means now more than ever, I need your help. Donations are down & I hope you find it in your heart & pocket to donate a few dollars each month so PurrEver Ranch can continue rescuing cats in need--the old, the abandoned, the sick, the unwanted. Together, we can save more lives.
Rita Cockrell Wood, Founder
"Providing A Safe Haven For Homeless, Elderly Cats
A Chance To Live Out Their Lives In Peace
With Dignity, Compassion & Love"
DAILY EXPENSES MONTHLY EXPENSESDAILY EXPENSES $74 $15 Dry Kibble $500 VET WEEKLY EXPENSES $553 $ 8 Wet Food $150 Mediciine MONTHLY EXPENSES $2210 $ 8 Cat Litter $ 90 Grooming YEARLY EXPENSES $26,520 $ 4 Supplies $740 SUB TOTAL $12 Heat $ 2 Electricity $49 SUB TOTAL
These are very conservative estimates and do not include rent, phone, advertising, gas or office supplies, etc- just the basic costs of caring for the homeless cats at PurrEver Ranch.
When the news showed footage of scared & hungry pets searching for safety and their humans--I knew that PurrEver Ranch was needed to house some of the elderly felines so I jumped at the chance to go and bring back some of the orphaned, senior kitties in need from Mississippi & Louisiana.
PurrEver brought back five Katrina kitties, three were senior surrenders & will live the rest of their days at the Sanctuary. Two of the cats were somebody's pets & after much searching, we found the loving humans of Mr. Gray. Mr. Gray was 17 & was being boarded at the Vet's in New Orleans when the levee's broke. The clinic was flooded & the Vet Tech took all the animals to the roof where he waited for 7 days to be rescued. The Vet finally got a flat bottom boat & pushed poled 20 blocks to get to his clinic. He tied the dogs to a rope & they swam next to the boat while the cats were placed inside the boat & taken to safety. Mr. Gray fought hard to live and was brought back to PurrEver Ranch until we could find his humans. We did!
Nothing else mattered to Sara & Anneke--they didn't care that they had lost their home, their car, their way of life--they had their "old man" back. Wanting what was best for Mr. Gray, they made arrangements for Gray to stay at PurrEver until they could secure housing. They called & talked to Gray often. The first time I put the phone to his ears & he heard their voices (6 weeks after hurricane)--his eyes got BIG, he let out a loud, throaty "MEOW!" and started purring for the first time, rubbing up against the phone. Tears popped in my eyes as I've never seen a cat show more love. Mr. Gray did this EVERY time he heard his human's voices--in fact, he would start purring when he saw the cell phone.
Mr. Gray passed away suddenly Tuesday, December 12th at dawn in my arms. His humans are heart broken...as am I. Please keep them in your thoughts & prayers. Mr. Gray was a good boy & will be missed. Mr. Gray was a loved cat.
PurrEver Ranch is home to four rescued katrina kitties: Tom Tom Tiger, Merci', Shaft and PF37104. PF37104 (Monte) will be going back to New Orleans very soon--something special is in the works!! Details soon to come. :)
Imagine this old cat as a kitten Bright eyes, alert & playful Scampering thru the house Without a care in the world This old cat was loved
Snuggling up to her mistress Whiskers safe in a warm palm Motor purring, arm and tail as one Without a care in the world This old cat was loved.
Headbutts, kisses and eye hugs
Warm dishes of milk and plates of tuna Little ways on special days Without a care in the world This old cat was loved.
Back of a hand strokes the face Looking like no other lover Cloudy eyes knowing without seeing Without a care in the world This old cat was loved.
Cold. Alone. Empty plates Howling in the night she searches Strange, rough hands tossed in a box Without a care in the world That this old cat was loved.
Imagine a heart breaking in heaven Promises broken from a life she had given Too busy in a brand new house Without a care in the world That this old cat was loved.
Cowered in a cold corner Stainless steel in a bed of hell Eager humans rush to pretty kittens Without a care in the world That this old cat was loved.
No tears are shed, they tried their best No one wants an old, used cat She purrs and pleads to ears unheard Without a care in the world That this old cat was loved
1 Donations For Vet Bills & Medications
Collierville Pet Hospital (Dr. Murphy)
18 S Byhalia Rd Collierville TN 38017 901-850-7330
(Please speak or make attn to JoAnna/Office Mgr)
2 Donations For Cat Grooming
Can Donate Directly to Collierville Pet Hospital Grooming (Renee/Cat Groomer)
18 S Byhalia Rd Collierville Rd 38017 901-853-2080
3 Scoopable Cat Litter 4 Canned Cat Food 5 Dry Cat Food(Any Premium but especially UTI, Diet, Dental & Hairball (Any wet/dry prescription food--MD/DM, AD,KD, ID, CD & Renal) 6 Paper Plates & Bowls, Paper Towels & Garbage Bags. 7 Bleach, Vinegar & Tide ColdWater Washing Detergent
I remember the day I first laid eyes on Puff. A big red puffy persian terrified at finding himself in a noisy animal shelter at the age of 12. His ex-human had thrown him away because her new boyfriend didn't like cats. Puff haunted my dreams. I visited him during the day hoping someone would adopt him. Puff started getting sick.
Puff came to live at PurrEver & we fell into a courtship that only those that have cats can understand. He wooed & purred me. From the moment his paws hit the ground, Puff was home. Not a paw was raised from any of the other cats not even a hiss. Who could throw an old man this sweet away?!
March March Stare Stare. That is what my daughter, Jess, called Puff. He was always right beside you and looking at you. Mind you, he was not neurotic. This cat just wanted to be around you all the time. Or maybe he was afraid that he'd end up in the trash again. It was like having your own private groupie. Puff expressed love every single moment of his life.
Puff insisted that I get kisses every day. This was something he would not take no for an answer. Guess he thought everyone should be kissed every day. Thank goodness, he gave me extras.
My friend, passed away in my arms just before midnight on Sunday, December the 10th. Just before he left, he gave me a slow eye hug & I swear his eyes filled up with tears. I kissed him good-bye and told him how much he was loved & how very special he had made my life. As he crossed over, I sang him his song,
Puff the magic kitty cat
lived at PurrEver
And in the land of pussycats
Puff was one of the best
PurrEver Ranch's Expenses
Average Cost To Care For One Cat Per Month $54
Diamond Pet Food Recall: EXTREMELY URGENT--TOXIC PET FOOD KILLING PETS!
Diamond also makes the Costco brand "Kirkland" & premium pet foods, Chicken Soup & Nutro Nuggets
Symptoms of Illness TAKE TO VET IMMEDIATELY Symptoms of potential illness in pets may be difficult to discern, but include:
Loss of appetite Yellow whites of the eyes, yellow gums, yellow in the belly or areas where hair is very thin Severe, persistent vomiting combined with bloody diarrhea Discolored urine Fever
RECALLED PET FOOD
Diamond Premium Adult Dog Food Diamond Hi-Energy Dog Food Diamond Maintenance Dog Food Diamond Professional for Adult Dogs Diamond Performance Dog Food Diamond Puppy Food Diamond Low Fat Dog Food Diamond Maintenance Cat Food Diamond Professional Cat Food Country Value Puppy Country Value Adult Dog Food Country Value High Energy Dog Food Country Value Adult Cat Food Professional Chicken & Rice Adult Dog Food Professional Puppy Food Professional Large-Breed Puppy Food Professional Reduced Fat Cat Food Professional Adult Cat Food
Your Old Cat
You bought a new house; you had a baby. You cat has been with you for years and is now old, perhaps incontinent, maybe a little grumpy, possibly having a bit of a problem getting around. Sometimes he doesn’t quite make it to the litterbox when he has to go and has an accident. All these things come with age and not necessarily just with your cat. It may happen to you someday as well.
In his youth, he gave you everything he had to offer. In his twilight years, you have no time. Now that he’s older he has many new things to offer that come with age. He is now wise. He is now grateful for all the things you help him with that he used to be able to do for himself. He tries so hard to be the youngster you remember but he can’t quite do it. And you – well you are getting tired of cleaning up his accidents, the more frequent trips to the vet so you delude yourself into thinking we can find him a better place than the place where he has spent most of his life – a new family who will have more time for him. The grim reality is that if your cat is 7 or under, we can probably find him a new home. If he is 8 or 9 we can possibly find him a new home. If he is 10 or older, he will likely not be re-adopted. Don’t worry; we will not euthanize your cat. We will find somebody who will care for him until he dies. We will take care of his medical needs; we will take care of his emotional needs. If he is incontinent, we will work around it and if he needs medication we will see that he has it. He will live out his remaining few years in surroundings that he is not accustomed to and with people who for all of his many years, he never knew.
When the time comes to say good-bye, the foster home will gently take him and give him his final gift of freedom. And it will hurt, and they will cry because you see, they have come to love your old cat. They love him because they were privileged to share his wisdom, his zest for life and yes, his final moments. An old cat, despite his failing health, is a treasure and not one to be given away but kept and cherished.
Authur Unknown
Is It An Emergency? Here are 10 signs that indicate an immediate trip to the clinic is in order.
In 1987 cats overtook dogs as the number one pet in America. CAT POWER!
A cat cannot see directly under its nose. This is why the cat cannot seem to find tidbits on the floor.
A cat's jaw cannot move sideways.
The normal body temperature of a cat is 101.5 degrees F - 38.6 C
A fifteen year old cat has probably spent ten years of its life sleeping.
A large majority of white cats with blue eyes are deaf. White cats with only one blue eye are deaf only in the ear closest to the blue eye.
Abraham Lincoln loved cats. He had four of them while he lived in the White House. His cat, Tabby, was the first of several White House cats.
A cat can sprint at about thirty miles per hour.
At night a cat can gather into the extra-large corneas and lenses of its eyes more than six times the amount of light than humans can. Seeing far better than humans do at night time and tending to focus best at a distance of eight to twenty feet makes cats excellent night time hunters.
Calico cats are nearly always female.
Cat families usually play best in even numbers. Cats and kittens should be acquired in pairs whenever possible.
Cats are attracted to automobile antifreeze because of its sweet taste. IT IS POISONOUS!!!
Cats are the only domestic animals that walk directly on their claws, not on their paws. This method of walking is called ''digitigrade.'' Please don't declaw!
Cats average 16 hours of sleep a day, more than any other mammal.
Cats can donate blood to other cats.
Cats can get ''age spots''. These are black spots on the skin that are often seen around the lips, eyes, and nose; and usually start when the cat is three to five years of age.
Cats can get bored. They show their boredom by excessive licking, chewing, or biting.
Cats can have freckles. They can appear anywhere on a cat's skin and even in its mouth.
Cats can see up to 120 feet away. Their peripheral vision is about 285 degrees.
Cats have a homing ability that uses its biological clock, the angle of the sun, and the Earth's magnetic field.
Cats have a third eyelid, called a haw, that is rarely visible. If it can be seen, it could be an indication of ill health.
The only live animal allowed in ancient Roman temples was the cat.
A cat has approximately 60 to 80 million olfactory cells while a human has about 5 to 20 million
