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Ever since I can remember, we always had house cats. Having grown up in a rural area at the time, the family cat was the one I spent most of my time playing with as a kid. Other than just one other single child in the entire neighborhood (a total of 3 residences) by default, she became my closest companion. No matter..... She just loved snow forts and playing games of hide & seek...... In retrospect, I don't think she actually perceived herself as being a cat..... More than just a companion, an early bond had formed that would continue on for many years to early High School when she passed away .... Her loss was my first encounter having lost a soul whom I'd loved dearly........
Perhaps growing up with them, makes them an integral part of your life, which in my case, also carried over in later years into the business environment as well. Digital Equipment Corporation (at that time a 14 Billion dollar Fortune 50 (read: Fifty !) Corp, had a Corporate Cat on staff.. The head receptionist at the main Corporate entrance, took in and adopted a local stray cat with the blessing of Ken Olsen - CEO, President & founder. He became the unofficial Corporate greeter. Every time I went in through the main entrance, just about anyone waiting for their appointment, couldn't pass up the opportunity to make friends. Perhaps, this was DEC's ultra secret & highly effective marketing weapon ! Only a hunch, but I would guess that he might have been personally responsible for tens of millions in sales just by putting potential customers at ease....... Let's face it: it's common knowledge that any place that has a contented cat on staff, speaks volumes about the real "Corporate Culture" (& not the "plastic dribble - fantasy world" concocted by Madison Ave)
Likewise, the Companies I owned also usually had several "working" cats "on staff". Not only did the employees immensely enjoy having them around, but so did the customers. (At least the ones not allergic to cat dander that is).... Something about a very social cat cozying up to a client that puts everyone at ease....
Often times, customers would just "stop by" just to visit with Barclay or one of the others they established a relationship with. It was a common occurrence that all of us took note of... (it was also somewhat "humbling" and clearly established the true "pecking order", knowing they often stopped by just to visit Barclay and not us !)....
The Airport Cat
The "original" Barclay - Circa 1978
(Scanned from the front page of the regional newspaper who did
numerous articles on him)
The photo and article was captioned "Minuteman
Airfield's Night Manager"
Brief Background:
At the time, we were called Air Image Technology,
Inc that specialized in Aerial Photography, Planimetric Mapping and Aerial Thermographic
surveys...
Since we used both fixed wing and helicopters for our aerial survey work,
we were located at Minuteman Airfield in Stow, MA - FAA designation 6B6
That's how we came to know & take care of Barclay.
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Barclay wasn't really "owned" in the conventional sense by anyone - - - although it is common knowledge that no one ever truly "owns" a cat. Found as an abandoned kitten and taken in by Jean (one of the early coffee shop waitresses), Barclay was raised & grew up at the airport. Jean subsequently left and later Betsy who ran the Coffeeshop took over taking care of him during the day with the blessing of Don, the Airport Owner & Manager. Betsy often referred to him as "The BIG B"........
Raised & taken care of by everyone, Barclay was a highly social cat and almost nothing ever seemed to bother him, including the roar of aircraft engines and turbines. Those sounds were all part of his world and the only one he ever knew. What made Barclay special, was that he loved to go flying when in the right "mood". That was highly unusual for a cat, even considering he grew up both in & around aircraft. The first time he flew with us, he came down and jumped in our Cessna while we were performing the pre-flight inspection. He entered through the open pilots door and made himself at home atop the instrument panel. We were somewhat intrigued at this behavior & thought he would leave once the engine started, but instead, remained undaunted. A fast taxi down the active runway refused to evoke a negative reaction, as Barclay just continued to lay atop the panel and take it all in. We could only assume at that point he desired to go aloft ! So having taxied again into position and holding with Barclay still remaining undaunted, I opened the throttle to full takeoff power. We both thought this might arouse his concerns with the acceleration forces, vibration and noise levels . Instead, he just lifted his head from dozing to observe the takeoff. Once at altitude and throttled back, he just laid his head back down and took in the view... We were pretty amazed !
Come to find out, Barclay flew with many of the pilots at the airfield, but I think his favorite aircraft was our Cessna 172 single engine (perhaps since it was also one of the quietest we used). Though we used both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft, his love of flying however was limited to fixed wing airplanes, and we could never entice him to jump into either the small Robinson R-22 or the larger Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter..... Initially we thought he just didn't like the high pitched whine of the Jet Ranger's turbine as it spooled up, but neither could he be cajoled or even bribed into entering the R-22 - which had a conventional Lycoming gas engine..... the sound (other than the beating rotor blades) of which he was normally well accustomed to. Cessna's, Pipers, Aero Commanders etc : single or multi-engine were just Fine.... just as long as "the sucker" had fixed wings.... but no way under the sun was he gonna "set paw" into one of those unforgiving whirling contraptions that shook unmercifully & was held aloft by just one "Jesus Nut".... (In retrospect, I've come to conclude he had far more common sense than what we did...)
Anyways, while not "slipping the surly bounds of earth & dancing the skies on laughter-silvered wings", Barclay could often be found in his personal chair at the airport coffee shop where he could keep track of airport operations and also fulfill his other equally important duty as that of Official Coffeeshop Food Appraiser (Read; OCSFA Agent). Woe be to anyone that dared take Barclay's designated Coffee Shop chair !
Most commercial Airline pilots also have their
own personal aircraft and both Bruce & Florey both Delta Captains, were
no exception. Anytime either would depart Logan & be clear of the Boston
TCA, they'd call in on the Airports' Unicom frequency and often ask Betsy who
had a radio right by the grill in the Coffeeshop, how Barclay was doing amongst
other chatter. Other pilots would listen in ,and it wasn't long before his fame
& reputation as the "Flying Cat", spread throughout the airline aviation community...
Barclay had more press coverage than any cat I know. Dozens of articles were
written about him over his lifetime in the local newspapers. Thus it was
not unusual for folks to drive out to the airport just to meet the real Barclay
who's life's adventures they would read about in the regional newspaper & would
often compete with one another for the privilege of "Dining with Barclay" at
the Airport Coffeeshop.
So adored was he by all the pilots that frequented the airfield, he was also the only cat I knew that had his very own personal physician who's Veterinary Clinic was located in neighboring New Hampshire & yet flew in with his Cessna 310, to give him his checkups & medical attention all "pro bono". ( How many of us can lay claim to that level of medical attention no matter how comprehensive our policies or high the premium payments ??? )
When not "busy" guarding the coffee shop or beating the ever-loving stuffing out of "Golden", the airport dog, Barclay spent the rest of his time with us. Since we were usually open 24/7, Barclay had his evening sleeping accommodations at Air Image Technology located in the north hanger and south office building. So by default we ended up becoming his primary "care givers". Even the Stow Police Dept visited nightly to check on him while making their rounds.... (Funny:..... in retrospect, they seldom stopped by just to see if we were ok !) Anyways, goes without saying I suppose, that he was also the most intelligent cat I ever knew.... (and I've had quite a few)........ I swear he understood simple sentences and specific key words.....
Two private pilots often frequented the field: - Chet and Natalie Jacobson who both News Anchored as well as hosted the nationally acclaimed and syndicated Chronicle Series on WCVB-TV. Not only did they immediately hit it off with Barclay being pilots themselves, but being news professionals, both Chet & Natalie knew a good story when they saw it, & planned on doing a Chronicle special on him. No more being just a famous local newspaper celebrity; Barclay was about to hit the big time & go "National" !
Sadly, several weeks before his scheduled taping, Barclay disappeared. A week was spent searching the woods, fields and runway approaches all to no avail. Just about everyone at the airport was devastated..... By now he was much more than just the Airport Cat - He had long since become one of us.....
In tribute, every pilot Barclay flew with got together one Saturday morning
& flew a "missing man formation" in his memory........
Barclay had simply become one of us.....
Upon landing, hardly a dry eye could be
found between us.......
(I suspect he might have been the first cat to receive such a tribute).
Amazing how an old orange airport cat can have such a profound effect on everyone he touched.
Some 30 years later, and the names of many of the people who frequented the airfield at that time, have tended to fade with memory...
But everyone from that period remembers Barclay.
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I suppose many folks have their own personal
"crusades".... "Save the Whale, March for AIDS, Walk for Cancer, Save
the Children, Make a Wish, Save the Forests,
Save the Elephants, Tigers, Sea Turtles, Wolf, Mosquitoes or whatever.
The list seems almost endless, and most worthy of support. (ok... maybe
not so much the mosquitoes)...
But I'm only a small business & can thus afford to take on only one crusade
at any given time...
For me, I choose to take in homeless - abandoned
cats and often those that often stand little chance of being adopted due to
sickness or other medical problems....
I am not an official shelter (though I'd no doubt qualify) and as an individual,
can only provide a good home for up to a maximum of 16 at any given time.
But that is my own small crusade....
Truth be known, the audio/video business s nothing but a "front" & funding source for the animal shelter......
What follows is a partial list of the more
recent cats that have been adopted.
Many successes, but also some heartbreaking losses .... (†)
I suppose when one takes in very sick cats, some losses are to be expected. Doesn't make it any easier though....
Latest News:
12-22-2007
Adopted Grace - a 3 year old female with a compulsive licking disorder.
12-21-2007
Kiska had her stitches removed Barclay, Sara & Poncival for booster shots
12-11-2007
Kishka to Vet to be spayed and 5 kittens for their first shots and checkup
8-27-2007
At 1:30 am this morning, Kishka the feral house cat, gave birth to 5 kittens. Caught me totally by surprise as all my "Guys" have been neutered and Kishka is a indoor cat who never is allowed outside... So somewhat of a mystery who ole "Dad" is.
8-25-2007
Sprout had 2 teeth removed last month.... Not many left, but seems to pose no problem as far as eating goes.....
7-18-2007
Sprout, Smudge & BK headed to the vet today. BK for routine shots and Sprout and Smudge for their first checkups. Sprout has a bad front incisor tooth, so he'll be getting that removed on the 31st
7-7-2007
Two new additions...... Smudge and Sprout ! (That now makes 11)
I've been "watching" them on HSKC's web site for some time..... so today, I decided to go adopt them
Both are elderly cats ........ 13 & 12 years old respectively. One other elderly one I'll continue to watch and see if adopted.... If not: (most likely the case) then will go after that one before URI's take their first winter tolls....
6-26-2007
New Addition ... BK !
Now officially part of the family ! ( Now totaling 9)
6-14-2007
Having lost 4 in the past year to FipV, I've held off taking
in any more. Now appears that it's mercifully run its' course....
6-5-2007
All 8 are doing fine !
Lara has been renamed !.... I started noticing (pretty hard not to notice) that every morning there would be Q-Tips in the water bowl. First I thought one might have been knocked off the counter & fallen in, but it was suddenly becoming a daily occurrence. There's always Q-Tips all over the place here, since we use them for cleaning audio and video heads, but even after cleaning up all the loose ones about, there would still be Q-Tips in the water bowl each morning. This was a mystery
I suspected Merlin as being the culprit, since he's the one that's always been fascinated with water, but finally caught Lara "red handed". Turns out she'll scrounge the entire place for a Q-Tip and if none can be found loose, then she'll proceed to the video room and "open a new box". She'll put nothing else in the bowl - only Q-tips !
So... I renamed her "Q-Tip" or "Que'y" for short !
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Mama Kitty- Adopted Spring 1990 Found as an adult cat one rainy Sat am in Boxborough, MA soaked to the bone and appearing half starved... Gave her a can of tuna and figured I just got another cat ! Well she stays a week, checks the place out... "Hmmmm.... Good food, warm & dry, allowed to sleep anywhere I please, have the entire run of the place, and even the employees spoil me rotten..... PLUS the owner's a real "pushover" ! --- "Cushy Setup"..... think I'll bring "The Kid"....... So a week later she shows up with her kitten approximately only two weeks old. Pretty smart to check us out first..... but did I ever get "suckered"..... I named her kitten Skrunchy Mama Kitty was found in the spring of 1990 and the vet guessed she was already 4 years old by then. Mama Kitty would curl up with me at the end of each day. She was put to sleep Dec 10, 2004 after living a long good life. (18 years old) |
Skrunchy - Spring 1990 The only daughter of Mama Kitty.... She appeared to be 99% pure Maine Coon with all the temperament. The vet suggested she most likely had been adopted by the mother, since they were so different.... She loved to play, and typical of a Maine Coon, was quite inquisitive. Whether working on the lobster boat or repairing a car or tractor, Skrunchy would jump right in and observe for as long as I was busy, though she was never what you would call a "lap cat". Each spring come boat prep time, she'd climb the ladder to check it out, and claimed it for her very own". The only time she ever became a" lap cat" was when she kept my Mom company in her last days. My guess is she sensed what she had to do, as she was also my Mom's favorite.... Losing her was especially hard, as she was in a sense, the last living link with my Mom. Ironically, Skrunchy also died of uterine cancer, as had my Mom... |
Barclay - Adopted: Feb 2005
Turns out Barclay is a true lap cat and despite the picture of making him out to be a total loaf, is actually a good "mouser". Barclay is now amazingly well
adjusted and one whom you would call a real Pal... Update - Sep 2007: Barclay still
goes mousing and manages to catch some !
Not bad for an old guy of 78 in human years ! |
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Jenny - Jenny Adopted: Feb 2005
While there, I always check out their quarantine room where they keep the really sick cats. The poor things there never stand a chance of adoption since they are so sick. Jenny-Jenny as I call her, would stick her paw out to drag me back each time we'd start to move on to another cage - despite being so sick. No sense looking further ... Took several long months to build her health back, but she's now an avid hunter. She is not what I'd call a "lap Cat", but she still loves chin scratches and evening brushings... just so long as it's on her own terms ! |
Baxter - Adopted Feb 2005 Since Baxter was Barclay's brother and also 12 years old, it was only fitting that I take him as well. Baxter like his brother Barclay, was another true "lap cat" and always eager to help out with any office task. Unlike Barclay that never ventured beyond sight of the house, Baxter instead was a " wanderer". Baxter sadly disappeared Aug
2005 Baxter was a neat cat and his loss was the final motivation to purchase a Radio Direction Finder and transmitting collars for every remaining cat I had. I really didn't care much what it cost.... Having a transmitting collar probably wouldn't have saved him, but would have alerted me to the fishers in the area had I found his remains earlier. Baxter was a neat cat whom I really missed..... |
Boomer - Adopted Dec 29, 2005 With Boomer, a special bonding took place that cannot be expressed in words. He will be missed dearly... I went back to the shelter to
pick up Memo, Sara & Herman. With 3 cats being adopted that day,
I was in no mood to get yet another. But this little pure black
cat leapt up on my shoulder and wouldn't come down.
As soon as I'd put him down, he'd follow close behind and leap up
again as soon as the opportunity presented itself again. The shelter
staff said they never saw anything like it.....
He was determined, relentless, and not about to take "No"
for an answer.... Boomer was something special - and anyone who has ever met him wanted to take him home. Even when going to the vet, everyone wants to come out and meet him. He has a certain charm that can't be put into words. Why he was always passed over for adoption at the shelter shall forever remain a mystery. Consequently. "War" has been
declared on the local Coyote population. Click HERE to read more on Boomer |
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Memo - Adopted 12-29-2005 Though I normally only consider cats no one else would want, an almost instant friendship with Memo was made while at the shelter..... No real surprise that Memo settled in literally within a minute of his arrival in his new home. It didn't take long for a strong bond to form. There was this morning ritual where after washing my face in the morning, Memo would hop on my shoulder from the bathroom sink countertop, and make the short "commute" to the kitchen for breakfast. Every morning - no fail... Memo was the only cat I ever had that loved to play fetch. He'd bring his toys back and drop it right in your hand, while waiting for you to toss it again so he could give another chase. How he loved to play & the least amount of attention would result in Memo drooling in sheer ecstasy. Sadly, Memo was hit and killed by a car March 22, 2006. That was a hard loss, and for the past 3 days, I haven't been able to concentrate on much of anything. Coding this page is one of the ways I'm dealing with it. Hard to believe how attached you can get. Memo was something special..... Of all the miles of empty woods and fields out back, why did he have to venture way out on Rt-220.... I'm not even close to the main road ??? ...... In all other endeavors other
than when it comes to cats, I'm hardly a "touchy-feely" type personality,
but cried for 3 days over his loss... Makes it especially
tough when you've bonded..... Don't think I'll ever see another cat toy laying about without thinking of Memo.... |
Sara Adopted: 12-29-2005 About time for her fortunes to take a turn for the better... Took several months to put some
weight on her ,as she was nothing more than skin and bones....
The Vet says the heart murmur is permanent due to
her near starvation.... there is no cure. Today however, you'd
never know it from her activity level ! Amazing what
a good loving home and nutritious food will do.... Today, she is the most active
of the adult indoor/outdoor cats who likes to hunt and roam.
(If this is the result of a bad heart
murmur, then I think I 'm also in need of something similar ! To the SOB (sorry.. but that's about as kindly as I can put it) that tossed both her & her kittens out into the cold Maine winter, fitting justice I figure if what "goes around, comes around". (such things often do)..... The sob will get no sympathy whatsoever from me, & pray my tax dollars won't support their Socialist State subsidized lifestyle when ultimately, "what goes around", finally comes around... Wish I knew who brought Sara & her kittens to the shelter.... I would love to keep them updated on how Sara made out in life... * * * * * * * 6-27-2007 ..... Curiosity has the best of me..... Think I'll call the shelter and see if I can find out who it was....
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Herman Adopted: 12-29-2005 I spied Herman on the Shelter's web page. Let's face it: Herman had a face that only his mother could love !....... Herman was also suffering from an on going eye infection at the shelter and had heart problems. He was 13 years old when I got him. Not many people will adopt an old sick cat, so the chances of Herman ever being adopted, ranged from extremely slim to virtually none ..... He remained at the shelter close to a year and was always "passed by"... Poor Herman - and with being so depressed & stressed with shelter life, his chances of surviving in the shelter just another several months, were equally remote. Add to that, he also had a bad heart murmur. So, ended up taking in Herman as well. Bartonella bacterial infection was the cause of Hermie's eye problems, & once given the appropriate antibiotic, his eyes finally cleared up... Turns out, once settled in, Herman is a great and loyal companion. Today, he is far from depressed and is living out his "retirement years" in an ideal environment for an elderly cat. Hard to know what they think or on what level they reason (other than to say that they obviously do - perhaps more so than what we might suspect), but my guess is that Hermie senses what was done for him and displays his appreciation with a deep affection. Herman sleeps with me every night... Perhaps due to his early appearance.....
but around the office, he's known as "The Herman-ator" |
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Sundance Feb 2000 Sundance was a male feral cat that showed up on the rear deck each day... I'd trap him in the basement for the brutally cold winter months here in Maine, but could never venture close. Though he finally learned to trust me enough to come within a foot or so for breakfast and supper, he forever remained feral. April 2004 is the last time I saw Sundance. I never really got to know Sundance , other than to know he had a hard life. I made his winter months easy as possible but felt it cruel to hold him "hostage" come each spring. I took care of Sundance for 4 years as best I could. I never knew what became of him - a Coyote most likely.... But he lived his life the way he wanted, and disappeared with a full tummy..... For some; that's all you can do.......
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Kelly Jun 21 2006 Occasionally I take in a stray based solely on their looks & personality. Kelly though I'd guess about 5 yrs old has one of those kitten faces that she'll keep for life. Took her all of 5 minutes to adjust and fit right in with the rest. It did not take long to fall in love with Kelly I only had her 2 months.... Where her collar was found were bits of Coyote fur as well, so I can safely say it was a Coyote that was her demise. We have a serious Coyote problem in the local area. Even few deer or wild turkey left, since the exploding Coyote population has done them all in. I subsequently renewed my hunting license to thin out the coyote ranks. Update: June 2007 I've renewed my Maine Hunting License again for 2007, for the express purpose of exterminating as many Coyote as possible. I realize it's the natural order of things.... but so isn't protecting the ones you've come to love.
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Boo Sep 17, 2006 With two "vacancies", I found another little guy at the Humane Society of Knox County in Rockland, ME that also needed a good home. He was found alone & abandoned under a garage in Rockland, ME on July-24-2006 which would have made him about 5 weeks old at the time. He got off to a rough start with another bad Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) which seems endemic to all animal shelters, but now his fortunes have indeed improved.... Named "Du" (pronounced "Dew") by the shelter, I find myself calling him Boo. So Boo it is ! Boo as of Nov 1, is now completely healthy & loves to play ! Not on the true bonding level of the former Boomer (that was a one in a million) , but I've become quite attached to him ! Unlike Boomer, Boo prefers the indoor life..... He's such a bundle of energy;
now I have to go find him a "playmate" ! |
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Merlin - Nov 11, 2006 Went to the shelter Veterans
Day only to find a playmate for Boo. Turns out, that Boo just
loves to play, but most of the others I've taken in are too old
to be bothered, since I often adopt older cats no one else
wants... As expected, took Merlin all of 3 minutes to settle in to his new surroundings. What was not expected however;
was that no fewer than 10 minutes later after his arrival, both
Merlin and Boo were "tear assing" up and down the hallway
in a great games of chase to be followed by playful bouts of wrestling
and tumbling in great furry balls together ! I recall telling Merlin on the
ride back, "You're going to like this place"....
Don't think he (or Boo for that matter who was told
the same thing) has ever had any reason to doubt the prophecy....
* * * * * * * Poncival and Merlin also have
developed quite a friendship. Constant play wrestling, interrupted
only by numerous nap times while their "batteries re-charge"
Merlin was always fascinated by
running water. Merlin can't wait to play with the running
water each morning when I wash my face. Kind of a weird
behavior....... |
Ankara - Nov 11, 2006 - Despite being so sick, the two
of us hit it right off, and she quickly alighted atop my shoulder
and would not come down. Guess she decided, she had enough
of being in quarantine & wanted a home - "Kitty Plague" or not. * * * * * * * Sadly, Ankara came back positive
for exposure to the group of Corona Viruses of which FipV
was the most likely, based on other symptoms. Sadly, she unexpectedly died in her sleep while at the Vet's... Dec 1, 2006 Such a sin... Like poor Weymouth that was also adopted the same day, she finally gets a good home and falls prey to the FipV virus that also claimed Weymouth while at the shelter. |
Weymouth - Nov 11, 2006 Weymouth was nothing but skin and bones when I first saw him. So thin that he looked like a kitten.. He was very weak & the shelter could not get him to eat. It was thought he had only a bad URI infection & good home might all be that was needed, once "unstressed" by shelter life & continuing on his antibiotics for a bad URI. Once out of the shelter, he would start eating & begin to improve.. That was the assumption, hope & plan... So, adopted him - set him up by the coal stove with a humidifier for his congestion, and gave him constant attention. He would follow me everywhere the first 2 days, despite being so weak. He was such a loving little fellow... Didn't take long to fall in love with the little guy. He would purr - purr - purr & snuggle close, loving just to be held..... Like Boomer, Weymouth was something special.... But by the 2nd day I had him, it was clear he might have something far more serious than just a bad URI. He was clearly slipping... Took him to the Vet on 11-13. They took blood work, put him on IV fluids and loaded him up on more antibiotics. Meanwhile, I had to force feed him a small amount every hour just get get something in him.... The results of the blood work came back Nov 17.. He tested negative for Fiv but sadly positive for one of the Corona Viruses - most likely FipV, which is always fatal. Sadly, there is no cure for the FipV virus, and he had all the other tell-tale symptoms... Weymouth went into convulsions about 5am. An emergency call to the vet brought Christine of Medomak Vet Services, out to the house to put him asleep at 5:32 am. Losing Weymouth was especially hard..... No sooner had I'd fallen in love with him, than I'd lost him...
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Doyle Nov 19, 2007
Only thing left as a tribute to Weymouth that is in my power, is to give good homes to two others of similar unfortunate circumstances. I suppose you could say that poor Weymouth lost everything so that two others could live.... I suppose that's the good that comes out of it..... Doyle had been raised at the shelter since he was a kitten. Too bad..... as black cats are often passed over... merely based on the color of their fur & markings..... Doyle is a little bundle of energy, who also plays to the point of sheer exhaustion with Boo, Poncival and Merlin. Doyle almost seems part feral...
Doyle finally came entirely out of his shell ! He now spends all day playing with Poncival, Boo & Merlin... Non-stop action & even Jackson is now feeling better enough to start to join in. Feb 1, 2007 Doyle went downhill rapidly and was diagnosed as yet another with FipV. Doyle was sadly Euthanized Feb 5, 2007
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Poncival 11-19-2006 Poncival and Merlin are the best of Pals. (Poncival is the one on top with his paw draped over Merlin, after both having collapsed from sheer exhaustion due to hours of strenuous play) * * * * * * * Turns out, Poncival loves to
play fetch. I tossed one of his favorite toys (A plastic ball
with a bell inside - the exact same that Memo loved to play fetch
with) down the hallway, and he promptly brings it back and drops
it next to my hand as if to say "give it another toss", so the fun
might continue. 20 or so tosses later, and each & every time
he prances back the hallway, and drops it right in front of me.
Guess it's not a fluke ! * * * * * * * Poncival sleeps with me each night. He can never seem to get close enough ! He was adopted at the same time the others who succumbed to FipV.... As of June 2007, Poncival is now fully grown.. Looks like Poncival escaped its' ravages .... Though free to come and go, Poncival prefers the indoor life... Update: July, 72007 Poncival is healthy & active. At almost 13 lbs, he's a bit overweight. (Hard with 9 of them to put just one on a "diet") I adopted Poncival about the same time as Ankara, Weymouth & Doyle - all of whom succumbed to FipV Luckily it seems; Poncival so far, has "dodged the bullet"...
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Jackson 12-3-2006 Update 12-7-2006 Jackson is well on the mend
and now has quite an appetite ! Clavimox
® is part the cure, but also
suspect his baking behind the coal stove for 2 days also had a lot
to do with it ! * * * * * * * I suppose when one takes in sick cats from the shelter that no one else wants, it's occasionally to be expected. Doesn't make it any easier though.,.. In light of the poisoned Cat Food recall of early 2007, I now suspect Jackson might have been an early victim...
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| Kishka
(Shelter name: Seoul) - Adopted Dec 22, 2006 Female - approx 4 years old Kishka is feral. Yet both her and Lara (now renamed to Q-Tip) were shelter "pals". I wasn't even considering Kishka, but seemed a sin to break them up, so ended up adopting both. Kishka's original shelter name was Seoul (Like North Korea). My Mom had a similar looking Kitten whom she named Kishka. Thus for no other reason, Seoul became known as Kishka. 6 months later, and Kishka has just started to come around just a bit. She wants to be near, but still far too afraid of humans to allow even being approached. She'll probably always remain feral.. Thought I lost her when she escaped outside and didn't return for two days. Just when I thought she was a "gonner", who shows up but Kishka ! She may be feral, but feral or not; she now knows where her real home is ! Unlike a traditional "barn cat", she's got it pretty easy. She lives the indoor life. She plays with all the others and is quite social. "Normal" in all respects - just not trusting of humans..... No matter... I have plenty of "lap - cats" and Kishka also needed a home... Chances of her being adopted by anyone else, seemed remote. Update: 8-27-2007 1:30 am Kiska unexpectedly gave birth to 5 healthy kittens ! |
Q-Tip
(Shelter name: Lara) Adopted Dec 22, 2006 Female: approx 4 years old With the passing of Jackson, I decided to take in another and Lara was another "hard Luck" case.... Far more socialized than Kishka, she had all the earmarks of being abused as a kitten & will cower in fear or bolt when you extend your hand.
In the same basket with Lara, was Kishka. I was never
expecting to take in Kishka, so that was one of those impulsive
decisions. |
Smudge - Adopted 7-7-2007 13 year old female when adopted Smudge was 13 years old when I adopted her. (already a "Senior Citizen")...... She has been at the shelter since Feb 2007. Like many of the others I took in, no one it seems wants older senior cats or cats that are sick... yet they are also in desperate needs of good homes... With the stress of shelter life & so many URI's during the winter months, few elderly cats survive beyond a year at any shelter... Though she was quite stressed with the ride back from the shelter, Smudge settled right in within 2 hours..... The "Cat Veranda" has already firmly met with her approval ! ..... (Just wait til she discovers the virtues of curling up behind the wood/coal stove during the long cold Maine winters !) Of all the elderly cats, I've taken in, I have yet to be disappointed. All have seemed to have keenly sensed what's been done for them & have displayed their affections appropriately. I already have no doubt Smudge will be another.... She relishes attention ! 7-26-07 Update: Last night, there was great games of chase up and down the hallway at 3am - enough to awaken even me from a deep sleep ! The end of the game of chase always terminated by the final leap to the bed, where they'd wrestle & then "tear ass" back down the hallway again.... I was actually amazed to find that one of the participants in the game was Smudge ! .... I should be so fortunate to have that energy level when I'm 68 (equivalent in human years)... |
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Sprout - Adopted 7-7-2007 12 year old male when adopted. Perhaps, one could surmise by this time that I tend to adopt those which otherwise stand little chance of being adopted. Most visitors to the shelters it seems, desire healthy young kittens or young adults... The result being that cats such as Sprout or Smudge, usually get passed over.... (Guess one could say I'm a "sucker" for hard luck cases) Sprout arrived at the shelter in June of 2007 after his original owner had passed away... His name "Sprout" was given by his original owner, to which I surmise that "Sprout" was the littlest of the litter..... Sprout is highly socialized and adores the least bit of attention. He was obviously well loved & adored by his previous owner. Sadly, Sprout found his world turned upside own - abandoned, homeless & in need of medical attention. Sad commentary: Apparently the owner's own offspring were more interested in their inheritance & estate assets, than they were in Sprout. Though 12 years old and many years since being the "runt of the litter", his activity level seems much more like that of an 8 or 9 year old. Though the first visit to the vet revealed an otherwise healthy status, Sprout does have a bad front incisor tooth which is obviously bothering him. He's scheduled for dental work 7-31-07. Sprout had 2 teeth removed & is doing fine. He will "kill" for Pizza ! |
5 New Kittens ! - Born 8-27-2007 1:30 am At about 1:30 am I was alerted to high pitched cries. Thought at first it was someone or something hurt. Instead, Kishka had just given birth ! Kishka is feral and one cannot get close, so was never able to catch her to get spayed. Yet it was of little immediate concern, as (supposedly) all my male cats have been neutered. She did escape through a broken screen once and disappeared for two days, so a good chance, that's what happened. Anyways they look like 4 little micro "Boomers" and 1 micro "Barclay". Only 4 shown here as one is very weak being the "Runt of the Litter" and needs to be hand fed so he gets his "fair share". In light of his rough start in life, I've decided to name him TK (Tiny Kitten) It's almost impossible to get good pictures of the 3 all black ones, as they show only in "outlined" silhouettes ! Update 8-30-07: TK is reportedly now doing fine, being hand fed by Nikki at Medomak Vet Services. Turns out, all 5 kittens are males ! More to come......
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Grace - Adopted 12-22-2007 3 Year Old Female when adopted Not just the kids lose in a divorce - often times the pets do also and have no idea what is happening to them. Grace was upset at shelter life and had started compulsively licking herself to the point of licking the fur off her one side. No one else wanted Grace it seemed - especially with her compulsive licking disorder, as she was always being passed over. Ever the sucker for hard luck cases, I adopted Grace. Hopefully in a far less stressful home environment, she'll lose the compulsive licking now having more entertaining things to do ! Updated picture & more to come..... |
News Flash !
Aug 27, 2007 1:32am: Kishka gave birth to 5 kittens ! 4 pure all black ones & one orange/white... What better opportunity to share the excitement of 5 new kittens !
Flash Movies
| More to come as they grow |
More to come as they grow
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| TK (all black) & "Micro-Barclay"
(orange) 13 Days old - Taken
9-9-2007 (8 mb Flash File) |
(To view this movie in Internet Explorer requires allowing ActiveX Controls
and having installed the Flash Player )
http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash
TK needs to be supplemented with hand feeding
"Micro Barclay" now has his eyes open. Only 13 days old & already purring and just loves chin scratches !
Socialization
All Kittens need to be socialized, so they never become afraid of their human companions. In that sense, they are no different than human children, in that they must develop in a non-stressful environment where they are well nurtured and cared for by both their feline Mother as well as human guardian. It's kind of a "team effort"..... Since in this case Kishka is feral, it's especially important they learn that humans are also their caregivers. As in our own species, most bondings come about thru play & being held.... My personal opinion; but playtime is perhaps most important. Playtime develops their full trust , in that however you handle them will never be construed as being a threat. Thus socializing kittens has to be not only one of the most rewarding and fun things you could do, but also one of the most easiest !
Kittens by their very nature love to play games of chase - wrestling & games of "hunting". All you have to do is provide them their own stress free protected room, and about 30 to 60 minutes of your time each day. Though only tiny kittens, they are not stupid and will quickly associate you not only as a nurturing provider of food, but also as a fellow playmate. It won't take long before a lifelong bond is formed.
Kitten Updates:
12-22-2007
Now nearly half grown, they have all turned into little terrors racing up and down the hallway, wrestling, playing and knocking things over ! (they play rough !) Come the end of Feb, it will be time to have them neutered. In the meantime, they're having too much fun just being kittens !
12-3-2007
TK is now a whopping 2.92 lbs... Now far from being the "runt of the litter", TK is thriving. In fact, he's now my favorite. A close bond has now developed and he'll snuggle close to sleep each night..
10-12-2007
TK is now up to 15.5 oz. All are doing fine and have become 5 "little terrors" !
10-6-2007
All are now fully weaned and taking wet kitten food supplemented with KMR. They still nurse, but seems now to be mostly out of habit - to be close to Mom - or just out of pure laziness. Perhaps a combination of all 3.... Shredding paper towels is great fun and last night, they discovered the other great fun of batting about balls with bells in them ! Probably should break them of shredding the towels in light of the entire house looking like a confetti strewn "battlefield" in the not too distant future, but they are having such great fun doing so, that I'll just let them be kittens... Plus, despite what some "raising kitten books" recommend, I figure it's far more important to give them a totally secure & trusting environment - especially in their first 2 months... As a result, all are already highly socialized and I'll be "swarmed" & covered in kittens within seconds of entering "Their" room.
They no longer are caged for the night and are free to roam the room as they please 24/7. The cage with the heated blanket is left open, but for the most part, they prefer to congregate in huge "Kitten Balls" often inside their play tunnel for the night...
So far, none is big enough yet to make the climb up on the bed, so my feet are still "safe" from playful kitten attacks at night.... In another week or two, I'm certain that will change & my own precious "paws" will be nothing more than another one of their imaginary prey to be pounced on in more great games of fun . Oh well, by that time, cold fall evenings will have arrived here in Maine, so another layer of blankets will afford some additional "protection"...
9-30-2007
Kittens for the first time now have full roam of the bedroom during the daytime. They were ecstatic to now have running room ! They ran and played to the point of exhaustion within 2 minutes of being given their freedom ! Come night time, they go back in their nursery cage that has a heated pad, but from now on, they are free to roam and play in the bedroom all day long.......
TK is no longer the runt of the litter. He is now up to 14.4 oz. Apparently being able to "dine" whenever he feels like it, agrees with him ! If he keeps on gaining weight like he has the past week, he might even have to go on a diet ! (just kidding)
/-----------------999999999999999999999999999999999999999-- (this is TK helping type for the first time !)
9-22-2007
TK is now up to 9.2 oz..... Still the "runt of the litter", but no longer any need to supplement him by hand feeding ! Ironically, TK is the very first to lap up KMR from the dish, and lick at the slurry of wet kitten food. He started doing that on 9-20-07. He still suckles, but is fast becoming "self sufficient". Never would have guessed he'd be the first to be weaned...
All have started to play.... Funny to watch, as they have yet to get their coordination down pat..... A typical "pounce" and then fall flat on their faces, since their rear legs didn't "do" what they intended. "Wrestling" however, they pretty much have mastered. Non-stop action for about 20 minutes, then they all crash for several hours to "re-charge".
Kishka has started taking short "sabbaticals". She'll leave for 2 hrs or so and then return to her Kits for another 6 hrs or so, much of which is camped out on one of the upper tiers of their nursery cage - just to be away, but also close........ Perhaps part of the weaning process.... She has also started "talking" to them, which she never did before..... Sounds like long - loud inquisitive purrs/chirps... One has to wonder how much is pure instinct, how much is reasoned and possibly what she is communicating...
9-14-2007
TK is now up to 6.2 oz ! - The eye infection seems to have cleared up !
9-12-2007
TK: 5.9 oz... still requires hand feeding to supplement Mom's milk - but now just once or twice per day. Though still far lagging behind his other siblings, he's now up to 5.9 oz. He made a lot of progress the past few days ! He appears to have a mild right eye infection, so have started him on some ophthalmic erythromycin to clear it up...
The others are doing fine. "Micro Barclay" (only orange one) is the most developed. Both eyes fully open and just starting to get the "hang" of walking !
9-9-2007 TK update
TK is now back to 5.2 oz - still requiring hand feeding, but now will try 3x daily. A lot of good progress the past several days....
9-5-2007 TK update
Only 1 day later, but TK has slipped to only 4.7 oz .. Watched him for a good hour, but the others that are stronger, still push him aside. So now swapping him out with his other siblings each hour, to make certain he gets his "fair share". Also supplementing Mom by hand feeding with KMR every 4 hrs.....
9-4-2007
Brought TK home and he now weighs 5.2 oz... Put him back with Mom and his other siblings where he now seems to have the energy to "fight" for his fair share.
9-29-2007
One kitten I've named "TK" (for Tiny Kitty) is not doing well. He can't compete with his other siblings for Mama's milk. Took everyone to the vet today and really didn't expect TK to survive. However, some things are meant to be, and here TK had found his "Guardian Angel" in the form of Nikki at Medomak Vet Services who graciously offered to hand feed him to get him back on his feet.
8-27-2007
Kishka gave birth to 5 Kittens !
Kishka's New Kittens !
Born August 27, 2007 1:32am
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| Kishka
& family 4 of the 5 kittens were strong and healthy. TK in the foreground, was too weak to compete for his fair share. Within only one day, he became so weak I wasn't sure he would survive, so barely over a day old and off to the vet with him. He was so weak, that I thought they might recommend euthanizing him. I named him TK for "Tiny Kitten" |
Nikki & TK
Sept 4, 2007 Some things are meant to be, and here TK had found his "Guardian Angel" in the form of Nikki at Medomak Vet Services who graciously offered to hand feed him to get him back on his feet. TK has now put on weight (5.2 oz) and now has the energy to get his "fair share" of Mama's milk. I brought him back home today (9-4-2007)... I'll monitor him closely to make certain he's holding his own, but looks like he now has a good shot at a long life. Seems TK is destined to live, and when a situation arises that jeopardizes that plan, forces converge to insure the plan will be followed. Thus "Guardian Angel" might be much more than just a phrase... Who's to know...... Interesting witnessing Synchronicity in action..... |
TK Today: Dec 21, 2007 Nikki with TK at Medomak Vet Services who's care gave him a shot at life. TK's 2nd visit to the vet, this time just for routine shots and general checkup. No longer the "runt of the litter", TK is still small but was also the first to be weaned. Today, he's one of my favorites and just loves to play and wrestle... He's now just a bundle of energy ! Some heart breaks over the years from ones I couldn't save, but so far TK has been a miraculous success story ! |
Latest "addition" July 7, 2007 - Smudge and Sprout - both elderly cats - 13 and 12 years old respectively. HSKC
Dec 22, 2007 - Grace - adopted from the Humane Society of Knox County (HSKC) - Rockland, Maine
One might ask where I often "find" my fellow family members....
I haven't the writing skills to put into words, the dedication
of the staff and other supporters, to helping injured, sick, injured,
abandoned & lost animals, so I won't even attempt it...
It's a "No Kill" shelter, where an unfortunate soul is not "put down" for simple
lack of space. Anyone with a potential "shot" for life, is afforded a chance...
Local Vets and volunteers donate their time to give even the very sick and injured
a chance for a good home. Even so, the expenses of medication and other care
needs, makes financial support necessary.
Even if you reside on the other side of the planet and never will have the opportunity to visit, it is an organization most worthy of your support.
Can't adopt or live to far away so as to make a visit to the
shelter impractical ?
Then offer to sponsor one of the shelters' cats or dogs, until such time as
they are adopted.
Other less obvious ways of helping, is to support those Vets & businesses that freely donate of their time. ("Actions speak louder than words" - as my Grandmother always said).
Most of us that adopt, look forward to emailing updated pictures and stories on how your formerly sponsored "kids" are doing !
Often more can come out of a sponsorship than you could possibly imagine !
http://www.humanesocietyofknoxcounty.org/cats.html
More Working and "Hard at Rest" Pictures plus observations
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| Skrunchy - Summer
2002 Always curious, she spent the entire day checking out the excavator while the new farm pond was being dug. Come 10 pm, she was still there taking it all in. |
Jenny - Baxter
& Barclay Don't recall the fascination - must have been a squirrel |
Baxter |
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| Merlin I've had many cats over the years, but Merlin is the only one who loves watching TV on a consistent basis.... Not just because there are moving images, but seems that he actually comprehends the content. It's clear that there are only certain programs he likes. He's not "in" to sitcoms, movies or even the Science Channel.... Those evoke no interest whatsoever. Instead, he only watches Animal Planet & America's Funniest Animals in particular, where other animals are the "stars". Once he hears the opening jingle, he comes running to obtain a front row seat ! Apparently he comprehends not only the images, but also recognizes audio cues as well.. He will sit mesmerized until (his) program ends.... (I've never witnessed anything like it before)...... I thought at first it was a fluke, where any image with movement, might trigger the natural "hunter" response endemic to all felines........ I've had many cats over the years that would occasionally appear to be watching TV, when instead, it was only the motion that triggered a response.. But this is different.... |
Merlin Now I'm convinced after observing for weeks, that Merlin actually has some level of comprehension, far beyond any "pre-programmed" instinctive response, since it's only certain programs that captures & holds his attention. If something he's really interested in, he'll move closer to take it all in, and will continue intently watching until the program ends or there's a commercial break - at which time, he loses interest again. (Unless of course... it's a Cat Food Commercial). (Here it would seem he has a keen interest in aviation or more likely, trying to figure out what the dog is up to) Certain ones seem to exhibit a much deeper understanding of their environment, than what we might initially surmise. With that said: I'd love to know what he's thinking..... Anyways; once his show is over, everything's pretty much back to normal behavior..... Only certain programs "starring" other animals seem to arouse his interest.... I'm still not sure what to make of it....... |
Sara Any open box, and Sara will quickly claim it as her own. With a love of boxes to nap in, she must feel like she's in "cat heaven" around here.. Of the other 8, Sara is the most adventuresome of the lot, and the one who prefers most to be outside. Ironically, she is the only one with a heart murmur, due to a rough start in life. Murmur or not, I find myself referring to her as "Turbo Kitty"... If this is the side effect of a heart murmur, think I'll ask my neighbor Doctor what I have to do to get one ! I worry about her being outside so much, but she loves to hunt & explore the open fields, pasture and woods that extends for miles around this place. Would seem a sin to keep her inside..... |
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Sara finally figured out the door latch ! For several days, she'd sit and watch exactly how it was done. No attempt to go out... She just sat and intently focused on how I did it.... I thought her behavior very strange at first... In retrospect: seems obvious "she was formulating a plan...." . She experimented for several more days, first by jumping from the floor to reach it. Though seldom effective, by then she clearly had figured out what the latch was for. The real breakthrough didn't come til a week or so later, when she found it much easier to access the latch from atop the printer. Now she opens it just as easily as I do... No "fumbling".... Just one single stretch, push and jump, and she's secured her freedom..... Easy as 1... 2... 3... ! I grabbed this picture, documenting the first critical step in how how she does it... ***** Think they're just "stupid cats" with not even any feelings or emotions ? Then better think again... As evidenced here, they have the power to observe, reason, learn, and act - - - based on their understanding of the physical world and how things actually work. Too bad the same couldn't be said of our Congress & Senate ! |
With 3 of them being excellent "mousers", we always
have to check packages ready to ship for "finished off" mice and mis-placed
cat toys.
(Kinda like kids that don't pick up after themselves !)
You might want to check out Mt Washington Observatory's cats http://www.mountwashington.org/photos/galleries/index.php?g=8
Cat Locators
* The views expressed herein, are based on our own personal experiences with the products, and may not be representative as that of others.
Cat LoCATor Review - Pet Tracking
Undoubtedly, the best pet locator system available - bar none !
(Read: This system works exactly as described with a full 1 mile range - at least here in the country !)
With so many cats to keep track of, I finally "broke down" and ordered radio transmitter collars for each of them and a receiver. As advertised, range is just about 1 mile.
Highly recommended for anyone with pets they value !
Trying to locate and keep track of our "hard working" Company Cats around here, was almost an impossible task before acquiring the Cat Locator. The Cat Locator solves all that, by way of radio transmitting collars that transmit a "ping" about once every second, on any of 30 channels and picked up on a portable handheld Radio Direction Finder. The receiver will track up to 30 pets or anything else you want to locate for that matter....
Voila ! - No more lost cats or hours wasted worrying and trying to locate them... or merely to check to see if they're "sluffing off" from their assigned duties. Plus, it's also Great Fun discovering all their secret hiding places !
This product works as advertised with a solid 1 mile range here in the country with a "clear shot" across open fields. Even in dense woods under far less than ideal conditions, it's still at least a solid 1/2 mile ! Transmitters operate continuously for about 1 month on a single inexpensive CR-2032 "button" battery, whereas the receiver uses a single, commonly available 9v battery , allowing up to 10 hrs of continuous operation. A nice feature is that the transmitters emit a "double ping" when there are only several days left of battery life left !
Just enter any one of the 30 channels and walk in the direction from which the strongest signal is received. Takes a little practice learning how to recognize misleading reflections, since the transmitters operate at around 218 MHz, but once you've mastered that, you'll have the little fur-ball located in matter of minutes. Works equally as well for finding them inside the house... (Like when they magically "vaporize" just before their scheduled visit to the Vet).
With the system's useful range, working from a car with an external roof omni-directional antenna, you could cover an entire town in a matter of a few hours should they really have wandered far ! They also have collars for dogs or a small clip on transmitter for almost any application.. (like the car keys you're always losing for example). Another popular use is to keep track of Alzheimer's patients. The uses are limited only by your imagination !
If you have small pets, this works as advertised & is well worth it. Here in "Coyote Country", the ability to find one of our wandering felines has no doubt saved many a life.... Aside from that , considering all the thousands of hours wasted searching for lost cats over the years, and with over 9 adopted cats here now , we could no longer live without the technology !
The Cat Locator http://www.thecatlocator.com
Update: The cat loCATor ® is again available for sale in the United States.....
The new collars have even better range and the design now incorporates an improved weatherproof case that screws on and uses an o-ring, making it virtually waterproof. As a side benefit, the new collars no longer require batteries with pull tabs and standard CR-2032 will fit nicely. The units have an improved antenna woven into the collar and a screw that makes replacing a damaged or worn out collar a snap. The new collars have a slightly improved range (about 1.2 miles) here in the country.
Cat Loc8tor ® Review *
The Loc8tor ® from Loc8tor Limited in the United Kingdom, is another alternative. This model is still available and legal to purchase in the United States !
Transmitter Tag batteries last on average about 9 months and transmitters operate in the 2.4 GHz band. The receiver is much smaller than the loCATor ® above, has a small antenna built in to the sliding cover and is much easier to use and carry. (That's the good news !)
We ordered the loc8tor and 4 tags for locating our indoor cats as well as car keys and wireless headset I'm always "losing"..... and finally had time to evaluate it.
The first disappointment was that two of the original 4 tags ordered, arrived with outdated leaking batteries which corroded the inside electronics of two of the tags (the other two were ok). Upon contacting the manufacturer, we were told that leaking batteries and associated damage is not covered under warranty, despite the fact that's how they arrived installed in the tags direct from the manufacturer. (So much for quality control - much less product support). So after paying initially for 4, only two ever worked as received... Anyways the old corroded batteries were tossed and the printed circuit boards cleaned up with some WD-40, a parts brush and an air compressor to blast away remnants of the now diluted rusty, leaking "sludge". With the pcb cleaned up and two new batteries, at least one of the two corroded tags was able to be salvaged..... The other tag was so badly rusted, that it was beyond hope and was subsequently relegated to the kitchen trash container. For having made a brand new purchase, that experience was neither expected nor pleasant.
The issues of poor (or lack thereof) quality control aside; it's measured maximum range under absolute line of sight ideal conditions, was confirmed to be about 600 feet as advertised. With the tag hanging about 5 feet off the ground from a tree limb and with a "clear shot" and in direct view "shooting" across the back pasture, the absolute max range was just about 600 ft. (And we DO MEAN the absolute Max under the most ideal conditions with fresh batteries.!) However, real world range when the tag was affixed to a cat collar, was found to be reliable & "solid" only to 280 ft outdoors. This was determined by attaching two of the tags to the collars of two of our more "adventurous" & roaming "test cats" (Sara and Jenny). Both tags were attached to their collars which were now only 2" to 3" off the ground (or more accurately: snow - since it's winter here in Maine). The woods out back is fairly dense, so it came as no surprise that the real world range (for cat tracking applications anyways) was less than half. Hiding out in or under the barn is one of their favorite places. In this situation, range was a dismal 75 feet or so & a far cry from the touted 600 feet... The high pitched audible "beep" from the tags is not exactly loud or piercing, and can only be heard from about only 10 feet away if there is any ambient background noise such as wind. The audio level of the beeping tag is so low & at such a high frequency, as to be almost useless. In all fairness: the flashing led however, was found to be quite useful at night.
Indoors, we had no problem locating any of the tags. The receiver seems far less susceptible to misleading reflections than the above product - - - has a great backlight feature for night operations and the menus are clear and easy to understand. More of a consumer friendly type product, just select the cat/item's name from the displayed list of registered tags !
The tags however, are NOT weather resistant. One day of their wanderings outside wandering in wet grass or fog, and the tags will quickly fail due to moisture infiltration. The other problem is that the supplied lanyard that attaches to their regular collar is much too long. Every time they take a drink, the tag will end up submerged in their water bowl. You'll have to come up with a shorter lanyard or a way to affix the tag directly to the collar..... Not incorporating a weatherproof design into the tags, it would imply the designers never had a cat, much less even tried their collars out on one..... It's hard to fathom such a design oversight.....
Conclusion: For locating items within 280 feet such as car keys, or cats that never venture outside where you have a good general idea of where they are to begin with, and the tags are never exposed to even dampness, they work as advertised & is worth the price. I found the tags invaluable for locating car keys and my wireless phone headset which I'm always misplacing. In most cases, those are always within 100ft, so the Loc8tor's limited range isn't a factor... Not worrying about having to replace batteries but once every 9 months, is also a major convenience.... But for outdoor cats that typically roam on average 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile, none of those features count for much. The 280 foot or less real world range of the "Loc8tor" ®, is far too limited to be of any real value for such an application. (read: Near Useless) ..... For tracking & locating outdoor cats, any system to be useful, requires at least a solid 3/4 mile range and being impervious to moisture infiltration... The Cat Loc8tor ® meets neither of these criteria even under the most optimistic of circumstances, & is thus not recommended for outdoor cats. Course, those are the ones that really need long range transmitting collars !
Product support (or complete lack thereof) based on our experience, is a separate issue..... If your tags arrive with corroded batteries that damaged the tag transmitter, you in effect just purchased an expensive piece of rust, if our experience is representative of their customer support. Perhaps just a new overly zealous customer support rep that didn't want to "give away the farm" the first week on the job, but unwillingness on the part of the manufacturer to accept responsibility and make good, forces us to mention it.
The Loc8tor: http://www.loc8tor.com/
* The views expressed herein, are based on our own personal experiences with the product, and may not be representative as that of others.
TrackerRadio Review
Just recently discovered, Tracker Radio also offers a Cat Tracking System. We ordered a collar for evaluation and found that it performs very similar to Com-Spec's original tracking collars, with a 1 mile range and a rugged waterproof design.
More to follow as we learn more about the product....
http://www.trackerradio.com/pet-tracking-system/pet-tracking-products.asp
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In Loving Memory of Boomer |
Click here to read more on Boomer
and view a brief Flash Movie
Whitey The Seagull
Seal Trap Cove - Isle Au Haut, Maine
Though obviously not a cat, Whitey was something special. This is the highly condensed story....
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Whitey the Seagull - Isle Au Haut Maine For many years I would take the lobster boat out & head off to Isle Au Haut for an extended vacation. (a small island off the Maine Coast). One afternoon I heard a commotion and looked up to see an Osprey attack and kill a seagull on shore . Went to investigate and found this baby seagull chick. For lack of anything more original, I named him "Whitey", and finally found myself taking an entire summer off to raise a seagull chick.
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Every time I went back to the cove, Whitey would appear usually before I even had the anchor set. I had Whitey 12 years but come Spring 2004, he never showed up. Somehow, Seal Trap Cove never seemed the same.
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Pet Memorials
Adirondack Stone
Works
864 Newport/Gray Rd
Newport, NY 13416
315-845-6715
http://pet-memorial.lazyfrog.net/
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Highly Recommended Cat Products
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The high sides and thermal heater makes it a favorite especially during the winter. The high sides protect from drafts as well as offer security to "piles" of kittens ! Highly recommended from almost any on line vendor |
Each post is also a sisal rope scratching post. Placed just behind a bay window to give them a great elevated view, it will quickly become a favorite "hang-out" for the adults and play area for the younger ones ! Available from: http://www.lovethatcat.com
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Keep cats off any area. Won't harm their paws - just uncomfortable... Inexpensive, won't wear out, requires no batteries & it works ! http://www.mammothpet.com/training_aids.asp
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KH3097 Heated Thermo Kitty Perch ® * Highly recommended ! The high sides reduce window downwash of cold air. More importantly, the high sides help keep Kittens or the elderly from falling out and injuring themselves. Kittens especially love it and will "accumulate" in huge "kitten mounds" inside its protective sides - It's a big hit ! (with both me & them !)
You will not be disappointed ! |
NOT Recommended Products
There are not too many products we openly do not recommend, but these bear special comment.
Note: The following represents our own opinions & experiences and may NOT be indicative of what others may experience
But for someone who runs a mini-shelter with 15 cats, reviews are not "sugar coated"... "I call em as I see em"
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The complete lack of sides makes kittens almost guaranteed to fall off the edge, resulting in possible injury. The lack of sides also makes the perch more susceptible to cold air downwash from the window. Unfortunately, this is the model that replaces the kh3097 (depicted above which was of a much better design...) Apparently lower cost to manufacture was the driving force (naturally without reducing the consumer price) However, installation is simple and is stable. Would make a nice platform for your own bed design. Compared to the kh3097 above & highly recommended, this is a far inferior product. A major disappointment. nice marketing picture of a Maine Coon though... |
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As an animal lover, please support your local shelter.
First of all: Adopt a homeless animal if
you can provide a loving home &
have the time to properly care for your fellow life partner
No domesticated animal should be homeless, abandoned or be forced to live out their lives in a shelter or worse yet: the streets.
Unable to adopt but still desire to help ???
Then consider the following:
Almost all shelters are in desperate need of the following items....
clay cat litter
canned dog and/or cat food
Kitty or Doggie Treats
Purina ONE dry dog food
cat toys, bedding, Kitty Castles, Scratching posts
Regular towels
rawhide dog bones
Pet Carriers
laundry detergent, dishwashing soap
hand soap sanitizer, waterless hand sanitizer
paper towels, latex gloves
tall kitchen bags, 33 gallon trash bags
shoe-boxed size plastic boxes with lids
hotdogs & string cheese