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From commentor Carol V:
These are Mandalay, a beautiful all-black princess, and Flash, a talkative yellow and white tabby. They’re in northern Colorado and in need of new homes.
Here’s their story.
My 80-year-old father, who lives in northern Alabama, has Alzheimer’s and a host of other medical problems, and all us kids finally convinced him to move into assisted living. Earlier, he’d moved from his large house to a 900-square-foot apartment in a retirement community, to which he brought 4 cats. Then, probably because of his disease, he adopted 2 more cats, both of whom the paperwork identified as “spayed females, 9 mos.” Well, they may have had the age right, but as to the spaying, not so much. One of them got out, had a debauched evening of joy, and subsequently, a litter of 6 kittens. Crowded cats aren’t happy cats, and soon began expressing their displeasure by ignoring the cat boxes, to the point of eye-watering stench the moment you walked in the door. This was all complicated by the fact that my father’s new “girlfriend” fired the cleaning service some months before so she could pocket the $200/week for herself (a whole ‘nother story for another day). Because of the girlfriend, we had to go to court to get a guardianship and control of his finances, and I got elected for the duty because I’m the oldest. Oh lucky me. The first thing we did is find new homes for the two younger cats and all the kittens. Not easy in northern Alabama, where the pet shelters are so overwhelmed that surrendered cats are usually euthanized within 2 weeks to make way for incoming.
In assisted living, my father is only allowed to have one cat. Since none of the kids believed the remaining cats should suffer because of our father’s illness, we decided to fly them to California and Colorado, where the pet welfare resources are better. Mandalay and Flash are the last two. They are currently living in my vet’s hospital because I already have 6 cats and at least one would be scarred for life if we took in more.
Mandalay is about 4 years old. She likes attention and petting, and will purr until she drools, but she’s shy, so it takes her awhile to warm up to new situations. She’s gotten much better at the hospital, with people coming and going all the time. She hisses like a leaky tire when startled, but she’s all sound and no fury, and quite tractable if you hold her so she feels safe. She was rescued in Alabama from the edge of a rain-swollen ditch when she was about 6 months old. She doesn’t like to venture outside for long. She’d very likely prefer to be a totally indoor kitty, where the unexpected doesn’t jump out and try to eat her. She likes to be up high, such as kitchen counters and tops of refrigerators, and may need gentle training that momentarily unwatched food is not fair game. As you can see, she poses beautifully for photos.
Flash is a confident 12-year-old neutered male with miles of personality and will tell you all about it. The pitch and timber of his voice hint at Siamese ancestry. He’s a bit on the festively plump side, so he should probably be kept on a high-protein, calorie-controlled diet. He loves attention and petting, and will follow you around to see what you’re doing and giving you a running commentary all the while. He’ll occupy your lap like a 99-percenter until your legs fall asleep. He used to be really skilled at dashing outside when he wasn’t supposed to, but he’s slowed down a bit in middle-age. He also steals sox and winter scarves and drags them around when given the opportunity. We think he’d accommodate well-behaved dogs quite nicely.
The cats could go together or be separated — they’re comfortable with each other, but aren’t a bonded pair. They’re currently living in Fort Collins (which is not on fire, by the way, just the foothills 15 miles to the west) and would very much like to have their own people and real homes, not just a cage. My family would be willing to help pay the costs for one or both cats to travel to the right home(s). They are sweet, wonderful cats who deserve a second chance.
If you’re interested in either of these two, or have any leads for potential new families, and you don’t want to put your contact information in the comments here, you can contact me at AnneLaurie @ verizon dot net (or click on my name to the right).
JGabriel
Damn, those are beautiful cats.
Keith
I *really* want that black one…reminds me of my mom’s favorite cat, and I am down to 2 cats. Alas I am in Texas :(
Mino
Festively plump–I love it.
But I already have my quota.
JPL
At the present time I have a hefty black beauty on my lap and I live in GA so can’t help. I hope they find their forever homes soon.
Female on the Beach
oh, the black one, she looks so very much like my dear departed – she was ever so sweet and she would bump me with her head and meow at me when i cried. they’re beautiful, but can’t look anymore. why do things have to be this way?
SiubhanDuinne
I’m sending this to my sister in Denver. I think she’s down to two cats and might want to adopt; if not, she knows people in Fort Collins.
Beautiful kittehs. I hope they find perfect forever homes.
Violet
They’re gorgeous. I hope they find their forever homes. I just love the personality that Flash exudes. Comes through the camera right at you!
Michele
I’d be willing to help pay to transport Mandalay to Texas if needed.
Mnemosyne
Flash is quite the supermodel, isn’t he? My late great Boris was like that — point a camera at him and he’d start pouting and posing like Derek Zoolander.
Keith
@Mnemosyne: La Tigre!
Linda Featheringill
Beautiful kitties! Flash looks very much like my Timmy, who also isn’t skinny.
Good luck to everyone!
trollhattan
@Violet:
Yup, I’m not a cat preson but Flash is the sort of kitteh I’ll hang with until the sneezing commences. We’d talk.
Southern Beale
OMG. Carol V you are a saint. A fucking SAINT.
Flash looks like an angel, if we didn’t have 7 cats already — one we’re trying to find a home for because he has to be kept separated from the rest as he tries to kill them — I’d take her in a heartbeat.
Litlebritdifrnt
Flash sounds like a hoot. I miss my talkative kitteh Alpha who I lost last year to old age. She used to come in through the cat door and start telling you a tale like you would not believe. Alas 6 cats already so I am not a prospect.
Violet
@Keith: Ha! That made me laugh out loud, for reals.
WereBear
@Mnemosyne: We call Tristan Mewlander; and of course, he has a Blue Steel:
Tristan does his “model face”
I think that’s what it is.
Tweeted to my followers!
Tokyokie
OK, he had four cats, took in two more, then one of them had six kittens, but you found homes for the two he took in and the kittens, and he’s taking one to assisted living, which leaves you two. What happened to the other kitty?
Boudica
Mandalay looks just like my Lila. Good luck finding homes for these kitties!
Boudica
Also, to whoever posted the link to the sevenkittens ustream…..I have now wasted 3 days continually checking in on these guys. Adorable! I think the pale buff one looks like Gollum.
Boudica
@Tokyokie: I didn’t know there would be math!
Hypatia's Momma
@Boudica:
You’re welcome. :p Gah, they are soooo cute! Tiny little fluffer-hogs…
(I wish I could take in all the kitties who need homes. A useless sentiment in the face of need but nonetheless true.)
jenn
Oh, they’re gorgeous. Good luck! Sadly, I’m not in a position to take one right now, but I’m oh so tempted!
SiubhanDuinne
@WereBear:
Tristan gives me a 404. Check link, please?
WereBear
@SiubhanDuinne: Arrrgh! Works for me, but here it is again:
http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Tristanintheheat.jpg
Violet
@WereBear:
Oh, that is awesome! Those fangs are hilarious. That’s a Purr Steel if I’ve ever seen one.
WereBear
@Violet: Thanks!
He is simply a natural comedian… and always has been.
Gus
I wish I could take them, especially Flash. Good luck.
Keith
Sent an email out re: Mandalay (looks *so* much like my mom’s Chocolate, who was with me for way too short a time) and even Flash if he can’t find a home. Will seee how it goes. (cats in my house feast on AvoDerm and on occasion even fresh deli wagyu just because I like to see how spoiled they can get…the monsters are, in fact, blissed out right now in catnip-laced cardboard beds because they deserve it)
jenn
@Keith: Yay! So happy that one (or both!) may get to go *home*. And catnip-laced beds … you sure do contribute to the delinquincy of kitties!
Carol V
Sorry I haven’t been around to comment — my internet device went seriously wonky last night. Thanks everyone for admiring the kitties.
@Violet & @Mnemosyne: I was lucky to get those photos — Flash would much rather come rub on your legs or the camera than pose.
@Tokyokie: He had 4 adult cats (Flash, Mandalay, Cisco, Purr-Purr) and took in two more (Mikey & Ice Cream). Mikey had 6 kittens. We found homes for the kittens in Alabama. I smuggled Mikey on the airplane with me from Alabama to Colorado, where we found a home for her immediately. We flew Cisco and Ice Cream to Calif., where my half-sister kept one and found a home for the other. We flew Flash and Mandalay here to Fort Collins, and you know the rest. Does that clear it up?
@Keith: Feel free to contact me through Anne Laurie — I’d be happy to help transport kitties to wherever.