We Did It!!!!!

As of 5:30pm today, ALL the cats at the River St location have been adopted! There were only 2 cats remaining at the Vic Park location, and people were still lining up.

I want to thank all the people that opened their hearts and homes to these cats, read this blog, and passed along the message to family and friends. We could not have done this without you!

If you are still thinking about adopting, there are many other rescue organizations in Toronto that are struggling with the homeless cat crisis. The foster homes in these rescues are overflowing, and kitten season is just starting. With the THS now closed, there is more pressure than ever on these small rescue organizations, and they also need your help.

Toronto Cat Rescue currently has over 400 cats and kittens that are waiting for forever homes. Every cat that is adopted from them makes space to rescue another kitty from the streets or the euthanasia list at a high kill shelter. By adopting a cat you are literally saving the life of another.

If you cannot adopt, please consider fostering, volunteering or donating much needed money or supplies.

Once again, THANK YOU!

Doc Update

We MAY have an adopter for Doc who has been urgently looking for a new home! Cross your fingers and toes and pray that by this time tomorrow night he will be curled up happily beside his new parents.

Doc has found a new home with his buddy McKellan!!!!

Iko

Is this not the worst kitten picture that you have ever seen? Thankfully Iko has blossomed into a ridiculously cute 9 month girl with the pinkest little nose. She is Sasha's sister and has also tested positive for FIV. Please dont let that deter you from adopting this angel. With proper care and nutrition, FIV+ cats can lead long and healthy lives. She loves to talk and we had a long conversation last night about how badly she wants a home. She has grown up in the shelter and would love to know the comforts of a human to snuggle up to in bed and a couch to lay on as she catches a nap. She is still in the clinic while her spay incision heals, but if you are interested in this sweetie please ask about her at the adoptions desk.

Update: Iko has been adopted!

Kasumy

From this picture you would think that Kasumy is a kitten, but she is actually a spayed 8 year old mini cat. She is in the clinic recovering from extensive dental work but is available for adoption. She is just the cutest little thing with long white hair and small patches of grey on her nose, above her eye and on her tail. When I opened her cage door she stuck her tiny little bandaged leg and IV out to me as if to say "Look at poor me! Take me home with you and love me!" Kasumy has some scarring on her intestines, most likely caused by chronic IBD. As a result she has some issues with diarrhea, so her new owners must be commited to ensuring that she is on a proper diet of quality food. I had a really hard time last night not tucking this little angel into my pocket before leaving the shelter.

Update: Kusumy has been adopted!

Chachie

Chachie is a 3year old male neutered kitty that can make a really bad first impression. When I first approached his cage I was in the middle of a conversation. I distractedly leaned down to open the cage door and I got a hiss. Immediately recognizing that I was the cause of this, I walked away and returned with a slow, calm and gentle approach. I slowly opened to cage door and all he did was look up at my with his big eyes. It turns out this hissy kitty is more a sissy kitty and was just scared. He loves gentle brushing and petting and even drools when he is happy! He would make a great companion in a quiet home with no kids and no other pets that will understand that he startles easily.

Update: Chachie has been adopted!

Robin

Robin is a VERY cute 8 month old neutered male who came to the shelter as a tiny kitten. You won't see him in adoptions yet as he still has a few days to go in a lengthy ringworm quarantine. The poor guy is in a small room with few visitors, waiting until he is fungus free. He was thrilled to play with me though the cage bars and was entertained by anything that I did. I believe he is available for viewing if you ask for him. This little guy will be snatched up in a second once he is moved to the adoptions hallway.

Update: Robin has been adopted!

Coco

Coco is going to be a bit of a challenge to get adopted. The poor guy has had so many things wrong with him in his short 6 years of life. He was originally surrendered to the THS due to a urinary blockage. After he had surgery the staff noticed that he was losing weight for no apparent reason. After numerous tests, it was discovered that he had a condition in his intestines that causes malabsorption of nutrients. He has responded very well to vitamin B12 injections and has put his weight back on. He will need to receive these injections once a month for the next 6 months. The THS will supply the medication and show you how to do this at home. Giving an injection is very easy so please don't let this put you off. He is a quiet and gentle soul who just wants love and some affection.

Columbia

Columbia is a 8 year old, declawed, neutered male that was brought to the THS as a stray in October 2009. He has the typical behavioural issues that many declawed cats develop. He can be sweet as pie and love to be pet one minute and then the next minute he is swatting your hand away. As soon as he swats you away he leans his head into your hand for more pets! He is a totally conflicted kitty and would need an owner that is experienced with petting aggression. He makes me laugh.

Bear

Bear is a 1-2 year old neutered male with a medium length black coat. Bear has not learned appropriate play behaviour and can be rough with both people and other cats. He will nip when overstimulated and for this reason should not go to a home with children. He is a bossy boy with other kitties so would probably do best in a home with no other cats. Play aggression is something that can be worked on by a dedicated owner. He is a sweet boy that it probably just itching to run around and get rid of all his pent up energy!

Jessie

Jessie is a 2 year old neutered male that is completely healthy other than being a bit fat and lazy. He needs somebody that will feed him a low cal diet and encourage him to run around and burn off some extra weight. He is a super sweet boy that loves to have his head scratched. Don't pass this loveable guy up just because of the colour of his fur or the size of his waist!


Update: Jessie has been adopted! (AND is actually a female and not a male as I had reported)

Venus

Poor Venus has had a rough go of things lately. She is a 6 year old spayed girl that has just recovered from a cold which is why her little nose is red. She is another chubby girl and does need her bum wiped occasionally since she can't reach all the way back there. She needs to be fed a weight reduction diet, but is no longer on any medication. She is a sweet girl that really needs some space to stretch her legs

Claudia

Claudia is a 4 year old spayed beauty with long black hair. She originally came to the shelter in 2007 after her owner died. She was adopted and returned twice because she did not like the dog in one home and the cat in the other. She was not aggressive but it stressed her out too much. She is a chunky girl that absolutely loves to have her bum scratched. She would be in heaven if she were adopted to a nice quiet house without children or any other pets.

Mocha

Mocha is a 5 year old neutered male that is a rare chocolate and white colour. He was originally abandoned in a box in the front of the THS as part of a litter of kittens May 2005. He was adopted in July 2005 and his owner surrendered him back to the THS in November 2009 because he was blocked and very sick. They could not afford the medical bill. Mocha has a very outgoing personality and loves to talk. The groomers say he loves to be brushed and has great energy. Mocha is not on any medication but is kept on a special diet to keep him healthy. This guy was impossible to get a good picture of. He was so happy to be receiving attention that he would not sit still for a minute. It broke my heart to close his cage door as he really thought he was going home.

Update: Mocha has been adopted!

Julius and Penny

Penny and Julius are a 7 year old bonded brother and sister pair. They are some of the luckier cats at the shelter as they at least have each other for comfort. However, the sadness in their faces still lingers. They have both had some dental work done while at the THS and are looking forward to a new home where they can be adopted together. As you can see they love each other very much.

Update: Penny and Julius have been adopted!

Poppy

Poppy is a 6 year old spayed female that had bladder stones removed in February. She has completely recovered and does not require any medication. She will need to be on a special urinary diet for the rest of her life to ensure that they do not. She is also overweight and needs to shed some pounds. Given her obesity and bladder issues she was no doubt fed some crap grocery store brand food by her previous owners. I have a thing for long haired cats and Poppy is no exception. She is gorgeous! She is a very sweet girl that just wants to go home.

Renata

Renata is a 3 year old spayed girl with unique torbie markings. She was very laid back in her cage and seemed to take everything in stride. She has some scarring on her eye from an old injury, but it doesn't bother her and doesn't need any treatment. Ask any torbie owner and they will tell you that they make the best companions!

Update: Renata has been adopted!

Elaine

Elaine is a calm and gentle 3 year old girl that really has nothing wrong with her. I can only assume that she is still there only because she is black. The staff have noted that she is a finicky eater but hell so am I. She has a very mild heart murmur that doesn't need medication and had most of her teeth removed.

Update: Elaine has been adopted!

Kitty

Kitty is a very handsome 6 year old neutered male that was adopted from the THS in 2007 and then returned 6 months later. Kitty is an amazing big boy that is extremely loving and affectionate. Kitty has an interesting quirk that makes him very hard to adopt. He absolutely refuses to poop in a litter box. His previous owners and the staff at the THS have tried everything imaginable to correct this behaviour, but nothing works. Thankfully his surface of choice is hardwood or ceramic which makes cleaning that much easier. The THS staff don't really know what to do with him. He is safe and will not be euthanized, but would welcome any suggestions for placement for him

Garcia - Foster to Adopt Home Needed

Garcia was recently known as Gracie, which was a stupid name for such a handsome man! He is a 12 year old neutered male that came to the shelter in May 2009. He has just had some teeth extracted and is still recovering from that. He also occasionally vomits, but nobody can figure out why. I checked his chart and it noted that this is only a couple of times a month. He is looking for a foster-to-adopt home where he will remain in foster care until he is fully recovered from his dental work and the vets get a better idea as to the cause of his vomiting. Once things are figured out, and if everything is okay, his foster family will officially adopt him! Garcia is a very sweet boy that is just looking for a peaceful place to retire.

Update: Garcia has found a home!

Nero - Foster to Adopt Home Needed

Nero is a 2 year old neutered male that came to the shelter in August 2009 because his owners were leaving the country. He is the sweetest boy there ever was, but he has an issue where he can scratch myself, especially around his neck, until it gets really irritated and sore. There is no medical reason for this and is most likely a reaction to the stress at the shelter. To prevent this, he wears soft paws which are pretty little caps on his nails. He has also just had dental surgery. He is looking for a foster-to-adopt home where he will be fostered until he is fully recovered from his dental surgery, and then his new home will officially adopt him into their family!

Princess - Foster to Adopt Home Needed

Princess is a 6 year old, spayed female that was returned to the shelter in February 2010 when she was so fat that she couldn’t clean herself properly. She had problems with the folds of skin around her bum becoming sore and infected, and has had surgery to help this. This will help her problem, but the best thing for her is to lose some weight. This has also caused some loose stools and her new family will have to help her clean her bum until she is able to reach. She is looking for a foster-to-adopt home where her new family will foster her until she has recovered from my surgery and have begun to lose some weight. Once she is on the right track, her adoptive parents will welcome her into their family forever. She is a very sweet and friendly girl and totally worth the extra effort! I promise you that she is not as cranky as she looks in her picture!

Update: Princess has found a home!

Rigby - Foster to Adopt Home Needed

Rigby is a unique looking 10 year old, spayed female that came into the shelter as a stray in November 2009. The vets believe that she may be on the verge of early renal disease, but she is not yet showing any symptoms. She is also currently recovering from a urinary tract infection. She is looking for a foster-to-adopt home where her new family will foster her until her UTI has cleared up and she gets more tests done. If everything is going well, her foster parents would welcome her as a permanent addition to their home. Rigby is a lazy girl who just needs a nice place to retire. She is incredibly sweet and has the greatest purr!

Brie - Foster to Adopt Home Needed

This picture of Brie makes me laugh because it is the polar opposite of her personality. She is an incredibly cute little girl that will roll around and around seeking attention. She is friendly, playful and just an amazing cat. Brie is a 2 year old spayed female that came to the shelter as a stray in September 2009. One of her eyes has a smaller opening than the other and is a little scarred from an old injury. The vets believe that it is because of this that her eye constantly waters. Just in case, the vets at the shelter have stitched her eyelid up a bit to take the pressure off. If that doesn’t clear it up, she may have a blocked tear duct. She is looking for a foster-to-adopt home that can monitor her eye while it’s stitched up to see if that was the cause of my irritation. Otherwise, the vets will look at other options. Her new home will foster her while the vets are still deciding what the problem is, and once they have it all figured out and as cleared up as it can be, they will adopt her as a permanent part of your family!

Update: Brie has found a home!

Crystal - Foster to Adopt Home Needed

Crystal is a 9 month old spayed female that was brought to the shelter after she was found abandoned in a back yard. She carries the herpes virus (does not need treatment) and also has a small sore on one side of her mouth. She is currently looking for a foster-to-adopt home that will foster me until her mouth has cleared up, and then will officially adopt her into their family. She is a sweet little kitten that has already been through so much in such a short time. Please give this little girl a real chance at being loved.

Update: Crystal has found a home!

Ella

Ella is a 4 year old beauty, that seems to have been traumatized the most from her ordeal at the shelter. The poor girl lacks confidence both with other cats and people. Because of this and her timid personality, adapting to the chaotic shelter life has been the most difficult for her. She enjoys attention but really just needs a quiet home and a lot of one on one time with her new owner for her to recover from the abuse she’s endured in her life. Ella really needs a special person that is kind, gentle and patient enough to win this girls trust and love.

Update: Ella has been adopted!

Hermaine

Hermaine is an 8 year old girl with a shiny sleek black coat. During her time at the THS she has transformed into a totally different kitty. She’s gone from hiding in the back of the cage to sitting at the front soliciting attention and chin rubs. When she’s let out of her cage, she makes a point to stick her paws through the bars of the other cages and steal her neighbours food! She’s a mischievous little girl with a great personality. She is healthy and not on any medication.

Update: Hermaine has been adopted!

Connie - Foster Home Urgently Needed

Connie is an 8 year old spayed female that came to the THS on August 27th 2006 as an abandoned cat. Until recently she was the "counter cat" at the adoptions desk, where she spent her days curled up in her bed watching the hustle and bustle around her. She is not shy to speak up when she wants some attention. Everybody that knows her agrees that she is sweet, trusting, loveable - and a bit plump! She recently had blood work done that came back with a weak postive for feline leukemia. She was subsequently retested with negative results. Connie needs one more blood test in 6-8 weeks to confirm that she is indeed FeLV negative. For this reason, Connie urgently needs a foster home with no others cats for this period of time. Connie is otherwise healthy and does not need any medical care.

Update: Connie has a home!

Kaberle

Kaberle is an 8 month old male that was brought into the shelter in August 2009 as a stray. He was very nervous when he first came in, and had a hard time adjusting to being in a cage. Staff brought him into a quiet room for some extra TLC, and after only a few days, he began to relax and come out of his shell. Kaberle is an introvert who can be very shy around new people. When approached slowly, he really enjoys petting. So much that he'll actually begin to drool! Kaberle got along very well with the other cats and once comfortable, is as playful as a kitten. He's looking for a loving forever home with an experienced owner.

Update: Kabele has been adopted!

Dasha

Dasha is a spayed female, approximately 18 months old. He came to the shelter with her litter of kittens in September 2009. Her kittens have all found homes and now Dasha is hoping it is her turn as well. Prior to arriving at the THS, she had been living in somebody's back yard for the summer, and had little to no socialization with people. THS staff took Dasha into a quiet room to work on regaining her trust. She has turned out to be a sweet young girl who enjoys tummy rubs and chin scratches. She can still be shy around new people, but warms up quickly if you go slowly with her. She loves being with other cats, and would do best with an experienced owner, and a quiet home. Please don't pass her up because of her shyness - shy kitties often make the most loyal companions there are.

Update: Dasha has been adopted!

Jai

Jai is a 10 year old neutered male that was adopted out as a kitten in 2000, and returned in November 2009. His owners had declawed him and let him outside where he contracted FIV, as he could not defend himself properly. Jai is an affectionate, mild mannered kitty who enjoys passing time looking out the window, snacking and napping (yes a tough life....). He tolerates other FIV+ cats at the shelter, but would be just as happy being the only cat.

Update: Jai has been adopted!

Sasha

Sasha is an 8 month old neutered male that was brought in as a tiny kitten in August 2009. Although he has tested positive for FIV, he is a happy and healthy boy. He enjoys spending his time with the other FIV cats, playing and wrestling. When not playing he is lounging on the window sill in the FIV basking in the sunshine, He also enjoys watching the birds so much, that he tends to chatter. Sasha gets along great with the other cats and wouldn't have a problem keeping up with children in his new home.

Update: Sasha has been adopted!

McKellan

McKellan is a 3 year old neutered male that was brought into the shelter in July 2009 after being abandoned by his owners. He is definitely a staff favourite (and one of mine!) with his chubby cheeks and playful & easygoing disposition. He's great with the other FIV cats and after playtime, would love to curl up in a lap. He is extremely affectionate and is not shy to give you head butts to tell you he wants some love. Because of his easygoing personality, McKellan would be a wonderful addition to any home, including those with children.

Update: McKellan has been adopted into a new home with his buddy Doc!!

Darcy - URGENT!!!!!

Darcy is an 8 year old, neutered male that came into the shelter in July 2009. Darcy is diabetic and needs insulin injections twice a day. This is very easy to do and just takes seconds to prepare and administer. He recently had a mass removed from his side, which the vets at the shelter hope will be benign. He is looking for a foster-to-adopt home that will foster him until his biopsy results come back. If it turns out that it was benign, the foster home would adopt him. The shelter will give his new parent a 6 month's supply of insulin, needles, and glucose strips, as well as a glucometer (so that you can check his blood glucose at home)! He is a really sweet boy who deserves a great home.

Update: A home has been found for Darcy!

Nigel

Nigel is a declawed, 9 year old, neutered male that was an adoption return in March 2009. He was returned because he had become inconsistent with his litter box after toddlers invaded his home and stressed him out! Since being at the shelter he has not shown any signs of inappropriate use. Nigel is looking for a foster-to-adopt home that will assess him for about 6 weeks, and if all goes well, will keep him forever. While at the shelter he had some dental extractions, but his mouth is all healed and he even still eats his dry food! He has a mild, stable heart condition and is on an inexpensive medication once a day for life. Please help Nigel retire in a quiet loving home.

Update: Nigel has been adopted!

Sir Majesty

Sir Majesty is a 3 year old neutered male that came to the shelter in June 2008. He was adopted a few months later and then returned again in December 2009. He has chronic diarrhea, but the vets are really hoping that a special diet and a less stressful environment will help to clear it up. He is looking for a foster home for the next three months with someone who is willing to monitor his stool and help to get him regulated. The shelter will provide the special food and any medical care he needs during this time. His foster parents need to be willing to bring him for checkups every 3 weeks or so to monitor his progress. He is a very sweet cat!! Ideally his foster home would be quiet with no children or dogs.

Pichica

Pichica came to the THS after she fell from an 8th story balcony. The leg was badly broken and despite attempts to fix it, the vets had to amputate. She gets along just fine hopping around and is expected to heal with no complications. She has the typical "tortitude", but is very sweet when calm. She would probably do best in a home with no kids and no other cats.

Update: Pichica has been transferred into the care of Toronto Cat Rescue

Laura

Laura is a big cat. And by big I mean gargantuan.




She was surrendered to the THS in the middle of last year, and adopted shorty thereafter. Her new owners brought her back because they thought something was wrong with her legs.





Not surprisingly, the vets determined that there was nothing wrong with her legs and her troubles walking were a result of her weight.

It takes a bit of coaxing to get her to actually move, but once she is up she LOVES to be scratched. Unlike most fat cats, she does not have any petting intolerance at all. She also lives in the adoptions office and is a staff and volunteer favourite. Kind of like the fat kid in the school yard, she sometimes gets picked on by the less obese fat cats, but she couldn't care less. Her special needs should be fairly obvious.

Update: Laura has been adopted!

Maggy

Maggy is a 10 year old declawed long hair calico girl that has been happily hanging out in the office behind the adoptions desk. She is a sweet, plump girl that will roll around for attention. She has a mild heart murmur and takes a very inexpensive pill for this twice a day. She gets along great with the other office "fat" cats and would probably be happy in any home.

Update: Maggy has been adopted!

Sheridan

Sheridan is a two year old male that is as sweet as can be. At the shelter he has been scratching his neck until it bleeds. There is no medical reason for this, so it must be stress related. Since he got his Soft Paws (look at those blue little toes!) his neck has healed and he looks great now. Sheridan is looking for a nice quiet home, most likely as the only pet, and an owner that is willing to work with him to see what stresses him out.

Update: Sheridan has found a home!

Dousa

Dousa is a 9 year old mini cat. She is seriously the size of a 4-5 month old kitten. She was an owner surrender for some stupid unknown reason. While at the shelter she had her teeth cleaned and a few pulled. There is nothing wrong with her other than being a senior. She is very very very sweet.

Update: Dousa has been adopted!

Sir Ian

This is a really bad picture of Sir Ian, and the one on the THS website is actually much better. Sir Ian is a 10 year old male that is considered special needs because he requires a special urinary diet. He came to the THS with a complete blockage and had surgery to remove the bladder stones. He has not had any issues since and is otherwise healthy. He is a quiet and gentle fellow, content just to sit back and observe all the commotion going on around him.

Update: Sir Ian has been adopted!

Tart - New Pic

I previously wrote about Tart, a 12+ year old girl that was abandoned after her owners moved. I got to spend some more time with this old lady yesterday. Tart doesn't stand much of a chance compared to the younger and prettier kitties. She is scraggly looking, has greasy fur, and is a bit scrawny. She is also just the sweetest little thing that loves affection. She is still full of purrs and chirps in delight when getting a good scratch. I went to bed last night imagining how happy she would be in her own home, curled up on a couch and snoozing the day away.

Update: Tart has been adopted!

Isis

Isis is a petite little grey female that is 8 months old. She has been put on the urgent list because she is a shy little girl. She is not aggressive at all but just needs an owner that is willing to help her come out of her shell. She is very affectionate when she is comfortable. Shy kitties tend to bond very closely with their owner and make amazing pets!

Update: Isis has been adopted!

Figaro

Figaro came to the THS as a semi-feral kitten in October 2007. Staff and volunteers worked to socialize him and they have done a great job! The THS website says that he will hiss and spit and put on a show when first approached, but I have never seen this. In fact, he doesn't really look interested in you at all until you start petting him. Then he is all purrs! He is quiet and shy, and should go to an experienced owner that will give him time to settle into his new life. He also also become a bit plump and could stand to lose some extra weight. He has a very mild heart murmur, which puts him into the special needs category.

Sweepee

Sweepee may look a little bit cranky in this pic, but he is one of the sweetest kitties at the THS. His left eye is scarred, but it does not cause him any issues and does not need any treatment. Aside from his funny looking eye, his chances of adoption are reduced because he is 10 years old. He is completely healthy and ready to snuggle up to you on the couch. Did I mention how sweet he was?

Update: Sweepee has been adopted!

Benny - New Pic!

I really wanted to get a picture of Benny that shows his enormous green eyes, but he was too busy trying to rub himself all over me to get a good shot. This is the best I could do!


Update: Benny has been adopted!

Cali

Its hard to believe that this gorgeous 3 year old girl is still sitting in a cage waiting to be adopted. While not overly affectionate, she is extremely playful and will make you laugh at her antics. She has become a bit plump during her stay, but she just needs some space to burn off those extra pounds. Cali would benefit from an experienced owner that understands the body language of cats as she does display some petting aggression at the shelter. She is indifferent toward other cats, but no kids please!


Update: Cali has been adopted!

Garth

Isn't Garth a sight for sore eyes? This guy has been through every test imaginable and there is no medical reason for his hair loss. The staff suspect it is caused by over grooming - most likely stess related. As you can imagine, Garth's chances of adoption are not very good. He is a very sweet, but shy boy that likes to hide out in his box. He is probably just too embarrased to come out! Garth is only 3 years old and would probably blossom in a nice quiet home.

Update: Garth has been adopted!

Bennett

Isn't this guy handsome? Bennett is a 4 year old male who is also FIV+. We tried him out in the Rainbow Room with some other FIV+ kitties, but he didn't want anything to do with them. He seemed more scared of them than anything, and just wanted to get out of the room. Once he was back in his cage, he was much happier and gratefully accepted chin and bum scratches with a big rumbling purr. Don't let his FIV status deter you from adopting him. FIV+ kitties can live long, normal and completely healthy lives.

Update: Bennett has been adopted!