2015 I'm coming your way!

Hello all! Been away taking care of an ill parent and sadly have been a little lack on my FIP Fight efforts. But I'm back.

This weekend I will be with Susan Gingrich, of Winn Feline Foundation's Bria Fund, at a Cat Show in Easton, PA...where an FIP Booth will be up and sharing information about our Fight to find a cure.

This will be the second time I have done this with Susan. I have compiled a special brochure of resources for comfort and support for people who have a kitten or cat with FIP. 

One of the many devastating facets of FIP is most people have never heard those three little letters strung together before their vet breaks the news that their feline has it.  You find yourself racing to the internet looking for information, and ways to help you cat.It is a crazy and scary time.

I know I found compassionate and supportive people on the FIPCatSupport boards on Yahoo and the moderator Marleen, who also pointed me towards Facebook (something I was not fully engaged with) and the FIP Fighters group. Nearly six years later and I am one of the admins on that group's page, keeping my promise to Mina that she would never be forgotten, even though I only knew her three months, and that I would take up the cause to help bring the day that we would find a cure.

And so now I'm back - Inspired By Mina!

 

Away from keys...

Sorry I have been away for awhile....but I intend to be back here in the next two weeks. I have been away from home these past six weeks - missing my two cats terribly. I am ready to get back into the fight for a cure to FIP. I will share information on a raffle in support of FIP research as well as an exciting vehicle I have to raise awareness of FIP.

Until then....I am Inspired by Mina!

Remembering Milestones...

From remembering my Mina's angel day to celebrating my current two's Fourth birthday...it is good to mark these occasions in special ways. 

A dear friend, who is a responsible owner,had fixed all her cats but one, as the mommy cat Fiona had recently had a litter. She was slated to be spayed soon, when my friend took in another stray, Wallace, who obviously hadn't been fixed. You guessed it! On February 17, 2009 a litter of four was born.

My friend knew I was still in complete sadness over the far too soon passing of Mina. She wanted me to meet a "pink nosed kitten" who had just turned one month old. Well my mantra of "NO MORE CATS" - because of the deep pain I carried (I did not want to get attached to another cat ever again for fear of losing them too soon) was quickly dissolved and my Keely had been found. She was beautiful when I met her - and Keely means "Beautiful" in Irish. Just then one of the other kittens brazenly walked over of her own accord to say hello. It was a black and white tuxedo, just like my Katarina had been, with white up her nose, just like Mina had. I admired her spunk, and her white tipped tail! Before I knew it my friend was thinking it would be best to take two...without much thinking I chose Fiona...which means "Fair, pretty" in Scottish. I had my Celtic kitties!

Above is a photo of meeting them that day. I was told that they were inseparable from that moment on - like they knew they would being leaving their home to come live with me in a month's time.  

My two sisters from the same litter came into my home on April 22, 2009 ~ Earth Day.

They have brought me the joy of new life and companionship... and have helped me heal my Mina wounds.  Mina is never forgotten and I believe I have been able to move on and became a fearless warrior in the "Fight to Find a Cure for FIP" because of these two sweethearts and the love they give me.

Today, February 26, 2013, is World Spay Day -  

Luckily these two had a home waiting for them. 

So many do not - PLEASE remember to SPAY & NEUTER.

Be part of the solution!

January 22nd ~ 4 years gone...

Always one of the hardest days for me, January 22nd. This year it will be 4 years since my sweet wee Mina  got her angel wings. I wish I had never heard of the letters FIP or the dreaded cat disease they stand for, Feline Infectious Peritonitis. We only had Mina for 3 of her 5 short months. Miss Kitty's 19 years, Katarina's 20 years - long happy lives as part of our family. 3 months - not even long enough to know who she could have become!  But in a way those few months have been equally, if not more powerful and meaningful  in my life.

Because of Mina I have become a different person. My heart is open to ALL things animals now. I proudly stand on my soapbox, passionate about so many things for, and about, the animals. Without Mina I'm sure I would have been blindly going through life as I had in all the years prior. What a lot to credit such a wee kitten with?!

Every day I strive to honor her memory, to be part of my FIP Fighters, and family, to educate the public, the veterinarians, the shelters, the rescues, the breeders...to ask for their help in sending needed samples to the researchers...to help, comfort and support distraught FIP parents with their kitties...to raise funds for research....to FIND A CURE!

To my Mina...You inspire me every day, and you will forever be in my heart ♥ Thank you for coming into my life - the tears still come easily - but you have opened my horizons and given me many FIP family....we will find a cure. Love you dear one - your "mommy cat" - me xoxox

To make a Donation to the Winn Feline Foundation's Bria Fund for FIP research:

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/pages/briafund.html

20 years of Katarina...

It's always sad to say goodbye to a beloved member of the family...but when they have had a long, happy life, the knowledge of that parting is somewhat, not totally, easier.

As mentioned in a previous entry, Katarina was adopted (always adopt) from North Shore Animal League on a cold, late January day. It wasn't kitten season here in New York. I truly believe in my heart that she was one of the kittens transported up from the south for adoption. Only weeks after bringing her home, we read how NSAL often rescued kittens and puppies from the south. She was one of the lucky ones (PLEASE remember to SPAY & NEUTER) that found her way here. 

The joy of welcoming a new kitten into your home is always a magical day. I remember the long drive home from Port Washington and the soft meows coming from the cardboard box we held on our lap. Dad greeted us at the door, as he is not one to go into shelters ("would break my heart") and asked if we had brought home 1 or 2! Having just gone through a big to do just to be able to adopt ONLY 1, I wish I had known I could have brought 2 home this time. It was something I would remember for the future! Opening up that box and having a bay running around the furniture is a memory I will treasure. Katarina was here to stay and find a way into our hearts. She was our sheer delight - center of attention - truly part of the family.

I can not go into her 20 years here and now, but let's say those were happy times for me and my family. 

In the last 2-3 years of  Katarina's life, she was discovered to have Kidney Disease (do you know what's in your pet's food!), which we kept under control with prescription food and 2 oral medicines which had to be administered twice a day. It was exhausting on some days chasing her around the house to do so...but I would stop at nothing to ensure a few more years with our mushy girl.

On an October week I had off from work, Katarina decided her time was coming to an end, and overnight her health took a turn for the worse. I was afforded my week off from work with her before she finally told us it was time. I thank her for that time, and for the signs she gave, making our hardest decision easier (if that is possible).

20 years with her. Who could top that? The hole she left was so huge, the grief was so painful at the time...Surely 2 new kittens would help ease the pain. 

If only I had known...

P.S. - As I post this with today's date - I see that it is Miss Kitty's Rainbow Bridge crossing date - 24 years gone - still remembered and loved! Miss Kitty...my first!

Before there was Mina...

I don't usually suffer the post holiday blues - but the past 3 years, now in my 4th year, January, the 22nd to be specific, means only one thing to me. It is another year without my Mina. If I am going to have a blog about how I am "inspired by Mina" I should tell you the story about this muse.

But before I can do that, I have had 2 cats in my life prior to Mina...and I want to remember them as well. If it hadn't been for them, there would be no Mina. So grab a cuppa tea...

I was 3 & 1/2 years old when I was at a family party (weird thing cause it was the only one with that local relative ever!) and their cat Midnight had just had a litter (please remember to SPAY & NEUTER your pets). I remember seeing seeing her kittens in a box. Of course our relative was trying desperately to find them homes. We left empty handed that day. I've been told that when we got home I told my parents "how nice it would be to have a kitten". One phone call later and the next day we were back picking between the litter. A stripey female tabby caught my attention. My favorite childhood book was called "Captain Kitty", so with not much inspiration we named her Miss Kitty. I'll be sure to tell you more about her in future blogs - but let's just say she was our "learning curve" cat. Highly independent, not one to cuddle, she was a constant companion in our home for 19 years!

Following Miss Kitty the home was too quiet - and those in the family that had said "no more cats", and those that said "we'll get another" had both done complete reversals from their past comments. There was no way I would NOT have another cat, so off we went to our local famous shelter, North Shore Animal League one cold late January morning. Our first attempt at finding a new kitten came up short (it wasn't kitten season we were told)...but that weekend the place was crawling with adopters (warms the heart) and lots of kittens. I wanted a female black and white tuxedo kitten. It wasn't long before we found her - poking her paws at me through the metal bars of her cage. The people wanted me to adopt her sibling in the cage, but after much discussion, they allowed me to take just her. In hindsight I wish we had brought home 2. We needed a new "K" name and as the Winter Olympics had been the year prior and one of my sports idols was Katarina Witt - gold medalist - we had our name...Katarina! She was as graceful and charming as her namesake. She was a mush and so different from Miss Kitty. She was an active part of our family for 20 years! Her last 3 years of life required lots of medical attention, but it was worth every penny, and the twice daily doses of medicines and the chase that was required to administer them! Needless to say we were devastated at her crossing...and that's where Mina and her sister Katey came in to heal our saddened hearts...

Here's to 2013!

I am looking forward to 2013 very much! I will tell you all about Mina...and how a small kitten I only had in my life for a mere 3 months, has come to mean so much to me. More on her soon...for now just enjoy the freshness that comes with a NEW YEAR. Peace be unto all beings!