Margaret's Cats

I moved in with my dad a few years ago, because he was having health problems (he passed away on November 07, 2007).

We had two cats, Abby and Midnight. We went to the local animal shelter seeking two cats, and the lady at the desk told us about Abby. She told us that Abby (they called her Bunny) was so gentle and good that they let her roam around the office instead of keeping her in a cage. It was Abby's last day at the shelter before being euthanized. We agreed to take her. We didn't get another one that day, and it's a good thing, because Abby ended up being pregnant. She had two girls and a boy (which I saw being born). We provided a couple of birthing boxes on two different floors, and she chose the one upstairs, and came and got me to go up with her when it was time for her to deliver. We gave the two girls to a couple at my church, and we kept the boy (Midnight...my dad named him).

Abby is in the picture here. (I had to have my sweet girl put to sleep on Saturday, October 18, 2008...a very, very sad day).

Nicknames: "Abby-gail", "Abs", "Abby-girl"

This is Abby's son, Midnight. He wasn't used to other cats, because it was only him and Abby for 10 years. He HATED Sidney at first, but now he "tolerates" him. But boy oh boy...he does NOT like Shaggy at all!

Nicknames: "Boo-boo", "Boo-bear", "Boo", "Boy".

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I had always desired to have an orange Tabby. Peaches was the neighbors' cat, but she would hang out at our house every day. She was skinny, so I started feeding her. Well...she must have went home and told her "brothers and sister," because I suddenly was feeding three, then four...

*Peaches is such a good girl. She is finally feeling at home (updated May, 2009). She plays and runs, which she did not do for almost 1 1/2 years. She used to only look at my shoulder and wouldn't make eye contact with me, but now she has fantastic eye contact! She's really come out of her shell!

I had to put a very sick Peaches to sleep on Friday, June 18, 2010.

Peaches all of a sudden wanted to come in the house. My dad had dementia, so I didn't want to overwhelm him with a new animal, so I let her come in for a while, then I decided it wasn't a good idea, so I made her stay outside, again.

It started getting cold (it was Fall in Michigan), and I was worried about her being outside. I remembered the last Winter we had, I found her outside in freezing temps and her owners were all in bed, so I would call them and wake them up to come and get her, so she wouldn't freeze to death. I didn't want to put her through that again.

I finally decided to keep her. She loved my dad, and sat on his lap. I think she aggravated him at times, but he loved her, too. In fact when the ambulance came the last time to take my dad to the hospital, she would not stay off of his lap, even after my many attempts to put her down.

Peaches is a snuggler for sure.

After my dad died on November 7, 2007, I was still feeding four other neighbor cats. One by one, they all tried getting in the house. I tried my best to keep them out, and finally got tired of "fighting" them.

Meeko's picture is above. He was raggedy, dirty and very skinny when he came. He was around 13, and pretty wild compared to what I was used to.

Meeko, who I did NOT want, has captured my heart, and is one of my favorites. He is gentle and loving to me and the other cats. They ALL like him.

Nicknames: "Meeks", "Meeko Man"

*I had to put Meeko to sleep on Tuesday, August 18, 2009. My roommate hit him with her car when backing up in the driveway. A very sad, emotional week for me. He was the best cat I had...wouldn't hurt a fly. He had a rough life, and I'm so glad I could give him a happy 21 months on this earth. I love you and miss you, Meeko!

This is Charlie. She's a gentle, quiet girl. She gets along with everyone, and they all get along with her as well.

That tortoise shell coloring is gorgeous. And she's soft like a mink coat.

Nickname: "Charlie Wharlie"

My precious Kayleigh. She was so sick when she arrived. She stayed up in the attic, and I would bring her food and water, and I put a litter box up there just for her.

Once she started feeling better, she came downstairs. But she was TERRIFIED of the other cats. She's full grown, but tiny, and they knew they could bully her. She showed her fear even before they'd do anything, so that gave them a "good" reason to attack. She was even attacked once while using the litter box.

I told her she had to stop showing her fear and start fighting back. I also prayed for her and corrected the others when they bullied her.

Today...she stands her ground and is Queen of the house. My brave, brave girl. She acts like a toddler. She also loves to follow me around the house, and has fantastic eye contact.

When someone enters a room, she greets them with a MEOW!

Kayleigh died on my bed at 10:50pm on January 12, 2011. I don't know if it was due to strong putty fumes and/or insulation being installed at the time in the attic, or if she had a stroke. She was walking as though she was drunk. She wasn't outside to eat anything poisonous, so I'm not sure. It was a horrible evening and night for me. I tried to get her to a vet, but they were all closed. I just prayed she would go quickly if it was her time to go, and thank God she did.

Nicknames: "Kayleigh-belle", "Kay-kay", "Miss Kayleigh"

Here's Sidney. I had to actually carry him in one cold night. He was so scared. He wouldn't even let me near him when he first started coming over.

Now he loves to be petted.

My neighbors never even gave him a name. He had a twin brother, and they just called them the black cats.

But you know what...he learned his name almost immediately. When I call him, he comes running. When I say his name, he looks at me.

At one point, he had to have his leg shaved due to an infection. The doc x-rayed it, and it was OK, but he had to be on an antibiotic for a while. The doc said he had numerous bite marks on his body, so he must've been in several fights in his life.

My poor baby.

Nicknames: "Sid", "Sid-man", Sid-meister", Sid-sid"

Sidney had to be taken to the Humane Society on Tuesday, November 22, 2011. He was becoming increasing aggressive to the other cats, and when I came home this day, he had hurt one of my girls. I had contemplated doing this twice before, but didn't have the heart to go through with it. I cannot have a cat in my house that is going to be a danger to my other cats. Sidney started getting worse the past few months. I don't know why. My heart is very heavy tonight. I loved him...

Tia is my second to last cat. I call her Tia Marie.

She's a tiny long haired tortoise shell. She CRAVES affection, and can be aggravating at times. She acts as though she might have been abused.

Sweet girl. Almost looks like an owl in the face.

I took Shaggy in on 11/27/08. He's one of the neighbor cats I'd been feeding for months, and it has been freezing cold at night time around here, so I finally decided he could stay inside. Midnight doesn't like another big male in the house...he was just learning to tolerate Sidney.

Shaggy is medium/long hair ragdoll. Mostly white with a touch of Siamese coloring and blue, blue eyes. A sweet boy. Very shy and timid at first, but is warming up to me. Seems to like the other cats OK, but for some reason has not taken a liking to Peaches.

This is Tia and Shaggy on my lap.

It's so sweet when I see a friendship between two cats. Shaggy and Tia absolutely love each other. And Meeko and Sidney are best buds. Charlie gets along with all of them.

Here's my Tia! (Meeko's in the bottom right corner).

Nickname: "Tia-marie"

I had to put a very sick Tia to sleep on Tuesday, June 29, 2010. She had always had congestion and a runny nose, which I attributed to allergies, but for a few days she wouldn't eat or even look at me and barely moved. This was tough for me.

Here's Shaggy!

Nicknames: "Shags", "Shaggy-boo", "Shag-man"

Lola came to join our family on Saturday, July 31, 2010. On Friday, July 30, I heard a cat yelling outside my window. I thought there were some cats fighting. It was around midnight, so I grabbed my flashlight and a broom to break up the fight. Lola was against the house scared, and my Sidney was in front of the house not even paying attention to her. She ran to me immediately. She followed me to the back porch and ate some food. I figured she belonged to someone, so I came in the house. The next day I went on the porch in the afternoon, and I heard a meow coming from the woods. I didn't recognize it as one of my cats. Here came Lola running out of the woods to me. She was eating as though she was starved all the while growling so none of my other cats would come near her. She was terrified of them. I let her in the house, and she seemed happy to be inside. I didn't know she was a female at first, and I realized later she was in heat and had probably had to fend off many advances from males, and that's why she was scared. She also was very young. I would guess only 7-11 months old.

She is now best known as "Mae Mae." Also called Lolie or Lolie Mae at times. (They gotta have nicknames, you know).

She grew quite accustomed to her two sisters and three brothers, and they welcomed her with no problems. She now even engages some of my older cats in bouts of "Chase Me And I'll Chase You." Plus she runs up to strange cats as if to welcome them to the neighborhood.

Midnight and Shaggy are constantly "arguing" and sometimes have all out brawls. Midnight also doesn't like Sidney, but since Shaggy came on the scene, Midnight's focus has been taken off of Sidney and onto Shaggy.

Shaggy tries to show dominance with all of the cats, but truly is not mean. He only fights with Midnight, because Midnight started the feud when Shaggy first arrived.

I think Midnight does this out of fear. He was never used to any other cats besides his mother, Abigail...now he has to deal with seven of them.

Update as of Jan 24, 2010 Midnight now seems to accept Shaggy and Sidney. There have been no brawls for quite some time. He occasionally will meow at them as if to say don't come near me, but he walks right by them, sleeps by them, etc. I'm very impressed!

Two 6-year old sisters have arrived on the scene. Beautiful Calico girls. They currently are very scared. It's a new person, smells, noises and 5 other cats they must get used to. I'll keep you updated. Beans (or Beany) is the dark Calico and Buzz (or Buzzy) is the lighter one.

Their owner could no longer keep them, because she developed allergies to cats and dogs and wasn't tolerating allergy medicine.

Update Feb. 10, 2011Beany and Buzzy are adjusting well. Buzzy is finally becoming a little more social. Beany growls and hisses at some of the cats, still, but I think it's out of fear. Lola picked on Beany bad at first, now Beany goes after Lola. I correct them every time they try to fight or "argue." They really are doing well. Beany sits on my lap, when I'm in my recliner, and she sits by my when I sit on the sofa. They both come out in the kitchen for morning feedings.

This was a huge adjustment for them. But they are very loving cats, and I hope this soon feels like home to them!

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