Meet Bob Marley, who has been with us since March 2016. He came to us as an older kitten after all of his litter mates were adopted through another rescue. The other rescue tried to work with him on socialization, but he preferred to have his space. Here at Paws and Love, he determines the level of interaction he wants and that's okay with us!
Bob Marley is a quiet cat who can be found lounging around in the shade, relaxing in his favorite spot as the day goes by. He'll come close, but prefers to not be touched by humans. He is friends with everyone, but can usually be seen hanging out with Sims and Marshall. With over 100 cats to care for, our monthly expenses are no joke! To help with the daily expenses, you can virtually adopt Bob Marley - covering his monthly needs and care. To virtually adopt, please click here. **Every week, we highlight a sanctuary cat in need of a virtual adopter. A virtual adopter is a monthly sponsor through our Fund-A-Feral program who helps cover the costs of their chosen cat's care such as food, enrichment, and necessary vetting for as little as $10/month.**
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Spencer came to us along with his friend, Shaun, back in 2015. They were with another rescue and were a little too spicy for adoption so we gladly took them in and here they are free to be their true selves! He is always the first one at the gate greeting the food feeder every evening when we bring out the wet food and because he loves feeding time so much, he has been known to yell at others getting near his food!
He is quite vocal - having lots to say to his fellow felines and to us. He thinks he is the ruler of the domain. Although he is quite independent, he can be seen hanging out with Hunter, Cece, and Rami on occasion. With over 100 cats to care for, our monthly expenses are no joke! To help with the daily expenses, you can virtually adopt Spencer - covering his monthly needs and care. To virtually adopt, please click here. **Every week, we highlight a sanctuary cat in need of a virtual adopter. A virtual adopter is a monthly sponsor through our Fund-A-Feral program who helps cover the costs of their chosen cat's care such as food, enrichment, and necessary vetting for as little as $10/month.** Out of all the black cats in the sanctuary, 7-year-old JoLee is pretty easy to spot with her precious little tongue bleps and big eyes watching your every move! JoLee is one of our inside ferals who came to us back in the summer of 2018 from a colony that we TNRed. Because she had five babies who were too young to be away from her, we took her in with them so she could still nurse. This allowed us to socialize the kittens so they could be adopted into homes. Once the kittens were weaned, we decided to see how she'd do with the other cats in the sanctuary since she had been with us for so long. When we let her out into one of our main rooms, she made herself right at home! Don't you want to sponsor this black beauty?
To virtually adopt JoLee and become a monthly sponsor, please click here. **Every week, we highlight a sanctuary cat in need of a virtual adopter. A virtual adopter is a monthly sponsor through our Fund-A-Feral program who helps cover the costs of their chosen cat's care such as food, enrichment, and necessary vetting for as little as $10/month.** If you've visited the outside cats within our sanctuary, more than likely you've met Hunter - a petite ginger boy who is known as the "sanctuary greeter" due to his enthusiasm to welcome volunteers. He loves to follow you around and get attention - sometimes he'll even jump up with a head bop to your hand. Hunter is one of the original cats within our sanctuary who came to us back in 2015 when their colony needed to be relocated - or they would all be euthanized. At the age of 10, Hunter is one of our many seniors who call Paws and Love home. He would love to have a sponsor and we're sure he would enjoy a visit too!
To virtually adopt Hunter and become a monthly sponsor, please visit this link to learn more: Fund-A-Feral **Every week, we highlight a sanctuary cat in need of a virtual adopter. A virtual adopter is a monthly sponsor through our Fund-A-Feral program who helps cover the costs of their chosen cat's care such as food, enrichment, and necessary vetting for as little as $10/month.** Nacho is a fairly new kitty to the sanctuary who came to us last year when her owners moved and she was left behind. She is a very sweet little lady who has one of the cutest little meows! Nacho enjoys attention and volunteers get to spoil her with love whenever they stop by to clean. Nacho does require a bit of extra attention due to having FIV+ and an allergy to fleas so she is one of our inside kitties.
If you would like to virtually adopt Nacho by becoming a Fund-A-Feral sponsor, please visit this link for more info: Fund-A-Feral To learn more about FIV, click here She is also available for adoption! Click here to see our adoptables. **Every week, we highlight a sanctuary cat in need of a virtual adopter. A virtual adopter is a monthly sponsor through our Fund-A-Feral program who helps cover the costs of their chosen cat's care such as food, enrichment, and necessary vetting for as little as $10/month.** Marshall is one of our older feral kitties who has been with us for 2,384 days (that's over 6 years, if you're not wanting to do the math ). He showed up one day as a stray and has been here ever since. He's not friendly enough to pet, but he sure does come running across the yard when he hears you shaking some cat treats! His favorite treats are the catnip ones and when we bring in some fresh catnip leaves, he's rolling all over them! Marshall loves laying around the pond (where he is pictured here) or under a nearby shady bush. He can usually be spotted hanging out near fellow residents Rami, Sherry, Penelope, Hunter, and Spencer.
To become a virtual adopter and sponsor Marshall, visit the link below for more info: Fund-A-Feral **Every week, we highlight a sanctuary cat in need of a virtual adopter. A virtual adopter is a monthly sponsor through our Fund-A-Feral program who helps cover the costs of their chosen cat's care such as food, enrichment, and necessary vetting for as little as $10/month.** Last year, 2020 was difficult is so many ways. In the wake of the health and economic turmoil left by the pandemic, Paws and Love was focused on keeping our Sanctuary residents safe and well leaving us less able to help community cats in need. Petco stepped in during these difficult times with life-saving funds. Because of these funds we were able to spay/neuter 27 extremely vulnerable cats and kittens. Thanks to Petco these cats are now safe and doing well!! Stevie the Wonder Kitten was one lucky kitten who was spayed thanks to Petco's grant! You can read about her story here. A group of 16 cats/kittens were able to be helped thanks to Petco. You can read more about their story here.
Her eyes, however continued to worsen…we got her back to the vets but they felt she was still too small for surgery so back to the Sanctuary she went – but not for long. Her eyes would not heal. Stevie was now 1-pound 8ozs, she had gained a pound in a week – but was still shy of the 2 pounds we hoped for - the vet decided that if Stevie was going to make it at all surgery was a must. While surgery was in progress we held our breath knowing that it was risky. Stevie’s surgery was a success!!! We had made it out of surgery!! Now we will have to take it slowly and one day at a time. Stevie had other plans... she came back and was famished! She drank her formula for a full minute and a half. This was a particularly good sign. Then she went to take a well needed nap... and so did I!! I got up, prepared more formula for Stevie and had some snuggle time. She had her dry food in the cage from the days before and I put in some fresh canned food. When I was sitting in the room with her, I hear drinking... what? Has she found her formula all by herself? Yes, she did…then I get a closer look and see she is eating her wet food!! HUH?? She has refused it for 3 days. THEN she found her dry food and began crunching on that! This was amazing! Stevie had not only just had surgery, but she was back to her normal diet! That night she was running all around as if nothing happened. From that point forward Stevie was her own advocate – exploring her environment, playing with her foster Dad Bryan, “looking” out the windows – and fearlessly climbing the mountain of pillows on the bed so she could slide back down!! We are so very happy to share the great news that Stevie our little blind kitty has officially been adopted. After she recovered from surgery here at the rescue she was put into foster care with a lovely couple. With all of the updates and pictures, we knew this was a match made in heaven!! Even before the adoption, Stevie had her very own Christmas stocking!!
We are so very happy to share the great news that Stevie our little blind kitty has officially been adopted!!!!! Stevie has other fur siblings (dogs and cats) and is doing great with them. Her mama says she is a climber. She climbs her legs and gets onto her shoulder. She says she is a very brave kitten!! Yay Stevie!! You did it girl!! Thank you to all of our awesome friends and supporters who made donations for her surgeries and medical expenses. Special thanks to Petco whose lifesaving grant helped to make sure that Stevie survived!!! If you every wonder if you have made a difference…just think of these guys whose lives were saved because of Petco!! A New Colony Needs our Help!! Paws and Love was contacted with an urgent plea for help with a new colony of feral cats. The caretaker reported that the mama cat was not walking right. She was very unsteady; her gait was shaky, she could not hold her head still, and she would fall when she tried to use the stairs. He said he had seen her splayed out in the yard unable to move. He could not understand what was wrong and was very worried. Audra, Director of Paws for Love went immediately do a welfare check. Audra, “What I found made my heart sink! The landlord is a plumber and had discarded old toilets in the back yard that fill with rainwater. To prevent mosquitoes, he then fills them with a colored bleach solution. I was very fearful that mama may have been thirsty and that she had swallowed this water.” In addition to mama there were several other cats and kittens in the colony. Given the setting, it was clear that this was not a safe place for these kitties to be. Because the mama cat was no where to be seen, Audra went back at around 7:30 when the caretaker feeds the cats. Mama did come out and she was just as wobbly and shaky just as we had been told. That night we set up a drop trap to try and rescue Mama, but unfortunately a male cat entered followed by two tiny kittens who probably did not even weigh a pound. They were all after that chicken!! Then mama made her appearance. She walked under the drop trap, but the feeding bowl was occupied, and she looked like she was going to leave. Audra, “I had no choice but to pull the cord with 2 cats and 2 kittens underneath. I hooked up the transfer cage and babies and mama shot in it instantly. Since I was there for the ill mama cat, I only had the transfer cage. I had to release the male (I did go back for him) and I kept mama and her two babies. Unfortunately, at the vet, the worst possible thing was discovered, mama was not going to make it. I was devastated!! I knew the only thing I could do now was to help her pass with peace and promise to help her babies.” The next time we came prepared with MANY traps for the remaining kitties and we were able to trap 4 other kittens who were quite “spicy” little things. They were appropriately named, Fennel, Mace, Nutmeg, and Saffron. The females were a bit more challenging after seeing all the trapping they were skittish. Audra kept going back to this location to trap all kittens and ended up with an additional FIVE!! A total of 11 kittens rescued from this location. The 11 kittens became temporary residents of Paws and Love while they learned to socialize, use inside manors, and live with a forever family!!
Two adult females were trapped as well as three adult males. The five adult cats were fixed, vaccinated, and returned to their home creating a much more manageable colony for the caretaker to feed and look after. We also informed the caretaker of ways to make the area safer for the cats. We are so truly fortunate to have a wonderful network of supporters and fellow rescuers who we can count on to help our community cats. We still have three of the kittens, though they are now almost 7 months old, and HUGE! They have not quite decided they are ready for adoption. Until then, they are being loved, as they desire, and inside preparing for a wonderful healthy life!! Thank you, Petco, for assisting with the cost of spaying/neutering these precious cats which allowed us to save the lives of 16 cats and kittens from this one location! Your support made all the difference!!! We are facing a difficult time with the Coronavirus rampaging across the world leaving destruction and tragedy in its wake. As we all “shelter-in-place” it may be helpful to reflect on what was happening last year…as we faced another challenge: the destruction of Hurricane Dorian. We offer the following summary of these events in gratitude to all of our Paws and Love family and to the Petco Foundation for their support of the Sanctuary’s recovery. It is a reminder that we are all in this together and that we can all “Pause and Love” our neighbors – even while we are socially distant! Be safe and well!
Hurricane Dorian downed trees, damaged Sanctuary buildings, and destroyed much of the perimeter fencing needed to keep the cats safe. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dorian’s destruction, the outpouring of community support included: donated generators by Phil and Mary Ruth Coleman, volunteers to move cat food and supplies to a safe area, help with removing tree limbs, and patching the fence to safe-guard and protect the cats.
As a result of the quick community response, no cats were lost or hurt. The remaining property, however, was left with serious damage from downed trees. Thanks to a generous donation from the Petco Foundation, Paws and Love was able to restore the Sanctuary. We are grateful to the Petco Foundation for this support! Paws and Love operates on a small budget and without the Petco Foundation’s support, the tree removal and needed repairs to our property would have jeopardized our ability to care for the 115 Sanctuary residents, cats with high needs (i.e. seniors, cats with disabilities, cats who are extremely shy/feral, and those who would not likely survive a typical feral-colony). The Petco Foundation’s support allowed us to repair the Sanctuary while continuing care for the Sanctuary residents and our commitment to TNR efforts across our county (in 2019 our TNR included over 460 cats). We are very grateful for the support of the Petco Foundation in response to Hurricane Dorian’s impact on the Sanctuary and our Eastern North Carolina communities. We all continue to shelter-in-place!
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