The History of the Baer House Cats...

Once upon a time.. no wait, this isn't that kind of story.  Well, I suppose it could be.  Once upon a time we had two cats named CSX and Chessie.  Yes, our son, Jordan was very much a train fanatic.  Chessie was a solid black cat. CSX was a grey tabby.  I'm not exactly sure what caused CSX to run away, the lure of better treats elsewhere, a rap contract, or what, but he snuck out of the house one day when the front door was being repaired.  Unfortunately he was never seen again.  They were approximately a year old then.  I regret that I don't have any pictures of CSX available online.  There are very few even in existence.  I'm not sure I even had a camera back then.

Here is a picture of Chessie in later years....

Nonetheless, Chessie was an indoor / outdoor cat.  He liked going outdoors, though I tried to keep him indoors for the most part.  Since his brother was gone we felt like he was lonely.  I'm not sure what gave us that idea since there were literally DOZENS of cats outside.  I'm pretty sure people were dropping them off by our house because they knew we would feed them and take care of them.  And of course most of them had babies right away.

Later, when Smidgen and Chessie came to blows... or rather Smidgen was so mean to Chessie, we let him go live with my mother where he was able to be indoors and loved always.  She spoiled him immensely.

Chessie was carried around on a satin pillow..literally at times!  lol. He was such a sweet cat.  Unfortunately, Chessie passed away after some health issues on October 31st, 2009 at the age of nearly eighteen years old. He lived a long life, but it's never long enough with the ones we love.   {His obituary is at the end of this post for those who would like to read it.}

When we decided Chessie was lonely we started thinking about adding another cat to our family.  But 1993 had been a bad year for our family.  We lost my Daddy in April of that year.  We were having such a tough time of it when the end of the school year came at the end of May that I promised Jordan we would go to the Humane Society after school the last day and adopt a cat.

I was there to pick him up that day.  Jordan and his best friend, Eric Hamilton came out of the school.  Eric was adamant that his mother {Michele} had a cat for us.  I thought he was trying to give up his cat Chewy, so I initially resisted.  But he was very insistent.

Since they lived less than a block away, I went over to the house and sure enough, Michele had the tiniest kitten I'd ever seen.  Smidgen was maybe two weeks old.  I couldn't believe how little bitty he was.  I told her we couldn't take him.  I was SURE he wouldn't survive and I didn't feel like our family could handle that right then since we were still reeling from losing Daddy. 

She said he'd be taken back to the horse stable where she'd found him and his mother {deceased} wedged between two brick walls full of concrete.  The odds were extremely high that he would die w/out his mother.  But they were going out of town and couldn't keep him.

So, against my better judgement I agreed to take him.  I figured at least when he died it would be in a warm place surrounded by love.  I called the vet and went over what I needed to get / do in order to care for him.

He stole our hearts away the instant we saw him, but still we worried.  We took him {and his 'diaper bag'} everywhere we went.  He had to be fed every two hours.  The first night I called work and told my boss that I either needed to call in or bring my cat to work.  After hearing my story {and laughing at me}, he told me to bring my cat.  For a few weeks, until he graduated to longer times between feedings, Smidgie went w/me to work every night. He was too small to get out of his little basket.

Smidgie pleasantly surprised us. He began to grow and thrive. We were so relieved when he got old enough to be weaned.  Though he felt he should still have a bottle.  lol..  It was more difficult to wean Smidge than it was to wean Jordan!  He'd eat a half a can of food in one sitting and then run to me and cry for a bottle.  But he was biting the end off of the nipples and I was afraid he'd choke on the tips.  So I cut him off.  lol.

Chessie was glad to have a little brother.  Initially.  However, when Smidge was a couple of years old, one night he went ballistic.  I had let a stray into the kitchen while I was folding clothes.  I had already put him back outside when I went to put away the clothes.  When I came back into the kitchen, Smidgen was looking under the table acting very strange.  I had never seen him the least bit aggressive so I had no idea what was happening.  He had smelled the other cat and since he couldn't find him, he had gone after his buddy Chessie.  Prior to this night, they were best buddies.  They snuggled up together, etc.  But all that was gone from his head, there was nothing but anger and aggression on this night.  I leaned down to see what was going on.  That was my mistake.  Smidgen was attached to my arm in an instant, teeth and claws digging in.  I was horrified.  It took a minute to get him peeled off of my arm/hand.  I was bleeding all over.  Allen thought I'd stabbed myself w/a knife since I'd gone back in to start dinner.

It took several stitches and a lot of clean up.  I couldn't believe our own cat had done this.  The vet said to have him neutered, that it would stop his aggression / territorialness.  So after spending ten days in quarantine, he was neutered.  

But that didn't slow Smidge down any.  He was still going after Chessie every chance he got, cornering him or trapping him under the bed.  I felt terrible for Chessie, plus I was actually afraid of Smidge.  After what he'd done, I didn't really trust him.

It was w/good reason.  A year or so later, Mom took Chessie to live w/her because we'd had to make him a solely outside cat to keep him and Smidge apart.  She felt sorry for him {we did too, it broke my heart when he wanted inside and I had to tell him no.} so we let him go live w/her where he'd be safe.  It was a difficult moment, but it was the right thing to do for Chessie.

After she got him settled w/her, Mom got some new furniture. But it didn't really fit into the small patio home she'd bought.  So, it was agreed she'd order new furniture and we'd take what she'd already gotten after the new was delivered.

When we took the original furniture, Smidgen immediately smelled Chessie on it.  He was behind the sofa and Allen thought he was scratching the grandfather's clock.  Allen reached around to make Smidge stop, and Smidge did stop what he was doing.  He went from what ever he was doing to attacking Allen.  He didn't quite get him as bad as he had me, but only because he was in a bad position to do so.  Still it was bad enough that we were on our way back to the ER. 

I was sure that they would make us put him to sleep since this was the second time he was reported.  I called Animal Control and they refused to let me be w/him when they euthanized him.  So I called our vet and asked if he would let me hold him.  Thank God we had an amazing and understanding vet.  He said there was no need to euthanize him, bring Smidge to him as soon as he'd finished this quarantine time.

Although we are COMPLETELY and TOTALLY  against declawing cats, it was our only options with Smidgen.  He couldn't be trusted any longer.  Jordan was still young and there were often other children in our home.  And to be honest, frankly I was afraid of him.  So, reluctantly, we agreed to have him declawed, front and back.  Although he still had teeth of course, after the claws were gone we were no longer afraid of him.   He still tried to intimidate and frighten, but it no longer worked.  So eventually he mellowed out and became our little old curmudgeon.

An adult Smidgen....

For many years Smidgen was an only cat because he couldn't get along w/any others.

Smidgen was our baby cat, the one who really started it all.  He turned Allen into a cat person.  Allen and Smidge were buddies.  He always sat with Allen during card games.

Smidgen and I had a deal.  Neither of us would die until we could go together.  And I planned a LONG life.  I just knew Smidgie would be one of those cats that lived well into their thirties.  It never entered my mind otherwise.  I did begin to watch him more closely as he aged, but losing him never really truly occurred to me.  However in May of 2011 he was diagnosed with early kidney failure.  By the end of August he'd lost more than pound {weight he could NOT afford to lose at that point} and he was in congestive heart failure.  On August 31, 2011 we took him to the vet for what we thought would be a check up and .probably some medicine.  But it ended up being our baby's last day. He was more than eighteen years old.0 The decision was made to put him to sleep so he wouldn't suffer.  He was struggling to breathe and we were told it would only get worse, that they gave him a couple of days at most.  In retrospect I wish I'd gotten a second opinion, but hindsight is always 20/20.  The moment he laid his little head down for the last time was one of the worst moment's of my life.  I've been told  the decision was the right one, but I doubt the guilt will ever fully go away.  Our family took a severe hit with the loss of our baby cat.
                                          Rest in peace, our sweet little Smidgen.  We love you!

                                                                   ---------------------

A few years after Chessie went to live with mom, Smidgen and I were home one day and I heard a cat crying.  Naturally I assumed it was him so I went looking for him.  Apparently he'd heard it and assumed it was me because he was looking for me.  lol.  Once we'd ruled each other out, I went outside to see where it was coming from. 

Walking beside the house was this adorable little black cat.  She was just crying and crying.  I went over to her and she just let me pick her right up.  I didn't know where she'd come from.  We watched for her and fed her for a few days before we realized she was living in the crawl space under our house.  I would sit outside and rock her all cuddled up in my arms.  When the weather started getting chilly I couldn't leave her outside.  It was breaking my heart to think of her cold.  So, we told Smidgen he was going to have to suck it up and accept a sister.  She came inside to live with us.  Never did she ever act like she wanted to go back outside.  It took a few days for Smidgen to agree to her living w/us, mostly because she still hadn't stopped talking, lol. 

Ouiji is quite the talker.  She and Smidgen became very close.  She likes to be in the room where her people are, but she's not as much a snuggler as she used to be outside.  She wants to be up close, but not held.  When we moved to our new house, she had a very difficult time making the adjustment.  For about four months, she wandered the house acting lost.  If anyone came to visit, she hid.  I felt bad for her, but she eventually decided the new home was safe and preferable to the old, smaller house.

Of all the cats I've ever known, Ouiji is the talker of the bunch.  She talks as much as a Siamese I'd say. Although I've never lived with a one.  Ouiji's always been petite, she has such a tiny little head, tiny little face.  She is just so easy to love.  And recently she's become addicted to tea.  I don't know if that's bad for her or not.  She's right there any time I pour myself a glass of tea.  Allen says she needs a patch, lol.

Miss Ouiji checking out one of the cat trees.....

Ouiji was the only girl in the cat family for a long time.  I'm pretty sure she liked it that way.  In fact, it was only Smidgen and Ouiji for a very long time.  Smidgen still wasn't cutting any other cat any slack.

The two of them became good friends and were content to have the house to themselves.

However, it wasn't to be.  The Posey County Humane Society had a building that was just one block from the ambulance station where I was stationed.   Every shift or so I'd stop in and visit the cats.  It was a tiny place, truly not enough room, but they were a no kill shelter so I felt comfortable getting close to the cats.  There was one cat in particular that stole my heart.  They had named him 'Red'.  I kept promising him that I'd get him out of there soon, that I'd find him a home.  I'd already found homes for a couple of others before I met him.

Then time ran out... the shelter was closing down.  They were shutting the doors until a larger, cleaner building could be built.  {It would eventually take YEARS before the new shelter would be in place and it's still very small}  All the animals had to be fostered, or adopted by a certain date.  Any remaining animals would be sent to the adjoining county's Humane Society which wasn't no kill by any means.  I knew I had to get Red out of there!  I tried to adopt him myself, but the Director, Phyllis wouldn't let me because our landlord said no.  {Like that ever stopped me from doing anything!}  I tried to get others to adopt him, but no one would.  I tried to get my mom to adopt him and then I'd take him, but she refused.  {Yeah, I still haven't forgiven that, but that's another story}.  Eventually my son saw his picture and he, along with his girlfriend decided to adopt Red.

Then it got complicated again.  They lived in Lexington, Ky.  We were in Mt. Vernon Indiana.  Phyllis wouldn't let me fill out the paperwork and sign Jordan's name.  So, it took a little creativity, a little back door workings and a very sweet woman named Annie Boyles to get Red free and safe.

I took the paperwork back to the station while Phyllis was out.  I filled it all in. {I sign Jordan's name as well as he does} and faxed from my quarters to dispatch.  Then I took it back like I'd faxed it from here to Lexington.  Annie quickly filled out the paperwork on her end and we were out of there before Phyllis could get back.

Red, who was renamed immediately upon his arrival in Lexington loved the drive down.  His new name:  Rondo.  He was named after Rajon Rondo, a UK basketball player that my son had a class with, and thought highly of.  {He now plays for the Boston Celtics}   I loved Rondo with all my heart.

A few weeks after Rondo moved down, Jordan broke up with his girlfriend.  She was living in an off campus apartment while Jordan lived in on campus housing, so she had Rondo.  One weekend while Allen and I were down visiting, she called and told Jordan to "come get your cat, he has to go now!".   I'm pretty sure she did it because she knew we were there and she hoped when Jordan and I came to get the cat, I'd talk him into working things out.  Well, it didn't happen that way.  The roommate let us in and we took Rondo.

Rondo was back in Indiana!  I was so thrilled to have him home with me.  I cannot tell you how much this little guy meant to me.

Rondo on a big adventure.....

Rondo was the love of my life.  He was an amazing little soul.  He LOVED to go for car rides, and with a little time got used to walking on a harness so we took him to the park.

Rondo was my snuggle buddy at night.  We'd cuddle up and sleep holding hands.  He loved to sit on the porch with us {in our arms} and people watch.

However, Rondo had one REALLY bad habit:  he would run out the door every chance he got.  Usually he would stop in the front yard and nibble grass so you could catch him.  But on June 12th, 2010 he ran out and headed for the back yard. I believe he was startled by some raccoons. There was no getting him back in the house.  We tried for weeks to find him and bring him home.  The entire neighborhood was looking for him.  But he is still gone.  I miss him terribly.  Though Allen and Jordan are certain he's met a horrible fate, I won't give up on him.  I still believe in my heart that one day he will turn up on our doorstep, happy to be home.

When we moved from our old house to the new house, the dynamics of the cats changed.  Before, Smidgen never let Rondo near him.  He hissed and spit and chased him back up onto the furniture.  Rondo's poor little feet rarely touched the floor.  At the new house, I made sure to let Rondo out of his carrier before the other two to give him an opportunity to check things out for a little bit.  Shortly after I let Smidge and Ouiji out.  I suppose Smidge didn't consider it all his territory after that.  Things changed.  They didn't fight like at the old house, but Rondo was still the odd man out.  We decided he needed a buddy!

A few weeks after we made that decision, I came home from work and was reading the Friday newspaper which always had a "Cat of the Week" from the Vanderburgh Humane Society.  The minute I saw Andy's picture, I knew he was our baby!  I fell in love.  I was cutting the picture out of the paper a little later when Allen called.  He asked what I was doing.  I said I was cutting something from the paper.  He laughed and said, "So you saw his picture too huh?  What do you think?"   We both just knew.  I called and he was still available. When I called Allen back he told me he was heading home so we could go adopt him.

In order to fully appreciate that, you have to know my husband.  First, he did NOT come from a animal background.  They never had pets and CERTAINLY not pets in the house!  He wasn't too sure about having cats around all the time.  However, in all fairness I did warn him before we were married....  If you are going to be married to me, there WILL be cats.   If not, then do NOT marry me because it won't last!  Not long after we were married, I drug home a cat I found in a dumpster.  Her name was Punkin.  She was a very odd cat.  She would NOT stay in the house.  But she would knock at the door to come in and use the litter box.  We were living in an apartment where cats weren't allowed so this seemed to be a compromise. We eventually found her a wonderful home w/a good friend where she lived to a ripe old age.  We did that because I was pregnant and did not know that cats can be handled safely {by Allen} during a pregnancy.  I would never do that now.

But we have had a few fights over cats over the years...  some got a trifle ugly, lol.   But it's more than twenty-nine years since we say "I do" and we're still together so I suppose we got past that.

Second...  Allen was pretty good with the first four cats.  Not crazy about it mind you, but ok.  But as the years wore on and we got up to seven, then eight and then nine cats, Allen wasn't as happy about it.  Several times I heard the words, "Dammit Renee, you can't save every one of them!!!"   A friend of mine thinks that so funny.  That comment pretty much starts out every mention of a cat needing a home from number five until  about number seven or eight of the ones who actually live with us and many more that I ended up placing elsewhere that stayed a day or two with us.  {or went straight to their new home}.  

Eventually he was the one saying "Just bring the cat over here, we know we're taking it."  {Titan} and "Sure, we'll take her."  {Wrigley}   So he has truly evolved over the years.  He's become a cat person far more than he'd ever admit.   I will say that when number five came on board, I wondered if we were sane, but after two or three, you really don't notice the numbers like you think you would.  Nine doesn't seem strange at all to me now.  lol.

Back to the history lesson....  Andy is completely a Momma's boy.  He is a Ragamuffin.  His fur is SO soft.  It's amazing.  You just want to bury your face in it.  He keeps pretty much to himself.  He's always on the bed.  I tell people that I have to go turn him now and then to prevent bed sores, lol.  But he is content there. Whether he is downstairs or up in the bedroom, any time I sit where he can get to me, he is right there.  As close as he can possibly get, usually half in my lap.  I love that.  I love scrunching him up in my arms.  He's become my snuggle buddy since Rondo left.

The day we were picking Andy up, there was a black cat there just being SO lovey you couldn't ignore him. He was precious!   After leaving I worried and worried about him.  VHS is not a no kill shelter.  Jordan and I were leaving within a few days to make an epic journey to Canada and down the east coast.  Allen was supposed to be checking on this cat, Bistat, while we were gone.  Only after we got back did we realize he wasn't doing that at all.

Terrified, I called VHS on our return.  Luckily Bistat was still safe.  I told them we were going the next day to Lexington and we'd pick Bistat up the following day.   The next evening I received a frantic call.  They were taking Bistat down to be euthanized.  I told them we were out of town, but would be there at 8am the next morning if they would wait!  Fortunately they agreed.

By 7:30 the next morning we were at the door waiting for him.  Allen wasn't too up on taking another cat.  {I'm pretty sure this was one of the "dammit Renee" adoptions, lol}...   But we had agreed that we would take care of the cat while Jordan was temporarily in Seattle for the next few months and then he'd take him back to Lexington with him for a final year at UK.

Our sweet Bistat:

Well, as things worked out, Jordan initially ended up sharing a house with two other guys and couldn't take Bistat.  So he stayed with us in Evansville.

Surprisingly, as friendly and outgoing as he was the day I was in the room getting Andy, Bistat was totally different at home.  When Jordan wasn't around he hid in the master closet.  If you wanted to love on him, you had to go there to get him out.

But when Jordan moved back home after school {or visited}, Bistat was his little shadow.  Everywhere that Jordan went, Bistat was right there.  They became best buddies.  When Jordan moved back home to the apartment part downstairs part of our house, Bistat became his roommate.  The only time we saw Bistat was if Jordan came upstairs to play cards, eat or whatever.

Unfortunately time was limited for these two.  We had no idea that Bistat wasn't to be with us for long.  There are still feelings of confusion and loss over his death.

It's a habit to do a constant head count when we walk in a room.  And Allen and I had done that every time I'm sure.  Jordan came home from work and we were all in the living room talking.  As usual the head count started....  Jordan asked who was under the coffee table, we could only see a black foot.  Allen slid the coffee table back and I could see the stunned look on his face... "Renee, this cat is dead!".    Of course I didn't believe him at first.  But one look convinced me otherwise.  Apparently he'd had a heart attack while sleeping.  He looked like he had just laid down for a nap and never woke up.  Jordan was heartbroken.  We all loved and missed Bistat, but it was hardest on Jordan.  They had become inseparable.  Now Bistat was gone.  Bistat, Chessie and Smidgen are all buried in the memorial garden in the backyard.

Before the loss of Bistat we'd added three other cats... Mickey, Arena, and Memphis.  Mickey was supposed to be a foster.  I'd always resisted becoming a foster parent because I know how I am.{more to the point, Allen knew how I was, lol}  I couldn't imagine giving up a cat that had been living in our home.  Let me explain it the best I can... when a cat comes into our home... even for a few hours, I feel like a traitor taking it somewhere else.  I feel like the cat knows it has a home here and then I just give it away. Especially when all the others get to stay.  How heartbreaking is that?   I just can't do it.

Mickey when he first came to live with us:

I agreed to take a litter of kittens, thinking that by giving them all up, I wouldn't feel so traitorous.  Connie called from the rescue group at the last minute and asked if I would take another cat, one that needed medical attention {since I work on an ambulance}... I agreed to take the cat in place of the kittens.  The minute Mickey was moved from her carrier to mine, I knew he wasn't leaving our house.  Right after we got home, Allen and I were changing his dressings {his paws were badly burned when he tried to hide in a car w/a hot engine} and Mickey was so sweet, licking us while we cared for him.  I looked at Allen and said, "He'll be hard not to fall in love with huh?"   His answer, "yes he will."   told me all I needed to know.  I called Connie the next day and told her not to look for a home for Mickey.  He was already home.
Mickey is our juvenile delinquent, lol.  He just seems like the little boy with a backpack thrown over his shoulder and carrying a skateboard.  He's brought unlimited joy to our lives.
Mickey now...

It has been such a joy to watch Mickey grow up.  He was the first baby we'd had in the house since Smidgen was first with us.  It's difficult for me to see him as all grown up, even now.  The last time I took him in for his vaccination updates, I suppose I saw him from the perspective of the outsider.  I was stunned at how big he was, how you could see the adult cat instead of the kitty he had been for so long.  Mickey has definitely wrapped himself around the heart of all of us.  He won't let Allen or Jordan touch him unless he is just too tired to move.  But he is a momma's snuggle boy.  He loves to stop in front of me and stretch out for a belly rub.  He LOVES the catnip toys.  He had scarfed on Raider's hedgehog in the picture up above!   lol.

About a year after Mickey settled into our family everyone kept seeing a little cat ducking into Sharon's garage next door. {That's my cousin}  She kept telling me I had to do something about that cat, but I never saw it.  Finally one day I caught a glimpse of her.  She was SO cute.  Orange and white. A little fragile looking kitty.  That night I had picked Allen up from the club after some event and let's just say he was inebriated.  While we were sitting on the front porch before going in, this little cat comes up to me.  She just let me pick her up.  I told Allen to go grab her something to eat.  While he was gone I noticed she'd been declawed.   When Allen returned I mentioned that fact.  Allen said, "well we can't let her stay outside then!"  I quickly called Jordan up from downstairs and gave him the new cat before Allen could change his mind.

Arena surveying her domain.....

The next day he didn't even remember anything about her being there.  I had to go to work for a 32hr shift so she stayed with us while I was gone.  As soon as I got back I took her to a local vet to see if she was microchipped.   Turned out that she lived at the end of our block.  I called the woman and explained that I had her baby.  After a confusing conversation I realized she had put her outside intentionally.

When I took the cat home, I explained that she could not be allowed out since she was declawed.  The woman said it was alright.  She told me the cat had bathroom issues, she wouldn't use the litter box.  But she'd been using it fine at our house!

I was reluctant to leave the cat w/her since she didn't seem to care, but I told her firmly, "If she turns up back at our house, you won't be getting her back!"

Two weeks later, Arena was back on our porch.  I told the guys she was back.  They didn't want to even tell the woman we had her, but I knew we had too.  Just to change the microchip if nothing else.  I went down {five days later} and told her we had her cat and wasn't giving her back.  I just wanted her to sign over her microchip.  The woman couldn't have cared less.  Arena was all ours!

She has become totally Jordan's cat.  She adores him and the feeling is mutual.  She lives in the downstairs apartment with him because she isn't too fond of a couple of the other cats.  Arena sleeps snuggled up to Jordan every night.   Jordan thinks she's wonderful too.

Early the following February, I was working in New Harmony when my partner's husband called and said he'd found a kitten.  Ed would walk about 6am every morning regardless of weather.  This particular morning I was surprised even he was out.  The weather was horrible, icy, freezing rain, snow on the ground... just really bad out.  I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs to meet him.  When he handed me the ball of fur out of his coat I was certain she was already gone.

Little Miss Memphis.....

When I told him I thought she might be dead, a little paw slowly raised up and wrapped around my finger.    It was on!  She clearly was a fighter!  I threw towels in the dryer to warm her with and gave her warm milk w/syrup mixed in.  {which was suggested by the Emergency Animal Clinic} and talked to her.  By 8am when I got off work, she had perked up a bit.  However from her nose up to the top of her face was covered by a crusty film.  I knew she couldn't see a thing.  

The minute I got off work, I ran her down to our vet.  He was in surgery, but I left her w/the nurse.  The vet called before I even got back to Evansville where I live.  His diagnoses was grim.  They had managed to remove the crusties, but the little kitty had a massive respiratory infection.  The infection had spread to her eyes and they were in critical condition.  The vet recommended we would have to enucleate her eyes.   He felt she should be euthanized.

My first reaction was a firm, "NO!". The vet asked if I knew what he meant... her eyes would have to be removed, both of them. I was familiar w/blind cats from The Blind Cat Rescue and Sanctuaries videos.  I had spoken to the owner a couple of times regarding donations, etc.    {She is a paramedic working on an ambulance as well}  I told him I knew what that meant - do whatever was necessary!   It was clear that this little girl was a fighter.  She was a LONG way from being done living.

But I admit, I immediately hung up the phone and called Alana from Blind Cats.  I wanted reassurance that I was doing the right thing for this little girl.  Another thing was I wanted to know if they would take her at the Sanctuary.  {This was a DEFINITE "dammit Renee" moment w/Allen when I called on my way to the vet}. I would have been willing to drive her to North Carolina if she could take her.  Alana said they were full, but she would pay for her surgery if we would keep her here.  I wasn't sure at first, we had stairs! Could I be a good mom to a blind cat?  Would we be able to give her a good quality of life!?!?   But Alana soothed all my fears and when I spoke to Allen next, we agreed we had to keep her.

Memphis fought the infection for several days staying w/the vet.  They finally let her come home for a weekend, to be back on Monday for the eye surgery.  When Jordan and Allen took her in on Monday, they were truly surprised to see her.  They had expected her to die before we brought her back.  She was SO skinny and frail.  I doubt she weighed two pounds and was probably about a year old the vet guessed.  After her surgery we brought her home, gave her medicine and fed her well.  When she went back for her shot updates the following year, she weighed six pounds!!!  The vet couldn't believe she was the same cat.  She had great muscle, muscle tone and was very healthy.  Before, when you held her all you felt was skin over bone, nothing else.  She had truly been at death's door.  She was pitiful.  Now she was a little butterball!

She certainly doesn't want anyone's pity now.  She gets around the house wonderfully.  Memphis is still a little snuggle bug when she wants to be, but she likes to be exploring as well.  She goes anywhere she likes in the house and never runs into anything.  She jumps on/off the furniture, climbs the cat tree, out runs Daddy and Jordan when they are trying to catch her for nail clipping time.  She does it all.  Memphis is truly an amazing little girl.  And precious!!????   OMG this little baby is beyond precious!  We are so lucky that Ed found her when he did.  I'm so grateful she wasn't euthanized.  Ed and his wife, my partner tried to call the vet and have her euthanized behind my back, to just have him tell me she died.  First, I would have known better, she was too determined to live.  Second, I suspected what they were wanting to do so I called the vet and made it very clear that I was her responsible guardian and paying her bills so NO ONE could make any decisions on her care w/out my approval except Alana.    I was stunned that they would even think to do that, but what can you say?
                                                   --------------------------------------

In the summer of 2010, when Rondo disappeared, we were frantic!  We were searching everywhere.  We knew our Animal Control shelter was HIGH KILL {90+% of the felines who enter that facility do NOT survive per the director}  so we were especially vigilant to make sure he hadn't been taken there.  I can't go in there.  I can't walk away and leave a cat there because I know it will die.  Therefore, Allen was supposed to be stopping in there to look for him.  One day he sent Jordan instead.  WRONG thing to do on his part.  I got a call at work from Jordan.  He was so upset.  He had been to the shelter and saw their faces.  Now Allen should have known better - Jordan has the "must save every single cat" gene that I have.  We can't help ourselves.

He'd fallen in love w/a little cat that had reached out to him.  She was white. They don't even give them names there.  They really couldn't care less about the animals at all there actually.

After Allen gave his approval, I started calling there to get her out.  It took seven phone calls and five days.  No one knew anything about her.  One person said that cats were NOT being euthanized that day, another, who is far more knowledgeable said they were.

The beautiful Miss Laker......

Throughout this whole ordeal, we never really learned much about her.  It wasn't until we went to pick her up that we even knew if she was male / female.  They sold us a spay voucher and we later learned she was already spayed.

She is just as sweet as she can be.  When we got her home we thought she was a while cat with black spots, but after a bath, we learned she was a solid white cats with fleas instead!  Which is even more insulting when you get to know Laker.  She is a prima dona.  Laker would be the girl at the Estee Lauder counter if she were working somewhere.

She is quite the little prissy one.  You can't help but love her when you meet her.  And truly, Laker is beautiful.  She was found wondering the streets by animal control.  But even from the start she responded to "pretty girl", so I believe she belonged to someone at one time.  I feel for them that they lost such a sweet baby.  I know I hope someone is loving Rondo though.  And trust me, Laker is well loved!

Not long after Laker arrived, Jordan's girlfriend came over telling us her sister was going to take her cat to animal control.  Obviously we couldn't let that happen.  But we had seven cats of our own, so I told her to get me a picture and I'd try to find the cat a home.  According to the girlfriend, this cat was a female.  Her sister didn't want her anymore because she was too much trouble, and the people before the sister passed her along because she had kittens.

Titan lounging.....

While I was saying, "we'll see what we can do", Allen was saying, "who are you kidding, bring her on over here.  We know she'll end up here, bring her on."

The next day the girlfriend shows up on the doorstep with this monster of a cat, 18 pounds!  And trust me when I say, even though he was neutered, Titan is DEFINITELY all male!!!   This cat did not have kittens!!!  {turns out the people GOT kittens so they got rid of the older cat, asses!  But he should be w/us anyway!}

Titan is absolutely no trouble whatsoever.  He is a daddy's boy since Smidgen's been gone.  Titan has been working to make daddy feel better since we came home from the vet that very first day.  He was about five years old when he came to live with us.  He's been in as many homes in the past couple of years.  I can't imagine why. You couldn't ask for a sweeter baby.  It would be over my dead body for someone to take one of ours out of this house, and that definitely includes Titan.  But their loss is our gain.  He's still a little chunker, but I think he may have shed a pound or so.  He loves to sit in Allen's lap while we play cards at night.  He sleeps thisclose to Allen's face, laying on his chest while Allen watches TV.  It's hilarious!

I've helped out a little here and there with the local PAAWS rescue group.  Obviously we're a foster fail because of Mickey.. which makes us deliriously happy.  But we no longer foster.  Nothing leaves our house.  That's just a fact of life.  We even have a mouse that I try to help out living on our front porch by the birdseed bucket.  We just have an open door and open hearts where animals are concerned.

Therefore, I usually limit my helping out to paperwork, etc. In January 2011, I had finished some of the paperwork and was meeting Connie at PetSmart {where they show animals for adoption} to drop the boxes off.  As we were talking she mentioned that she was going to have to take one of the cats back home.  She was concerned because he wasn't being adopted and she was afraid someone would take him and abuse him.  I didn't really understand until she told me he'd had to have an eye removed.

I went into the cat area to see him.  I'm sure you could write the rest of the story yourselves, lol.   Allen wouldn't even come in to see him.  It was definitely a "dammit Renee" moment.  I told Connie to just give me a week and we'd take him.  He was adorable, a sweet little Russian Blue who seemed so calm.  To me he seemed defeated so I knew I had to give him a loving home.

Raider with his new hedgehog......

A couple of days later, I called Connie to make sure  Raider was still available.  Then I told Allen that Connie called to see if we were taking the cat.  His answer was, "did you tell her NO!".   I said we'd talk about it later.


Another couple of days went by and I called Connie to let her know we'd pick the cat up over the weekend.  Then when Allen came home, I told him Connie called to see if we would pick the cat up on Thursday.  {we played in a card tournament on Thursdays}... His answer, "did you tell her it would be the weekend before we could get him?"   By the weekend, Raider was happily ensconced in his new home!   lol.   And believe me, there is nothing 'defeated' about this little guy, he is one wild little love bug baby!   lol.

Some of the 'nip party guests.... Laker, Mickey, Memphis, Smidgen and Titan.....

We had a catnip party on his adoption day so everyone could enjoy themselves.   It sure made the adjustment go much smoother.  The others were completely nonchalant about having a new brother.  He walked around growling at everyone for a few days, but then he adjusted too.

Raider is quite the little people food eater, lol.  I've never had a cat that I had to hide the chocolate from.  If he can get to it and eat it before you can stop him.. no matter what it is, he feels like it's fair game, lol.
And last, but certainly not least, we welcomed a new baby into our home this past week.  A month or so ago, Connie called asking us to 'foster' a kitten.

Sweet little Wrigley learning to play cards with Dad.....

We all know, as I said before, foster is code for "adopt:" at our house.  This new little kitten had somehow damaged her right eye so badly it was going to have to be removed.  Connie knew that we would love her and take good care of her.  She knew we would never let her be mistreated, which was a major concern for her if just anyone adopted this baby.  We agreed, but then the vet tech decided to foster her.  I honestly thought the vet tech just wanted to adopt her, that she'd fallen in love w/her especially since Connie was so adamant about sweet she was in spite of being in pain from her eye.  I had just assumed she had a home and never gave it much more thought.  Then the week before last, Connie called and asked if we were ready to take her.  Allen said, "Sure."  It took a few hit and misses before we finally actually got her but, she's here and I can't imagine not having her with us.  She is adorable.  She looks just like a miniature Andy.  Even though her name is Wrigley, Allen calls her A.J. sometimes for Andy Jr.  She definitely has an Andy butt... they have the cutest little cat butts, lol.

For now, the Inn is full.  We always reserve a spot for Angel, which is my mother's cat in case she needs a home.  Otherwise, we have all we can appropriately care for.  We could love many many more, but I feel that cats, like kids, need a lot of one on one attention.  Right now we're at maximum capacity.  Our world would be so dreary without the love of our furbabies.  I feel sorry for those who do not know the love of an animal companion.  For those who 'don't like' animals, you are truly missing out on one of the greatest pleasures of life... sharing it w/an animal who gives unconditional love.  I hope that I am never in a position where I have to live life w/out my kitty babies.   There have been days where the stress in life seemed insurmountable, but then you'd see a sweet smiling face looking at you from the edge of the bed, you'd know everything would be alright.  Life truly is good.






CHESSIE'S OBITUARY:

November 1st, 2009

At approximately 3:40am yesterday morning, we lost a beloved family member. He died in Jeanette's arms in the emergency room. Chessie was a wonderful and special little feline. He was the ripe old age of 17 1/2 when he passed away.

Chessie was orginally our family cat, Allen, Jordan and myself. However, at one time, Smidgen was so out of control and so determined to attack Chessie that we let Jeanette take him to live w/her. [I have had an immense amount of guilt about that over the years.] But it was a godsend for all involved. Chessie had an indoor home where he was spoiled rotten over the years. We didn't have to worry about him being outside [where he'd been resigned to due to Smidgen's issues] and Jeanette had a precious loving companion.

Over the years, we've enjoyed Chessie's company, always making certain he had Christmas presents... he was tough to buy for since he wasn't too fond of toys. Chessie was not much on catnip or other vices, but he did believe in being fed well [and often, lol]

A running story line in our family was that Chessie was the old general store owner.. [because he was the family feline patriarch] and that Smidgen worked for him... though Smidgen is aging quickly as well. Smidgen himself is now 16 1/2 years old. But as the story grew, Mickey [our youngest] would run through Chessie's General Store and knock things down w/his little backpack. It was a long running and entertaining yarn strewn throughout the years.... but at 3:40 am yesterday the lights went dark in the general store for the final time.

Jeanette called at 2am, hysterical [though we knew it was possibly emminent] saying Chessie was dying. I could hear him in the background and recognized the sound from Elijah's final moments. I quickly dressed and Jordan drove us to Jeanette's to be w/him. One look told me that his passing was at hand. It broke my heart to see him so helpless and to know I couldn't really do anything to help him. I told Jeanette to get dressed and we would take him to the emergency room where they could euthanize him and alleviate his suffering in the last moments. [we have an animal emergency room in our community... a wonderful facility, pricey, but most definitely a godsend in the afterhours]. When we arrived, I thought for a moment he'd already passed away enroute. But he took another ragged breath shortly after. They attempted to get an IV started for what seemed like forever, but they were unsuccessful, his little veins were collapsed and his blood pressure was very low. Finally they brought him back into the room w/us and we just held him, telling him how special he was, how much he'd be missed but that we knew he was tired.... in a matter of minutes, he was gone.

Life will be different w/out Chessie, especially for Jeanette who spent every day in his company. Jordan, my son, was particularly fond of Chessie. They were always very close. It broke my heart for him as well. At 24, the only time I could really recall ever seeing him cry was when my daddy passed away in 1993. He was heartbroken in the emergency room when we all said our g'byes. That brought even more tears to my eyes, seeing my sweet son's heart in pain and knowing I couldn't help him, I couldn't make the situation better for him. I held him close and we cried together for a while, but in the end, we each must grieve in our own way, on our own time.

Funeral services for Chessie will be held on Tuesday. I know it will again be a time of heartache. A yank at the bandaid currently covering the wound. But it will give us a chance to lay Chessie to rest and say our final g'byes.

Not only will Chessie's passing leave a large gap in our world and in our hearts.. but he has pointed out the mortality of the remaining seven feline furbabies in our home. So we mourn what we've lost and worry for the future. We pray that time will ease the pain of losing Chessie and that such a lost will not overshadow our hearts again for a long time to come.

Chessie was a sweet, gentle little soul. Solid black, we found it ironic that our little halloween cat would have that holiday as the day of his passing. I hope that as he waits to meets us on the next plane that he is once again healthy, happy and enjoying life.

We love you Chessie.... you will be sadly missed by many for years to come. Rest well my sweet little furbaby. 

Welcome to Raider

I planned to just do one post to give the happy / sad news, but I just couldn't go from one emotion to the other in a single post.  Such heart breaking sadness in losing our precious Smidgen and then to just jump to the extreme happiness and love of welcoming Raider. So, I started a new post to announce the arrival of our latest baby.

Raider is a Russian Blue.  He was a PAAWS cat.  I had gone to PetSmart to drop off some PAAWS paperwork for Connie that I had worked on.  She made a comment about how she was going to have to take Jasper back home with her.  When I asked why, she said she was afraid he'd be mistreated because he only had one eye.  I went to see him and fell in love with him in a heartbeat.  He seemed so sad, so defeated.  It broke my heart.  He would just lay in arms.  I tried to get Allen to come in and look at him, but he just told me, "We're NOT getting another cat!". 

Connie took Raider back home with her, but I called a couple of days later.  Once I was assured she didn't intend to adopt him herself, I told her to give me a week and we'd take him.  When Allen got home, I told him Connie had called wanting to know when we're were going to get the cat.  Allen was still insistent, "Did you tell her we weren't taking that cat?!"  

After a few more days, I called Connie again.  I told her we'd probably get the cat on the weekend.  When Allen came home I told him Connie had called wanting to know if we were coming to get the cat on Thursday {which is when we play clabber} and Allen's reaction was, "Did you tell her we'd have to pick him up this weekend?"   "Um.. yeah, I told her that would be better."   LOL...

When I read my journal for all this, on the very day that I met Raider, I wrote that I'd met our new baby and we'd probably be bringing him home in a week or so. 

We all just love Raider so much.  He's so easy to love.  And there is nothing defeated about him at all.  He is a wild hooligan.  Between Raider and Mickey, they keep the house wound up!

Raider is a true lovebug.  He loves to be held while he takes his afternoon nap.  He is such a snuggler.  Believe me, he has us all wrapped around his little paw.  He is a real foodie too.  Raider is really into the people food.  He has caused us so much laughter in his attempts [and successes] in getting food.  The name  Raider fits him very well, lol. 
Actually, since Jordan is a major sports nut, Raider is named after the Oakland Raiders.  He reminded him of their logo:



Raider has become a very vital part of our lives.  We are so happy that he is a part of our family.  Welcome our little sweet Raider man.   We love you!!!

Sad news: Our sweet Smidgen has passed on.

I have let this blog fall drastically behind.  I definitely need to update things.  There are happy things and sad things to share.  So, what I'll do is one post that brings those things up to date.  Then I'd  do one that give the history of the Baer Cats.  Then I can start out fresh with this blog. 

First the sad news.  It breaks my heart to say that we lost Smidgen on August 31, 2011.  It was a horrible day.  Back in May we were told by our vet that Smidgen was in the beginning stages of kidney failure.  He seemed somewhat unfeeling when he delivered the news.  I tried to explain to him that we weren't a family of three people and nine cats.  We were a family of twelve.  We changed Smidgie's diet and hoped for some improvement.  But he steadily declined.  By August he'd lost an additional pound. [One he couldn't afford to lose by then] At the end of August, he started experiencing difficulty breathing.   He was breathing at about twice the normal rate.  I realized that things were bad, but I never dreamed that the trip we made to the vet that day would be Smidgie's last one. 

Being an AEMT on an ambulance I knew he was in congestive heart failure.  But giving him Lasix which would removed the fluid from his lungs would tax his kidneys.  In addition, he was already dehydrated.  Our vet didn't seem to be as compassionate as I felt they should be. They were quick to suggest euthanization.  I felt like we should have other options, but they didn't seem willing to present any. They said there weren't any available.  So we agreed that euthanization would be the answer.  However, Smidgie bit me when we were taking his temp.  They were more concerned about that than the fact that we were about to lose an 18 year old family member.  They refused to let things go and INSISTED that he MUST be reported.  Which meant a quarantine period [which was longer than they expected him to survive] or if he died/was put to sleep, then his head would be cut off and sent to Indianapolis. 

I was nearly to the point of hysteria.  They just couldn't do something that horrible to our baby!  Finally the vet said the only other option was a waiver from the county health officer.  Fortunately I knew her personally and called her.  She agreed to a waiver after hearing the facts. 

Jordan didn't want to be there.  So, he went home and Allen came down to be with us.  We've never been in that situation before.  It was the worst thing we've ever had to do in our lives.  I think Smidgen knew what was about to happen.  That breaks my heart.  I hope he wasn't afraid.  He climbed up on his carrier and looked out the window one last time.  He looked for a way out the window, but there wasn't one.  Then he just seemed resigned to his fate.  When he was given the injection he just layed his little head down and went to sleep.  I thought I would be sick.  The instant it happened, I knew I'd made a horrible mistake. 

The guilt has been so heavy.  I wish I'd taken him to get a second opinion. Maybe there truly was nothing else we could have done, but I'll never know.  There really wasn't much compassion from anyone at the vet's office.  There was never any follow up either. 

I realized, too late for Smidgie unfortunately, that their values of a cat's life and mine are NOT the same.  We no longer go to that vet.  Our sweet little boy is buried in the memory garden behind the house.  We still miss him every day.  Any time I see a picture of him, my stomach just rolls.  But the good memories are coming too. 

Now we remember the card games, the funny comments "Did I ever tell you all that I used to work at the Federal Reserve?", and the grumbling he used to do under his breath.  He was a funny little fellow.  Buying Christmas presents this year without him was sad.  We found his stocking when we were unpacking the christmas things. 

The day after Smidgie passed, there was a groupon offer for a photo book.  I made one for Smidgen.  It was fun to look at all the old pictures and remember the good.  He is a beautiful cat.  We miss him so very much.  Life is not the same at our house without his personality to enrich our family. 

                                                Our Sweet Smidgen

Welcome Titan!

I'm afraid I haven't kept up the posting on this blog as well as I should have.  It's been a very hectic year, but hopefully, even w/the holidays looming, things should slow down a bit.

I have the pleasure of introducing a new Baer Cat as well.  Titan joined us at the end of August.  Unfortunately his previous guardians were not very good guardians.  We were told that he had been through five homes in the past two years; that he was a 'handful'.  We have no idea where that notion comes from.  He is the most mild mannered cat you could ever meet.  He doesn't cause the slightest bit of trouble.  He is great w/the litter box.  I just don't get it.  The last guardian [though I hesitate to use that title w/the previous owners because they did little to protect and care for him] decided she didn't want him because he got fur all over the house.  HELLLOOOOO!!!!   Did you not notice he was wearing a fur coat when you adopted him!?!!?!?   Cats have fur.  That's just how most of them are made lady!   She didn't even know he was a male cat.  We were told he was female until he was brought here and one very quick glance told us otherwise.  HE is a gorgeous orange tabby weighing in at about seventeen pounds.  He is one solid little guy!
He reminds me quite a bit of Rondo.

Supposedly the previous owner passed Titan on because, and I quote here, "he had kittens".  I was a little stunned at first, but then they came back and cleared that up by saying the owner had gotten some kittens and no longer wanted the older cat.  [Titan is supposedly five years old, but then he was supposedly a female as well so we're taking that w/a grain of salt, lol] 

I do not understand how people just get rid of cats like they are a piece of furniture that no longer fits their decor.  An animal is a LIFETIME committment.  When will people begin to realize that?  Of course some don't even bother to make that committment to their children.  Adopting an animal is no less a committment. 

None the less, Titan has been an absolute joy to have.  Initially he warmed up to the guys, but not so much to me.  He seemed afraid of me and cried easily when I touched him, esp his side.  I believe he might have been abused or at least handled VERY roughly [most likely by a woman, the previous owner] before coming to live w/us.  I spent several weeks speaking very softly to him, making sure to just barely brush his head when he came near, and show him that I was not intending to harm him.  He began to spend his time in the room where ever I was, but still wouldn't let me touch him for a while.  It's been almost three months now and he is a momma's boy.  He lets me pick him up under most circumstances and is very affectionate.  He even hops up in my lap while I'm working now. 

As I've told Allen and Jordan, the loss of the five previous owners was our gain.  We are so lucky to have Titan in our family.  And he can rest assured that there will be no more being passed around anymore.  He is home to stay. 

A Sad Day....

It is with great sadness that I must tell of the loss of a Baer House cat.  Bistat passed away on July 31st, 2010.  It was completely unexpected. 

Out of habit, we often take a 'head count' to see who all is in the room with us, cat-wise.  Allen and I had been sitting in the living room watching Jordan pull up to the house.  As we sat talking, Jordan was doing a mental 'head count'.  He asked who was under the coffee table because you could only see little black feet and the tip of a tail.  We could eliminate Memphis because there were no white rings on the tail tip, but Ouiji and Bistat remained. 

The next thing I heard was Allen saying, "this cat is dead, Renee."   I couldn't believe my ears, There was no way that could be true.  He moved the coffee table so I could see for myself.  There he lay, still and silent.  It was immediately apparent that he had passed.  Although he is an adult, I sent Jordan out of the room while I checked anyway. It appeared he had merely laid down to rest and never woke up.

Bistat was Jordan's buddy, and vice versa.  You rarely saw one without the other.  You could see the idolization in Bistat's eyes when Jordan was around.  And Jordan often said that Bistat was THE cat!  I finally called Jordan back in and verified what he already knew.  I wrapped Bistat in a blanket and held him for a while. 

The following day, as we gathered around and said a few words, Bistat was laid to rest in the memory garden next to Chessie. 

Bistat was a very peculiar little fella.  He first came to my attention as I sat in the cat room at the local humane society.  As I filled out the paperwork to adopt Andy, Bistat was my best buddy. He was in my lap, leaning on me, purring to me, just anything that would get my attention.  It worked.  Before leaving with Andy, I inquired about Bistat, finding out he'd been there a while as well.  I couldn't get the little guy off of my mind the next couple of days.  I told Jordan about him and he began to worry as well.  He and I left on a two week trip to Canada and the east coast just about that time, but the concern followed us where ever we went. 

When we returned, we learned Allen wasn't checking on him as we'd expected.  I  made a hurried phone call to the Humane Society, fearing the worst.  Fortunately, he was still safe, but only for a short time longer.  I explained that the next day we'd be driving to Lexington to pack Jordan's apartment furnishings and bring them back for storage in Indiana while he went to Seattle for a while.  However, I stated I would be in the following day to pick up Bistat.

The next day I received a tearful phone call from the adoption rep at the humane society.  Were we coming to get Bisat?  They were taking him down to be euthanized as we spoke.  I reminded her we were out of town, but if they would hold up just 24 hours, we'd be there when they opened the next morning to pick him up.  They agreed.

Bright and early the next morning, we were on their doorstep with carrier in hand.  Jordan adopted him.  He had planned to take Bistat with him when he returned to Lexington in a few months. 

Well, as they say, 'The best laid plans of mice and men....'.  Jordan actually ended up moving into the house with a friend so Bistat stayed at Baer House.  He was a welcome addition, when we could see him that is.  Nearly his entire first year was spent hiding in my closet.  We knew just where to find him anytime we wanted to love on him.  He eventually began to come down at mealtime in order to give us sad pouty eyes so he could have whatever was on the menu for the night instead of just cat food.  But then it was back to the closet.

Only when Jordan returned from Lexington did Bistat come out regularly.  Bistat was thrilled when Jordan moved back to Indiana permanently.  He never went into the closet again.  From that point on, where Jordan was, Bistat was sure to be found. 

While Bistat is missed by all of course, the loss of his little friend has effected Jordan the most. The first few nights, when Bistat's spot next to him remained cold and empty, were the hardest.  Jordan was accustomed to the big guy piling up in bed with him.  It seems the other cats understood Jordan's distress.  For several days, they were especially attentive to him. 

The house and the other cats seem very different with Rondo and Bistat gone.  I haven't given up hope of Rondo's return, but each passing day makes his absence more noticeable. I still imagine that one day I'll open the front door to find him waiting to come back inside.  Only time will tell. 

Hopefully there will be no sad reports in the near future. But life is what it is, good and bad. 

RIP BISTAT  7-31-2010

Welcome to the Baer House Cat's Blog!

There are a total of nine cats living at Baer House.  Currently one is on a self imposed hiatus. [read that as he ran away and we've been unable to locate him].  The residents are, in order of arrival, Smidgen, Ouiji, Rondo, Andy, Bistat, Mickey, Arena, Memphis and Laker.  They are a much loved group of cats.  In fact, they are spoiled quite rotten. 

Come meet the feline family.....

Smidgen is the reigning family feline patriarch.  He has been w/the family for over 17 years.  He came to live with us when he was approximately one and one half weeks old.  He was bottle fed and hand raised.  Smidgie has brought much adventure into our lives and into our home.  There are many stories to tell after so many years.  Watch for more Smidgie stories in upcoming posts.

Ouiji is our little talker.  She's named after the Ouiji board game obviously, due to her color.  We found her wandering around outside the house.  Later it was discovered she'd been living in the crawl space under the house. She was the only cat Smidgen would allow in the house for a very long time.  She rules her area without a doubt.  But she can also be a little snuggler when she wants too.

Rondo is our missing baby.  He got out of the house on June 12th.  He has been a part of our family for many years.  He was in the humane society shelter near where I work.  I visited him often, falling in love w/him as soon as I met him.  He adoption records indicated he'd been in the shelter for twenty-two months!  He is my little soulmate kitty.  We have seen him in the neighborhood on a few occasions so I'm still hopeful he will return.  I suppose he was caged up long enough that he is ready to see the world now. 

Andy was the next one to join our family.  He was adopted from a different humane society shelter.  We were looking for a buddy for Rondo, who seemed the odd man out w/the other two.  He is our big boy, a gentle giant.  Andy is easily the largest cat in the house.  But his heart is as big as all outdoors as well.  He is our "zen" cat... always calm and serene.

                                                

Bistat was in the same room as Andy at the shelter.  When we went to pick up Andy, Bistat stole our hearts away.  We were out of town for a while and worried something would happen to him.  We were fortunate that just before that moment we adopted him.  We are so happy to have him in our family.  He is very quiet, but very sweet.  For the first year he lived with us, he pretty much stayed in the closet.  We had to go get him out to love on him.

                                                      

Mickey is our little juvenile delinquent.  We have affectionately referred to him as Mickey the Menace, the little cat w/the backpack and many more lovey titles.  He came to live w/us originally as a foster.  However, after ten minutes in the house, we knew he was meant to be a Baer cat.  He is full of energy and mischief.  Everyone loves Mickey. He is an adult cat now, but he will always be our baby.  There is just something about Mickey, everything he does just makes you smile.

                                          

Arena is our little punkin girl.  She was adopted by a neighbor who decided Arena wasn't using the litter box so she dumped her outside.  Arena is declawed.  We took her home and explained that she couldn't be outside, but the woman put her back outside again.  So Arena came to live w/us.  She is adorable and has never had a problem using the litter box.  She loves to sit in the highest places she can reach.  She is my little sweetie.  She's not much of a snuggler, but it doesn't stop me from loving on her anyway!

                                                 

Memphis is our special baby.  Her story is a long one that could have had a very sad ending.  Fortunately, I can say that her life is now very good.  As you can probably tell by the photo, Memphis is blind.  In a later posting I will give the full details of how that came to be.  But don't feel sorry for this little girl.  She has no idea that the world is any different than her.  No one has told her that she is blind.  She easily keeps up w/her siblings and then some!  Watch for a posting w/her story.

                                         

Laker is our newest addition.  When Rondo went missing, our son went to the local animal control [which has a HORRIBLY high kill rate, > 90%] He was looking for Rondo, but found Laker.  He fell in love w/this little white beauty.  We couldn't leave her in such a risky shelter.  We gladly welcomed her into our home.  We're still learning her personality but she is a sweetie.  One of her favorite things is to look at herself in the mirrors, lol.  

These are our babies.  Each one is a cherished member of our family.  This blog is their individual stories and the stories of life in our house with such precious souls!  I hope you enjoy the blog!