Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Fellow Animal Lover:

It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is now upon us! It is the time of year that we give thanks for all that we have received and we renew our hopes of doing more than we already do today.

This year the Riverfront Cats are all happy and healthy thanks to the resident volunteers at the Wind and Ivy. Each day the 17 cats are fed proper amounts of food so no food is leftover to attract ants or flies. Even after lingering rain showers, the volunteers never fail to feed the cats, even if they have to go out at midnight. Thankfully no new cats have joined the Riverfront colony. Sadly we lost one cat to an unprovoked dog attack earlier in the year. The dog was asked to wear a muzzle for everyone's protection. 

More recently, a new cat bore a litter of three kittens across the street on 3rd Street. Thanks once again to the sacrifice and effort of Christine Michaels, lead volunteer, she rescued the two friendly adoptable brothers and found them loving homes.

With your help, we can continue to feed the cats, ensure they are healthy and not suffering from any illnesses or injuries. As you plan to feast with friends and/or family this Thanksgiving, won't you consider donating cat food to help our volunteers and the community? Most of the food is paid for out of the pockets of the volunteers. It adds up quickly.

Please click here on how you can help.

Wishing you and your family a beautiful Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for.

Alicia Grecco

Holiday Pet Dangers

Thanksgiving and Christmas are joyous holidays but at the same time they can be dangerous for our pets if we're not careful.

The last thing any pet owner wants to do on Thanksgiving is rush their pet to the animal emergency room!  But, the truth is that many pets are injured or poisoned during this time of the year. How can you make sure your holiday doesn’t end in disaster?

• A small amount of white turkey is an acceptable treat but definitely avoid the turkey skin and the turkey bones!  The skin is often fatty and can cause pets to develop pancreatitis.
• Poultry bones, especially cooked, have potential to both break off and cause a perforation of the digestive tract or, if large amounts are consumed, could cause an obstruction.
• Other foods to avoid include:  grapes and raisins, excessively salty foods, foods flavored with onion or garlic powder, desserts and sweets containing Xylitol, and chocolates.
• All leftovers should be secured behind a pet-proof door.
• Remember, keep your trash can secure.  Many items used in the meal preparation and then thrown away can be dangerous.  A turkey string, foil wrappers, etc. may smell like food and be eaten by a curious pet.
• Decorative plants are also a source of danger. Mistletoe and holly can cause vomiting and lilies are often deadly to cats. Poinsettas, despite their reputation, are not deadly and often cause little more than mild stomach upset.
• Some holiday decorations are also dangerous. Ribbons and tinsel are especially attractive and hazardous to cats. Keep an eye on electrical cords to ensure puppies and kittens don’t chew on them.
• During family gatherings, it might be best to keep pets confined if they are overly anxious. Also, monitor people going in and out of the front door. Pets might take advantage and try to escape.
• Remember that Knowles Animal Clinc is open 24-7 during the holiday weekend. The address is 1000 NW 27th Avenue.

Kittens, Smirnov and Stoli

Update:  BOTH KITTENS WERE ADOPTED!

These two kittens were found across the street in the empty fenced-in lot on 3rd Street. And now they need a loving home!

They are brothers and six months old. Smirnov is the Russian Blue and his brother Stoli, is the brown tabby.

Smirnov is all Russian-- intelligent, handsome with his short clean cut look, the blue-gray fur like a luxurious coat straight out of Dr. Zhivago, stoic and penetrating green eyes leave you mesmerized. For fun, Smirnov hunts for invisible creatures and then bounces around in a wild bunny hop. All he's missing is the vodka.


Smirnov



His brother on the other hand may have been nursed with vodka. His paws clumsily grab at dangling objects unable to pin them down.  A timid kitten, he peaks around the door watching his brother take a big step into unknown, wide space--the living room. An object moves and Stoli quickly scurries under the bed. His small round baby face is so endearing, he welcomes the cradling, the cooing, and the endless scratching of his head or belly rubs.  Stoli wants to be a kitten forever. 

These kittens need a loving home. They are both deflead, dewormed, received blood test, vaccinated and neutered.  You can adopt either kitten for only $75.00 or make their day and adopt both brothers for only $85.00. Any vet would charge $250 just to neuter them! If you adopt both kittens, you'll receive A GIFT BASKET that includes not one but two luxurious cat pet beds, premium cat food both moist and dry food, and the ASPCA cat handbook! Retail value for gift basket is $65.00.

According to cat experts, it's better to adopt two cats than one. They are happy and healthier when they have a playmate and are less likely to destroy your home. They are complete opposite but understand and love eachother.

If interested, please call Christine at 786-205-6165..

P.S. the mother is a new cat on the block but she does not reside where the Riverfront cats live by main entrance. The mother needs to be spayed before she gets pregnant again! To donate to this effort, please call or email Christine! Remember this is not the job of Animal Services or Humane Society. It's our responsibility--the community's responsibility. Click here to learn more.

Feral Cats Live Healthy Outdoors

Recently and  ironically, a well known animal organization, PETA, believes in trapping and euthanizing feral cats.

First "feral" cats are essentially cats that do not socialize with humans. However, they can still be fed by local volunteers and live just as healthily as indoor cats.

Another well-recognized organization, Alley Cat Allies, spoke out against PETA's claims. Here is a link to their website that explains the science behind feral cats.

The general public knows very little about cats, less about homeless cats, and even less about feral cats. Please share this posting with all your contacts. Thank you!

Update--new kittens discovered

It has been awhile since I walked by the empty lot on 3rd Street where Alfonso, a homeless man, used to "live". As I walked by I  noticed not one, not two, but three older kittens. Oh no!!! How could I neglect this section where cats could easily hide and give birth?! Well, the reason is obvious, Alfonso had amassed a literal mountain of trash that was so repulsive I would get nauseous at the sight alone not counting the eery spiders and record-size cockroaches.

Immediately I noticed the kittens were already 5-6 months old. THIS IS BAD NEWS. This means the females can get pregnant any minute! Oh cat goddess help me!

What to do? Well one positive aspect of Alfonso living on the lot, is that he had been feeding the cats dry cat food. So the kittens were used to getting close to humans. After the City of Miami evicted Alfonso for trespassing on private property, I took over the feedings with permission from the owner.
In total I counted two females and two males.  This means the Riverfront condos could have 20-50 cats within a year! In addition to the 17 that live on or around the property.  (How? Each female can give birth three times year to a litter of one to seven kittens). I witnessed this last year and rescued every kitten! But I can not do it alone anymore.

With expenditures averaging $150+ a month just to feed the regular colony of 17 cats, and the countless hours and sacrificing many nights feeding the cats, our three volunteers have limits. It was time to alert the association and educate them in order to effect a community-action plan to stop the cat population from exploding and reaching crisis proportions as they are experiencing in Miami Beach.

Sadly, after two months of sending emails via a middle person (no one will give me contact information), the Master Association of the IVY and WIND and MINT have yet to return any of my messages to just set up a meeting.

Residents witness the hurried exterior improvements such as brick pavers, the rows of palm trees and shrubbery, and new fencing costing a few million dollars. Why won't the association set aside 20 minutes to address an  "exterior feature" that will affect the neighborhood? I have offered a win-win-win solution  for the residents, the cats, and the assocation. Could it be that the three individuals on the board are not animal people? Possible. Also the cost to sterilize 5 cats is $70 each. $350 is a drop in the bucket compared to the millions spent on "aesthetic" improvements.

Given the urgency of the situation, I will make a final attempt to reach out to the association before turning to the media for help.

Here's hoping for the best.
Christine

Poor Reporting by WPLG on Hookworm

As some of you may have heard, there is a reported outbreak of hookworms on 50-52nd Street in Miami Beach. On WPLG, Local 10, they reported that the source was cat feces and that the city was going to trap the many cats and take them to Animal Services.

Sadly, WPLG has erroneously reported the facts which are very misleading.

First while it is true that humans can contract hookworms from cat feces, they can also get it from dog feces and human feces.  While there are many stray cats in the area, health investigators did NOT find any cat feces on the beach itself as originally reported. Cat feces were found nearby but not on the beach sand where the victims most likely contracted it when walking in bare feet.

We also know that residents take their dogs walking on the beach where they do defecate and the owners do not always pick it up. It happens here at our condo complex everyday. So it is possible the people infected with hookworm contracted it from dog feces.

Since the stray cats in the area are visible, they are to blame by WPLG reporter Rob Schmitt. What happened to journalistic integrity and doing homework or research?

Next, it was reported the stray cats were going to be trapped and taken to Animal Services which means they will be put to sleep.  The facts are that the City of Miami Beach never said that according to the Chief of staff.  What I do know is that the City is working with the Cat Network to trap the cats, get them sterilized and also apply topical medication to treat any parasites. 

It was also reported that residents would be fined for feeding cats.  What viewers need to know is that as long as tons of food and containers are not left unattended, volunteers can feed cats as long as they stay for the feeding to ensure no trash is left behind.

This is what we do here at Riverfront. We know how to feed the cats, what food they will eat and the proper amounts so there are no remaining crumbs attracting ants and insects. That is why we ask residents not to throw leftover human food into the alley. Some foods are harmful for cats.

I used to be a long-time viewer of Channel 10 but their journalistic reporting is no longer of high standing. There is no fact checking and grossly misleads viewers.

Please feel free to share this posting so residents do have the facts.

After many residents and experts called in with complaints of erroneous reporting, WPLG has since changed their report.  Here is the link to the latest report.

Christine

Can't the Humane Society or ASPCA help?

This posting is very important as it answers commonly asked questions about stray cats. I had the same questions and learned it's really the responsibility of a community, not the government or Humane Society to help these animals. That is why we need volunteers to continue our efforts to control the cat population.

1. Can't the Humane Society or ASPCA come out and rescue these cats?

Answer: both of these organizations are private entities with different goals. The Humane Society does NOT go out to the community. Rather they accept a very limited number of friendly, healthy pets that owners surrender or can not care for. The Humane Society then will find a new home for that pet.

The ASPCA, addresses a different problem--pets that are neglected or abused. ASPCA does wonderful work to rescue these animals, nurture and rehabilitate them. 

Neither organization goes out and traps outdoors cats and kittens.

2. Can't Miami-Dade Animal Services come out and trap and take these cats away?

Answer: Animal Services, as a county-run operation funded by our taxes, only picks up dead or injured animals on public property. They do not trap stray cats (feral or friendly strays).

However, Animal Services shelters will take in any animal, pet or strays. Since the shelter receives approximately 100 cats a day and due to limited space, friendly cats that are not adopted in five days are euthanized. So even if someone has to surrender their pet (dog or cat) because they are moving and the new condo does not accept pets, that dog or cat most likely will be put to sleep.

Therefore it is really the responsibility of a community--both residents and businesses and condo associations to address the issue together.  Unfortunately, there are no cat sanctuaries in Miami to relocate the cats to. Trapping any outdoor cats and "relocating" them to an island or park or any other location is illegal under Florida law.  It is considered "dumping and abandoning" as it is known that cats will instinctively run away in search of their original "home" where they are likely to get injured, starve or get killed.

The most effective solution is TNR---Trap, Neuter, Release.  If an outdoor cat is feral or wild, it should be trapped, taken for sterilization, and released back to the outdoors.  This limits new cats from joining the colony as cats are often territorial and this prevents cat population from growing. From there it's easy--just regular feedings and ensuring no cat is injured.

The Cat Network is a wonderful resource. They teach individuals and associations how to humanely trap the cats and where to get low cost sterilization and vaccinations, how to capture kittens, foster them and find them homes.  http://www.thecatnetwork.org/

It's Raining Black Cats

Celebrity Cat: Otto from Los Angeles

Le Chat Noir was a fabulous event and a success!

If you missed this exciting, inaugural event, there are many photo slideshows to watch.

The day started with a Harley motorcycle ride from Peterson's South dealer to the EPIC Hotel in downtown Miami--the only five star hotel that allows pets!

The celebrity guest was biker cat, Otto, and his chauffer, Christopher Coppola (nephew to Francis Ford Coppola and brother to Nicolas Cage).

 Thanks to a wonderful photographer, Claudia Rehder, she captured the essence of the event!


Christopher Coppola and Otto arrive at the EPIC Hotel, downtown Miami


 

Christopher Coppola and Otto wearing Goggles

Otto and Christine connect



Otto and Christine fall in love

Back at the gallery, swimsuit models practice with fellow black cat models walking down catwalk.



Swimsuit model and Gypsy (black cat model)

Christopher and Otto arrive at art Gallery in Design District



Otto comfortably smiles at flashing cameras and walks through crowds/fans



Carole Stevens Bibisi and Christine Michaels

Carole Stevens Bibisi is the well known author of a book that champions the cause of black cats, "Tails of American Bronte". Visit her site at http://www.artharmonycreations.com/.



Tia with Gypsy and Charlene with Dusky Rose

The two black kittens above were models for the evening and showed off their beauty, grace and intelligence. They shined on the catwalk as they walked on leashes. Both kittens are available for adoption! If you're interested in cats that are not "scared" or "skiddish" and love attention and people, these kittens are very special. They have been exposed to people and crowds since they were little. If you are interested in adopting them PLEASE CONTACT the Cat Network at http://www.thecatnetwork.org/. 

The event raised awareness about the plight of homeless cats and shone a spotlight on black cats to turn around myths associated with their black color. The video below shares the positive history of the black cats, photos of famous celebrities with their black cat, and Top 10 Reasons to Adopt a Black Cat.



To see more photos of the event by Tomas Loewy, click here.

You can save a life! Donate, volunteer, foster--anything. Contact Christine Michaels to help the Riverfront Cats.

ALL PHOTOS  ARE COPYRIGHTED AND ARE NOT TO BE DOWNLOADED FOR GENERAL USE. For permission, please contact me, riverfrontcats@yahoo.com

Your Invited to Le Chat Noir, October 2nd

You are invited to a very special event..

An event to raise awareness about homeless pets, Le Chat Noir (the Black Cat) is an elegant, chic soiree to dazzle at the Design District in Miami, Florida.

This is for ALL animal lovers, not just cat people. Come enjoy an evening with professionals of all backgrounds with a common interest in turning around the rising numbers of homeless pets.

For only $50 a ticket, attendees enjoy unlimited Bacardi cocktails, wine, hors d' by Smith & Wollensky, Buddha Bar type music, the unveiling of the DEVA swimwear with a fashion show and black cats strutting down the catwalk modeling their diamond collars, grace and beauty. To top off the event, celebrity guest Christopher R. Coppola and his biker cat (and black cat) Otto will ride up in matching top hats, all in celebrating the event's honoree.

A galore of raffle prizes including hotel packages with round of golf, spa packages, family memberships to local attractions will be given away.

Don't miss this inaugural event. Help save a life or nine lives by supporting this wonderful cause.
Click here to purchase tickets.
http://thecatnetwork.org/get-involved-2/events/

 (Tickets are $75 at the door).


Christine Michaels
Chairperson, Le Chat Noir
The Cat Network

Christine Named Volunteer of the Month

Greetings Friends, Family & Neighbors of Christine Michaels, this is her "blog sister" Alicia Grecco.

I received news that Christine was named Volunteer of the Month by the Cat Network.

You would think she won the Nobel Peace Prize. Christine was overjoyed with tears!

I think it's part exhaustion. As many of you know Christine has two jobs (a day off is rare--maybe couple of hours by the pool she's still working on the phone) and is dedicated to ensuring the 17 stray cats on her condo complex are fed daily, are happy, healthy and playful. Without the consistency of feeding, the cats tend to risk crossing the six-lane road (with cars speeding like demonic machines) in search of food. Not mother nature, not fashion police, nothing will stop her from feeding the cats. You'll even find Christine in 4-inch Jimmy Choos and Ellie Tahari suit gracefully walking on gravel, scooping cat food and petting furry heads with her perfectly manicured hands.  Sounds like a juxtaposition. It's the professional Cat Lady, the Sexy Cat Lady as her neighbors call her.
On top of that she is orchestrating an elegant soiree/fundraiser for the Cat Network on Oct 2, the first of its kind. She will announce it soon so all animal lovers can attend. This she does on her free time as a volunteer! As a soccer mom I thought my life was the ultimate juggling act. While Christine may not have children, her various jobs and projects are her children. She is 200% committed and it shows.

So what does Christine share on this announcement day "I still hear people complain about BP's irresponsible, negligent corporate behavior in not investing in safety measures in proportion to their oil rig operations. In addition to the welfare of businesses/families affected, animal lovers are concerned about the suffering of sea life. Well I want to bring to everyone's attention, there are animals suffering in your backyard everyday! The stray and feral cats are born as a result of the neglect of a neighbor who did not spay/neuter their outdoor cat or are dumping them into the streets! The litany of dangers, diseases, injuries that plague a street cat's life will move you to tears!"

She continues, "In downtown Miami, we are witnessing a proliferation of cat population that did not exist before. True animal lovers can help with minimal effort and money and make a huge difference. I would ask that anyone reading this, contact a local rescue group for cats and dogs, and ask how they can help."

If you live in Miami, next time you're walking your high-priced dog with the $40 collar or buying $10+ cocktails at Happy Hour, consider donating a few dollars to help one innocent creature live humanely. This website will tell you how.

"Until someone has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."