Bringing Sexy Back!

The most important date is upon us!

It's National Feral Cat Day!

For National Feral Cat Day, our founder Christine is like a kid at Halloween--brainstorming creative ideas, weeks of planning, culminating into one hot mess--a music video.  That's because Christine admittedly can not sing! The lengths she goes to, to raise awareness and trigger a dialogue about homeless cats, feral cats, black cats and cat women!

Take it away Christine...

Hello followers, fans and first-time visitors!  In my mission to overturn misconceptions about stray cats and cat women, and to elevate and celebrate them, this year I donned my black cat costume and kicked it up several notches by orchestrating a quirky but fun music video to show:

1) Feral cats are cats too. Community cats, whether friendly or feral, exhibit the same range of emotions and need for food and affection as indoor pet cats. They have a special place in my heart. Stray cats are thrilled with a scoop of food and  head scratches and do not make demands. They have taught me valuable life lessons, yet society remains largely unaware of their plight and suffering.  To know them is to love them! I have my work cut out for me.

Cosette is a 5 year-old feral Riverfront Cat who never lets us pet her.
But she smiles, meows and does her happy dance when she sees or hears caretakers.

2) Cat women are sexy on the inside and out. Stereotypes surround cat women. In reality we are single, married, with kids, grandchildren, and work as doctors, lawyers, teachers, models, actors, bankers...Cat women come from all backgrounds and professions. We're Sexy and We Know It (hey that's a famous party song --hmm I sense next year's video), although we may not dress sexy while feeding cats. We're also practical when making our rounds. Cat women are not crazy. We are compassionate and passionate. It's what's on the inside that matters most.

This is Midnight. One of three black Riverfront Cats.

3) Cat women know how to have fun.  Lord knows I can not sing.  Have you ever sang in the shower when you're in a great mood thinking no one can hear you?  I feel good about the work I do and wanted to let that exuberance shine through a-la-Christine style, clean fun (no twerking necessary).

"What was a I thinking?"

"Wind blown hair is not all that glamorous"

"Can you tell I'm cleaning and grooming my face after eating?"

[For those that may not recognize the music, it's inspired by Justin Timberlake's song "Sexy Back"]

So sit back, grab your beverage of choice, and please laugh with me, not at me.
CHEERS to Feral Cats and Cat Ladies!



To learn more about Christine, visit her personal blog. www.aboutchristinemichaels.com

So how did you honor National Feral Cat Day? Was it like any other feeding day? Or did you indulge your colony with special treats? (We served lactose-free milk--healthy and yummy!)  Did you host a special event? Anyone else humiliate themselves like Christine?  Let us know! Share your comments below.

CAT WOMEN & MEN, BRING YOUR SEXY ON!

Whether it's wearing your favorite tshirt and jeans, or wearing fuzzy slippers while drinking glass of wine or your rendition of sliding across the room in socks and briefs lip synching...

Send us your sexy self photos 
--and/or--
 sexy cat photos and stories! 

Special appearances by the Riverfront Cats: Romeo, Cosette, Tabitha, Samantha, Fannie, Sinbad, Bobbie, Gabriel, Mama, Midnight, Cali, and Tomcat.  Indoor rescue cats: Johnny Walker, Ninji and Gretel.

Cat food or monetary donations are always needed and welcomed! 

Contact us at riverfrontcats[at]yahoo.com or click the DONATION button on the right column. Thank you.

 Note: This is not a paid sponsorship by Purina for Friskies. We feed the cats Friskies dry and moist canned food and therefore used the brand name in the lyrics.

Blessing of the Pets, Oct 6

October is one of our favorite months because many important dates in this tenth month celebrates cats.  This weekend is the blessing of pets throughout churches in the U.S. in honor of St. Francis of Assisi who devouted to a life void of material things, helping the poor and homeless animals.

Francis saw animals as his brothers and sisters because they were God’s creatures, just like people. He said of animals:

“Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission -- to be of service to them wherever they require it.” 

So Francis prayed that God would work through him to help animals as well as people.

His Saint Day is observed October 4th and therefore the Blessing of Animals is observed on or near October 4th.

In downtown Miami, Riverfront Cats is volunteering and celebrating at Trinity Cathedral beginning at 4pm.

TRINITY CATHEDRAL
 464 NE 16th St  Miami, FL 33132

(305) 374-3372

Have you had your pet blessed? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Check local listings in your area. You don't have to be Catholic to attend. All are welcome!

Can Indoor Cats Get Fleas?

Simple logic would suggest that house cats are immune from fleas, as long as they are strictly indoors and never step outside.  There’s nothing wrong with this theory, except that it’s completely wrong. Unfortunately, even house cats are susceptible to fleas (and the other risks of being outdoors,) the only difference being there is a little more you can do about it. Here are a few of the things to help explain why:

How are cat fleas different? 

To understand what the fleas are capable of, it’s first important to understand why they are different to other kinds of fleas. Firstly, they have massive jumping capabilities. They can cover up to seven inches vertically and thirteen horizontally, that would be the equivalent of 250 feet up and 450 feet across for humans – a pretty long way. Indoors they tend to live and hatch in carpets, floor cracks and in the creases of furniture. While they need to eat (you/your cat) to breed and lay eggs, they can survive in a dormant state for any time up to a year.

How do they get inside? 

Excluding the instance of your indoor cat making its way outside, in which case the cause is obvious, the cause comes from the fleas’ ability to jump those huge distances. Outdoors they tend to live in muddy and sandy areas, as well as long grass, so fleas can jump on to humans or other animal residents in your house. They can also get in via windows. If you regularly leave your window open, fleas can jump onto your cat either from another cat coming up to the window or by long grass near the window giving them a close enough area to jump from.

Highrise condo cats are still susceptible.  Let's say your neighbors have cats or dogs that regularly go outside.  Fleas travel! If you feed or manage a colony of community cats, then you are a carrier for fleas.  Outdoor neighborhood cats carry many fleas and those pesky fleas will jump onto your clothes and food bags and thus get inside your home. 

How to get rid of them? 

While the contractions of fleas may be different for indoor cats, getting rid of them is always the same. There are plenty of different kinds of medication to help remove fleas from the cat. Solutions like Advantage or Revolution are applied on the top of their back on the shoulder blades where they can’t reach with their mouths and tend to be really effective. If you’re house is infected with fleas it can be a little more difficult. Flea powders are effective if applied thoroughly throughout the house, but they really do need to be applied to all areas rigidly if you’re to avoid any return of the fleas.

Summary 

While cat fleas may be slightly different biologically to other fleas, the main point of this is to highlight how flea prevention should not be avoided or treated any differently when you have indoor cats. Prevention is much easier to handle than removal, so being pro-active is always the answer.

Wordless Wednesday -Romeo a Natural Leader

On a hot, summer day in Miami in Station One of the Riverfront Cats

Since Lion King passed away, Romeo has risen to the occasion as leader of the Riverfront Cats. He's a strong leader--quiet but observant, kind but firm and protective. He loves attention from humans more than food. He is a lover at heart. A black community cat.

Cosette, a feral community Riverfront Cat, is never far.
She is the first to welcome feeders.

Midnight,  from Station three, is full from dinner.
He casually turns around to watch our antics.

For Adoption: Daisy, Chrome, Tiger and Eddie

Introducing Daisy, Tiger, Chrome and Eddie! These four siblings are being  fostered by Dennis and Janice, who rescued them from their neighborhood after their mother died. Let's get to know them a little bit and maybe you can pick your favorite or maybe end up falling in love with one or two or all of them.

Daisy
This sweet little girl has lots of love to give. She loves to play with her brothers and graciously accepts their protective catitudes, always keeping her in their sights. Hey--she's the only female in the bunch. She has all her shots and is already spayed. Daisy is ready for a new home. If you are interested in meetings Miss Daisy, please contact Dennis Nadeau at dennis@ptnsoft.com.

Tiger

Don't be scared by his big cat name.  He is a "Tiger" when it comes to playing, but he will entertain you for hours just so you'll know what a romp 'em, stomp 'em boy he is. He is neutered and has all of his shots.  Tiger is good with kids and and with other cats.  If you are interested in adopting Tiger, please contact Dennis Nadeau at dennis@ptnsoft.com.

Chrome

Strong as the metal, Chrome, is not shy at all. He loves to play and getting his head rubbed. He has been an excellent guardian to his sister Daisy,  watching over her since they were kittens. (Maybe we should have named the boys the "Dukes of Hazard"!)  Just look at his soft gray coat! He is neutered and has all of his shots. If you are interested in adopting Chrome, you can contact Dennis Nadeau at dennis@ptnsoft.com.

Eddie

Named after the character “Eddie Munster” from the TV series “The Munsters”. He has white patches behind his ears, just like his Grandpa Munster. He loves to sit on peoples laps and get his head and body rubbed. Eddie is real purring machine and loves to entertain everyone.

Update: We are happy to announce that Eddie just got ADOPTED! We are so excited for Eddie and we are sure he is going to make his new family very happy.

We hope Eddie's brothers and sisters have the same luck as him and find a new home who will love them and take good care of them. Every homeless kitten or cat deserves a second chance to be happy.

Remember--it's always better to adopt two kittens versus one. There are many benefits for you and the kittens, especially if they are siblings.  

We Are Now Proud Members of Good Search

 Riverfront Cats is a now a proud member of GoodSearch.com, a company that helps non-profits like ours raise funds through the everyday actions of our supporters. Every time you use a GoodSearch service, they donate approximately half of the revenue they make to the non-profit you’ve designated. Here is a short video on how it works: http://www.goodsearch.com/getstarted.aspx?viewType=RV

Here is how you can help:

Go to www.goodsearch.com and register by clicking the "get started" button. While you're filling out your information, it will ask you to select a cause, here you type "Riverfront Cats" and select it.

1. Use GoodSearch.com when you search the internet – they will donate a penny to us every time you do

2. Use GoodShop.com when you shop online – they work with more than 2,500 major brands, have over 100,000 coupons and donate a percentage of every purchase you make to us.

3. Enroll in the GoodDining.com program - they will donate up to 6% of every dollar you spend when you eat at one of 10,000 participating restaurants

We’d like to begin building our presence on GoodSearch.com. Please join our community on GoodSearch.com and help us raise money for our mission.

For Adoption: Ninji

Just look at those green eyes and satin sheen!

Here is our latest black cat rescue. Meet Ninji! He's an all black kitty except for the white spot on his chest.

Ninji was discovered by a customer at a gas station in West Miami. This little guy walked up to Frank and stood on his hind legs and pleaded with his front paws to pick him up and feed him and save him.

Frank looked around and noticed other young cats. Upon inquiring, he learned that the cats belonged to a local resident, an elderly lady. Sadly the daughter sent the mother away to a nursing home and dumped the cats outdoors.  The cruelty...we are continuously shocked and heartbroken. But, Frank contacted us and we picked up Ninji. Thankfully we had room for one more.

Ninji is long and lean and weighed 7 pounds in his first visit to the vet.  At first he only wanted to nestle on your lap and nowhere else.  It was obvious that his prior owner provided him much tender loving care.  Sequestered from the other cats, we slowly introduced him to the gang.

Ninji first vet visit (July 2013)

nestling in bathroom sink

Soon Ninji emerged from his shell and demonstrated his agility, athleticism and acrobatics.  This combined with his endless energy, sleek body and satin sheen earned him the name Ninji.

Ninji will most likely retain a boyish face from his small round head and lean body.  After a couple of months he now weighs a healthy 9 pounds.

Ninji just received his second round of vaccinations and is neutered and got a clean bill of health! He's ready to go to his new home. Click here to review all his vet records (Donations welcome to cover the $200 vet bill--simply click on the "Donate" button to the right).

MORE ABOUT NINJI
With his high energy levels, it would be ideal for Ninji to have younger kitten as a playmate or guardian that actively tosses around his favorite toys--he loves to chase and fetch the fabric mice.

And he's a talker! Ninji makes different sounds when he's playing, prowling, and celebrating meal time.  There's the chirp, the mew (yes mew not meow), and the howl.  You'll learn cat language before you know it!

ADOPTION GIFT BASKET
For anyone who adopts Ninji, you will receive a black carrier, and a "Welcome Kitty Gift Basket" including a pet carrier, food bowl, toys, the delightful book The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey autographed by cat author Deb Barnes, and a bottle of Coppola Wine. Christopher Coppola and his black cat Otto are the famous guardian/cat duo and were celebrity guests at the Black Cat Gala in Miami. Christopher and Otto have generously donated the bottle of wine for anyone who adopts a black cat from Riverfront Cats!

If you are interested in meeting Ninji, please contact us via email at riverfrontcats@yahoo.com

So are you ready to Kung Fu with your new best friend?

Finding a Home for a Rescued Cat or Kitten

 

"With my gray and white fur, I can match any color or decor!"

We receive daily emails and calls inquiring if we could take in a kitten or cat or two or more.  The stories surrounding the situation vary. Often the caller has found a mother and litter of kittens or just the kittens. Or an owner has to give up their pet for a number of reasons (valid or irresponsible). More often we hear of scenarios where an elderly person has to move to a nursing home or has passed away. Sadly, no definite plans were made for the continued care of their pets.  The fact that you clicked on this tab and are taking the time to read this post shows you care! Thank you.

Most nonprofits like Riverfront Cats/Pawsitively Humane, Inc. can NOT take them in, not on a daily basis. Why? As a no-kill shelter we are all limited in space and funds.  We have to find homes for our current rescue cats (and dogs) before accepting new ones. Plus, there are half a million homeless pets in South Florida.  There are just not enough shelters to take them in and homes to readily adopt them. It takes time to find homes. But there is hope--in you! Yes you. Individual contributions make a difference.  It requires work but this will ensure your rescue kitty has a chance to live in a permanent home and off the streets. Only as a last resort should you take the cat to a county or city shelter.

PROVEN TECHNIQUES to FIND A HOME FOR A KITTEN or CAT

In this post we offer proven techniques to help you find a home for a kitten or cat. 

1. Ideally, it's best to take the kitten or cat to a vet for an initial exam, bloodtest (primarily  for FIV and FLV) and vaccinations.  This is step one in the protocol followed by nonprofit shelters to determine if your rescue carries the two most common illnesses. (FIV = Feline Aids; FLV Feline Leukemia*). If you are limited in discretionary funds, then go straight to step 2. If the cat is more than two months old, please get him/her spayed/neutered.  This is critical to prevent unwanted litters and more homeless cats.  Chances are there is a local organization that offers low-cost spay/neuter.  Check online.


2. Photos. Lots and lots of photos. We don't mean five or six snapshots. Take at least 50 photos!  Half the trick is marketing or advertising.  ALSO, take the time to stage the setting with solid and contrasting colors, accessories for kitty (if he/she will not get scared). You can have fun with this task!   If the cat is black, use a solid white or bright background or even a pattern.  If the cat has a pattern or stripes, then use a solid background. By taking 50+ photos this gives you the opportunity to take photos in different lighting, changing the props, capturing kitty in cute, funny and adorable positions and poses, using Instagram...GET CREATIVE!

1. Brainstorm a unique name. Think of the personality of the cat and connect it to popular characters on TV, movies, pop culture, or literature.


2. Create a nice flyer with one or two quality photos, the name, and a brief description.  Be sure to include your contact information. 
1. We encourage you to ask for a fee especially if you invested in veterinary care for the kitty's initial checkup. Giving the kitten or cat away for free means the cat has no value and there is higher risk the cat will become unwanted in the near future.  
2. If the cat's story is sad or heroic, share that story in one paragraph. Stories sell! Please describe more than the cute and adorable attributes. That's wallpaper and attract minimal interest.  HUMANIZE the cat.  Ie.  We once rescued two male sibling kittens.  One was a terror and the other sang opera so we named them Figaro (Italian opera) and Luciano (after Italian mob boss Lucky Luciano). We described their behavior "Figaro will serenade you..." and "Luciano lures into dark alley (the kitchen) and will pounce you for food!"
3. Post that flyer in every single veterinary office and pet store with public bulletin board in your city.
4. Share that flyer or photo/description with all your friends, family, colleagues via email, Facebook, Pinterest and all social media. You will learn some people prefer email, some prefer Facebook, some texting. 


3. If you are not able to keep the cat or kitten for an extended period, you can always invest in a newspaper ad.  This will cost more but you will reach thousands of readers and increase the rate of adopting sooner than later.  It's all a numbers game.  Contact your local paper for rates. 
1. Craigslist is one form of advertising for free but we strongly advise you to ask interested persons to answer a few questions. You want to ensure the person is ready for the LIFETIME responsibility of adopting a pet.  It costs money and takes time to care for a pet, similar to a child. If they travel a lot, will this person readily invest in a pet sitter? If anyone hesitates to answer your questions, then that is a sign they are not serious. Move on.  In our line of work, we come across many people who fall in love with the cute kitten or adorable puppy but when Fluffy and Fido grow up, owners are not enamored and tire of the responsibility and later dump them into the streets or county kill shelters.  Yes it happens. You can always join a local animal nonprofit organization as a member and use their form.  In Miami, Cat Network membership is only $25 a year.  This will entitle you to low cost spay/neuter ($25) and sometimes free when CN wins grants. You can then use their application and a member will mentor you in interviewing potential adopters and to perform a home visit.  ALWAYS conduct a home visit when working with strangers. Just as a home needs to be baby proofed for infants and toddlers, dogs and cats also need a home free of dangers. Also, hoarders exist more than you know. Here is a sample Adoption Application. Feel free to borrow the questions to utilize in a casual email. Do not adopt out to anyone that would permit the cat to walk onto a balcony of a highrise building--cats will jump on the ledge and fall. It happens more often than people think. All it takes is a flying bug or floating piece of lint to ignite the cat and the next second they are jumping on the ledge and do not realize the actual height.

Do not delay in following these steps.  Also, kittens are easier to find homes for than adult cats.  This is why you want to act quickly with kittens before they get bigger.  Bigger is not as cute.

Thank you for taking the time to learn how to find a home for a rescued or abandoned kitty. Please do not hesitate to email (riverfrontcats@yahoo.com) us with any questions.  We're all in this together and the more people working together, the sooner we can make a difference in the plight of homeless pets.

Thank you GOOD SAMARITAN!

* Please do not be alarmed if you learn that your rescue cat is positive for FIV and FLV. Often these cats live long INDOORS.  While initially it was suggested not to mingle FIV positive cats with healthy cats, we are finding more experienced cat owners  willing to let their healthy cats co-mingle with FIV or FLV cats as long as there is no fighting.  Transmission of the diseases comes from blood transfer usually through aggressive fighting.

For Adoption: Millie & Tillie

Think of a precious heirloom passed around from owner to owner. But each move risks the fragile nature of this keepsake. This is the story of Millie & Tillie.

These stunning feline sisters have been bounced around like used tennis balls. Their first owner dropped them off at a kill shelter. Thankfully a local rescue organization saved them and found them a new home. Sadly, they were "returned" a year later. The son of the family developed "severe allergies". Millie & Tillie are back in foster care. 

Millie is the brave one and hence the leader. Tillie, on the other paw, loves to reach out with her paws to "grab" your attention. They love to be petted and hugged. If they are physically separated too long, they meow in search for the other. These sisters have strong bond and will not be separated.

Despite bouncing from home to home, it's that bond that keeps them grounded, sweet natured and open-hearted, ready to accept a permanent home.

Remember adopting adult cats is much easier than adopting kittens. You know their personality and disposition and don't have to worry about your furniture and decor getting destroyed or shredded. These are fine ladies at two years of age.

If you would like to meet Millie & Tillie, please contact Christina at cdm1580@bellsouth.net or call 786-573-1580.

Happy Birthday Geisha!

"Like my crown and my pretty cake with black kitties?"

Geisha was the first Riverfront rescue kitten and today she's turning 4. 

Today Geisha is living the good life--indoors, highrise condo (while she doesn't complain we know she's not pleased living on the 40th floor where she only sees buzzards and not regular birds) fancy digs, pretty accessories and plenty of naps and catnip. Geisha is a proud petite supermodel kitty and poses for photos and graces many greeting cards and calendars.  OK mostly for Riverfront Cats communication pieces.  She's not picky. Not the Diva like her cousin...

[singing] "It's my birthday and I'll wear what I want to..."

"What is my birthday wish?... Your vote!"

PLEASE VOTE FOR RIVERFRONT CATS IN THE PETTIES. CLICK HERE TO VOTE