2013-2014 Angel Cats
Domino, 13, was a readmit. She originally came in 2002, adopted in 2004, then returned in 2009. Adorable with her tiny speckled paws, she died from gastrointestinal cancer on October 28.
Flora, this tawny-eyed beauty just turned 11 on October 4. With us 2 yrs. joining us in our main house immediately, she loved the patio areas and was a delight to see every time. She died October 21 of kidney and liver failure.
Lovely and gentle, Oliver, 14, lived with us since April, 2013. Oliver was hyperthyroid and always a bit frail. He was friendly, but with a quiet disposition. Sadly, his health declined and he was humanely euthanized on September 21, 2014.
Shelby, 17 yrs. 7 mos., with us 1 & 1/2 yrs. Pretty and spunky, one of the 1st in our new A/W house—and right at home from the start —she was never even sequestered—she was diagnosed not long after with lymphoma, though managed well until it took her on September 8.
Trixie, 12 , With us 9 yrs., she had chronic bag & leg issues but was feisty and kittenish. She developed a blood clot. The evening before she died she was crying and wouldn’t move. Taken to our Vet, she died there on her own on June 9.
Misty, 17 rescued in 1998 with her 4 kitten siblings, all who pre-deceased her, lived her whole life here. Sweet Misty was always shy, but in her last years became more social. Died June 2, age- related kidney failure.
Grumpy, 19, was with us less than a year. He was admitted in August, 2013. Contrary to his name, he was friendly from the start. He had a loud, deep meow, very amusing to hear. An elderly cat, he also had lymphoma of the stomach. The day before he died, Dr. Alcala advised he was rapidly declining. When he started crying, wouldn’t eat, and seemed agitated, it was obvious he was in discomfort. Christine sat near and comforted him in his last hours. Then she, Lee, and Lindsey said their goodbyes. Grumpy was humanely euthanised February 27 to end his suffering.
Harmony—est. age 10, came in 2012 and was one of our 1st residents to the refurbished Anderson-Wentzel house. She and Zena had been abandoned at a local shelter on Thanksgiving day in a box, wet and muddy. She was right at home at Blue Bell, loving and affectionate. Months ago she was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. Though she craved attention, she turned away from everyone the last few days of her life and stopped eating. Dr. Brower came to Blue Bell and beautiful Harmony was let go on February 21.
Char, 16, along with 4 other of her siblings were rescued from the canyon and brought to our temporary housing in downtown Laguna in 1998 when we still accepted kittens and rescues. Three have predeceased her—Coal (her black male littermate), Simba, & Wing. Misty still remains with us. Char developed a sore on her back left leg. It was diagnosed as cancer, and led to her death on January 28. Char will be missed by Sammy and Valentino, both of whom competed for her affection.
Skyler, 17, was our office cat who could often be seen sitting in the front window. Placed in 2006, he had used several of his 9 lives. Born in a trash dumpster, he lifted his tiny self out and flung himself to the pavement. His rescuer heard him crying and took him home, where their dog attacked him. Skyler was pried from the dog’s jaws and injured, including 2 holes in his side and a broken leg. He found a home with another loving family where he lived for 10 yrs., but when their daughter became asthmatic, they placed him with us. Skyler had health issues—chronic herpes, hyperthyroidism, and eventually an enzyme deficiency which prevented him from absorbing nutrients. He became very skinny, but persevered for several years. On January 4, staff discovered he had passed on during the night. His placers’ still thought of Skyler as their own and visited. You can read their moving memorial on our Facebook page. Skyler was just 3 months short of his 18th birthday.
Peggy, 16, a beautiful classic brown tiger originally came in 2004. She lived with us for several months and was adopted in 2005. In keeping with our “return policy", she was readmitted in October, 2011. Peggy had no back left leg due to a birth defect. This didn’t stop her from getting around on her little stump. She was always overweight, which contributed to a heart problem. Peggy’s sweet personality charmed everybody so it was cause for concern when a few weeks before she died she didn’t want attention and began losing weight. A few days before she died, her breathing became labored. She finally succumbed to heart failure on January 9.
Tabitha came to The Blue Bell in 1999 as a rescue from Dana Point Harbor with her "sisters" Penny and Lilly and they all lived in the Lower House. They were very close, even though we were never sure if they were actually related.
Tabitha and Penny were the closest, always snuggling together in a box or a bed, with Lilly not far away. When Penny passed away in 2008, they both took it hard and Lilly took over Penny's role of snuggling with Tabitha. In December 2009, there was a mudslide that destroyed the Lower House and the cats were relocated to the Upper House. Lilly passed away just seven days later in January, 2010, leaving Tabitha on her own. We weren't sure how she would do after the stress of the mudslide, the relocation to the Upper House and losing Lilly. But that little girl did very well! She loved sleeping outside in her basket or in a hammock bed. And she LOVED chicken. That is when you could get the closest to her, but could never touch her back then.
About-four years ago she suddenly had trouble walking - falling over on her side. X-rays were taken Three Sistersand she had a condition in her spine that was causing this. The vet had us start a nutritional supplement and said to give her a week and if she was not better or had become worse, she would need to be put to sleep. Her usual sleeping spot was up on a ledge in a hammock bed, so we put a nice cushiony bed on the floor and she started sleeping there. She surprised everyone and after 4-5 days started walking better. Within a week it seemed everything was back to normal. She never went up to the ledge again, even though I fashioned a ramp she could walk up in case she didn't want to jump. But she never had problems walking after that.
She was diagnosed with kidney disease a couple of years ago and over the past year, she became more receptive towards being touched by those she knew well. She would let us give her chin scratches which she really enjoyed and we were able to give her fluids which helped her kidneys and made her more comfortable.
She would greet me at the door in the morning, at lunch and at dinner to remind me not to forget she wanted an extra-large helping of food. That little girl could eat! Despite losing weight she would continue to eat at least 2-3 cans of Friskies each day. And that was in addition to treats, chicken and the wet food from the community plate! She would follow me around, looking up at me and meowing for more. I had to be careful not to trip over her because she would get right under my feet. I loved watching (and listening to) her eat. She ate like a dog! Taking a huge bite and smacking her gums loudly and bending her head down and grabbing another huge bite and smacking some more! That always made me smile, and it still does. 🙂
It's been so hot lately and she was having a tough time with the heat. Earlier this week I brought frozen water bottles for the cats to lie next to and had cooked some chicken for her. I weighed her and she had lost more weight but she was still eating and walking around and using the litterbox. I held her in front of a fan to cool her off and ran a cool, wet towel on her face and ears and down her back. She started licking my hand and then nuzzling her head into my arm several times and licked me again and nuzzled some more. I told her that Penny and Lilly were waiting for her and to not be afraid and that we would be ok. I took her out to the main room and sat on the floor with her in front of a fan and gave her lots of scratches and pets and loving. I gave her a couple of handfuls of chicken and said good bye.
That was the last time I saw her, because four days later, she was ready to leave us. She was the littlest of the three and lived the longest. She was a fighter in all senses of the word and I am glad to know that she used all of her nine lives! Miss Tabitha, Tabi, TabTab I sure am going to miss you, sweet girl! 🙁
And now the three have finally been reunited. I know there was rejoicing at The Rainbow Bridge when they saw each other. The three sisters together again, snuggling, running, playing and of course, eating lots of Friskies and chicken!
Sugar Plum, 16 -Originally found in a box in a dumpster, her rescuer placed with us due to litter box problems. Befitting to her name, this cat with a sweet disposition came to us in 2008 with numerous health issues including asthma and a heart murmur. However, our little cupcake did fine for 5 years. Finally her kidneys declined, and she died Saturday, August 17.
Lady, 15, came in 2007 with Muffy, who predeceased her in 2011. The pair originally was found in a hoarding situation. The owner had been hospitalized. When animal control contacted her, she agreed to sponsor their placement with us. Lady really was a pretty, affectionate little lady. She was diagnosed with cancer and declined relatively quickly in several months as the cancer spread. She became more reclusive, but her last days she lived in the office so we could supervise and offer her comfort. This is where she and Muffy lived when they first arrived. She died in this same room on Friday, August 9.
Ruby, 17. Admitted in 2008 with Abbey from a home whose young owner died of cancer, Ruby was our red Persian little lion, sporting regular groomed “lion cuts” in the summer. A few months back, she became ill, but with medications and TLC, recovered and rallied. However, she succumbed suddenly to a mass in her lung. She died Monday, July 15 at 3:30 PM in Stephanie’s arms with Annie present.
My heart hurts when I think about Wild Rusty. He came so far with people. He was one of the first cats that caught my eye back in 2003. He was so beautiful and being a feral cat, he faced his fears over and over.
I will never forget in the 2009 mudslide, he looked down at me from the highest place on the tallest cat tree in the lower house when the animal control people were trying to capture him. He was so afraid!! He jumped away from them and fell into two feet of mud. They caught him and put him in a carrier. By this time, it was almost dark. They brought him to the upper house where he and the other cats waited until we got the bunk bed room cleaned. When I started letting cats out of their carriers, Wild Rusty was one of the last cats to be released. He was one solid mass of wet and dry mud. I had a bowl of warm water and he stood right next to my leg while I poured water on him. Then I went to get more water and towels and he stood right there and let me clean him up. He was one very special wild cat. I will always remember the trust in his eyes that night.