Hi everyone!! Boy, this last month has flown by!! As you can see from my picture, I'm doing very well! I've got the best seat in the house...mom and dad's bed!! This is my favorite place to be..especially when the heat index is above 100!

I had to go to the vet about a week ago, I had a sore on my tail, and mom wanted to make sure that I didn't really hurt myself. In case you didn't know, my tail was broken in a few places...another case of abuse, but we don't need to talk about that! It fused in a silly s-shape and doesn't work like a proper tail! I smack it on the wall and the floor a lot, but it doesn't bother me. Anyway, mom saw this sore and I had to go visit my new vet, Dr. Tanner. He is very nice and I behaved very nicely for him. He checked my tail and said that it was just a blocked oil gland, he checked my heart and said its fine and they weighed me...uh hum...When I came to live at my forever home, I weighed about 9 pounds...I now weigh 14.2#!!!! LIFE IS GOOD!! Regular meals, sleeping on the bed all day!! WOOHOO! Dr. Tanner said that I'm a big boy and the weight is fine...no Jenny Craig for me!! As for the tail, because I only have part of a tongue, my grooming isn't what it should be. So now mom combs and brushes me everyday to compensate for that. Spa treatments to boot!

So, now its time for a nap, I'll catch up some more later!!

Love,

Stripy

Hi Everyone!! Sorry I haven't posted in a while!! We've been very busy around here. I am really doing well here, mom and dad are very understanding and I love all the other kids here. My brother,Bob is afraid of thunder and we've been getting a lot of it!! When he gets afraid, I try to stay by him and let him know that its ok. Last night he wanted to go into the garage because it was quiet in there, so I went with. We talked a little, and I told him about the "old days" when I used to be outside in the rain. He told me that when he was a kitten, he started exploring before the others in his litter and he found himself outside, alone in freezing weather. He missed his mom and he couldn't remember how to get back. He mewed for hours, hoping someone would hear him. He was all out of energy, hungry and tired when a really nice lady found him. She took him in the house and wrapped him in a heating pad. She fed him and made sure he was comfortable. It turns out that the nice lady was Nancy, our mom. Geez...I'm glad Bob is here with us.

Anyway! I have a nice rug in my bathroom that I lay on sometimes. This morning, Murphy (DOG!) decided that he wanted to drag the rug all over the house. Dad kept bringing it back in and Murph kept taking it out. So I solved the problem. See picture above...

Have a great weekend!! Love you all!!

Stripy :~)

Me and my dog, Murphy...He's afraid of me and won't look at me. But that's alright with me..If he comes any closer, I'll open up a can of WHOOP-ASS on his canine butt!! We're cohabitating now...I'm free to come and go where ever I want...so is he. I need a nap.

I got a chance to really explore this weekend!! I looked around every chance I got! There's a fun toy that I found..its a lemon and its filled with catnip. I chewed on it and made it all wet, and then I hugged it and wouldn't let anyone take it from me. I love the lemon! I also found a table in the library where I can see out a different window. Not much going on out there, though. I went on the lanai with Sophia and we relaxed under the lawn chairs, and I pretended that I was hiding in the flowers, but I really wasn't because the flowers are on the outside..it was fun anyway! I also took a nap on the couch...I love the couch almost as much as I love the lemon!!

I'm taking some time to nap at the moment because I need to get my rest so that I can play tonight. I've been really playing with the new brothers and sisters. Yesterday I was talking to Sophia and she was ignoring me. When she turned her back on me, I gave her a good shove and she rolled over. She was NOT happy. I just want to play!!

I am missing my former colony and I worry for them because they can't live in a nice safe place like I do. Please take some time to look at my website (its been totally redone!) and if you can help, I would be eternally grateful.

Now, back to my nap...I'm planning a sneak attack on Priscilla later!!!

Love,

Stripy

I am officially a star!! My updated article was in the St Pete Times and the Tamba Bay Times. http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article997725.ece Mom didn't want her picture in, but she said this is a good compromise!! I had a really great weekend with my brothers and sisters and I can come in and out of the house when I want to. There's a gate across my bedroom door so that I can go in and out, but Murphy can't come in. He started messing with me when I came out the first few times, but I puffed myself up real big and I must have scared him because now he leaves me alone. Sometimes he forgets and he runs towards me, but I puff up again and he stops really fast!! He puts his butt up in the air and barks, but mom says that he just wants to play. I don't have to swat him or his at him, he just goes away!

Hi Everyone!! This is me outside in my screened lanai, otherwise known as the "kitty wonderland"! I'm here with my sister Gracie...we look alike, don't you think?? We were watching a lizard crawling up the screen and it was really fun!!

Today the photographer from the St.Pete Times came here and took some pictures of me for the paper. Be sure to read the story on monday. Mom talked to the reporter the other day and told her my updates and how I'm doing very good.

I come out of my room a lot now, I've visited the garage with Bob and Wrigley (known around here as the wolverines), I've been in the library with Priscilla (she's still fat), and I've been in every closet exploring. When I stay in my room during the day with the door shut, Rustie stays in there with me. I like her, she's very relaxed and easy to talk to. She has allergies, so sometimes she sneezes green snots on me...JUST KIDDING!! I move faster than she can sneeze!!

Anyway, getting ready for the weekend and much more kitty fun!!

Love,

Stripy

Wow!! What a great weekend I had!! I took a tour around some high spots in my new home and I really like it on the fridge!! I also have a new friend, his name is Wrigley. He's a lot of fun to be around and together we explored the closet in my room. There were lots of boxes piled in there and we were able to find nice places to hide. He's a lot bigger than me, but he's very laid back and friendly. His mom, Sophia and his brother,Bob also came in for a while to visit. Maybe tomorrow I'll go exploring with him.

My foster parents came over for a visit yesterday. I have missed them very much and it was wonderful to see them again! I'm a very lucky guy to have 2 families who care for me very much.

I'll write more later!!! Spread the word about my blog and website!!

Love to all,

Stripy

Today I'm learning about this thing called "camping". Mom brought in this neat thing called a "tent" and I sleep in it. I don't really see how its any different than my crate, but mom says camping is fun.

Yesterday was the one month anniversary of my emergency trip to Dr. Daves office. It seems like a very long time ago. My wounds are healing, and soon my fur will be grown back in and you won't be able to see the scars. I'm eating well and often.

Its fun here with lots of other cats to play with. My people aren't too bad either. Thank you to everyone who has been interested in my story!!

Yes, my mom likes to kiss me on the lips!! I just get so relaxed that I let her do it!! But don't tell anyone, I want everyone to think that I'm really feral..grrrr. Last night I got to come out of my "suite" and take a look around. nice digs. There are very nice hiding places here, and all of the other cats are very nice. They don't even act like I'm new. I guess I fit in just fine! That dog, Murphy is a little wild, though. He's in his crate when I'm loose, but he barks and wants to play with me. Winston got into an argument with Mike last night, and Winston got a tooth knocked loose. My mom took the tooth out so that it wouldn't hurt. He's fine today! I'd say that's Mike 1, Winston 0. This morning I came out a little, too. I got to go out onto the lanai, and that looks like an interesting place to go. There was a cardinal that was flying back and forth and really yelling at us! I'll have to go back there soon.

Well, its day 2 and I've found a new place that's safe. I started nosing around last night, and even came into the family room for a few minutes. This morning I played with a really fun cat game that has a ball that goes around and around. My mom sat on the floor and played with me it was fun. I'm eating well and using my litterbox like I'm supposed to. I found a nice place in the bathroom that has a mirror and there's a cat in there that looks just like me...hmm. My new brothers and sisters are all very nice, except Priscilla. She's fat. And she came in yesterday and poked me in the nose. I don't like her, but no one else does either.

Day 1 My New Home

April 20, 2009

Hi everyone! My name is Stripy. A month ago I was a feral cat living with my colony in New Port Richey, Florida. I had caretakers who fed me and even took me to the vet to get neutered. (I wasn't too happy about that!) I was able to wander around, doing what cats do. And then my life changed forever. I was shot in the head by someone. My caretakers found me and took me to the vet after 3 days. I was bleeding, unable to eat, and trying to fight a bad infection. I was scared. Dr. Dave and his staff took good care of me, but I lost a few teeth and part of my tongue. I guess I was really lucky that the bullet didn't hit my brain or any major blood vessels. After 9 days in the hospital, I went back home with my caretakers. I stayed in their bathroom for a while, and they were very good to me. I healed very well and got used to people a little, even though I'm feral.

Yesterday, it was time for me to go to my new home with my new mom and dad. It was a long ride in the car, but my caretakers said this was the best place for me to go. I can't be outside anymore because of my injuries, so I had to go to a new mom and dad that had experience with "special needs" cats and ferals.

When we got there, I came out of my carrier and was surprised to be in a new place. I walked around a little and settled in behind a bookcase. I thought that was a nice safe place where I could look at the mom and dad and see what they were like. They were ok. When my caretakers left, they were sad and so was I. They took very good care of me and I will miss them. I got to meet my new sister, Gracie. She had to have her tail amputated when she was little. It doesn't seem to have slowed her down. She is very sweet. I also got to meet my new brother, Wrigley, who was also feral as a kitten. He was OK - he was more interested in my bowl of food than me.

After it got dark, it was very quiet, so I decided to check out my room. I found my food and my litterbox and even got to look out my window. Its a nice room and I'll be comfortable here.

This morning, mom and dad came in to see me. I was a little crabby and hissed at them, but then I went into my carrier that I came over in, and I felt safe. My big brother, Winston came in to visit and he told me it would be OK. He came over to me and we sniffed noses and he got into my carrier with me. I kind of drooled on him (part of my "special needs"), but he didn't seem to mind. I think he's the boss of the cats here.

So, today has been spent resting, mom and dad come in occasionally and play with me. I like them a lot, and I caught myself purring when they pet me.

More tomorrow!!