Graceless Kitties Part Deux

Back by popular demand!

Thanks to all who sent in your photos in response to last month's All hail the graceless kitty post. Here are a few more of our ever-so-noble furry friends (plus a repeat offender or two) in the goofiest poses they could come up with for us.

"I claim this bedding in the name of... me."
Greyson

photo provided by Marianne

"I love this couch!"
Benson

photo provided by Marianne

Sweet Pea

photo provided by Phaedra

Sunshine: it does a belly good.
Fred

photo provided by Debbie & Marianne

"No pictures, please"

Diablo

photo provided by Kim

"Hey blackie, could use a hand here!"
Morgan (?)

photo provided by Debbie

"Yes, I am comfortable here. Why do you ask?"
Jenna-fur

photo provided by Debbie 

 a blissfully graceless tabby

photo provided by Michele

Looking goofy and too hot to care
Kiddie

photo provided by Debbie & Marianne

washus interruptus
Madison

photo provided by Phaedra  

 a cheerfully graceless tabby

photo provided by Debbie

"Yes, I know you put easy to reach water dishes everywhere, but..."
Meowy

photo provided by Marianne 

Will perch for gravy
Zoe

photo provided by Michele 

Newman

photo provided by phaedra  

"Hey look, you're standing upside down!"
Pickle

photo by Claire 

"I wonder if these meds will make me drowzzzzzzzz...."
Queen Mum

photo provided by Kim 

Squirrel

photo by Claire

 In loving memory: TJ

photo provided by Karen M

Want to see even more graceless kitties on the blog? Keep sending me your funniest photos!

Georgie

photo by Barbara

Well-loved longtime sanctuary resident Georgie came to us after being surrendered for peeing.

While out of the running for adoption due to this unfortunate habit, at the cat sanctuary his engaging, affectionate personality makes him a joy to have around.

Here he is with Squirrel, working out who's going to wash whom:

Georgie is just as ready to share a cuddle with his human friends, if not more so.

He knows several variations of the cat dance for attention:

Other times he may just look you squarely in the eye and talk to you until you get the point. Venture closer and you'll be rewarded with the very best purrs, rubs and headbutts. Now who could say no to that?

Baby (II)

 
Baby was surrendered to RAPS back in March when her people found themselves in a situation where they could no longer look after her.

I remember the evening she was brought in, her carrier swaddled in a towel while Gaye hung other towels around the cage that had been prepared for her. I assumed this was because she must be scared to suddenly find herself away from her home, but Gaye explained that it was also to prevent the other cats from peeing on her. Apparently, some of our naughtier cats have attempted to put their mark on new arrivals in the past. Not the kind of welcoming committee a frightened newcomer really wants.

Once she got over her initial "where the heck am I?" fear, Baby proved very cuddly and friendly... with people.

The towels around her cage came down once the danger of intrusive urination had passed, but had to go up again once it was discovered that she liked to sit right by the door so she could whip a paw out and claw any cat who happened to be walking by. It didn't seem to matter who it was - one time I happened to look over just as she was reaching out to give friendly Squirrel a good smack as he was ambling by, minding his own business.

But human visitors? Welcome anytime.

Updated autumn 2010: Baby's people were able to take her home!

Chloe

 The sign on the door of the cage where Chloe was living when I first met her had a strange combination of information:

1. she is a semi-feral
2. she had been adopted out from RAPS as an 8-week old kitten

This didn't quite compute for me. Not tame but lived in a home all this time? It turned out that when her adoptive family found her uncomfortable with the idea of being handled, they didn't push her and just let her be. And so she never did learn to be comfortable with people touching her.

Leslie expresses regret that the people never thought to ask RAPS staff for help or advice on socializing Chloe. RAPS may have been able to suggest a few techniques that would help them win her trust. Now 7, Chloe is back with RAPS. She was surrendered in the end, not to due her people problem, but to severe allergies.

For a long time, her cage was one to enter with caution. Too fast a movement or too close a placement of water or food dish could lead to a serious swat.

By early February, the cage door was open and Chloe was free to come out... when she was ready. It took a little while (a premature visit by friendly ambassador Squirrel was quickly rebuffed), but she did venture forth in time.

Chloe and Squirrel

Now she's doing very well, out and about and letting us approach a little closer all the time. Last week she even accepted a little food I placed in front of her, a little wide-eyed perhaps, but no fleeing and no swatting.

Squirrel

Squirrel is a handsome boy who came to the sanctuary when he was around 8 months old. He apparently has an identical twin who was adopted out... upwards of 10 years ago! According to Leslie, "Squirrel has happily gallivanted around the back area of the sanctuary since then.  He used to run into every pen when volunteers opened the gates.  A nuisance like Sadie."

These days Squirrel leaves the pen/cage sneaking and general volunteer hassling to other cats, or at least he doesn't try it on my watch. Most often I see him comfortably lounging on a big cat bed on this shelf, either on his own or in the company of nap & cuddle buddies like Princess. He likes his cat buddies, but he's always quite open to throwing a little human cuddle time into the mix.