Daffney, Calico older kitten for Adoption

DAFFNEY (light calico)

The Monkey, the Diva, the Lover

Daffney thinks she's a monkey and will either reach up to you and stretch her front paws on your leg while meowing or if you don't pay attention to her right away, she will jump on your legs and scramble to your shoulder like a monkey! If you squat to clean the litter and haven't given her enough attention, she will jump on your back and perch on your shoulder, again like a monkey.

This monkey business is an effort expecting you, no demanding you, to give her food or pick her up (the Diva), to pet her and she''ll give you kisses (licks) and rub her whiskers on your chin to say you are hers! (The Lover). She'll also snuggle with you on the sofa and bed. 

Daffney is 8 months old.  She has all shots, tested negative for Fiv and FeLV, and is spayed.  Adoption fee is $85.00.  Adopt her and her foster sister, Sobe for one adoption fee and receive a gift basket with cat food toys, pet care book, bowls, and bottle of Coppola wine PLUS a ModKat litter box.

#GivingTuesday for Shelter Pets

Dear Animal lover,

There is a day of  Thanksgiving, two days for getting Deals (Black Friday and Cyber Monday). Now there is a global day dedicated to giving back. #GivingTuesday.

This is our first year participating as we have chosen this to be the one time in the year to make our appeal and offer you insight as to the needs in caring for stray, feral and black cats. Some nonprofits ask for donations throughout the year. Not here.  Our founder and President has worked at nonprofit organizations small and large and as a donor, she understands no one wants to be bombarded for money regularly.  It is annoying. We think of other creative ways you can help cats through your daily routine without giving a dime.   For a few ideas, scroll to the bottom of this posting.

Our needs remain the same. In order of urgency:

FOSTER PARENTS in SOUTH FLORIDA
Whether you can foster for a few weeks, a few months, for cats, kittens or special needs cat, this remains our biggest need. We currently have a black cat, Roger,  whose throat was slashed but has thankfully healed. But in the process he developed diabetes. To read more about Roger and his fight for survival, click here. If you are interested in temporary or long-term foster care in South Florida, please email us at riverfrontcats@yahoo.com.

FUNDING
Naturally funding is essential for various needs.

1. The largest expense is to pay vet bills for sick and injured cats. While we do receive a discount, sick pets require several visits and bills adds up fast.  The sooner we can pay those bills, the more cats we can take in and help.  Another regular expense is cat food, litter and supplies (ie. feeding bottles, cat milk)  Friskies is their favorite brand and better than other brands for the outdoor stray cats.  Toys are not a necessity as the cats find fun in regular boxes, a wad of paper, a Q-tip--non lethal household items.  No amount is too small--$200, $100, $50, $20, $10. Simply click on the DONATE button on the right.

2. Cat Traps.  Traps are regularly used to trap feral cats that need to be spayed/neutered, scared or stray cats that can be domesticated or reunited with owner.  Sadly, two traps were stolen that were hidden in bushes to capture a difficult cat.  We need one regular trap and one drop trap. They are listed on Amazon as follows:

Tomahawk Tomahawk Neighborhood Cat Trap, 36 in. Neighborhood Cat Trap - $80

Tomahawk Tomahawk Neighborhood Cat Drop Trap - $127

Feel free to donate an amount to buy the traps or order them from Amazon.  Feel free to email us and we'll provide an address for shipping.

3. Clear storage bins to build cat shelters.  We have a tried and proven method for building cat shelters every six months during the cold of the winter, and the rainy season during the summer. They MUST BE CLEAR in color not solid white as the cats need to see through the bins to survey their surrounding.  They also hide well in bushes. We cut holes on the sides and please do not forge to get the lids.  This makes it easy to remove the lids and clean the inside. With time the shelters need to be changed but it is more cost effective and functional than wood cat houses which are either stolen or the cats do not use.  The cats do use them!!! We currently need six bins.

4. Padding for cat houses. To line the shelters and absorb any water, the cat shelters are lined with the same padding used for children's playroom or exercise gym. These can be ordered from Amazon.  Any color is acceptable. Don't worry about size. We can cut them down. The cats aren't that picky!

48 Square Feet ( 12 tiles + borders) 'We Sell Mats' Charcoal Gray 2' x 2' x 3/8" Anti-Fatigue Interlocking EVA Foam Exercise Gym Flooring (Amazon)

 

24 Sq. Ft. (set of 24 + borders) 'We Sell Mats' Anti-Fatige Interlocking EVA Foam Flooring-Set of six Multi-Color Tiles-Each 12"x12"x3/8" Thick  (Amazon)

5. Cat food and litter.  The neighborhood cats and rescues are fed Friskies Seafood Sensation (dry) and Friskies canned food (Chicken & Salmon in gravy). They LOVE this flavor more than any other they sometimes fight like kids for seconds. Litter, we use Scoop Away as we found it best for clumping and controlling odor with so many cats. 

WE KEEP IT SIMPLE

That's it! We keep it simple.We operate through volunteers so funding goes to the care of the cats.

We pray and hope you will participate in #GivingTuesday  or any day and help shelter pets. Please select Riverfront Cats as an individual, a family or company effort.   Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. Email is best or you may call at 305-771-3163.

From our very small group of volunteers who give so much time and energy, to help reverse the rate of homeless cats in Miami,
THANK YOU!
Christine, Sabrina, Mollie, Elizabeth, Marta, Christina, Karen

Other Ways to Help Riverfront Cats

ResQWalk
Is an app you can download on an Android and iPhone 5 or 6 so that every time you walk (to your car, in the mall, around the block, with the dog...) you can choose Riverfront Cats and a small donation is made directly to us. You pay nothing!

Shop at Amazon
For all of your Amazon shopping, every time you start shopping by clicking on this link http://bit.ly/RCAmazon, Riverfront Cats receives a small donation from Amazon.  It's that easy!

Thank you for all your support.
From our small team at Riverfront Cats,
Purrs and licks.

Update #2 on Rogér, The Miami Le Chat Noir Cat

[UPDATE July 2015: we continue to collect donations for Rogér.  Please use the donate button to the right.]

You may remember the story about Rogér (pronounced the French way-- Ruh-jhere). Oui?   The black cat that looks like the French Le Chat Noir poster cat? The one who's throat was slashed?

As promised we have more photos of his story (don't worry they are not graphic in detail) from the time of capture to brink of death and now fighting his way back--typical cat, and a smart black cat.  Sadly it is clear Roger has endured atrocities of a black cat life. We share his photo story below. But there is hope...

Rogér at the time of capture sustained injuries to his neck and jaw.
It appears his throat was slashed.

Rogér is unsure what these humans will do to him.
Lucky for him, a guardian angel saved him this time. 

Rogér does not know how to play like a cat.  In photo below he is resting on makeshift bed and staring at felt mouse at end of string. Perhaps he is so weak and in pain that he has no desire to pounce and play.  He needs LOTS of TLC.  And so the arduous journey to nurture, heal and socialize Rogér began.

Rogér's first selfie (taken by Karen, foster mother)

Rogér receives first kiss and a selfie to prove it!

Rogér appeared better a month after his rescue. His wounds healed but...

Rogér goes into shock and  drastically drops from 9 pounds to 7 pounds.
Notice the difference from photo above. We have doubts he will survive.

We learned that Rogér went into diabetic shock.  Since then he has been given insulin shots twice a day religiously.   The good news is that Rogér should pull through. Interesting he loves to go to the vet where he loves the attention and petting, and brushing of his hair.  He craves the TLC and attention he never had his entire life.  Staffers are more than happy to oblige. Rogér is ironically a good cat patient.  He understands the poking and prodding is to help him. Rogér takes it in stride since it is part of his daily routine. Vet visits are the icing on the cake!

Meanwhile the vet bills are avalanching which prevents us from taking in more cats that need rescuing! To date the vet bills are over $4,000.  No one anticipates these escalating costs. But when treating a sick animal, complications may arise. Click here to view the first set of bills totaling $2,846 as of September.

If you would consider giving any amount. No amount is too small!  $100, $50, $20 even $10!!! Just click the Donate button on the top right column of this website.  We rescue many sick and injured cats and kittens and rarely ask for donations every time.   We recognize no one wants to be bombarded with donation solicitations. This is why we work hard to find creative ways you can help without reaching for your wallet.  But this case is indeed special. Roger represents the average stray black cat that is the target of pure ignorance and disregard for harmless creatures.

 ROGÉR IS FIGHTING FOR ALL BLACK CATS!

Please join Rogér in his fight against color/species discrimination and his will to live! 

At Riverfront Cats, we will keep you posted on his progress on this website and via social media.  Of course your prayers and moral support is always greatly appreciated!!!

Click HERE for next update. 

Please Help Kittens Tobi and Candi Find A Forever Home (Miami)

Gorgeous one-year-old kittens Tobi and Candi were found outside Lissette’s home as newborns with their Mom. They were adopted, but then the adopter had to leave country and Tobi and Candi were returned to another rescue organization and now we are helping Tobi and Candi. Both siblings are VERY sweet, affectionate and cuddly – they love to be held! They are very much bonded and they should be adopted together. They are both 100% fully vetted, beautiful, and healthy!

Please call Lissette at 786-368-8005 or email us at riverfrontcats@yahoo.com.

 Thank you for helping Tobi and Candi!! Together, we can find them a home!!!!

Rogér "Le Chat Noir" Black Cat Needs Your Help!

Dear Cat Fans and Black Cat Loyalists,

As you know today is Halloween and we have a sick black cat that needs your help. AND he looks exactly like the famous "Le Chat Noir" poster cat!!

Rogér was on the brink of death and was ultimately saved. To date his vet bill is close to $3000 (copies of vet bills will be posted soon!)  You see his throat was slashed. How?? Whether by cruel evil person or by accident, we do not know. After this horrific injury began to heal other complications arose.

Rogér was rescued around April 1. He’s a very sweet cat, about 7 years old, who has suffered a lot. He was abused and also possibly hit by a car earlier in life. It appears that someone tried to slash his throat, and his jaw was dislocated (though he looks normal and drinks and eats normally).

He is the living image of the famous French poster “Tournée du Chat Noir”; the resemblance is remarkable.

At the time of rescue, Rogér had extreme diarrhea and was pitifully thin. He has presumptive IBD, did have pancreatitis (now testing normal), and after accidental exposure to a cat with upper respiratory symptoms he fell ill and was assist-fed for 12 days and had sub-Q fluids for 30 days. During that time he turned diabetic. He’s now on insulin. He also eats a special food (hydrolyzed protein) and takes Pepcid and Zofran pills. He’s very easy to medicate.

Rogér is now thriving. He has gone from 7 to 10-1/2 pounds.


FOSTER CARE NEEDED FOR 2 WEEKS

Naturally we need funding to pay the bill so we can help more cats. Also Rogér is diabetic. His foster mother must go out of town to take care of her sick 93 year old mother! We urgently need foster person for 2 weeks. However, he needs to be isolated from other cats as he is not vaccinated (he cannot receive vaccinations until he is in the clear).

Karen will show you how to give insulin shots twice a day. It's not difficult and Rogér is used to it.

To make a donation just click on our donate button on the right column or to volunteer to foster Roger please send us an email to riverfrontcats@yahoo.com.

Isn't the resemblance uncanny?!

Let's help Rogér. Let's help black cats this Halloween!
Be safe everyone.

Why You Should Care About Feral Cats — and How You Can Help Them

Last year as you know Christine went over the top with a fun video about cat ladies and black and stray cats.

This year our plates are overflowing and we need funding for urgent vet bills.  As an authority on feral cats, our President, Christine Michaels, was interviewed for this recent article

Why You Should Care About Feral Cats — and How You Can Help Them

 Please take a moment to read this post (by clicking the link above) and learn more about feral cats. Did you learn something new?  Have you ever fed stray cats?  Let us know--leave a comment below.

Thank you for making a difference in your neighborhood to help reverse the rate of homeless pets.

Pounce in Peace--Dr. Lorie Huston

It is with a heavy heart and devastating disbelief that I share of the sudden passing of an esteemed colleague in the pet world, Dr. Lorie Huston.  This amazing and accomplished woman was more than a veterinarian, pet owner of six cats and an award-winning pet blogger.  Lorie was a passionate pet lover,  respected educator and a gifted leader.

I met Lorie "online" as is the case for 99% of the pet welfare friends and colleagues that I have met across the U.S. and over the years since I "accidentally" became a cat blogger when I moved to the north side of downtown Miami and stumbled upon dozens of homeless cats and kittens.When I exposed Loews Hotel of Orlando for abandoning their successful TNRM program and they made the decision to trap the harmless hotel cats (custom cat houses were built for them) and send all the cats to the shelters for euthanization, I could not believe the number of nationally recognized cat experts and writers who reached out  in support, and wrote about this important story to educate the masses. Lorie was one of them. 

Soft spoken in person, Lorie was a born leader in every sense in the pet welfare world and commanded 100% respect.  Once Lorie was named the new President of the Cat Writer's Association, I and other colleagues rejoiced.  We knew she would move mountains with her forward thinking and mighty pen that served as both educational tool and sword to protect all cats--pets and strays. Lorie made it a point to approach anyone regardless of their background or talent or desire to help pets, asked individuals for ideas, listened intently and incorporated their input into a master plan for the benefit of the Cat Writer's Association and ultimately cats.  And yes, she even reached out to dog people! A fine example of bipartisanship.

Lorie extolled the virtues of humility, grace, and kindness all while brimming with profound but quiet intelligence.  I always wondered how she juggled a veterinarian practice, six cats and a blogging career with ease and grace.  She made it look so easy. 

I recall just this past May sitting in the front row of the kick off night of the BlogPaws conference in Lake Vegas as Lorie received the Winn Feline Foundation Media Appreciation Award. So deserving.

Dr. Lorie Huston accepts award

We regularly met twice a year at major pet blogging conferences, and I was always honored when she asked me for marketing and other ideas where I had experience.  She had vision, a plan. Dr. Lorie Huston was making a difference.

So as I'm drafting this blog post, I received an email from another esteemed colleague, Deb Barnes (of Zee and Zoey) that Lorie had recently written a blog post on August 19, 2014, where she named Deb and I as women she admired!  Imagine my shock. I had no idea!  A woman I had looked up to and admired on so many levels was acknowledging me.  Such a bittersweet moment.

I took this photo last October of Lorie Huston and Deb Barnes at CWA annual conference 2013

Last week we were communicating via email and yesterday I received an email that she had liver failure and was on life support.  Then within a few hours, another email that she had passed. A harsh reminder, we never know what the day will bring, whether we will be on this earth next week, next year...A reminder to make the most of every day, to live life to the fullest, to be kind and to give back. That's exactly how Lorie lived her life and touched and elevated millions of lives -- both humans and pets.

Lorie I grieve in your absence.  The only white light is knowing you are with our beloved pets that have crossed the rainbow bridge and that together you are watching over us as we continue in your footsteps.

 I know you're not resting but ready to pounce on any opportunity in heaven to continue educating and saving millions of voiceless creatures, cats.

Pounce in Peace

How to Give a Cat or Dog a Pill (Funny version)

1.  Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. 

Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand.  As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2.  Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa.

 Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process, closing its mouth and stroking throat.

3. Give cat a bath, pretend to pamper and...

4.  Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand.

Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger.  Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.


5.  Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe.    Call spouse in from the garden.

6.  Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, holding front and rear paws.

 

 Ignore low growls emitted by cat.  Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden

ruler into mouth.  Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7.  Retrieve cat from curtain rail. Get another pill from foil wrap.  Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains.  Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set aside for gluing later.

8.  Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit.

Put pill in end of drinking straw, force cat's mouth open with pencil, and blow down drinking straw.

9.  Check label to make sure pill is  not harmful to humans and drink one beer to take taste away.
Apply band-aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10.  Retrieve cat from roof of neighbor's roof.

Get another pill.  Open another beer.  Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck, leaving head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon.  Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11.  Offer cat bottle of vodka if it would do the favor of opening it. As it opens mouth, jam pill inside.    Fetch bottle of scotch.  Pour shot, drink. 

Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot.  Apply whiskey compress
to cheek to disinfect.  Toss back another shot.  Throw tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12.  Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from the aerial antenna across the road.
Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat.

Take last pill from foil wrap.

13.  Using heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed, tie the little *&#%^'s front paws to rear paws with

garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table.  Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak.
Hold head vertically and pour two pints of water down throat to wash pill down.

14.  Consume remainder of scotch.  Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room.  Sit quietly while
doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15.  Arrange for ASPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

  

How to Give a Dog a Pill

1.  Wrap it in bacon.

2.  Toss it in the air.

Sobe, the South Beach kitten

"Don't let my serious look scare you. I'm really friendly"

SOBE (dark calico)

The Socialite, the Bobblehead, the Supermodel

Sobe is named after her home city--South Beach. She was literally plucked from a street curb underneath a car on a busy tourist street in the heart of the Art Deco district. Sobe is seven months old.  She socializes, mingles, and fits into any crowd and easily mingles with other cats, cat-friendly dogs and humans (the socialite).

Her unique trait is the way she stands and looks up at you AND turns her head around like a Bobblehead toy.

Don't be deceived by that serious face.  If anything, she's a supermodel (don't all of them have serious faces?) and knows how to strike a pose! You'll have fun taking photos of her and entering her photos into contests.  If you train her to wear a leash, you can teach her to walk in public without fearing strangers and become a celebrity cat like Lil Bub, Grumpy Cat, etc. Just takes time, patience, and consistency and you can train her in a month!

Sobe sleeps on edge of pet bed to gain Jean Pierre's trust

"I like to snuggle with other kitties"

She loves to play with her foster sister, Daffney, who is 4 weeks older.  It's always better to adopt two cats or kittens than one so they have a playmate for exercise, companionship, comfort, etc. Indoor cats need stimulation and exercise just like any other pet and human for quality of life and better health.
 

Sobe is vaccinated and tested negative for FIV and FeLV.  All vet records are available and yours to keep upon adoption.  The fee is $85. Or adopt both Daffney and Sobe for one adoption fee! Plus you'll also receive a Modkat WHITE litter box.  It's a sleek and stylish litter box for the modern home and prevents litter tracking!

To meet Sobe, please contact riverfrontcats@yahoo.com or call us at 305-771-3163.
To learn more about Daffney, click here. 

Please leave a message as we're often in the field.