For Adoption: Fearless Dasher

 

This latest rescue male kitten is 10 weeks old. We just had our naming contest for him. Here were the choices.
Noah--after Noah's ark because he was found mostly submerged in floodwaters when we had nonstop rain for a week
Tweedy- as in Tweed coat due to his fur color and markings
Dasher-because he dashed every where as rescuers tried to capture him for three hours! In the woods, bushes, leaping tall cars in a single dash...until finally he went into the pet carrier and the rescuer was able to shut the door. Ah ha!

He's definitely a male--mischievous and fearless, scampering, climbing legs like tree trunks...

So the tallies are in and his name is Dasher!
Dasher is litterbox trained and fully vetted: neutered, vaccinated, and micro-chipped and now ready for his forever loving home.

To meet this young (naughty) lad and welcome him into your family in time for the New Year, please contact Christina at  cdm1580@bellsouth.net.

Mama Cat Goes Missing

by Christine Michaels

Mama Cat in 2011

It's with a heavy heart to share that one of our beloved Riverfront Cats has gone missing now for a month. It can only mean something bad happened, normally. In the past we discovered the cats were injured (run over by vehicle or electrocuted at neighboring Florida Power & Light transformer room-- we stopped feeding near there and moved feeding station) and passed away. Many of you will remember the case of Leroy, the black cat who went missing three or four days, and fought his way back as close to the feeding station. We luckily found him in the dark, nestled in the grass with two badly injured hind legs. One leg was saved. The other was amputated. But! The good news and silver lining is that he adapted to indoors and is now living the good life!

Christine feeding Mama and Romeo (March 2011)

Sabrina (lead volunteer for coordinating the cat feedings) and I have searched high and low. I can't remember the last time I spent so much time crawling on my hands and knees in bushes. As terrified as I am of bugs and insects, I do it for the cats! (Of course I lather or perfume myself in bug and mosquito repellant! It really does work).

Mama is the name of the missing cat. She was named Mama by the first feeders (construction workers before I moved onto the property) because she had a kitten that died. She also has the sweetest face of all the Riverfront Cats. So tender and gentle. And Mama is one of two or three cats we can pet and pick up without much fuss.  I never seen or heard her hiss. Just look at that loving and angelic face. 

 Mama cat was at station 2. She never roamed far like Gabriel. The male cats tend to roam more and further away from home base.  She and Sabrina always stayed in the area.

One silver lining was the cooperation of local county workers.  Station 2 is near the Miami Avenue bridge where construction was undergoing for a year.  The day it reoopened she went missing. Could Mama be stuck inside one of the rooms under the bridge with padlock? So I called the Miami Dade County Bridge office.  It was 4pm. Close to quitting time.  I explained the situation to the receptionist. She was patient and listened intently. In five minutes I received a call back from Manny, the supervisor.  He remembered me from another incident three years ago. He would meet me in 20 minutes. Amazing!  Just maybe...

Manny came out. But he noticed the padlock was not a county lock. It was put by the contractor.  He called another county employee to bring padlock cutter.  In a few minutes he arrived.  Then he called the contractor who was in the area. I had three men out there moving mountains to help me get access to areas where Mama may be lying, perhaps injured...

Contractor for bridge repairs and Manny

Sadly, no sign of Mama.  The silver lining was knowing I could count on Manny and his team to react quickly. He remembered me from three years ago when I tried to lure a friendly black cat that was dumped under the bridge. I wanted to bring him in. He was someone's pet and did not deserve to live outdoors. The "wicked witch" of the bridge tower gave me hard time. That's when I called the office. The Director and Manny came out next day and apologized for tower person's behavior and ensured I had no problems in the future walking the area checking on cats. They've seen many homeless cats throughout Miami and could see the Riverfront Cats were well taken care of. That we have a well organized effort and no new cats. They were appreciative. Wow --what a difference from Metro Rail employees who did not care and removed a $600 custom made gorgeous cat house on property that my condo did have land rights to access! But Manny and his staff were kind and grateful. There are some good people in this world!

Christine with Manny, supervisor for Miami Dade County Bridge

 Mama cat, like the other Riverfront Cats, are approximately the same age, around six years old. She appeared relatively healthy, definitely on chubby side. She loved to eat and was a "home body" staying close to feeding station and caretakers, hence she didn't exercise a lot.

It really is heartbreaking. We get so attached to these community cats, like our own pets. This certainly puts a damper on our Christmas season put we still pray for a miracle.

Mama cat we will never forget you.  May you be happy and safe wherever you are.

Winner of Stray & Feral Cat Fundraiser Prizepack

WE DID IT!! No, wait. YOU DID IT!!!  You helped us and the cats reach our initial goal of raising $700 and even surpassed it. This is terrific news as we have started to trap the cats and discovered some are in bad shape.   Not to worry. The vet can clean them up while they are under anesthesia from spay/neuter surgery and give them shot of antibiotics if necessary.

Muki is not happy. He his not wanted around by other sterilized cats.
Don't worry Muki--we'll take care of you!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.  These are outdoor stray and feral cats so the photos will not always be cute or glamorous shots.  This is reality. But we are making a difference!

And now to announce the winner of the prize pack full of cat goodies...

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAURA ZACCARDI

Laura wins this prize pack containing Martha Steward food jar, feeding bowls, a water filter, Furminator, bubbles and two books by award-winning author Deb Barnes.  Enjoy Laura!

Thank you everyone for caring. It really takes a team effort. A little goes a long way.

Dine Like a Cat and #Prospurr

Humans can learn a lot from cats. It's true! There's a reason for the saying "cats have nine lives". That is because cats know how to savor every moment from napping, grooming or dining and live long lives. Whether they are leaping tall refrigerators, escaping the grips of big brother bully (aka the dog) or slaying the evil red dot, cats never weary and regain a new life.

The champion cat for living well  is none other than America's favorite cat--Morris! After a hiatus, Morris has returned to the celebrity spotlight. But he is ready for the rigors of stardom and readily shares his secrets in a video.  Watch Morris here  9Lives® presents Live Well & Prospurr, America's Choosiest Cat Gives Back™.

Our cats, both indoor and outdoor, are inspired by Morris.

Morris, Champion of Living Well

Jean Pierre is our eldest cat, an orange marmalade. As a rescue kitten, Jean Pierre now lives The Good Life as seen below basking in the sun beaming through the living room sliding door, overlooking the city of Miami from the 40th floor of high rise condo.

"I'm just average cat living the good life"

His veterinarian is very pleased with his health for an "old man" or senior cat at age 14. Very interesting, notice how calm and relaxed he is at a veterinarian clinic!

"You don't see me stressed at the vet do you? Very relaxed. 9Lives I tell ya."

Our outdoor community cats have many distractions with birds, pedestrians passing by, construction equipment, sprinklers, hecklers...It's a circus out there.  Yet when it comes to meal time, these cats are not deterred. Humans could learn from this fine example. Turn off the cell phones, the television, while eating. Let's turn distracting dining into feline fine dining. Dine like a cat!  If outdoor cats can do it, so can you and your indoor cat.

It's a jungle out there, literally, as Callie and Midnight eat their food while a racoon scampered by into the bushes.  Our lead volunteer keeps an eye on them so they are not disturbed.

We feed all our cats 9Lives^® Daily Essentials Dry Cat food and Super Supper Meaty Pate Wet Cat Food. Yes we especially feed the community cats wet food. At Riverfront Cats we recognize the importance of wet food as part of any cat's eating regimen to aid in healthier digestion and hydration.  They love it! 

You can live well and prospurr by revisiting Morris' video and entering the contest for a chance to win fabulous prizes. And you can help us donate 9Lives^® cat food by tweeting #morrisfeeds.  It's a win-win for all. So savor the flavors, live well and prospurr the Morris way!

Riverfront Cats was compensated for this post. We only share content for products that we use for the care of our cats or information we feel is important to our readers.

Feral & Stray Cat Fundraiser & Prize Giveaway!

Sinbad, licking his lips after yummy dinner.
He may live outdoors but he's well taken care of by dedicated volunteers.

The most important day of the year is here- National FERAL Cat Day!!
(October 16, 2015).

In the past we had fun dressing in costume, and making hilarious music videos all in an effort to raise awareness about the most misunderstood cat--the community, feral cat.

 But this year it's a serious matter.  With kitten season over and the burgeoning of homeless cats, we uncovered other colonies.  In a recent challenge to rescue kittens from several old homes to be demolished to make way for shiny skyscrapers in the heart of downtown Miami, we discovered an established colony of cats.  Some quite old with injuries and illness, other cats were teenagers or younger.

At first we counted 10, then 20, 30..."Houston we have a problem in Miami".  It's time to get in the trenches and fight this battle.  Time to TNR and build new shelters!

But we need funding to spay/neuter 30+ cats and treat any cats for injuries and/or illness--mange, cuts, infections... We also ensure that during construction, the cats are safe and accounted for every evening at feeding time.  Construction sites are dangerous for kittens. We've encountered too many horrific accidents. But it's nearly impossible to relocate feral cats. It's best for them to stay in the neighborhood to minimize danger and injury.  We build shelters and place them nearby (if possible) so mama cats have a safe place to receive food for kittens when volunteers come around.

No cat should suffer, even community, stray and feral cats!

Artemis thrives in the outdoors but she has mange.
It can be treated with your help.
She also needs to get spayed.

 So it's that time again to raise funds and we have not asked for monies since last year--that's a very long time!!! We need to raise at least $700.  For some human cat nip, we are giving away a Cat Prize Pack worth over $200!  For every donation, you will automatically be entered in our drawing to win this prize package for you and your cats!

Prize Pack (Cat not included)

Cat Prize Pack- Valued $220

Martha Stewart cat food jar and matching feeding bowls
Drinkwell water filter
Bubbles
Litter Scooper
Furminator for long hair cat
Book- The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey
Book - Purr Prints of the Heart

One of several house scheduled for demolition

Christine feeds one of the colony cats in downtown Miami

Truck for wrecking crew

First house demolished

Rescued from empty home scheduled for demolition

Scared kittens, rescued from demolition

Christine pets Tabitha, a friendly stray.

No Amount is too SMALL! 

Please use the widget on right column or click on DONATE NOW button.  Contest open to anyone on Planet Earth! Be sure to leave an email address to be entered into the drawing. Contest ends on Wednesday, Oct 28 at 11pm PST. Winner will be selected October 31. Winner will have 48 hours to confirm otherwise another winner will be selected. 

Thank you for caring! Thank you for making a difference for the most misunderstood cats!

Displaced Demoliton Kitties!

These beautiful black beauties are up for adoption are the newest rescue cats from downtown Miami.

All four kittens had an eye infection. However, they were rescued and treated and lucky to be alive where wrecking crews and demolished buildings are daily occurrence overtaken by construction cranes.

Two were adopted. And two are left.

Meet Lila and Lucky!

Lila is a petite 5 month old who is very shy but definitely will warm up to the right person with time, love and care.  She's quiet, curious, and loves being with her brother, Lucky.

Lucky is affectionate, curious, and very playful.  He's an absolute sweetheart. He would make an amazing pet. They both need someone that will give them lots of love and attention.

They have been tested and are up to date with all their shots.

If you can adopt them together since they are very attached to each other, that is ideal.  If not, they each deserving loving homes.
It's always best to adopt two together, especially if they were raised together. 

 If you are interested in providing a permanent loving home for Lila and Lucky, please send us an email to riverfrontcats@yahoo.com.            
                                                

Deliciously Sweet Kittens Need Homes!

Like a candy shop, where you don't know what to choose because everything looks delicious, here we have five sweet-as-candy, too-cute, eight-week-old baby kittens and mother cat  looking for loving homes with great people. All are healthy, tested, vetted and ready to go. They’re guaranteed to make you smile and maybe develop a sweet tooth!

Let's get to know more of each of them:

GIRLS

 

Tootsie is a little adventurer who adores people and is full of courage and purr-sonality. The only black kitty of the litter. How special is she?!

Kit Kat is a sweetheart who adores playing with shoelaces and being held.

Twix  is a doll who loves to chase feathers until nap-in-your-lap time.

Jelly Bean is the smallest little angel and she’s full of baby sweetness and joy.

BOY

Snickers is a darling mama’s boy who loves to play and get special pats.

MOM

   Melissa is a beautiful, petite brown tabby with white markings, huge gold eyes & a big heart.

We know you can't adopt just one, they are too cute! Make sure you pass the word so all the “Candy Kittens” can find moms and dads as sweet as they are

If you are interested in any of them, please contact foster moms Karen/Joan/Alyssa at 305-205-4646, 786-301-0795 and karen90new@gmail.com. Also please share on Facebook, Twitter and email them to friends and contacts!!!

National Black Cat Day!

 NATIONAL BLACK CAT DAY

Today is a day to celebrate and embrace! At Riverfront Cats we adore the beautiful black cats. It’s unfortunate that these beauties are the hardest to find homes for. But trust us, they are sweet, loving, gentle and oh so gorgeous!

Many of you are aware of one of our favorite black kitties, Rogér, Miami Le Chat Noir. We pronounce his name the French way (  Ruh-jhere)  since he is so similar to the Le Chat Noir poster cat. Rogér was once an unlucky black cat who had his throat slashed and jaw injured. But he was determined to make it through and yes, he did! He's had his setbacks along the way of getting ready for adoption but now is the time for someone with a big heart to step up and welcome this wonderful boy into their home. ADOPT a black cat. Adopt Rogér!

 How can you look into those soulful eyes and not want to make him a part of your family? Rogér has progressed to the point of being ready to be a family member in the right home. It is preferable that his new family consist only of humans. Rogér requires daily insulin shots but he is such a pro at this; he takes his shots like a champ! He went into diabetic shock after a surgery but the insulin shots have that all under control. And when it’s time to go for his vet appointments he is 100% on board. He loves to visit the vet’s office. He believes he is there to get extra pets and love. Don’t you want to be the proud parent of a model vet patient? We are so thankful for his foster mom, Karen. She has dedicated endless hours and outpouring of personal funds to get Rogér where he is today. Because of caring people like yourself we have been able to gather donations to contribute to Rogér’s care over the past couple of years. Karen describes Rogér as the Velveteen Rabbit: it has taken quite a transformation for him to become the cat he is today.  Karen told us, 

“it was patience and just offering to play until finally he started watching the toy (his favorite is the long string) in a different way. Then he tried to do something but he had only one move, which was to jump on the string with all four feet, like a frog. Splat! It was very funny and un-cat-like. Later on, he relaxed and began to play like cats play – stalk, pounce, jump, run, snag the string with a claw, take it in his mouth and carry it around. At last, a real cat was at play! Rogér loves to lap sit and likes to rub his head on my chin. He will put his paws around my arm and lie in my lap purring and embracing my arm while my other hand pets or brushes him. That’s his idea of paradise, I think.” 

And if you use social media--this cat is on his way to be FAMOUS! His resemblance to the poster is uncanny and his story is even more amazing!

Those sideway ears!

Let’s remember that there are many other kitties out there that need assistance. Your donations help with the most basic care such as spay and neuter, vaccinations and food. There is no donation that is too small. Even if the only way you can contribute is by forwarding this email to friends and family it will help greatly. Communication is an important component in helping us get care for the homeless cats out there.

Simply click on the DONATE button to the right.

Riverfront Cats has been keeping busy with the feral cat colonies in downtown Miami on SW 11th Street. These furbabies pictured here were rescued from several houses that were demolished. But now the daunting task of TNR of the colony of 20 cats begins. 

 





You may be asking yourself what options are available to help the Riverfront Cats. How about shopping?! We have an Amazon banner on our page and if you click on that it will take you directly to Amazon. Just shop as you normally would and when you purchase your items Riverfront Cats will receive a percentage from Amazon. Any little bit helps and we all shop on Amazon. Don’t forget the holidays are right around the corner! Riverfront Cats also has a wishlist on Amazon if you would like to make a purchase and send us items that way. Amazon will ship directly to us. 



To make a DONATION, simply click the DONATE button on the right column.  No amount is too small.

For queries to adopt Roger, please contact Karen at 305-205-4646 or email at karen90new@gmail.com.