Rescue Stories - East Harlem Cats

Today is the last post on the blog for 2019, and the last of our Rescue Stories series for the year. This is also one of the posts that means the most to me and is near and dear to my heart, and one that I was proud to be a part of. 

Today I bring you the rescue story of the East Harlem Cats. 

Lola on the Road: The Catcade (Chicago, IL)

Welcome back to "Lola on the Road."  I'm back to bring you another cat café I visited on my trip to Chicago in July for Meow Meetup. It was a little tough fitting in a couple of cafés, but I couldn't leave the Windy City without stopping by them. My second stop was at The Catcade. 

Women's Animal Center - America's First Animal Shelter!

Since I started this blog in 2014, many exciting opportunities have come my way. One in particular that I was thrilled with was (and still is!) volunteering for the Jackson Galaxy Project as a writer for their Cat Pawsitive Pro Program. One of the first shelters I worked with was Women's Animal Center (WAC) in Bensalem, PA. 

Happy Howlidays From Petmate!

 Hello, everyone. This is Lexy checking in with some great gift ideas from Petmate for your favorite feline. 

Getting Your Cat to the Vet: The Benefits of a Fear Free Vet Visit

Welcome back to our “Getting Your Cat to the Vet” series. I’m excited to continue my collaboration with Tabitha Kucera of Chirrups and Chatter to bring you the third installment, Why Fear Free is Beneficial for Your Cat. Today we’re discussing some of the benefits and basic concepts of Fear Free, and Tabitha answers some questions including how she uses Fear Free practices with her clients. 

The Spacious and Comfy Cabrio Multi-Functional Cat Carrier by Catit.

I'm always on the hunt for the perfect carrier for Lola. Soft carriers don't work well for her because she's a feline Houdini and has escaped from more than one of them in the car. Once when I was driving through the Central Park Traverse and another time when my friend was driving with her on the Grand Central Parkway. I should add there were a few more close calls, as well. In addition to her ability to flee from her confinement in the PTU (Prisoner Transport Unit, as many cats refer to it), she pees in the carrier. Every.Single.Time. Needless to say, a few soft carriers have been ruined. 

When I saw the Cabrio Carrier by Catit my interest was piqued, and I wondered how Lola would fare in it. When the opportunity came about to work with Catit on a review, I was very excited to give the carrier a try. (Read our tips on how to get your cat to love their carrier.) 

Black Friday Adoption Event at Tabby's Place (2019)

Hello, and Happy Monday! As you know, a couple of weeks ago Mommy attended Chip or Treat at Tabby's Place. It was such a fun event! Today I'm sharing some photos of the kitties that she took that day.  

I also have some exciting news about their Black Friday Adoption Event! Keep reading for all the info!

Chip or Treat 2019 at Tabby's Place

Hello, and Happy Friday! A few weeks ago our mom attended a very fun event and I can't wait to tell you all about it! 

7 Ways to Help a Shelter Cat Without Adopting

Over the years I’ve often heard people say, “I’d love to help cats in shelters, but I just can’t adopt one.” The idea that adopting is the only way to help a shelter cat is a sad misconception. There are so many ways you can make an impact, and below I share seven of my favorite.

Rescue Stories - Nora: Found Her Forever Home in Brooklyn After Being Found Bleeding on the Streets of Iran

Hello, and Happy Friday! I am super excited to share today's rescue story with you! And it's our first story about a dog! We've been very good friends with Kai and his brother George on Facebook for a very long time, and our moms are friends, too. Kai and George's mom and dad adopted Nora, who was badly injured in Iran. Nora is a lucky dog - almost as lucky as her family is. I'm proud to introduce you to Nora!

Lola

Your Cat Will Love Being Groomed With HandsOn Gloves

I have two cats, but with all the fur dust bunnies on my hardwood floors (and furniture), you may think four or five live here. I can never understand how that much fur can come off of two short haired cats! One way to keep on top of the hair situation is to be sure I groom the girls regularly. 

Lola and Lexy are fairly easy to groom. I have to follow Lexy around the apartment a bit, but as long as I'm using a brush she likes she's okay with it. Lola likes a different brush, of course, so I often have to switch off or only groom one of them at a time. Thanks to the HandsOn Glove I can give both girls a good brushing while petting them.

Lola on the Road: The Windy Kitty Cat Café (Chicago, IL)

Welcome back to "Lola on the Road." After a little hiatus I'm back to bring you another cat café. In July I met up with a group of my great blogging friends for a weekend in Chicago to attend Meow Meetup, and I made sure I had time to squeeze in a trip to a cat café (or two! Stay tuned!) My first stop in Chicago was to The Windy Kitty Cat Café. 

Rescue Stories - Calvin: Grateful to the Ottawa Humane Society for Rescuing Him

Hello, and Happy Wednesday! We have another rescue story to share with you. Today our good friend Calvin, of Oliver and Calvin is sharing his story in his own words. We've been friends with Calvin, his brother Oliver, and their mom for many years on Facebook. We're so proud that he wanted to share his story with our readers.  I'm sure you'll love reading it. Okay, take it away, Calvin! 

Lola

It was my first day out in the adoption room at The Humane Society. I’d been here for about 6 weeks. Some nice people grabbed me off the street. I never knew any other place, and for sure didn’t know what home was. 

Give a Cat From Tabby's Place Their Forever Home -#RememberMeThursday 2019

Today is a very important day in the rescue/advocacy world. Today is Remember Me Thursday, a day where light is shined on and attention is brought to pets in rescues and shelters waiting for their forever homes. It stresses the importance of animal adoption because 2.7 million orphan shelter pets lose their lives without ever finding their forever homes. Alarmingly, only 30% of household pets in the U.S. come from rescue facilities. Only 30%! That number is disturbing to me. There are so many shelters and rescues in the country that are at full capacity, and cannot take in another animal. That means that animal will most likely remain on the street. 

Take the #RememberMeThursday Challenge

Hello, and Happy Friday! Would you like to win cash and prizes for your favorite shelter or rescue? I knew you would! I have all the details for you below. 

Tiki Cat Stix and Broths Will Transform Your Cats Meals - Review and Giveaway

Hello, everyone. This is Lexy checking in with a review of something I think your cats will think is absolutely delish. When we were contacted by the folks at Tiki Cat, I couldn't resist accepting their offer to tell you about their Stix and Broths. I'm glad I did because they were a hit here at the White House. 

Save the Date! Remember Me Thursday® is September 26, 2019!

Hello, and Happy Thursday Purrsday! We've got some exciting news to share with you today that's got Lexy and me purring very loudly! Can you guess what it is? Never mind, I'll just tell you. We're proud to be partnering once again with Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) to host the Remember Me Thursday Blog Hop! 

Hanging Out on Our New Couch

Hello, and Happy Friday! Several months ago I posted about saying goodbye to our old couch. I really loved that couch and wasn't too sure how I would feel about the new one that was coming. 

Well, I've been trying it out, and it's not so bad. Lately I've been hanging out on the back of it. 

Zen Clipper - The Worry Free Nail Trimmer (Review and Giveaway)

Living indoors doesn’t give a cat many opportunities to naturally shorten their nails, so they depend on their people to help them manage their “manicures.” Trimmed nails are not only more comfortable for your cat, but it’s also more comfortable for you as well. 

Getting Your Cat to the Vet: Fear-Free Travel

Welcome back to our “Getting Your Cat to the Vet” series. I’m excited to continue my collaboration with Tabitha Kucera of Chirrups and Chatter to bring you the second installment, Fear Free Travel.

Meow Meetup Chicago 2019 - A Fabulous Weekend!

Much to the delight of cat lovers, cat-themed conventions are popping up all over. I've had a lot of fun attending Cat Camp NYC three times, as well as Catsbury Park Cat Convention in NJ. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending Meow Meet Up Chicago with a group of my great cat blogging friends. Friends, cats, cat-themed merchandise, cat-centric presentations - what could make for a better weekend? 

Getting Your Cat to the Vet: Your Cat CAN Love Their Carrier!

As many of you know, I volunteer for the Jackson Galaxy Cat Pawsitive Program as a writer. I’ve met many wonderful people through the program, including Tabitha Kucera. Tabitha and I spent a weekend volunteering for CPP at Cat Camp NYC this past June and I had a ball talking with her. Tabitha is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant as well as a Fear Free and Low Stress Handling Certified Registered Veterinary Technician. After picking her brain about different topics, I was thrilled when she agreed to partner with me for a series of posts on the blog.

Your Cat Can Love Their Carrier

Welcome to the first post in the “Getting Your Cat to the Vet” series. Today we’re focusing on carrier training. Your cat can love their carrier, and here’s how. 

ökocause4paws Litter Donation Program

Hello, and Happy Wednesday! It's been some time since I've taken over the blog from Mommy, and I've got something fab to share with you today! 

We're helping our friends at ökocat support adoption by spreading the word about their ökocause4paws Litter Donation Program. 

Your Cats Will Love The Catit® LED Flower Fountain! Review and Giveaway

I'm a big fan of Catit products, and so are Lola and Lexy. We've been lucky to review the Catit Oasis (which was one of our very first reviews - hopefully you can see the improvement since then!) and the Catit Lounge Scratcher, which were hits with the girls. (There are also a couple of other Catit products around the house that I've either purchased or won in giveaways). A few years ago I was also honored with an invitation to the Black Cat Soiree at their Catit Playground here in NYC, and it was a pleasure to get to meet some of the people from behind the scenes. 

Rescue Stories - Chance: He was Shot in the Jaw, But His Rescuer Never Gave Up on Him

I've been Facebook friends with Pam for many years now. We met through our cats when Facebook had a very active and thriving cat community. Pam is a very caring person, cat advocate, and feral cat caretaker. She's a wonderful cat mom who has a special needs cat who has seizures. She also has a lovely son, who is an emerging cat man! I'm so happy she chose to share Chance's story for the blog, which I'm sure you'll enjoy reading. Thanks for saving him, Pam! 

Dawn

March 23, 2018 was an unusually warm day, and I’m so thankful that is was. Normally this time of year we keep the overhead doors in the warehouse at work closed, but because it was a warm day the big doors were open. That’s how my friend, Robert, was able to see the new visitor that came by that afternoon.

It all started with a text - “You need to come back here now. New cat”. I was up in the front office at my desk, but as soon as I got that text I went rushing to the back of the warehouse. You see, I have a small feral colony there at my job and my friend, Robert, knows what they all look like. When he saw this new cat stroll by, he knew that I would want to see it.

Boxiecat - The Healthier Clay Litter (Review and Giveaway)

One of my goals here at Lola The Rescued Cat is to bring information to our readers that can help their cats live happier lives. (Well, not only the cats but their people, too!) One way I accomplish this is by doing product reviews so pet parents get a glimpse of different things that are out there that their cat may enjoy. One thing I tend to shy away from reviewing, though, is litter. You may know how picky Lola and Lexy are about food, but they're even pickier about their litter. 

Rescue Stories: Willis - A Sick Kitten Found on the Side of the Road

We’re excited to share another rescue story that’s very special to us. Willis and his family, who we met through our Facebook pages, have been our good friends since 2011. Mommy went to MI over the summer and met Willis and his sisters (oh, and his mom, too), and had the best time ever. Willis is definitely a sweet boy. Without further ado, meet our friend, Willis!

Lola

A friend of mine was driving home on a dark road one night in June of 2008, when her headlights caught something sitting in the road. She got out of her car to see what it was and found a little black kitten just begging for help.

Meow Meet Up 2019 - The Midwest's Premiere Cat Convention

I love attending cat conventions. There’s just something about being in a large space filled with cat lovers that makes my soul happy. I’ve been lucky to have been able to attend Cat Camp three times, as well as Catsbury Park and I’ve always enjoyed myself immensely (and I always come home with bags of goodies! I’m a sucker for cat-themed merchandise.) 

A group of cat blogging friends, some of my favorite friends in the world, decided we wanted to get together again so we’ve made plans to meet in Chicago to attend Meow Meet Up. When I was contacted by Lauren Meile, founder of The Catnip Times (a blog I absolutely love!) and Meow Meet Up to talk to my readers about the event, I was more than happy to oblige. I had a lovely conversation with her on the phone as we shared our passion for cats, rescue, and blogging. Her enthusiasm for the event was contagious! (Stay tuned till the end, because there’s a special ticket offer for Lola The Rescued Cat readers!) 

Three Reasons Your Cat Needs Wet Food in Their Diet

This post is sponsored by Purina. We received coupons for free 12-packs of Fancy Feast for ourselves and a giveaway to discuss the importance of wet food in a cat's diet. Purina is not responsible for the contents of this post. Lola The Rescued Cat only shares information we feel will be of interest to our readers. 

Cat Writers’ 25^th Anniversary Conference

Purina has been a sponsor and supporter of Cat Writers’ Association since its inception in 1992, so I was thrilled that not only would they be presenting at the 25^th Anniversary Conference, but they would also have a booth with staff available to speak one-on-one with members.

Cat World Domination Day 2019

Hello, and Happy Monday! We're celebrating Cat World Domination Day with our pal, Summer. We cats know that we dominate our people's lives, and today is the day we celebrate it! 

Catnip Nation Wins Best Documentary!

If you've been following my blog for a while, you've most likely read the posts about the documentary film Catnip Nation. I met Tina Traster, Producer and Director of the film, at Cat Camp NYC in 2017. I had a very enjoyable conversation with Tina which led to her contributing not only updates about the film but educational, thought-provoking articles about feral cat communities as well.

Say Goodbye to Pet Odors With Pet House by One Fur All

I hate it when my house stinks. I don't like to admit it, but with two cats in a one bedroom apartment, it can happen. When company walks in the last thing I want them to think is "It smells like animals live here." I've tried many products, including room sprays and fabric fresheners, but they don't really eliminate pet odors, they just cover them up temporarily. I also worry about the effect the chemicals in these products may have on Lola nd Lexy.

I was happy to learn about the pet safe Pet House products by One Fur All.  Products that are safe for Lola and Lexy and will make my house smell good? My fingers were crossed and I hoped they worked! 

Smiling Paws Pets' Expandable Pet Carrier

When Smiling Paws Pets reached out to me to ask if I'd be interested in checking out their new expandable carrier, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I've enjoyed working with them in the past and was excited to work with them again. 

A Shelter Cat Could Change Your Life - Adopt-A-Cat Month

Rescue and advocacy is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I've worked very hard since starting this blog in 2014 to be a voice for the voiceless to help save animals. June is Adopt-a-Cat Month, the perfect time to talk about adoption.

Lola on the Road: Mauhaus Cat Cafe and Lounge (Maplewood, MO)

Welcome back to "Lola on the Road". I'm having a blast continuing my cat cafe tour in 2019, and I'm not slowing down yet! Coffee and cats! Two of my favorite things in the world. If you've missed any of the previous posts you can catch up on all of the fabulous places I've visited here. 

I'm sure you all will love reading about my next stop as much as I loved being there. Today I'm happy to share with you the fabulous Mauhaus Cat Café and Lounge in Maplewood, MO

Thankful Thursday - Our Muse Medallion and a Special Gift From a Special Friend

Lola: Hello, and Happy Thankful Thursday! We’ve got something special to be thankful for today, and it’s also something exciting to share with you! 

Save Your Furniture With Clawguard Furniture Shields - Review, Giveaway, and Interview With Founder Kevin Dixon

I’ve been fairly lucky with destructive scratching with Lexy and Lola. I say “fairly” because, at the end of the day, they are cats. I remember the fits my mother threw when our cats would scratch the furniture as well as I remember shredded couch arms. Compared to that, I am fairly lucky today. Lexy and Lola will scratch the furniture from time to time, even with scratchers nearby. I'm frequently redirecting them.

Jackson Galaxy's Cat Camp 2019 Returns to NYC!

I love cat themed conventions! An event with hundreds of happy, cat loving people is filled with amazing, positive energy. For a writer, the opportunities for connections and inspirations are boundless. I attended the inaugural Cat Camp NYC in March of 2017 with friends Laura Zaccardi of Squeedunk Cats and Deb Barnes of Zee and Zoey and had the best time! I had been blogging for a little over two years at that point and still wasn't comfortable "putting myself out there." I pushed myself during the event and as a result, I made wonderful connections with wonderful people. 

Throwback Thursday - Lexy and her Basket

Hello, everyone. I'm here today for Throwback Thursday. Today's photos go back to May, June, and July of 2016. Mother had a basket on top of a storage unit in the kitchen, and I used to just love to squeeze in there. 

Thankful Thursday - A Special Gift

Our regular readers may know that I volunteer for the Jackon Galaxy Project's Cat Pawsitive Pro Program by writing updates on the shelters that participate in the program.

Book Review: I Am Not A Skunk by Ellen J. Pilch

Not long ago I reviewed Prancie's Prayer by Ellen J. Pilch, which I just adored. Today I'm very happy to bring you her second book, I Am Not A Skunk. 

Lola on the Road: Orlando Cat Cafe (Clermont, FL)

Welcome to a new post in our series "Lola on the Road." It was so much fun sharing my experiences with you in 2018  and I'm looking forward to continuing into 2019. I'm proud to announce that "Lola on the Road" is now an award-winning series! I'm over the moon that it has earned me a Certificate of Excellence in the Cat Writers' Association Annual Communication Contest. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has responded so positively to this series and has asked for more. As long as I'm able to travel to cafés I'll continue to share them with you. Coffee and cats! Two of my favorite things in the world. If you've missed any of the previous posts you can catch up on all of the fabulous places I've visited here. 

Today I'm happy to bring you a wonderful café I'm sure you'll love reading about - Orlando Cat Cafe in Clermont, FL. 

It's Lexy's 9th Gotcha Day! And We're Raising Money for HVHS!

Nine years ago today, I adopted Lexy. She has always been the one to write about her gotcha day (you can read about it here and here), Her posts landed her a spot in the finals in the BlogPaws Nose to Nose Awards in the Best Written Pet Blog Post category, and she recently won a Certificate of Excellence in the Cat Writers’ Association Annual Communication Contest. (That’s my girl!) This year (with Lexy’s permission, of course) I decided to write about how special this day is to me. 

Throwback Thursday - A Little Kiss in the Window

Hello, and Happy Thursday Purrsday! I have a cute little throwback for you today. 

Book Review: Prancie's Prayer by Ellen J. Pilch. A Purrfect Gift For Cat Lovers

I was very excited when I heard that Ellen J. Pilch of 15 and Meowing published a children’s book. I love her blog, her writing style, and her creativity. I couldn’t wait to read it, and I wasn’t disappointed. 

We're Winners! The 2018 CWA Annual Contest Was a Big Surprise For Us!

When I was writing our look back at 2018 I was pleasantly surprised at just how much content I was able to generate last year. I think that quite often bloggers crank out content without realizing they’re writing top notch posts. Sometimes we’re on autopilot, with the goal of sticking to our schedule or making sure we’re getting up a post on a weekly basis. Well, at least that’s how it is for me.

Coffee With Cupcake and Sunday Selfies with Sometimes Cats Herd You

Hello, and Happy Sunday! Oh boy, do we have a surprise for you! Guess where Mommy was yesterday? Go ahead, take a guess. Okay, never mind, I'll just tell you. She was at Starbucks in Orlando with Cupcake, one of the stars of Sometimes Cats Herd You and Cats Going Places! (We also have some guest selfies, so you'll want to make sure to read to the end!)

Our Visit With Moo

Hello, and Happy Wednesday! Lexy and I had a visitor recently. Can you guess who it was? Never mind, let me just tell you. It was Moo! Our good pal Joanie over at 15 and Meowing sent her cow traveling all over the country to visit different bloggers and she made a stop at our house! Let's take a look at her visit. 

Moo did some bird watching with us. Here she is in the kitchen window with Lexy.

Selfie Sunday With Moo

Hello, and Happy Sunday! Lexy and I are so excited to be hopping on Selfie Sunday this week. We really miss seeing what all of our friends are up to. Hopefully, when Mommy gets back from Global Pet Expo we'll be able to blog more often and visit friends. 

Okay, onto the selfies! This week Lexy and I took our selfies with Moo. 

Thankful Thursday - Sun Puddles

Hello, and Happy Thursday Purrsday! We're joining Brian's Thankful Thursday blog hop today. 

You know what I'm thankful for today? Sun puddles!