Cat of the Week: Walter

Walter is a handsome tabby and white cat with awesome green eyes and a splash of caramel around his mouth. He's very independent which some people might mistake as being shy. He does enjoy attention and being petted even though he doesn't actively seek it out. Walter enjoys exploring the Goathouse grounds and lounging around the studio building with the other cats. He's always alert and interested in whatever is going on and has the most easy-going personality you could wish for. Come meet Walter soon! Approx DOB: January 2007.

See more photos of Walter.

Cat of the Week: Aragorn

Aragorn seems to know that black cats have to try harder to make people notice and fall in love with them. He's got this "eager to please" look that will melt your heart. And if you accidently walk by without giving him a pat, he'll reach out and grab you as if to say, "Hey, don't forget about me!" Aragorn came to the refuge in the fall of 2009 as part of a litter of five lovable kittens; his siblings have gone to homes and now it's his turn!

If you're looking for a playful and super friendly cat who is missing the "aloof cat" gene, look no further. Aragorn is ready and willing to bring lots of unconditional love and fun to your home.

See more photos of Aragorn.

Happy Tails: Sol

A sweet note from Sol's new family:

Hi Siglinda and Goathouse volunteers,

It's Hannah and John, Sol's new parents. It's been about a month since Sol came home with us, and it's been so wonderful. He adjusted very smoothly, and now all he wants to do is be held all the time. He kneads like crazy, purrs, cleans himself, and is very delightful. He hops off of his favorite chair and greets me when I get home from work, sleeps on me while I talk to my mom on the phone, and enjoys belly rubs from John. We love him very much, and he sends his love to you.

Thank you so much for everything you did for Sol, and for everything you do for the cats living with you now!

Warm spring wishes,
Hannah and John

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." -Mother Teresa

Happy Tails: Apollo and Cindy

A couple more photos of Gus (formerly Apollo) and Mimi (formerly Cindy). Happy kitties!

Cat of the Week: Billy Bob

If you look up "lap cat" in the dictionary, you just might find a photo of Billy Bob. What a lover boy he is. We often see him making a beeline for anyone who sits down and has a vacant lap! This friendly guy really appreciates his human friends especially when they give him lots of attention and petting. Billy Bob would love to find a safe indoor/outdoor home as he also enjoys getting some fresh air and sunshine each day. Come meet this handsome and affectionate cat soon!


See more photos of Billy Bob.

Cat Coat Color Chart

We came across this poster a few weeks ago and really enjoyed perusing all the different cat coat colors. It's a must read for any cat lover or shelter! Earthpetsorganic blog describes it perfectly:

• Cat lovers have got to check out this amazing Guide to Housecat Coat Colors and Patterns poster. It shows an enormous range of housecat coat and eye colors and patterns. The chart includes groupings of colors and patterns along with lots of fascinating tidbits about the inheritance of these traits. It’s quite a big chart (click on the image to see it full size), so it may take you a while to really pore over it but you’ll be fascinated.

And we agree, every vet should hang it in their waiting room! Click the image to make it bigger - then click it again to make it even bigger:



We enjoyed learning about the the cats who have a white ticked undercoat. One of our teenage kitties, Tobia, is a "black smoke" cat - his fur is black, but bright white underneath, and he has black rings around his tail. It's very unusual!

What kind of coat does your cat have?

On the Stump

There's a little tree stump on the Goathouse grounds next to the Kitten Cabana, and it seems to be a popular hang-out for the kitties. Maybe they know that if they sit on the stump, they'll get their picture taken?!

From top to bottom: Margaret, Lucinda, Rosalee, and Henrietta.

Coming soon: Heart2Home magazine

Heart2Home Magazine debuts March 2011!

Heart2Home is the Triangle's first and only magazine devoted to animals (and their humans).

Heart2Home's mission: Save the lives of homeless animals through adoption from shelters into loving, responsible homes. Heart2Home features a pictorial directory of Triangle animals needing homes. Heart2Home also has articles on animal wellness, behavior and lifestyle.

Cat of the Week: Aster

Aster came to the refuge in the winter of 2008 and he's starting to wonder when someone is going to notice him. He knows he's a handsome and fun-loving guy, and while he isn't the kind of cat who comes bounding up to jump in your lap, he is a friendly fellow who enjoys attention and petting. Aster would be happy to go to a home with other kitties as he really loves playing and cuddling with his cat friends. He has high hopes that this will be the year when someone will pick him out of the crowd and fall in love with him!

See more photos of Aster.

Happy Tails: Cindy & Apollo

Anna Kate and Jonathan sent us an update on the 2 kittens they adopted last year from the Refuge:

Mimi (formerly Cindy) has really settled in here. She can often be found lying in the sun with all 4 paws straight up in the air, just enjoying herself. She is still very calm, but now LOVES to snuggle and makes it her mission that no lap in our house will ever be empty. She sometimes has to claim her lap space quickly with Gus, but luckily there are two laps to go around. My only mission with her now is to slim her down a bit. She was stealing Gus' food, and is not nearly as active, but we are working on that. Thankfully she loves to chase the laser pointer so she is getting nightly workouts :0).
Gus (formerly Apollo) is still extraordinary. His energy is boundless, only to be matched by his desire to be with you at all times. I've started training him in order to channel some of his energy...he can now come to you, jump up/jump down, sit, and sit up on his back legs. Not bad for 3 weeks of training. We are now working on twirling. Pretty soon, he'll be ready for the circus (ha). We have to make sure he has plenty of exercise so that we can all sleep at night. Once he settles down for the night, he sleeps right next to me.