A RESCUE CATTERY LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN
Yesterday, we visited an amazing rescue organization called Animalkind, Inc. in Hudson, NY. Katrin, the woman behind Animalkind, Inc., and her devoted staff pull cats from death row, manage feral cat colonies and rehabilitate injured cats to adopt out every furry soul they can. This shelter is unique. A house rather than a facility, every amenity is provided for the cats, the majority of whom roam free. Let me just say, being surrounded by more than 100 free-roaming felines in one room is quite an experience, one you have to see to believe.
What I found most special about AnimalKind, Inc. is the way the cats’ relationships and emotional health were considered and preserved. If a cat came from an irresponsible barn situation, Animalkind, Inc. requests that a responsible barn situation be provided. If two cats have bonded at the house or prior to rescue, they adopt the pair together. Impressed by the sensitivity to cat relationships especially, I bought an extra cat carrier and went with an open mind. Two were certainly a possibility if both were a fit.
If you can’t see the video above, visit “Adopting a Kitten …Â or Two!” on YouTube. And visit AnimalKind, Inc. for more about their cat rescues.
OUR NEW KITTENS!
The minute we picked these two kittens up, it was clear to every one present that we were meant to be a family. For us, it was important to know that they had been raised with dogs and, at four months of age, they were young enough to acclimate well in a household where good inter-animal relationships are key. For the staff at the shelter, it was a relief to know that this pair would never be split up. So … making our final choice with confidence, Tim and I are proud to introduce our latest family members, Jackson and Jed!
LITTLE MIRACLES
Brothers from the same mother, our kittens have different fathers. While I never knew it was possible, the scientific term for this is “superfetation.” As it turns out, roughly 10% of female cats go into heat between the third and sixth week of pregnancy and, although these cycles are rarely fertile, it is possible for a cat to carry fetuses of different ages resulting from separate matings. Typically, the youngest litter is delivered prematurely along with the oldest and they are not able to survive. In extremely rare cases, the youngest kittens remain in-utero until fully developed. (For more on this, visit “Tom Cats and Kittens”) I guess we have ourselves some rare and miraculous little super beasties. Against scientific odds, these guys found a way to be together and that’s how they’ll remain.
MEET JED
Loving up our new babies until deep into the night, I didn’t look carefully at the adoption contract until today. Noting birthdates that didn’t align with our cats’ history, I counted back from the vaccination records. Guess what…
The youngest, orangiest kitten who jumped out of the carrier and plopped right into my lap was born on October 28th, my birthday! I named him Jed. While my first choice was Carter, this little guy has a hip and cool attitude with more confidence than the name Carter reflects. Oddly, he responded to Jed immediately. While I thought this strange at first, the adoption contract reveals why. His original name was Red.
MEET JACKSON
Jackson, originally named Sunshine, is listed as being born on October 7, 2009. His little white mitts and the white under his chin differentiate him from his younger brother. While Tim and I liked the name Jackson from the start, it became readily apparent that this name suited this kitten. The minute he entered into his new home, he bounced around the room ready for action. This guy is totally Tim’s kind of cat. Affectionate, of course, but also happy to play all the live-long day. That Tim picked this name – and the cat who picked Tim settled into it nicely – feels absolutely perfect.
There will be many new adventures in this household, to be sure. Keep your eyes peeled.
Great job. I'm an editor, working on a promotional film for animal kind right now. Good stuff.
Danny Pickering
Hi Danny,
Thank you for both the compliment and for working to promote Animalkind. I can't wait to see your film! Be sure to drop a comment about where we can see it.
Did you see our new kitties? We put video up of the entire adoption process… including lots of cuddles. http://bit.ly/bfFheH<p class="ubervu_reaction_link">via uberVU
RT @KimClune Did you see our new kitties? We put video up of the entire adoption process… including lots of cuddles. http://bit.ly/bfFheH<p class="ubervu_reaction_link">via uberVU
Hey guys! How did you settle on only two?? 🙂
Great story and video. They are adorable. How is Shamus adapting to the additions?
Talk to you soon
Mike,
It was so hard to leave Tino and Mashmallow behind but the choice was far more simple than one would anticipate. We know our dogs and what would work with them. We needed cats that were already bonded and working as a single unit rather than introducing two new critters who may or may not gel well together, let alone creating a four way animal house of ill will.
Overall, the dogs and cats are doing very well. Most amazing is Emmett ? which surprised us completely. He treats the kittens like pups with gentle nose taps. He nudges them up the stairs and lets them rub their heads on his snout. Shamus, on the other hand, got his first whack in the face today. He?s totally offended. He's just too big to pounce and play like they do without making them nervous.
Truth be told, there seems to be a bit of rivalry on the part of Shamus. He dissed us the night we brought Jackson and Jed home, going to bed without us two hours early, soaking our bed with his snowy belly, and refusing to move when it was time for us to get in. He needed gobs of reassurance that he is still top dog. He?s pretty gentle and sedate with the kittens but he's just feeling a little jealous. We've seen a lift in his spirits since yesterday so I'm sure he?ll get over it soon. If that's all we have to overcome, I think we did pretty well.
I love this video, I am one of the people that fosters for animal kind and we very rarely get to see what happens to the cats and kittens after we are done with our job of fostering. I have not personally fostered the 2 kittens you adopted but have had many mothers and their litters in my house. Hopefully this will get people educated and spread the word that all these animals are in desperate need of loving homes. Animal kind is a wonderful organization, if it wasn't for Katrin and her staff alot of these animals would not get a second chance. They are in great need of donations and loving families so any publicity for them is helpful. Enjoy your 2 new additions, it's almost kitten time again. We will again be getting our spare room ready to house another addition of playful, loving mommies and kittens looking for homes.
Hi Jessica,
Tim and I understand what you mean about rarely hearing about fosters or adoptees. My husband is one of the founding members of AnimaLovers.org, a non-profit that rescues and rehomes dogs and cats, and he has been the dog adoption director for more than 10 years. We have fostered several dogs during that time feel very lucky when new owners send updates about the guys we've been able to help.
I hope Tino gets adopted soon. His chin snuggling is so darling, as is the rolling about of Marshmallow every time you pet her. I'll be watching Animalkind's Facebook page for updates on them, Blossom, Glad, Julia, Huggie, Rainy and all the other beautiful little souls we met. They're all on our minds.
I hope you'll sign up for our email updates (top right) so you can watch our babies grow up. Their adventures are going to be a riot to chronicle!
Thanks for everything you do,
Kim