Caring For Creatures

09/02/2025

The stalk...

Bonded siblings Honey and Hazel found their perfect forever home.

09/02/2025

Mason-ry

I've spotlighted some of the Feline Leukemia cats here before. In the 4+ years I've had the privilege of volunteering here, the FeLV room cats are the sweetest of the bunch (and there's some heavy competition, believe me!) with not a unfriendly kitty in the bunch. One of the more recent residents there is Mason. From the first moment I met him in his condo I could tell he was going to fit right in. Head bumps and pushing himself into my petting hands were in evidence right away. Sometimes a cat that has been very happy to see you when they were restricted to their condo will be suddenly shy and evasive once gaining their freedom. When Mason was eventually let out of his condo the only behavior change was that he was now free to come to me for more pets.

Mason also has an intense stare. I can almost feel he's trying to memorize my face. I confess that I've memorized his. Such a handsome boy like him will stick in my brain for a very long time. In the meanwhile, I'm happy to get my weekly face-to-face reminders.

Scott, CFC Volunteer

https://caringforcreatures.org/cats/mason/

09/01/2025

More from Joan in her new home!
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19XbM4yPEH/

Ed, our hearts are so full!! You are exactly what this little girl needed.❤️

Mountain View Wood Works & 3D Printing

09/01/2025

Thank you Ed for adopting Joan and for giving her a life full of adventure and love!

Mountain View Wood Works & 3D Printing

08/31/2025

APPLE (7/22/24) Arrived 3/29/25

Apple is a darling cat – even if she didn’t show it in the beginning. She is all black, shiny and sleek with enormous yellow eyes. I couldn’t see much yellow the first time we met due to her equally enormous pupils. She was terrified and shaking, squished behind her litter box. I could touch her with one finger through the cage and she didn’t offer up even so much as a hiss. Poor little baby. I settled for sitting in her room, just talking to her and she finally closed her eyes and fell asleep, chin resting on her litter box edge. I discovered quickly that she is really good at freezing in place, eyes open, no expression. Like she’s trying to camouflage herself. I really wonder what her situation was like at the colony. If I left her something to nibble on, she would take it lightning fast, providing I wasn’t watching. She must have gotten very adept at keeping out of sight in her last setting. She never blinks or takes her eyes off you. I was fairly sure I could touch her without getting smacked, but I needed her to trust me first. I spent a lot of time in front of her, sitting quietly.

The next visit, I casually walked in, said hello, opened her condo door and offered her my hand. She gave me a tiny hiss and closed her eyes. I took this as my green light. She kept her eyes shut as I rubbed her head. No signs of enjoyment, but she didn’t move away! I high-fived Plum on the way out…even she seemed surprised that her neighbor was cool with my affection.

When I saw Apple a few days later, I swear she remembered me, and we started where we left off. She loosened up quickly and I could finally see the gold in her big eyes. I left her door open the whole time I worked with Plum and Cherry and she sat up, perky, with her tail wrapped around her legs – a happy cat posture! Soon I was able pet her nose to tail, feed her treats from my hand and hear her purr as she ate a little bit of her breakfast. Many cats have that in common – once they trust you, they will eat with you standing by. This behavior is such a heartwarming thing to witness. Now she will welcome me with a chirp when I come in and come forward for pets. Sometimes she hisses for old-time’s sake, but we both know she doesn’t mean it. She’s still timid, but we are taking it slowly. She has a very, very cute personality - SWEET AS APPLE PIE!

Update: By July, Apple was a whole different cat. She regularly head-bumped me and meowed for attention - clearly ready for her next piece of the pie. She moved into the Scratching Post and now regularly hangs out ON TOP of her L1 condo, curled up with Casey. Go Apple!

Maddy, CFC Volunteer

08/30/2025

Look at this happy boy! Titan was all smiles on his hiking trip today with Stephanie. Checking all the boxes, Titan is waiting for his forever home. Come meet him and find out why he's so perfect.

https://caringforcreatures.org/dogs/titan/

08/29/2025

A special tribute to Oliver...

To say goodbye to our precious, precious boy is like a world without air. We believe we rescued him around a year of age so we can hardly remember a time without his loving, wise, intuitive & majestic presence. For those who remember Neko, we believe they were related & came from the same grocery store parking lot. It is hard to believe now, but Oliver began his life at CFC shy & reserved. It took some time for him to share the rainbow of love & wisdom that resided in his heart. CFC's staff & volunteers helped by showing him grace, providing stability & appreciating his unique delivery of love. Once he was cemented into his confidence, he provided a blanket of protection for Neko in L1, demonstrating every day that life was safe and how to enjoy every single moment even when you seem invisible from fear. That a pinpoint of light can pierce that darkness with a gentleness of spirit that penetrates hearts & breathes life into a space. Over time his eyes revealed more of the old soul he was. Seemingly as a reflecting pool, showing you the many facets of yourself. It only took a moment in his presence for him to communicate to you that pinpoint of light that he saw deep within your soul that shines the brightest. Making sure you knew good & well your value by giving you a reassuring, strong & loving head butt. He wasn't always as vocal as recently. He had a true gift for demonstrating that quiet presence can be powerful in making those around you feel safe & secure. That's what he did for all of his roommates. He provided that security - demonstrating love & friendship to all. Hank, another old soul, benefited greatly from his kind & gentle tutelage.

You will forever live in our hearts Oliver. Enjoy running the blooming fields of flowers with Neko & give him our love! We miss you both so very much...❤❤❤

Ed & Candy
CFC Volunteers

08/29/2025

Please join us! Caring For Creatures will be at this year's Creatures Great and Small Festival with some of our adoptable pups! Follow us on Facebook for future updates.

08/28/2025

Abu...

08/28/2025

SPLISH SPLASH

“I was lickin’ my paw. But not just on Saturday night.” (Did Bobby Darin have a cat?)

Anyone who’s been a cat’s guardian knows how it drinks: a quick motion of its curled rough tongue that directs water into its mouth. But a very few cats drink another way. They dip a front paw into the water bowl and quickly lick the water off that paw.

Abu does that. (See the video.) Sweet departed Suzie B did it. While no one knows why cats do this, there are some theories.

One is that the bowl is too small. But CFC water bowls are quite wide.
Maybe they’re just playing. Splashing water may be their way of interacting, exploring, and engaging in play. But Abu seems intent on getting a drink.
Finally, there’s ‘whisker fatigue.’ Cats’ whiskers are highly sensitive and can become irritated when they repeatedly touch the sides of a deep or narrow water bowl. Again, CFC bowls are big. But look at Abu’s magnificent whiskers. One volunteer called him Salvador Dalí because his whiskers are so long. (Dalí’s pet ocelot was named Babou.)

Perhaps Abu’s long, sensitive whiskers bent backward when drinking are uncomfortable or even painful. If so, maybe he’s trying to dodge discomfort by avoiding the bowl before consuming its water. If only he could talk…

Steve, CFC Volunteer

https://caringforcreatures.org/cats/abu/

08/28/2025

Stevie’s 3 month update!

After a rough start to life, Stevie has found all the love and comfort he deserves:

Stevie has been great! He is extremely playful and curious, but also very cuddly and sweet. Our smaller, younger male cat Bean is very timid and taking some time to adjust, but the two of them have wild zoomies together and lots of playful batting and butt-wiggly pouncing at each other.

There have been no issues at all with Stevie. He uses the litter box perfectly, and seems to understand and generally respect the other two cats' personalities. Bean did have some issues with nervous/territorial spraying. The vet agreed it was just anxiety, and the behavior seems to be improving after getting some Feliway diffusers and working to provide more safe spaces and another feeding area.

We decided to install some wall-mounted cat furniture, which Stevie began playing on literally minutes after installation. He loves climbing all the way up to the ceiling. He also loves to carry toys in his mouth. He'll go all the way up to grab a toy and scramble back down with it in his mouth. He especially loves wand toys and will also drag them off if he can, which leads to a parade of cats chasing the dragging wand down my hallway.

Stevie is truly a joy to have around. Thanks again for all of your help!

-Tara, Dustin, Nova, Kitten, Bean, and Stevie

08/27/2025

Our Lady of Peace Retirement Community honored the big guy yesterday. You're looking good Oscar! ❤️

Happy National Dog’s Day to our sweet Oscar!!!