Friends of Greybeard, Inc.

21/06/2024

Sweet senior flame point needs retirement home. Only 10 years old - wants quiet home! Already neutered.

Alvin is a very sweet older kitty who came into the shelter this week as his elderly owner could no longer care for him.

Alvin is 10 years old, very quiet and clean and would love a very quiet home where he can have the same lifestyle he is used to.

We are looking for someone with no kids and maybe just 1 other cat. No dogs as we think that would be too much for him. He does get along with other cats and is kenneled with another kitty here at the shelter.

He is already neutered so he can go home as soon as his family chooses him!

Please share!

20/06/2024

13/06/2024

05/06/2024

Proper care and nutrition and keeping the cat indoors will keep them healthy and give them a long normal life.

Humane Education: FIV in cats 🐈
FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) is a lifelong disease that exclusively affects cats. The disease is spread through mating or bites. Similar to human HIV, the virus suppresses an infected cat's immune system. This means that an FIV+ kitty can get sick easier, and have a harder time fighting off infections or other diseases.

The good news is that cats with FIV can still live happy, full lives, when the right precautions are taken! Keeping them indoors to reduce the chances of catching illnesses, keeping them up-to-date on their vaccinations, and being proactive if they show signs of getting sick and taking them to the vet right away are some ways to keep your FIV+ cats healthy and safe.

The other good news is that FIV is preventable! Keeping your cats indoors, as well as getting them spayed/neutered to discourage mating are great ways to stop the spread of this disease and keep your cats FIV-.

30/05/2024

This is a picture of cat flank spay surgery Dr. Amber performed last week. A flank spay is where the spay surgery is performed from the side of the animal just in front of the hip bone.

There are few different reasons a surgeon may opt to perform the surgery this way instead of from the ventral midline (on the bottom of the stomach). Dr. Amber uses this technique mostly on cats that have significant mammary development after giving birth recently. In this instance the surgery is easier to do from the side so the mammary tissue/milk glands can be avoided.

Dr. Amber also prefers doing the surgery this way for all feral female cats as that way the incision is easier to monitor as you can see it from afar without having to handle the cat.

Please ask if you have any questions about this surgery!

30/05/2024

26/05/2024

ADOPTED!!
Beautiful, sweet Flame is still at Naughty Cat Cafe patiently waiting for her forever person or people. You can visit her this weekend. They are open Memorial Day

09/05/2024

UPDATE on SWEETIE:
Sweetie had the ultrasound and thankfully, no evidence of a mass in her liver. It is possible there is a small lung mass, but that is better news than a possible liver mass. The vet thinks what was seen on xray was actually the pyloris which can sometimes present on imaging as a tight ball like image. Her appetite has improved and she is still very interested in everything that moves during her walks.

Our 14-year-old hound mix, Sweetie, went to the vet today for a follow-up exam with imaging. Unfortunately, the images showed a mass in her liver and potential metastasis in her lungs, which could indicate hemangiosarcoma or mast cell tumor. We need to get an ultrasound and aspirate to know more. She has been slowing down and panting lately, but her appetite has been good until tonight when she didn't eat dinner.

09/05/2024

20/04/2024

ARE YOU UP FOR A CHALLENGE? DO YOU HAVE A CALM AND QUIET HOME? THIS GORGEOUS BALINESE MIX BEAUTY IS SEARCHING FOR A PATIENT ADOPTER WHO WILL GIVE HER A CHANCE TO BLOSSOM ON HER TERMS.

I can hardly handle how beautiful and floofy Mariposa is!! �� She is looking for a loving quiet home where someone is looking for more of a look but don’t touch, super floofy model of a cat. One that will make you work hard to pet her, but will happily strut around the house looking pretty as can be. She has been a nervous girl since she came off the street, but we have bonding moments over treats where I get to love on her. She is very food and treat motivated. She gets along with most cats she has met, but she likes to be the boss. I could see her growing up to be an absolute love muffin and really come around...eventually… Some just take longer than others. She seems incredibly happy to be living the good life off the streets and very thankful to be well cared for. I know these Mariposa type kitties are harder to find homes for because they’re so nervous, but let me tell you those cats sometimes become the best kitties ever!
If you are interested in adopting this kitty, please request an application at [email protected]

09/04/2024

Update: Unfortunately, we had to make the very hard decision to euthanize Toby this afternoon. His system was shutting down and the vet suspected GI lymphoma. This was possibly the cause of his hairball/obstruction we dealt with soon after we got him in '22. Further, his kidney values were now elevated and treatment with prednisolone for his GI problems would have exacerbated both his kidney problems and his heart condition. He was also in need of a blood transfusion. We tried so hard to make the last years of his life so much better than the first years. I am profoundly sad that we didn't have more time with this gentle, loving, and majestic soul.

01/04/2024

The effort to put all animals in a loving home is overwhelming. Please make time to volunteer at your local shelter if you are unaware of any of these facts so you can see the examples first-hand.

If you think that the growing numbers of stray animal statistics have nothing to do with you, think again. If you think spaying and neutering every cat isn't necessary, you're wrong. If you think your "one litter" doesn't matter, look at the facts.

*stats from ASPCA, APPA, Pawsome Advice, Best Friends Animal Society

01/04/2024

Please sign to get this monster prosecuted.

Suffolk County, N.Y. - Angel Sandoval: An innocent cat, beloved in her community and trusting of people, was brutally beaten with a metal bar by a former Brentwood High School student who laughed as the malicious attack took place at the high school, in front of his friends.

29/03/2024

Beverly Roberts and Mary Alston sought to trap the cats so they could be neutered

23/03/2024

A team of cat-loving volunteers is saving cats who would otherwise have no chance of survival. Watch this on-demand presentation to learn how one animal shelter is saving hundreds of cats infected with life-threatening FIP.

Title: Crowdsourced Treatment for Cats With FIP
Watch: https://bit.ly/FIP-Treatment
Length: 36 min + Q&A
Presenters: Nicole Levy, Dr. Julie Levy

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which most commonly affects cats under 2 years old and has increased risk in purebreds and shelters, has long been feared as one of the most deadly and untreatable diseases in cats.

Now, antiviral drugs exist that cure FIP. Though those drugs are kept off the market by regulatory and patent barriers, social networks have developed to gather data, create protocols, and help owners obtain the drugs, providing moral support to tens of thousands of cat owners for what is often an emotionally taxing and expensive treatment.

Austin Pets Alive! foster caregivers, volunteers, and adopters began treating cats with FIP from regional shelters and previous adopters. The shelter is collaborating with our research team at Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida to determine the response of shelter cats to FIP treatment depending on whether or not they have FeLV co-infections.

In this on-demand presentation, we discuss the lessons learned during this lifesaving treatment, new protocol refinements, and how a team of cat-loving volunteers is saving cats who would otherwise have no chance of survival.

23/03/2024

We are often asked, “Who is Greybeard?”or “”Why Greybeard?”

Greybeard, also known as Plato, was a wise and confident cat who didn’t know a stranger. He was an indoor/outdoor cat who visited our founder’s office daily. We knew his owner, a kind woman who lived several houses away in the same neighborhood. Everyone from the businesses knew he belonged to her. She found him as a small, shivering kitten in downtown Atlanta. . He enjoyed visiting for years.

One day, the receptionist at one of the businesses was fired. In a fit of rage, she snatched Greybeard, kidnapping him, and taking him to Whitfield county, Georgia. We were able to find the woman’s address and contacted the sheriff’s office. She had other outstanding warrants. The sheriff’s deputy went to retrieve Greybeard, but he leapt out of his arms into the dense woods.

For over two weeks, a search party combed the woods. We even went at night with a flashlight. We posted flyers with a large reward. I fielded calls, making the long drive each time a promising lead was phoned in.

Eventually, someone spotted the real Greybeard in the woods. I drove down as fast as I could and met with the people who stayed onsite. After a short walk into the woods, I entered a clearing.

Greybeard was languidly rolling on his back. He yawned, looked at me as if to say, “What’s up?”, completely oblivious to the efforts and anxiety suffered by us humans over the past weeks.

Greybeard was safely back home, but because he could no longer be a indoor/outdoor cat due to the threat of a repeat kidnapping, his owner surrendered him to us for an indoor life. He lived another 5 years before passing away at age 15.

17/03/2024

Baby Blue is an adoptable Cat - Snowshoe & Domestic Short Hair Mix searching for a forever family near Chattanooga, TN. Use Petfinder to find adoptable pets in your area.

17/03/2024

Lilo-Flora (Lap cat) is an adoptable Cat - Domestic Short Hair searching for a forever family near Chattanooga, TN. Use Petfinder to find adoptable pets in your area.

05/03/2024

02/03/2024

We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Sweetie, a 12-13 year old shepherd mix who was previously facing euthanasia due to loss of home.

01/03/2024

🌟 Calling all veterinary professionals! 🌟 Join the movement to spay/neuter kittens under 5 months old. Sign up today (link in bio). Together, we can make a difference!

22/02/2024

Toby had a followup appointment with Dr. Holford at VCA River today. His heart rhythm has improved, but a condition called restrictive cardiomyopathy is a strong possibility for him. She is very concerned about him and wants him to have the cardiology workup as soon as possible. Due to recent expenses including hospitalization for one of our other senior kitties (Stormy), we have to fundraise in order to do the cardio workup. So far we have raised $550, but his checkup today was over $150. I have attached a copy of his estimate. Our Paypal is [email protected].

The cardio exam estimate ranges from $852 to $1065.

22/02/2024

VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED
Do you love cats and are willing to donate an hour or so once a week to helping care for the cats that live at the HIxson Petsmart?
We are searching for volunteers to help maintain the cat habitat at the Hixson Petsmart. Right now we need volunteers for Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings.
This involves feeding the cats and cleaning cages and maintaining a clean and presentable environment in the habitat. This usually takes about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours once a week. Of course, you can stay and play with the kitties as long as you want.
If you are interested, please contact Judy @ [email protected]. Volunteering can be fun and rewarding and the cats will thank you too.

18/02/2024

Update: We are about halfway to our goal for Toby to be able to get his procedure. He is going to be scheduled at VCA River as soon as we can raise the entire amount. We have had several medical cases lately and just cannot do this without your help. He is going for a recheck exam with Dr. Holford in 2 days to assess his response to his GI meds. He seems much more comfortable since his first visit to her.

We are asking for help for sweet Toby. Sweet Toby, who loves to stand on his back legs and use my legs as a scratching post, but sadly has no claws.

Toby was surrendered to us in 2022 after living outside. He had severe hair loss all over his belly and back, flea allergy dermatitis, and arthritis. He was 11 years old and had not seen a vet since he was adopted at age 1. His adopter was moving and was not going to be able to take him with.

Shortly after we took him in, he stopped eating and became lethargic. An ultrasound revealed he had a large hairball in his stomach and small intestine. He had to undergo energency surgery which cost $1200.

Recently, he exhibited lethargy and lack of appetite. As a result, this month he went to VCA River for an ultrasound. He also received a monthly Solensia injection for the terrible arthritis that i believe was caused by declawing all those years ago.

The EKG that they did before the ultrasound showed an arrhythmia in his heart. He had to have a special anesthesia which brought the bill to $1000. He has been put on one heart medication along with other medications for a continued problem with his stomach motility.

It has been strongly recommended that he receive an echocardiogram for his heart so that he will be able to be properly diagnosed and medicated. He is suspected to have restrictive cardiomyopathy. This will run $800-1000.

We have paid for all these other vet bills and just don’t have the funds for the heart echo and consult. We really want to give Toby every chance to thrive. My personal cat Wicket, who had restrictive cardiomyopathy, lived 2.5 years past an episode of actual heart failure and saddle thrombus with the right meds prescribed following a heart echocardiogram. There are no guarantees of course, and due to his conditions, Toby will never be adopted out unless a miracle adopter shows up. So in the meantime, we want him to be as happy and healthy as he can be.

Our paypal address is [email protected].