Today we bathed ringworm kittens, and the medicated shampoo needed to sit on the skin for a bit. To pass the time, I decided to sing my rendition of “Don’t Blame Me” by @taylorswift. I think that it was a hit, or maybe it’s just that the kitten had no choice but to sit there and listen. Either way, I had a (literal) captive audience so I’ll take it.
Ringworm is a super common reason for why cats in shelters are euthanized. It’s a lengthy process to treat, very contagious, and most shelters don’t have the resources to care for cats with ringworm. Ringworm isn’t that scary tho, and it’s not actually a worm, just a cute lil fungus 🍄
Thankfully, these ringworm kittens are doing so well because they’re able to stay in our iso rooms at @thecatcade. It’s one of the many reasons how our new building is saving lives. I know many of you have donated to my fundraisers over the last few years so I’m thrilled to share just a glimpse of where that money has gone. So thank you!
If I’m opening at The Eras Tour come November, you know why. Thanks for capturing this moment @carter.mollie and for the backup vocals @sweetbells 💃🏼🎶
Oh Scotland, you were perfection. Grateful beyond words for this trip and these people. Met so many kind Swiftie souls along the way (@sydneysparks19 on the plane, Claudia at @marineandlawn, Alex and Bubla from @thegleneagleshotel).
Ended the trip meeting up with my bests @sweetbells and @deadxstop for church at Murrayfield led by @taylorswift. I had so much fun making this video (and surprised myself with actually following thru with it). Scotland will always have a piece of my heart, see you tomorrow Chicago!! 🩷🫶🏻
I’ve simply never found a cat before, but when I went home to visit my family in the suburbs last November, a black cat dashed across a neighbor’s yard. This was strange because I don’t see cats outside in my parents’ area, like ever. As soon as I approached the cat, he started running towards me, meowing and basically leapt into my arms.
After knocking on several doors, I found out the cat had simply been hanging around the area and nobody claimed to know the cat. I gave one of the Neighbors my info and brought the cat back to my parents’ garage. He was fairly dirty and very skinny. Immediately he devoured the food placed in front of him while my brother grabbed a carrier from his house.
Off we went to the ER vet to see if he was chipped, they couldn’t find one so he became a @thecatcade cat and went into foster with @hannahblaze and Bobby. We named him Wilson. There he finally got some time to just decompress and feel safe. He mostly slept and ate and slept some more.
A few days later, we did an intake exam on him at The Cade where we discovered that he DID have a microchip. Wilson was originally named Dathomir and adopted from @almosthomefoundation a few years ago. Through a series of tragic events, he ended up abandoned outside.
He was returned to Almost Home a few days later and has settled in while they got to know more about him. Dathomir is available for adoption and has been looking for a home for quite some time.
His ideal home would be a quieter one where he is the only cat. He’s been through so much so he’ll need someone who is patient as he continues to decompress from recent events.
I’m hopeful his next home is his final home. Where he will be loved and protected and safe for many years to come. This sweet boy deserves it 🩷
Eight years has flown by and I still don’t feel like we’ve even began to scratch the surface. Thanks for building this (chaotic, animal-filled) life with me.
(Cover photo: @jennamarie_photo )
Last month, I met Kassandra at @chianimalcareandcontrol - she loved to pick out a toy from the basket and show it off. Shortly after my visit, @heartland_animal_shelter brought her into their care. I’m so happy to share that she has been adopted! Congrats to this sweet girl and her lucky family who chose to adopt!
This week at work, I helped with intake, something I don’t normally do. At @thecatcade, our intake consists of deworming, vaccinating, microchipping, woodslamping, and even nail trimming. After intake, these cats go into foster homes where they decompress and get treated for any other medical or behavioral concerns before they are cleared to come to the adoption lounge.
When I started fostering for The Catcade, I was blown away by their attention to detail and support through the fostering process. I felt like the cats were getting the best care and their needs were placed above all else. It’s what really made me support the work they do all those years ago.
As a staff member now, I take pride in the work we do. We’re building a whole new facility to help even more cats. If you’d like to support our new endeavor, that would mean a lot, linked in bio!
We took in cats from four different partners of ours from various different geographic areas. Now those cats will be @thecatcade cats and I am so stoked for them and their future families.
Happy Friday. I’m no longer allowed to use chairs at @thecatcade and that’s for the best.
Dear Reader (but mostly @taylorswift ) come visit @thecatcade while you’re in Chicago and meet some cats. Meet me at… midnight…?! It would be a DREAM. I’ll see myself out.
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#chicago #catcadealumni #catladylife
It’s kitten season! 🐱 With @thewildest, I’m explaining why you need two kittens, not just one. As an Adoption Coordinator, this is the most common conversation I have with potential adopters. Check out @adoptapet if you’re looking to adopt, plus The Wildest has free expert advice and tools for taking care of your new pet. Link in my stories!
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#adoptdontshop #kittengram #kittens_today #rescuekittens
Nia’s story is heartbreaking but it reminds me that there are so many people who care and want to help animals. She is officially available for adoption through @secondcityk9 and would love a quiet home (maybe with a cat or two!) to call her own. Her ideal adopters would be patient and calm and like to snuggle on couches.
Most days at work I scoop sh*t, today I ate sh*t. How was your Monday? Apologies to the kind human who had to witness this and so gently asked if I was okay.
This is what Rheumatoid Arthritis looks like. Something I’ve never shared here is that earlier this year, in January, I was diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases: Sjogren’s Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis. I had been experiencing stiffness and pain in my hands last year before finally getting into a rheumatologist and getting a diagnosis. I would love to say that I handled the news gracefully, but it was really overwhelming to be handed a new normal.
Thankfully, while there is no cure, there are medications to help manage the symptoms. I’ve been on hydroxychloroquine since February which has helped quite a bit. I have good days and bad days in terms of stiffness and pain, but overall, I’m doing well, taking each day as it is and trying to stay in the present.
I’m sharing this not for sympathy but because I wish I knew of someone that had these diseases when I was struggling. I would have loved to see someone doing what they love regardless of a diagnosis. So, here are some of my favorite moments of me in my happy places doing what I love despite my autoimmune journey. Thank you to my friends, coworkers, family, the animals and most importantly my husband who has been by my side. Couldn’t have done this without you.
These are my absolute favorite kinds of posts to share but I wish I didn’t have to. I wish animals wouldn’t sit waiting for families for months or years. I wish there were more resources for people in positions forced to give up their pets. I wish adopting was the norm. I wish animals didn’t need sheltering at all. But, we take these wins and celebrate them and put them in our pockets to use them as fuel to help the next animal that needs us. Thank you @orphansofthestorm for giving Vivian her chance and helping her find her home. Photos: @adventuresatos
