Orphan Cat Colony

12/30/2024

Happy holidays to all and we have ANOTHER update to share. This one is regarding Charlie (who was adopted before he was given a name at the colony). Ten years later, as you can see, he's doing great in his adoptive home. We're so thrilled. Thank you so much Pasty! -Jennifer
***
Merry Christmas from Charlie! (I don't think he was given a name prior to coming to me.) He wouldn't sit still for this photo shoot .. too excited for Christmas I guess! He's doing well here in Alabama. He's on monthly solensia now and he's become more active; even lost a bit of weight

12/19/2024

We rarely post any more, but are always thrilled to share when we get an update from the home of one of the former Orphan Cats. This one comes from Cyndi, who adopted Clint Eastwood (now Freddie). We're thrilled he's in such a loving home and wish them and everyone else here a very happy holiday season.

11/29/2023

It's been a long time since posting, but we just got an update from Lester's mom. She noted he's getting a bit gray. However, it's been a whopping nine years since his Orphan Cat Colony rescue and adoption. Honestly, we're ALL getting a bit grayer. 😉

Hope you all are well and having a lovely holiday season. -Jennifer

12/15/2022

It has been a LONG, LONG time since we posted. However, we just received the following update from Kimberly regarding Manchitas (formerly Spot before being adopted in August 2016). Happy holidays and we'd love to share more updates of adopted Orphan Colony cats (hint, hint). -Jennifer
***
Mahnny/Mahnchitas is the BEST cat ever! He's the biggest and loudest cat (only when he hears a cat food can being opened). He loves the other 5 cats that he lives with. 😻😻😻😻😻😻

06/06/2020

I'm so sorry, but I have heartbreaking news to share. Laser, one of the original Orphan Cats, has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. We heard from his mom, Kimbur last night. She had the following to say:
***
"I am writing to let you know that Laser, the most amazing cat in the entire universe, has passed away. He died in his sleep of old age. He was loving, and the most perfect cat that anyone could ever ask for, down to his last minute. I am going to miss him so very much. This home will feel empty without him. Thank you for allowing us to adopt him and letting him be a huge part of our family. I miss him already. I’ll be lonely without him. There will be a lot of crying for awhile. Goodbye my old man. I’ll truly miss you.

I won’t be the same without him.

But he lived to be around 14 or so. We never knew how old he was but when we adopted him, your vet had guessed he was around 9 then. And it’s been at least 5 years ago. So he got to ‘retire’ in a home that loved him beyond belief. ❤️❤️❤️"
***
I'm sure many of you remember that handsome fellow. We thought he was feral. I think he was the last Orphan Cat who I photographed. We only saw him sporatically and then didn't see him at all. Linda, Deanna and I thought he had moved on from the home. However, after we'd caught and rehomed all the "regulars," Linda realized that someone was still coming to eat. She put out a game cam and got a picture from the side. We compared the image to another I had taken and those gorgeous classic tabby stripes were immistakable. Linda caught him and much to our surprise, he wasn't feral at all, just a little shy, but friendly. I delievered him to Kimber's home myself and know he could not have been more loved.

Please join me in offering our deepest condolences to her on his loss. Laser - forever in our hearts. Peace to you. -Jennifer

04/21/2020

It's been a long time since we've posted and for that I apologize. I hope this finds you all safe, healthy and hunkered down with your four-footed friends.

We got a good news update from Clint Eastwood's (now Freddie's) adopter. As you can see, he's just as adorable 5-1/2 years after leaving the Orphan Cat Colony for the Central Texas SPCA and then to his forever home. Catch up with how he's doing below. -Jennifer

***
Quick update - Freddie (fka Clint) remains such a blessing! He is such a sweet, soft kitty who knows and gives only love. He's somewhere around 6 or 7 years old now and looks exactly like these photos! He LOVES belly rubs and still gives special tooth at inappropriate times (3 a.m.). He wants to be held, cuddled, and snuggled. He also loves his six adopted cat siblings. Our family would be incomplete without him!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

01/16/2020

We are so sorry to have to share some bad news. Bella, one of the originals from the Orphan Cat Colony, has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Here's what her adopted mom said:

"My heart is broken, sweet Bella passed away this morning in her sleep. So she crossed to rainbow bridge peacefully. I loved her so much & she was a gift from Joe."

Please join us in offering our condolences to Amy on her heartbreaking loss, as I know many of you "knew" Bella from afar. -Jennifer

10/07/2019

Wow, it's hard to believe, but today (October 7, 2019) is the 5-year anniversary of our Orphan Cat Colony page on Facebook. In some ways it seems like just yesterday and other ways like it was forever ago. Linda, Deanna and I can't thank you all enough for your support over the years. Helping successfully re-home Mr. Joe Steen's cats was a life-changing experience for all of us and we would have never been able to have done it without your help. Over 6,700 people from all over the world came together for our little group of Texas kitties in need of homes.

I know we've lost some of those beloved cats over the years, but we'd love to hear updates from adopters who still have their Orphan Cats.

Thank you once again for caring. This is a celebration of all of you as well as the Orphan Cats! -Jennifer

10/02/2019

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I've been crazy busy with animal welfare efforts. However, a friend recentely rescued six kittens and their mama cat who will all soon be available for adoption (once they're fixed). Interested in adding a feline friend to your family? Please consider one of these cuties, available in the South Austin, Texas area. Even if you can't adopt, please consider sharing, in hopes that we find all these cuties wonderful homes. Thanks. -Jennifer

***
South Austin (78704)
512-440-7529
[email protected]

SIX KITTENS AND MAMA CAT for adoption.
(These cats were trapped on Friday night. They are starting to respond to human touch. Mama cat is friendly. We have already gotten her spayed.)

Here they are: the Wayward Tribe of kittens and their Ever-Lovin' Mama.

We will be getting these kittens neutered and vetted before adoption.

If you are interested in adopting, please let me know right away and you can pre-adopt. If you can't adopt, you can share this post and help me immensely.

There are two females and four males. And Mama.

08/07/2019

One of our long-time supporters, Dustie LaDeaux, brought this rescue effort to our attention. We don't know these folks, but it sounds similar to our initial efforts at Orphan Cats and they're located less than two hours away from us, in Alleyton, Texas (about halfway to Houston). They've gotten homes for the healthy cats, but are still in need of fosters to help the sick ones, donations to care for them, and of course, adopters. Please check them out and thank you. -Jennifer

Copied and pasted from facebook postUpdate- we have a vet appt for at least 3 of these cats at 5:30pm on friday. If anyone can donate please let us know. This will be expensive. Paypal paypal.me/TxSNP For friends and family, and then for “Alleyton Cats”. Right now we need donations for the initi...

07/19/2019

These are my two little foster Kitts. I need help naming them. Both are girls and were given to me by a super sweet, kind-hearted lady I am tnr'ing for. She started feeding one stray cat who had kittens who had kittens and a year later here I am. I'm happy to help stabilize her colony. She truly cares for these cats. Even though she is a self proclaimed "not a cat person".

Although born outside, these two girls are friendly and chill. Their mom is a sleek tortoise teen mom and their dad is either a giant 10 pound brown tabby and white bruiser named Snowball or a big shy black and white tuxedo guy.

The grey is soft and slightly fluffy, petite, spunky, sleeps on a carpet at my feet under my desk. She stalks the dog's tail and is fearless and confident. She jumps on the kitchen island and dining room table in search of her prey (my ham and cheese sandwich and the kids' cereal!). And her fur is as soft as a cloud. Seriously! Crazy soft!

The black is a sleek coated, sturdy little girl. She is slightly less confident. (Oddly, she was more confident the few days before her sister joined us.) She runs from my Chihuahuas- who are used to playing chase with my cats and chickens so think she's playing and chase her, much to her dismay! She sleeps on our bed at night and purrs the instant you pick her up for a cuddle.

Gimme your name suggestions please. I'm working on teaching them to come when I call them. Unless I have snacks, they do not deign to listen. *Sigh* Much like my kids.
~Deanna

07/01/2019

Sunday I went cat trapping to help a nice lady overwhelmed by cats. Common story- one cat showed up, then had kittens, fast forward a year and she is overrun with cats and kittens- all because she has a big heart and no one is fixed. Pretty common story, pretty common for me to be our trapping on a Sunday. Plus I get to foster a love bug fluff ball for a couple of days! But then . . a trap failed and I ended up with a 4 month old "feral" tiger loose in my van!

My kids are pretty great with animals and my 12 year old came through in aces yesterday. I think every trapper volunteer should take a kid along. Besides helping tote the traps (manual labor), they are great at educating the public- my daughter explained how the lady reeeally shouldn't have fed the cats "just a tablespoon" of food because we were coming in a few hours and now no one is hungry- and kids can squeeze into tight places to calm a freaked out tiger hiding under a car seat.

It took hours. But my daughter did slow blinks and talked calmly the whole time, petting a kitt the owner said was feral while laying cramped on the floorboard. Then she pulled it out and held it awhile before gently putting it in a trap and closing the door. This time instead of freaking out and acting insane in the trap, the little brown tabby trustingly sat quietly, awaiting her fate.

Her fate was to spend the night in the trap in my shed and now be taken to the shelter and be fixed. I'll pick her up on Tuesday and take her back to be released at her home. A few really scary days for this little kitten but she will lead a healthier, longer life now.

Another of the kittens at this colony was too small to be fixed so she is hanging out with us for a couple of days. The owner said if I could find a good home for her that would be great. But, as supermodel gorgeous and kitten-y playful as she is, I'm not having any luck. This fluffy ball of energy is super cuddly and loves everyone- except my chihuahuas. It is so funny to hear tiny growls and tiny hisses when she sees them. She already has good litter box manners, too! She has a twin who is solid black, too. Sooo cute!

So here are some kitten photos for you- compliments of my 12 year old (who wants to be a photographer like Jennifer!) And looks through them all (how can you narrow down cute kitten photos!!) If you know of anyone interested in a kitten, please pass this along!
~Deanna