Foster Tiny Paws

Foster Tiny Paws https://linktr.ee/fostertinypaws2021
Mom to Orange Boy, TNR Lady to Community Cats in NC. Disabled September 11th 1st Responder. On again, off again artist.

Disabled September 11th Responder living in NC & fostering rescued Community Cat, Orange Boy (OB, Obi). My page features Orange Boy, TNR'd Community Cats, and my girls, Ween & Dibley. Ween turned 16 in March 2025. My sweet Dibley died horribly in July 2023; she was only 11. Orange Boy is FIV+, struggles with urinary issues & eats food formulated for urinary support. Ween was diagnosed in 2025 with

Stage 1 renal failure & eats food formulated for kidney support. AMAZON WISH LIST
https://smile.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1D2D4WSH7AMGO

CONTRIBUTIONS to help me pay for veterinary care & purchase food, treats, litter supplies & enrichment items. THANK YOU for your support. https://linktr.ee/fostertinypaws2021

Orange Boy has something to say about the rumors regarding his mouth... Several people have noticed the black spots insi...
05/31/2026

Orange Boy has something to say about the rumors regarding his mouth...

Several people have noticed the black spots inside Orange Boy's mouth, so today's educational moment is brought to you by OB and his apparently suspicious-looking gums.

Orange Boy has lentigo, a harmless condition commonly seen in orange cats. Lentigo causes little black freckles or pigment spots to appear on the lips, gums, nose, eyelids, and inside the mouth. As orange cats age, these spots often become more noticeable.

The easiest way to describe it?

It looks like Orange Boy lost a battle with a fountain pen. Ink happens.

The spots are flat, harmless, don't bother him, and don't require treatment. They're basically freckles for orange cats.

So if you catch a glimpse of his mouth while he's demanding second breakfast, third breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon snacks, dinner, supper, bedtime snacks, and emergency overnight snacks... or yawning from the effort of all that beggin'...

Don't worry.

He's not sick.

"Ink happens"

🧡🍊

I can make this shape.- Orange Boy
05/30/2026

I can make this shape.
- Orange Boy

STORY TELLIN' TIME! GET COMFY...There’s been a new kitten, Rue, in the neighborhood since Sunday. And let me tell you… t...
05/29/2026

STORY TELLIN' TIME! GET COMFY...

There’s been a new kitten, Rue, in the neighborhood since Sunday. And let me tell you… this kitten appeared out of absolutely nowhere like the Cat Distribution System accidentally hit “express shipping.”

Nobody saw a pregnant mom.
Nobody saw a mom with kittens.
Nobody has seen an adult cat around here that isn’t ear tipped.

Just… suddenly… tiny tabby, Rue, wandering around the HOA like he pays dues.

And this kitten?

This kitten has the survival instincts of a potato. A couple nights ago, Jeff quietly walked up behind him and sniffed him. The kitten didn’t even notice. Didn’t hear him. Didn’t react. Didn’t sense danger. Nothing. If that had been a predator instead of Jeff, we’d be holding a memorial service beside the mailboxes. Then the kitten finally turned around, saw Jeff, and started screaming like Jeff had personally ruined his life.

That’s also when I realized potato kitten was trying to follow the adult cats around. Because right after "the scaring" my front camera picked him up. Which immediately activated my anxiety because people in this neighborhood drive like the Indianapolis 500 is sponsored by unresolved anger issues.

Mind you: THE SPEED LIMIT IS TEN. TEN. Not 45. Not “however fast your Dodge Charger can spiritually handle.” TEN.

Originally, my plan was: “Welp. If the tiny potato survives long enough to hit 3 pounds, I’ll TNR it.”

But unfortunately I was born with feelings.

So I contacted Burlington Animal Services and asked what my options were. I even offered to foster temporarily until the kitten is old enough for spay/neuter and adoption.

Do I WANT to foster?
Absolutely not. I am tired. I am crispy emotionally. I need a break.

BUT… if temporary fostering is what it takes to save a cat, apparently that’s what I’m doing because I can never mind my own business when a cat is involved.

Fast forward to trapping time. I used Christina's drop trap because mine still isn’t here yet. Everything was going fine until the transfer.

Now, let me explain something: I was wearing bite gloves. I ALWAYS wear bite gloves. Because unlike potato kitten, Rue, I HAVE survival instincts.

During the transfer, the kitten got its head into a tiny opening between the trap and transfer cage. So with my left gloved hand, I gently pushed the kitten’s head back down. And my index finger was the final point of contact.

The kitten bit me.

And at first I wasn’t concerned because I thought: “Ha. Foolish tiny creature. I am protected by fancy gloves.”

Incorrect.

Two microscopic demon needles somehow found THE SEAM in the glove. Not the leather. Not the thick padded part. THE SEAM. Of course. Tiny punctures. Tiny blood. Big irritation.

I looked at my finger and said to OB & Rue: “Well… f**k.”

So I disinfected it with chlorhexidine, fed the tiny potato criminal dinner, and drove to urgent care in Greensboro. And this is where things got weirdly hilarious. When I checked in, I explained what happened and mentioned Foster Tiny Paws on Facebook. The receptionist suddenly goes: “OH MY GOD WAIT. I JUST SAW YOU IN MY FEED.” What are the odds?! My page is tiny. The internet is huge. And yet somehow I’m standing there at urgent care holding my 'wounded' finger while being recognized for cat nonsense.

Anyway: Tetanus boosters are normally every 10 years, BUT if an animal bites you doctors are like: “Congratulations. You get another tetanus shot today.”

So now my arm hurts.

And they gave me Amox-Clav for five days. These pills are not medication. These are Flintstones vitamins for horses.

And because this is bite number FOUR in six years, I finally decided maybe it was time to look into the preventative rabies vaccine.

So I called the county health department. They told me it’s not covered by insurance and costs: $404 PER SHOT. You need two shots. So apparently rabies prevention is now a luxury service. Thankfully I called my insurance company, and they said it IS covered under my Part D plan through the pharmacy. THANK GOD.

So now potato kitten, Rue, is on a 10-day bite hold. And after that, I’ll schedule the preventative vaccine series. Which means next time I get bitten, I won’t spend 10 days wondering if I’m going to die.

“Next time?”
Please.
It’s me.
Of course there will be a next time.

If you'd like to adopt potato kitten, Rue, it arrived at Burlington Animal Services on the 28th, it's staying at BAS for bite hold, and will be available for adoption as soon as it's spayed/neutered.

A couch for every cat!🧡🍊
05/28/2026

A couch for every cat!
🧡🍊

He looks like a little turtle wearing a too big hand-me-down shell.🧡🍊🐢
05/27/2026

He looks like a little turtle wearing a too big hand-me-down shell.
🧡🍊🐢

It is such a strange day today.I dropped Orange Boy off at Town & Country this morning and while I was waiting, a man ca...
05/26/2026

It is such a strange day today.

I dropped Orange Boy off at Town & Country this morning and while I was waiting, a man came in carrying ashes.

The second I saw the bag, I started crying like a fu***ng idiot right there in the lobby.

Then I went home and experienced another first.

If you have ever lost a pet, you probably know exactly what I mean about “the firsts.”

The first night you go to bed without them.
The first morning you wake up without them.
The first time you bring home sushi and your sushi-eating partner isn’t there.
The first time you walk through the door and your greeter is gone.

Ween was ALWAYS the greeter.

Every single time I came home, without fail, she was standing there waiting for me. She would do this little standing hop-rub thing against my legs and then do a huge dramatic stretch against the wall or the doorframe like she had been preparing for my arrival all day.

I already had that first a few days ago, and yeah… it sucked exactly as much as you’d imagine.

I’m a little disappointed Orange Boy hasn’t taken over greeter duties yet, but honestly he’s just not that confident or outgoing. Maybe one day. Maybe not.

But today’s first hit differently.

After dropping OB off, I came home to a truly empty, completely quiet house.

And I realized something.

It has been 17 years since I’ve walked into a home with no cat in it.

Even when Ween was an only cat, she was always there. I never dropped her off for an appointment.
Then there was Ween and Dibley together for almost 12 years.
There has ALWAYS been a cat waiting somewhere in the house.

This morning there was just… silence.

And I finally understood something a friend tried to explain to me years ago after she lost her dog, Honey, the same year I lost Dibley.

I could sympathize with her loss back then, absolutely. But I don’t think I fully understood what she meant when she talked about the quiet and the emptiness afterward.

I understood it this morning.

And I actually called her to tell her that.

Dropped Orange Boy off at Town n Country Animal Hospital in Burlington this morning.And there was a donation of wet food...
05/26/2026

Dropped Orange Boy off at Town n Country Animal Hospital in Burlington this morning.
And there was a donation of wet food waiting for the Community Cats when I got there. Thank you so much. Seriously. Stuff like that helps more than people realize.

OB has 2 appointments today:
Appointment #1: Monthly Solensia injection + rabies vaccine.
Appointment #2: His right ear feels hot, he’s scratching at it, it’s not sitting upright and relaxed, and he actually whined when I cleaned it which is NOT normal for him.

I have absolutely no idea what today’s total is going to be.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I’ve been fundraising for Orange Boy’s medical care since the day I rescued him as an injured community cat because this boy is not an easy keeper. He’s medically high maintenance, dramatic, expensive, and worth every penny.
But I did get a little bit of good news this morning.

If you’d like to help with Orange Boy’s medical care, you can call Town n Country Animal Hospital at 336-227-9979 and put any amount toward Greta Turillo / Orange Boy. Any excess funds stay on my account as a credit for OB’s future medical care which honestly is pretty awesome because this boy will have monthly vet visits for the foreseeable future.

I think donating directly to the vet gives people warm fuzzies because they know exactly where the money is going.

You can also donate through my LinkTree via CashApp, PayPal, or Venmo. There’s also an email option there if you’d prefer to mail something or arrange a porch drop-off.

Thank you guys for continuing to support OB and the Community Cats. It means a lot to both of us.

Well… mostly me.

From drinking puddle water to drinking filtered water... OB assumes this is all simply his birthright. 🧡🍊

I adopted Orange Boy on May 11th, the day Ween died.Some of you probably saw this coming long before I did.If you’ve fol...
05/25/2026

I adopted Orange Boy on May 11th, the day Ween died.

Some of you probably saw this coming long before I did.

If you’ve followed OB since the day I rescued him as an injured community cat, then you already know he is not exactly what you’d call an “easy keeper.” This orange menace is medically high-maintenance, weird, dramatic, expensive, and very, very loved.

Every step of the way, for over 2 years, I’ve fundraised for his care on my page.

Tomorrow, Tuesday May 26th, OB has his Solensia injection and rabies vaccine appointment at Town n Country Animal Hospital in Burlington. Sparkle Cat and I had already fundraised for that visit previously, so tomorrow’s scheduled care is covered. That will be the last visit paid for by Sparkle Cat.

But because Orange Boy likes to keep life exciting, I also scheduled a second appointment tomorrow because I strongly suspect he has an ear infection in his right ear. It’s hot, he keeps scratching at it, and he’s holding that ear differently. I have absolutely no idea what that visit will cost yet, but knowing OB… probably enough to personally offend me.

I am not a nonprofit. I’m just a disabled September 11th 1st Responder trying to care for Orange Boy and the community cats that depend on me for food and TNR.

If you’d like to help me, my LinkTree has CashApp, PayPal, & Venmo options. If you’d rather mail something or arrange a porch drop-off, there’s also an email option in LinkTree and I’ll gladly provide you with my address.

Whenever I fundraise, I’ll keep a running tally in the comments for transparency. If donations go above what’s needed for a specific visit, the extra will go into a savings account for Orange Boy’s future vet care because this boy will have monthly Solensia expenses and annual expenses like vaccinations and dental care for the rest of his life. *Unless someone specifically says to use extra funds for the community cats, in which case I’ll use it for food or TNR.

Small donations matter more than people realize. Seriously. Those $5, $10, and $20 donations add up fast and help me continue doing this.

Thank you for loving this absolute derp of a cat.

🧡🍊🍗

North Carolina animal advocates, rescuers, fosters, adopters, and animal lovers: PLEASE take a few minutes to look into ...
05/24/2026

North Carolina animal advocates, rescuers, fosters, adopters, and animal lovers: PLEASE take a few minutes to look into NC SENATE BILL 573, “REFORM ANIMAL CRUELTY AND NEGLECT LAWS.”

This bill pertains to both dogs and cats and addresses broader companion animal neglect and hoarding situations.

No bill is perfect, and many rescue advocates still believe North Carolina law focuses too heavily on simply keeping animals physically alive, instead of addressing psychological welfare, enrichment, socialization, and long-term quality of life.

But legislation like this MAY still help by:
• strengthening hoarding definitions
• creating clearer minimum space standards
• strengthening neglect language
• expanding intervention authority before situations become catastrophic.

That matters.

One of the MOST impactful things ordinary citizens can do is directly contact their NC legislators and respectfully ask them to: support the bill, strengthen the bill, consider amendments that better protect cats and dogs psychological welfare, enrichment, socialization, and long-term quality of life.

This type of advocacy is IMPORTANT.
Honestly, spending less than 30 minutes finding your legislators and sending a thoughtful email often does more for causes you care about than endless social media arguing and reposting.

Legislators pay attention to direct communication from actual constituents.
Small actions by many people can create real change.

Find your NC legislators here:
www dot ncleg dot gov/FindYourLegislators

Address

Whitsett, NC
27377

Website

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