Wordless Wednesday: Just hanging out on the patio of my house...

My new crib

I have a new house inside this house. 

It's this lovely cardboard box my staff gave me. I love it! The kids made a window and a door for me, so I can easily access it. I go there quite often, I even take naps inside it! Also its floor is great for scratching. 

This house is ALL mine and nobody else's!

Happy Easter!

Time has swooshed by again, but now it's time for some easter holiday.

I hope you are feeling better than this tiny Easter bunny here. One of the kids brought it home from school, made by his own tiny hands. Then I found it and well, you see what happened...

I hope you enjoy your Easter time!

I won

This plant is finally dead.

A nap on a Friday night

My favourite down jacket was on the floor again, so I took my change an took a nap on it.

Happy Friday!

Hello there...

I'm just taking a breather here on the stairs. Just watch out that your socks wouldn't get stuck on my claws by a change while you pass by me...

Been there, done that...

...but I ain't telling you how...

Good night!

I'm just going to sleep here now.

Oh, about the incident in the shower... One of the kids was taking a shower, and I sneaked my way to the bathroom as I always try to do. My aim was to go to the sauna and scratch the wooden panels on the walls, but the kid was faster than me and thought to give me a shower too. I didn't appreciate it, but what to do. I have to be more careful next time!

A "March" of Natural Balance ...and a new arrival .....

The medical experts say that to spay a cat allows the cat to live a longer healthier life, so I decided that as gorgeous as my two little himalayan kittens are it was time for them to be spayed. They are fully recovered, thanks to my fabulous vet of 20 plus years, Dr. Christine Wasmer, DVM .  Today, just after stitches were taken out they are as energetic as ever.  Mocha, my Tonkinese,  had the answer... a welcome home basket of Natural Balance Cat food from www.chewy.com this month.

As usual, Mocha has Zoey's attention... kittens are hungry almost all the time!  Actually, my cats really took to this new cat food called Natural Balance Delectable Delights  Land and Sea that was on sale this month at www.chewy.com.  This version of cat food is like surf and turf... but for cats!

  It contains a combination of high quality tuna and chicken in a tasty gravy that is cooked to perfection.  It is a very soft pate and, is made without corn, soy, or wheat.  It had a two layered effect, just like pate and is soft and obviously appealing!

The cat food is so soft, it has a texture almost like baby food.  If your cat needs dental surgery, this might me a good food to try post surgery, it is that fine of a pate.

 Sabu is never to be left out... and as  you can see this was enjoyed throughly!  As an aside, if you are getting your kitten spayed, and please do,  there are a lot of tips out there on the best way for cats to recover -- have them in a safe and comfortable place, a quiet place for them to recover, get an Elizabethan collar to prevent them from licking their incision site,  prevent them from jumping for ten days (good luck with that) and make sure  you give them lots of treats to distract them....www.chewy.com has tons of them!

And, for  wild life fun get to the Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut  this spring.... they have a new arrival that promises to  welcome guests..... in a few months... a Giant Baby Anteater!

Cleaning day on a Caturday

This is not the life I ordered...

Messy furs and lazer eyes

Good Friday from the top of the fire place! My fur is wet hence an incident in the shower. Lazer eyes hence the flash of the camera. That's just fine since it's Friday and anything goes!

Have a great weekend!

Maybe yes...but no.

Mom tried to get me on the sofa with her.

It was tempting and I considered it...

...but then I thought that...

...no.

I had more important business elsewhere.

Volunteer Appreciation: Judy Cohen

Superstar volunteer Judy Cohen combines her dedication to animals and decades of administrative experience to support Berkeley Humane's financial and HR office.

Judy retired in 2014 after a long career working for the Peralta Colleges. She began as the financial aid administrator for the old Vista college, spent 22 years as the Financial Aid Supervisor at Laney, and then closed her career in the District Office as Director of Financial Aid for all four colleges.

After such a busy and stimulating work life, Judy knew that she wanted to keep active in retirement. In addition to enjoying the outdoors, swimming and hiking, Judy also makes volunteering a regular part of her life. She says:

I decided long before retirement that I wanted to volunteer. Knowing how much I love all animals, it was my daughter who suggested Berkeley Humane. I've lived in the Bay Area for over 40 years; familiar with the work of Berkeley Humane, I thought it a great way to help as well as keep myself active and thinking. I attended the orientation and volunteered to be in the administrative offices. I thought so many volunteers would rather work within the shelter, but with my background I could really help the most in the office.

Judy ended up volunteering in Berkeley Humane’s finance department, using her decades of experience to file, enter data, and wrangle numbers like a pro.

Berkeley Humane is so grateful for Judy’s expert support and cheerful presence. Roxy Rogalski, Berkeley Humane’s Accounting and HR Manager, had this to say about Judy’s work in the financial office:

Our finance department consists of two employees and Judy! Judy does everything from creating our annual files, boxing everything up, matching reports, inventory… you name it, and Judy does it. She always has a smile on her face, a wonderful sense of humor, and is always willing to step in and go above and beyond.

“I love working for Roxy and Ellen [Monroe, Director of Finance and Human Resources],” Judy continues.“And best of all, I get to visit with Ellen's awesome dog, Sami and treat her with carrots.” 

In addition to her regular hours in the financial office, Judy also volunteers at Berkeley Humane special events. One of her favorite experiences has been the Grumpy Cat event in January 2015, when the mobile adoption unit was revealed. “So many pets and children,” she recalls: “Grumpy [was] such a rock star.”

Image courtesy of the Furrtographer.

Grumpy Cat grudgingly receives the adoration of her loyal subjects. For more pictures of the event, visit our Facebook page.

Photo credit: JennyDee Photography

The Mobile Adoption Center (MAC) is a custom-built 26' RV that allows Berkeley Humane to extend its life-saving mission beyond its brick-and-mortar location. 

Judy herself is a devoted cat lover. She looks after three cats: Winnie, a Norwegian Forest cat; Fina, a Maine Coon mix; and Mister, a one-eyed feral male whose friendship Judy has been cultivating for almost eight years. 

At last, Judy says, 

“Mister has accepted as his ‘human.’ He lost sight in his eye about seven years ago after what appeared to be a fight with a raccoon. I fed him antibiotics folded in cream cheese and he recovered. Now we are good friends, but the other females are wary of him. I can pet his head and he even comes into the kitchen in the morning to say hello. He thinks the yard is his private castle.”

Fina and Mister (black cat). In a rare
congenial moment, Fina
and Mister actually share a lounge chair. 

Judy and her 17-year-old Winnie, her "true love."

Judy: "Winnie... my Norweegie!"

If Judy wasn't busy enough, she also volunteers at the Albany Senior Center, because "adults need support too!" She is the treasurer of their fundraising unit, the Friends of Albany Seniors, and a member of the "Friends" board. She is also considering taking on yet another volunteer role, perhaps with veterans.

Beyond her volunteer work, Judy says: "I am married to a super man, now together for thirty years, and feel so fortunate to live in such a beautiful area and close to my lovely talented newly married daughter and the best son-in-law on the planet. I walk their dogs."

In closing, Judy had this wise advice for those interested in volunteering: “Wherever you volunteer, make sure it is from your heart.”

Thank you Judy, for all of the work that you do at Berkeley Humane and in your community!


If you're feeling inspired by Judy's story, there are plenty of ways for you to get involved. Says Jenn Suzuki, Berkeley Humane's volunteer coordinator:

Passionate and committed volunteers are vital to our success, and are integrated into every area of our operation. Whether it’s walking dogs, cuddling cats, working with data, or chairing an event committee, there are countless ways for volunteers to get involved. 

Have a special skill? Lots of love for cats and dogs, and an eagerness to do what you can? Learn more at berkeleyhumane.org/get-involved.

Something's a bit off...

Somebody misplaced my so called cat tree... Come on staff, fix it right away! I've got some supervising to do!

March and News from chewy.com

TheMaxx (making his first appearance in this blog --- and isn't he gorgeous!)  Ziva, Zoey, Mocha and Sabu hope that everyone had a wonderful February -- we did...and even got to go for a winter walk  --- but we are definitely ready to welcome Spring!   March at www.chewy.com is brimming with tempting treats and sales for your four legged friends to enjoy.  There are even giveaways to participate in. 

 As the month begins www.chewy.com is launching their 20K Giveaway on Instagram (@chewy) and they can't wait to celebrate reaching 20K followers with everyone!  They are also hosting an amazing Solid Gold "Pot of Gold" giveaway on St. Patrick's Day featuring all of their Solid Gold favorites such as supplements, treats, and Beef Green Tripe! Make sure to check them out if you can at www.chewy.com   My March blogs are in the works... so get ready to spoil your pets!

Sunpuddles!

How lovely it is to see you again!