Wednesday, December 31, 2008
New year, new home
Heard from Sylvie’s new owners today that he has settled in well.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Suki desu (It’s liked!)
A couple came out from Nagoya to choose an older kitten for fostering, and they chose Judy.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Home away from home for the holidays
Teddy and Kuchi (formerly Larry and Moe) have come back for a visit, while their new owners visit relatives for the New Year’s holiday.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
That’s Michael
Michael was found outside in the snow, the day after Christmas.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
White Christmas!
Spent a very nice Christmas with our friends who run shelters in other parts of Japan.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Hanging in there
A long day…general NPO meeting, kittens leaving for Tokyo, children’s parties. Heard from the vet that Ewok’s condition continues to go up and down.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Party Hearty
Last English class Christmas parties tomorrow, and our year end meeting with volunteers, so we’re dashing (luckily, not through the snow!) to get everything prepared.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Fantasia steps out
Fantasia looks a little worse for wear, but she’s actually doing much better.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Christmas Cookie
It’s been one of those weeks where we don’t know which end is up. Last Thursday, Ewok suddenly developed breathing problems, and I took the day off classes to get her to the clinic right away.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Hot and cold and just right
Today David went to Tokyo to take Moe to his new home and Larry along to be fostered by the same couple.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Nonstop
David and I were both busy nonstop today. He went out to Osaka to shop, pick up one of our cages and litter boxes, then to teach after that.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Trials, tests, and results
We sent An’s Max to be fostered in Tokyo, and we were hoping that he’d be able to bunk at Gucci’s new place.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Ups and downs
A busy week…Gucci went into foster care for a few days and then to a permanent home yesterday.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Looking
David and our volunteers helped with four different TNR projects this week, and a total of 10 cats spayed, so far.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Homework
Takako and I took Miffy to her new home Friday night–an older couple with a granddaughter, that had been eagerly awaiting the new cat’s arrival.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Hidden treasure
Another newbie…this lucky girl escaped as her siblings were being transferred to go to the main animal control center–the one almost all animals never exit alive.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Slow but steady progress for the newbies
Updates on the three new rescues, starting with our little 5 year old. We’ve named her fantasia…
Friday, November 14, 2008
Hind sight and a lucky find
After only being at his new foster home for a little more than a day, Larry got out. The family called us right away, but when we got there, he was nowhere to be seen.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Enclosures, out and about
Adoption events last Monday, and Sunday. A possible new home for our all white kitten, Miffy, and a new foster home for Larry and Moe.
Friday, November 7, 2008
When it rains…
Had a meeting last night to plan and work out dates for 3 TNR projects we want to help start this week.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Down, but not out
New rescue…we found her outside our local bank, obviously abandoned there, and in a very sad state. Went to the vet, who gave her the first injection to start getting rid of the scabies.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Kittens enclosed
Halloween parties finished, and before we know it, it will be time for Christmas parties.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Save the cheerleader, save the world
First Halloween party over, and kids happy with the Halloween ABC game that I made up, but even happier with their loot of Costco candies.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Taming the wildflowers
Not a free minute these days. Shelter work, meetings, emails, website, school Halloween parties prep, and construction.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Trojan English classes and rural legends
Costco, classes (wasn’t late!), and then meeting about the feral colony problem. There were really only two main choices–relocate the cats, or find a new feeder in the current area.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Feeling Genki
Went out early yesterday to set up our booth at the Genki Festa, which is a local health and welfare festival. The weather was perfect, which was lucky as it’s raining this morning.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Hide and seek
David spent the day working in the shelter, and he noticed that the 5 free range kittens were strangely not around.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Perfect weather for trapping
Up early and out trapping cats.
Monday, October 6, 2008
New homes, old traditions
We heard from the couple that adopted Michelle, now Onna, and she’s doing well. She can be spayed anytime, now, and they’ve already made the appointment. Saturday Pepper went to a new home.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Favor or fever?
Contacted by two new people wanting to adopt kittens.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Social butterflies, we’re not
Spent most of yesterday preparing for my classes and then teaching them. It’s my busiest day, with around 65 students, so I don’t usually get much else done.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Diplomacy is always having to say you’re sorry…
Spent the last several days trying to iron out a solution to a big difference of opinion among the groups involved with the park project.
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Saturday, September 20, 2008
The natives aren’t the only ones getting restless
The newest park bunch have tricked us into letting them live outside their cage.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Catching up
Sunday Michelle went to a new home. She’s a cute dark Tabby, very friendly, and one of the Monkeys.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Mild and sunny Saturday
Rice harvest time, so the fields surrounding us are humming with harvesters. The weather has been that perfect temperature, and sunny, that only happens for a short time before the seasons change.
Friday, September 12, 2008
…All Ye Who Enter Here.
The meeting with the city office in the morning went well. The topic was just registering our group as “Volunteers who are working to make our city beautiful.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Our newest Star Wars character
Got a newbie in from animal control–does she not look a little like an Ewok?! Somebody left her outside the center, in a paper bag, overnight.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Night off
My birthday, today, so David took me out for dinner and a movie after classes tonight! Possible, thanks to Takako, who took Mimi to the vet and then to her new owner for us.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
New little calicos
New kittens are doing well…still not comfortable being held, but will play with our hands while in their cage.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
New arrivals
I had classes all day and David went out to pick up 5 kittens and a mother cat found in the park.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Revolving door
Heard from Tokyo that Tansei and Sasuke are doing well. I imagine two active boys can be pretty hard on an apartment, so I hope they aren’t misbehaving too much.
Monday, September 1, 2008
The Adventures of Pepper
An, our tireless 5 kitten foster mom has made up the cutest kitten posters (see more at
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Two to Tokyo
David took Tansei (Elroy) and Sasuke to Tokyo today, so we were up around 5:30am, after a late to bed night cleaning up from the event.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Kids meet kittens
Our new idea for an adoption event worked out nicely–some rain, but a few tarps saved the day.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Two cats are better than one
Went out to the park with Takako to see if we could set up our idea for our kitten adoption event on Saturday. We want to build a kind of enclosed play area for the kittens, which people can enter.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Back to school
Elisa came out on Saturday to help clean the kitten cages and ended up taking one home to foster–Judy, one of the Jetsons.
Friday, August 22, 2008
A new day
Our local animal control contact called to meet with us today with good news.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The signs they are a changing?
Tired today. Trying to juggle classes and a few weighty concerns about the park, have me wishing I could be somebody else for a day.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Five find foster
Went to Osaka today to drop off the five kittens at their new foster home!! We had almost given up hope finding foster care for them, while we look for new owners.
Friday, August 15, 2008
We shall overcome
Just talked with some of the volunteers involved in the park project about the three cats we recently trapped.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Bringing trapping back
Went trapping in the park on Sunday, with Linda and Wim. We were limited as far as the number of traps we could carry on the train, so we were only able to trap 3.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
New homes and careers
Taro, the ginger tabby that we trapped with his mother on Mother’s Day, has left us for his new home in Tokyo.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
A meeting of the minds
Yesterday Lee came out to talk with us about being a foster care giver. She ended up taking Bunny, our white mother cat from animal control, and they seem to be well matched.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Feeling festive
Busy morning yesterday with David in Tokyo, Lulu going for a vet check, and Buchi (!) coming back to the shelter.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Home is where the ball of yarn is
David took Basil to his new home on Saturday. We were a little worried how he would do, since his group has always been the least friendly, but he seemed to settle in right away.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Afraid their little heads are going to start spinning…
One day runs into the next, with cleaning and feeding and cleaning. Fewer English lessons because of the break, so have been putting more energy into the shelter, but there is an endless list.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Still bottle babies
Rain earlier this week, and a little cooler, but today is back to hot weather. The whole “but it’s a dry heat” thing has never been clearer to me.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
What’s bugging me…
I went to ARK on Saturday, with our visitors, while David stayed back to take care of the shelter. Linda and Wim enjoyed meeting Elizabeth, touring the facility, petting cats, and walking some dogs.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Cool cats
What a difference a drop in temperature makes! Yesterday the kittens were stretched out in their cages immobile, and today, with the air conditioner installed, they are back to their playful selves.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
4 squeaky wheels
Have I mentioned it’s hot? New air conditioner for kitten room arrived today. Hoping to get it installed as soon as possible.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Dogs for a day
Takako and I spent the day driving out to ARK
Friday, July 18, 2008
A twist of fate–from death row to life in the Garden
Two new arrivals. A mother and her kitten were abandoned outside of an animal control center in a small, dirty cage, and the vet there felt sorry for them.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Some don’t like it hot.
A problem with our internet connection has had me off line for a few days. Still haven’t figured out how to solve it yet, but am trying to add to the blog. Really heating up here.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Oh Mickey you’re so pretty!
Picked up the kittens last night and had a nice chat with the vet. We’re hoping to put up a notice asking for foster care volunteers for kittens, and he very kindly said he’d help us with it.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Cat’s Reunion
Received pictures and reports on rehomed kittens. They all are doing well, which is great to hear, as it makes the hard work getting them there all worthwhile.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Play with us
Aya san came today and helped clean the kitten cages, which had Larry and Moe thinking it was playtime.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Home is where Gigi is
Feeling a little more back to normal after the rush to prepare for our events and then to get through them.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
For Pete’s sake
Our events on Saturday raised almost $800, together, for our kitten care fund. We really appreciate all of Takako and Gary’s work in planning it all and making it a great success.
Friday, July 4, 2008
3 Days and a Party
Spent most of Wednesday cleaning and rearranging the kitten room. Again. Wanted to fit in one more cage so that we can combine two and make the stooges more comfortable.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Upwardly Mobile
The Herbs have moved into Naruto and Hinata’s empty multilevel cage. They’re enjoying the new window view, hammocks, and racing from the top level to the bottom.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Where’s MY catnap?
The Three Stooges stayed at a clinic in Kyoto over the weekend to be treated for their Calici Virus with interferon.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Separation anxiety
Up early this morning to get the kittens and cats ready for a while on their own.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Chula gets Chosen
Up early to get ready for visitors. Two people came, interested in adopting, and one wants Chula! I’ll be so pleased if Chula finds a home.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Home-wrecker
Today was the day for Maggie and her little herbs to part ways. Maggie goes to be spayed and then released back to the herb garden. Her little ones will get ready for adoptive homes.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
5 is the new 4
5 kittens, not 4, and just under 3 weeks. What a difference a week makes. The difference between a good night’s sleep, and 5 or 6 hours. The difference between a litter box and a tissue box.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Room to grow
Big trip to the vet last night.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Lord of the Ringworm
Poor Pete has been living in his own cage, since he developed a case of ringworm. As his condition has improved, we took him out today for a bit of play–he sat on David’s shoulder and purred.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Another rainy Sunday
David had to make an early morning run to the vet for Davy, who developed some kind of an infection on his naval area.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Name that cat
This morning the three newest kittens from the park decided I might be worth getting to know better–they’ve been very standoffish since they arrived, and we haven’t wanted to push them.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Your Boy Elroy?
Meet one of the cutest kittens in the world…abandoned in a public bathroom at the park.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
On a fast train to Tokyo
We’re in the process of working out sending some kittens to Tokyo ARK for fostering/rehoming.
Monday, June 16, 2008
New black kitten…and more
David went to our group meeting in Kyoto, while I stayed back to look after the newbie. She’s on the thin side, but strong and is cute as a button.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Clean up on aisle “Davy”
Worked the last couple of days upgrading the kitten cages, so that we can more easily disinfect everything as quickly as possible.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Cats with a view…
Someone sent us a cage and some pet sheets today. Good timing since we’re trying to reduce the number of kittens per cage, and need to keep some cages empty to put kittens in during cleaning time.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Naruto goes to Cat Cafe?
Back to the vet with Thelma and Louise. He’s keeping them both at the clinic now, and I’m very relieved.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Cleaning day in the enclosures
Shelter cleaning day, since Tuesday is burnable trash day. As usual, started cleaning Sunday night, and finished this morning before classes.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Late night rescue, early morning miss
Sunday afternoon, and I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to remember that I didn’t get up for bird shooting day patrol.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Park kittens have new homes
Just got back from delivering 4 kittens to new homes! One of our members listed the kittens on a web site, and we’ve had really good luck finding new homes with it.