Why Don’t You Leave Them As They Are?
This question has come up again and again. “Don’t paint the cat, it’s cute as is!” While it’s understandable, it’s also a bit frustrating, but perhaps if the website isn’t explaining it well enough, I should just go ahead and answer it.
My first thought is, sometimes you just have to let go. Growing up in NYC, I watched the city go through a lot of changes. After awhile I had to tell myself not to let my heart break every time one of my favorite diners changed a little bit; some new upholstery here, a chandelier unhinged, a neon sign gone dim. Chin up because change is inevitable. And it’s not always bad.
These cats are precious the way they are, I completely agree. That is why I was attracted to them in the first place, and that is why the ones I’ve had the longest I haven’t got the heart to paint over.
But painting them teal is why they gained so much attention. It gives the kitties a new lease on life. If I just put them up on the Internet unpainted, you might think you’d pay $25 plus shipping, but in reality, you wouldn’t. No one would. That is exactly why they’re staring up at us from the shelves of the Salvation Army, with those precious porcelain eyes, covered in dust and grime, and layers of stickers from yard sales gone by.
And I think that is the very reason why the Teal Cat Project resonates with cat lovers so well. “Why do we paint the cats?” Well, why do we rescue cats? We see their real life eyes staring back at us from cages and we think, how can anyone not love this cat? And so I understand the question. But I also hope you’ll understand the answer!
And on a practical note: I do check out the value of each ceramic cat. We explicitly ask that you do not send us cats over $5 in value. If I find one that would be more worth more not painted, I will not paint it, I can promise you that! But it really just hasn’t happened yet.
And finally, if there truly is a cat that we happen to post somewhere, that you would like unpainted, feel free to request it for the price of a painted teal cat. I have absolutely no problem with that, and honestly it would save me a lot of time! But otherwise, after I’ve spent hours in a hot garage, cleaning the kitties with love, sanding them, priming, painting and shining, I hope I don’t have to hear “Leave it as is!” If everyone left everything as is right now, nothing would get ever get better. So here’s to making things better!
Four Tips For Socializing Feral Kittens
It is inevitable that you will find kittens while participating in Trap-Neuter-Return. What will you do with these kittens? Will you release them after surgery, or will you socialize them and adopt them out? It takes a lot of patience and total commitment to socialize feral kittens. The process can take 2 to 6 weeks, or even longer for older or more skittish kittens. Kittens under 10 weeks of age are ideal for socialization. Kittens over 12 weeks of age often take much longer to socialize, therefore it is not recommended unless you are working with a rescue group and can commit to spending months of daily effort on this process.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
Confinement
Confine the kittens in a large dog cage, or in something that has plenty of room for a small litter box, food and water bowls, and an area for bedding. Keep them confined to the cage until they let you handle them without fear, then you can transfer them to a small room. You don’t want to let feral kittens run loose in a room where they can hide from you.
Consistency
Visit the cage frequently, every few hours if possible. Sit beside the cage and talk to the kittens. Don’t attempt to touch the kittens for the first 2 days. Let them get used to your voice and their surroundings first.
Feeding
Keep fresh water and dry food in the cage at all times, but give them wet food at least twice a day. Make them work for the wet food. Put it at the front of the open cage so that the kittens have to approach you to get it. Use a spoon with wet food to lure kittens towards you.
Handling
After the kittens have relaxed for a few days, you can now attempt to handle them. Reach in the cage slowly using a towel to pick up kittens. Carefully wrap them up with the towel and hold them in your lap. Softly pet and talk to them. The more you interact with them, the faster they will socialize. Kittens can and will bite if they feel threatened, so be cautious and always use a towel.
For more information on socializing feral kittens, visit Socializing Feral Kittens on Alley Cat Allies.
Big Purrin’ Up In NYC
There’s never been a shortage of cats online, but Tumblr really took things to a new level. You’ve got Dreamcats, kittenskittenskittens, Miezekatzen, Fuck Yeah Felines…I could go on. And on. Even with all of that kitty-related content to consider, I still think that this Tumblr, Kitties and Bullshit, deserves a mention here for its special achievements in combining illustration, cats and song lyrics. Read More
Cat Fashion From Pretty Snake
What’s upcycled, teal, and has cats all over it? No, not Teal Cat Project (okay, that too)—it’s a super-cool cat sweater from Pretty Snake!
Ever since I first spotted these amazing sweaters at Honey Kennedy, I’ve been obsessed. They just seem like the perfect gift for the crazy cat lady in your life (um, even if that’s yourself!), right down to the 3D eyes. They’re looking right into your soul!
Pretty Snake has kitty-print t-shirts and tank tops, too, so you’re even covered through the warmer months.
Teal Cat Project Looking For Bloggers
Momentum is building over at Teal Cat Project, and we think it’s time to add an elite cadre of bloggers to the Teal Cat Team. We’re looking for writers to post twice a month, or more if you like. We’re a volunteer project, so there’s no pay, but there will be a few perks!
Please send a few writing samples (from print or web), and an idea of what you’d like to write about. We’re looking for posts that are compatible with the Teal Cat Project mission, so anything crafty, cat rescue related, or cats being adorable, is fair game. And obviously all three things would be magic.
I’ve listed a few things below, and they are just ideas of how things might work, but definitely send your thoughts and ideas if you think you can contribute something that isn’t mentioned.
What we’re looking for:
Crafts & style editor – Style tips, crafting tips, or just plain old finds. We’re looking for someone who knows a little about how to make a bookshelf look just so, and how to turn a dusty old thing into a shiny new object. Decorating, knitting, sewing, upcycling and just having a great eye…if those things describe you, contact us!
TNR expert:
We’d love to have a TNR volunteer let everyone know what’s going on out there on the streets! If you’ve got your ear to the streets and can pass that info on to those of us who aren’t, then you’re our cat. Everything from day-to-day rescue, to legislation, would be your domain. We’re not necessarily looking for a Bob Woodward here, just someone with heart and experience.
Cute specialist:
If you’ve got your finger on the pulse of cuteness, we need you! This project is all about love, and if you can find that love among the millions of photos of kitties, then we need you!
Send writing samples and a little bit about yourself to TealCatProject@gmail.com
Thanks for your support!
