Mama Madison... Where Is Your Family?????

We still have a mama who is looking for a home. Mama Clarice has raised her brood, put in her time in foster, and not only needs a family of her very own but she totally deserves it too. Her babies were adopted over two months ago and, while I love Mama Clarice and are content to have her here, part of me wonders where on earth her forever family could be.

I refuse to believe that a simply treated, non-life threatening diagnosis is enough to keep the right family away. Today's blog employs the old tactic of showing off our beautiful Mama and asking for help and shares. But we need a new plan, too. If you have ideas on where to share, how to share, and who to contact in order to get our Mama Clarice on the way to her new home, I would gratefully accept them in the comment section or in my e-mail box (teenytinytabbies AT gmail DOT com).

Let's get Mama home!

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A Home for Mama

WANTED: A loving forever home for the sweetest, most gentle, patient and kind mama cat that has ever walked the earth where she will be loved, cherished, spoiled, and treasured for the rest of her life.

Mama Madison came to our southeast Michigan rescue in January along with her 4 bouncing baby kittens. After raising some of the most fantastically friendly, outgoing, brave, loving, and brilliant kittens that I have ever met, Mama said goodbye to her babies as they all left for their forever homes over the past week. Her work done, it is now Mama's turn to find a spectacular home of her very own.

Mama Clarice is an incredibly beautiful long-haired silver tabby. Her tabby markings are more pronounced on her face, where she has white tabby stripes that frame her eyes.

Her tremendous tail plume and fluffy pants are a gorgeous addition to her muted stripes on her body and legs. And Mama's extra-long white whiskers are wild, crazy, and curly... a distinctive accessory for this special lady cat.

Mama Clarice is immensely beautiful and intensely kissable from the tip of her nose to...

The bottom of her tippy toes :)

And just in case you missed those amazing toes the first time...

Don't you want to reach out and touch that toe fluff through your computer screen? If Mama Clarice lived in YOUR house, she'd let you touch them almost any time you want.

Beyond her obvious beauty, Mama Clarice has an amazing personality and beautifully gentle soul.

Three-year-old Mama is quiet and patient. She lived in my house for more than two weeks before I ever heard her voice. The only time she uses it is to express a gentle reminder that her bowl might be empty. I have never seen or felt one of her claws. She has yet to hiss, growl, or spit... even with a menagerie of permanent residents outside the glass French doors to her room watching her every move with her four precious babies. She shows mild interest in playtime and adventuring outside her foster room door, but truthfully... she really only wants you for your love.

Good photos of Mama are somewhat difficult to get because she is truly only concerned with two things... getting enough to eat and loving you (but mostly the second one). She greets me immediately at the door looking for love and affection. Mama performs the most complicated of figure 8 maneuvers by rubbing my legs as  I walk. She purrs unreservedly and showers every visitor with attention.

It doesn't take much more than a chin rub to make our Mama as happy as can be.

She is quite simply...

Remarkable.

Can't you tell?

She loves you already and is waiting for you to bring her home.

And if your home should happen to already have other pets? Mama is good friends with The Roo (our resident 9-month-old kitten). They hang out together throughout the day and happily play wrestle games. She peacefully co-exists with Norman (our resident geriatric kitty) and tolerates the big goofball dog Charlie. The only issue she has is with Simba (our jerkopotamus alpha cat who is more yowl than bite, but she isn't too sure about that). And the problem is coming from him. Because she fears him, Mama Clarice tends to stay upstairs but she is allowed to free roam the house without restrictions.

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A Special Home for Our Mama Cat

Our Mama has tested positive for FIV antibodies and will require a special home, one that takes the time to understand her diagnosis and is willing to provide the proper environment for her.

FIV is not easily spread from one cat to another. It is usually spread either through biting, some other violent act, or through birth. There is much anecdotal evidence that FIV+ cats can live for years with other cats without spreading the virus. FIV+ cats, though, because of the suppression of their natural immune systems are more susceptible to the germs and illnesses of other cats... meaning they catch colds and other diseases more easily than others and, once caught, they have a much more difficult time fighting off the infection and returning to health. 

Our mama has already successfully, and rather easily and quickly, fought off an upper respiratory infection while in our care. She is exceptionally healthy and strong. FIV+ cats, when living in their own little protected bubble, can conceivably live a normal lifespan... well over ten years. The key is protection, a clean environment, and good nutrition. There is no reason to believe that she cannot live happily and without health crises for many years to come.

It should be noted that cats who have been vaccinated for FIV will test positive for the FIV antibodies afterward. Given the fact that we know nothing about her history prior to being dumped at the shelter with her babies, it is entirely possible that Mama is simply a vaccinated kitty. But we must be careful in her placement regardless.

For more information about FIV in cats, please consult the following resources:

Crash's Landing & Big Sid's Sanctuary, a rescue in Grand Rapids, Michigan dedicated to rescuing and placing FIV and Feline Leukemia cats   http://www.crashslanding.org/FivAndFelv.html

Veterinary Partner, an online pet health library   http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1313&S=2&SourceID=42

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine   http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fiv.html

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If you have room for a deserving Mama cat in your life, if you can provide the kind of home we're looking for, if you are willing to give our girl the life of pampered luxury that she so richly deserves, please contact me for more information. You can reach me through several avenues... 

1. Stop by the Whiskers in the Window Facebook page and leave me a private message (using the button directly below the cover photo). 

2. Send me an e-mail to teenytinytabbies (at) gmail (dot) com.

3. Leave me a message in the comments below and let me know how to contact you.

If you don't have a spot in your own home for Mama Clarice, you can still help. Please share her. Not only does she deserve it, but I will keep bugging you about it until she goes to her forever home.

We are in the suburban Detroit area, but that doesn't mean that Mama's home is restricted to Detroiters or even Michiganders. Transport can be arranged for the right family. All we ask is for a home where she will be loved and cared for in the manner she deserves. Everything else is negotiable. So what are you waiting for?