Louie (January 2024 - Present)

When Louie's Mom Carolee went into the hospital she asked me to take care of Louie. "He likes to go out into the hallway," she said.

I had helped Carolee with Louie before so I agreed to take good care of him while mommy recovered from surgery. Every day for two weeks I handled Loiue's needs and spent time sitting with him in the hallway as he greeted residents getting on and off the elevator on the third. floor.

Louie is a handsome Siberian cat, his blue eyes set behind a gray mask. He was born Kuz'kin Dom Louis on April 9, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. His father was Kuz'kin Dom Emir and his mom was Kuz'kin Dom Eva. Louie arrived at Sky Harbor airport on April 12, 2019 to begin life with his new mom Carolee.

Because of his good looks and gentle behavior, Louie was well known and well liked. The residents knew Louie, the caregivers knew Louie, and the housekeepers knew Louie. Evem some of the guests knew Louie.

While Carolee was in the hospital, Loiue didn't like being alone. He was often heard crying in the apartment. When Carolee's recovery stretched into two weeks, I brought Louie to our apartment with our cat Yeti Bear. The two cats had met and it appeared they would get along. And get along, they did.

Louie and Yeti Bear became inseparable. Yeti Bear shared his drinking fountain and his window shelf with Louie and soon Louie began teaching Yeti Bear the layout of the hallways. However, Yeti Bear, who had lived a rough life for some time before his rescue, came charging home at the sight of someone in the hall. But Yeti Bear always stopped at the door to check the hall and be sure his buddy Louie was okay.

Louie missed his mommy and every day he would make the treck up the hallways to his apartment. I would follow him, let him in, and watch as he looked around hoping mommy would finally be home. One day he showed me his toy box. It was tucked into a corner in the bedroom. I selected a few toys from the box but he wasn't interested in playing. I hugged him and told him mommy would be home soon.

Unfortunately, Carolee's recovery stretched beyond two months. Although Louie checked for her every day, he soon became very comfortable living with Yeti Bear. I took pictures and sent them to Carolee and her daugtter Leslie.

Carolee loved her Louie very much but after returning home from her long recovery, she was too weak to provide his care. We kept our doors open and Louie commuted between apartments but he always returned to eat, use the litter box and to spend the night with Yeti Bear. Carolee saw that Louie was happy and we promised her that we would always look after Louie.

It was with a heavy heart the day we learned our beautiful, dear friend Carolee did not survive the night. We will forever keep our promise to this beautiful lady and be sure that her Louie has a forever home with his buddie Yeti Bear for the rest of their days.

Yeti Bear (May 1, 2023 - Present)

On the third day of May we adopted a wonderful rescue kittie named Yeti Bear. Just one day after Lucky crossed the Rainbow Bridge, I spent the early morning browsing the Petsmart adoption website for adult male cats. When the name "Yeti Bear" popped up I was curoous and wondered why anyone would name a cat "Yeti Bear?"

Well, here is Yeti Bears's story.

“Yeti Bear, born 1/1/20 (best estimate), is a large portly kitty with an old man soul. He was caught up in a TNR (trap-neuter-return) project and the colony caretaker discovered that he is actually a very sweet kitty, not feral at all. Initially we thought he was older. He has a gravitus about him, and a serious demeanor, and had several damaged teeth. He also had dreadlocks and, despite the colony caretaker trying to brush out his hair, some of the matts just couldn't be tamed.

So off to the vet he went to get his dental issues addressed and get a good grooming. Imagine our surprise when our vet informed us that the cat we thought was ten was in fact no more than 3 years old! Clearly he had been living rough for some time, and that likely resulted in the damaged teeth and poor coat. After having several tooth extractions, a dental cleaning and a good bath and shave (this was found to be the only way to tame the matts so he got a modified lion cut) Yeti is looking for his forever home.

His main requirements are a Sunny place to stretch out and nap, plenty of food to eat, wet food once a day, and petting. He would not object to being spoiled a bit. Yeti would probably do best as an only cat- he is fearful around other cats and can be territorial, but in his foster home he has coexisted peacefully with a female and a male kitty, both non- alpha and very laid back- so he may do ok with other very mellow cats after a proper introduction . He has not been directly exposed to dogs but does show anxiety when he hears dogs barking. Yeti Bear is neutered, up to date on all vaccines, dewormed, microchipped and ready for the perfect Sunny window sill.”

The day we met Yeti Bear I asked Joan how she felt about the cat. "He makes me smile," she said. That day we took Yeti Bear home with us and decided to keep his name "Yeti Bear." Yeti Bear was anything but beastlkj1iu52y; he was soft and cuddly but Yeti Bear defined who he was when he was found, Yeti Bear fit his piercing sea-green eyes and Yeti Bear fit his serious expression.

For those who may not know, "Yeti" is a mythical beast purported to inhabit the Himalayan mountain range in Asia. In western popular culture, he is commonly referred to as the Abominable Snowman. Today there is evidence that the legend of the Yeti is probably related to sightings of the Himalayan brown bear. Our Yeti Bear probably looked like this mythical beast with his matted fur and broken teeth when he was found.

On Yeti Bear's first few days he played Hide-and-Seek. We found him among Joan's dolls, among knick-nacks in the TV console, behind the venitian blinds in the office window, under a cabinet in my closet and under the bed. Yet he joined us for happy hour and stretched out on the couch, the only cat that seemed to like belly rubs.

Lucky (Feb 4, 2015 - May 1, 2023)

On February 3, 2015 Joan and I went to meet Lucky. That day I filed the adoption papers with Anthem Pets and arranged to pick Lucky up the next day. We took Lucky home on February 4th and on that day Lucky also appeared as Pet of the Week in The Foothills Focus with a similar photo and the following story.

“I once had a family and lived in a comfortable home in Anthem where I was loved and had all the comforts a cat could ever want or need. One day, though, my family began packing up their belongings, but instead of taking me with them, they opened the door and let me out into the backyard. I watched them drive away -- confused, terrified. The neighbor lady noticed me in the yard a few days later. She occassionally put food and water out for me. Oh, how I missed being inside my house. I stayed close thinking they would come back but they never did. As time went on, I learned to live outside, but I sure missed my warm bed, snuggling up with my person and the feeling of being loved by someone. I never gave up hope.

One day a couple of ladies with metal boxes came by and placed them under the covered patio and then left. I was intriqued and also enticed by something that smelled delicious inside the boxes -- I was so hungry that after a short while I decided to take a chance. Inside was a banquet of the most wonderfully prepared tuna I'd ever had in my life. I enjoyed it so much I forgot where I was and stepped forward to get the last crumb and "slam" the back door shut and I was stuck. It was very scary, but I've come to realize it was a blessing. When I woke up the next day I was in a warm and safe home. There was a nice lady talking to me. Suddenly she just scooped me up and held me close. That was nice. I've been with my foster mom for several weeks now and doing great, I feel so blessed to have been given a second chance. By now you prpbably understand why they decided to call me Lucky!

Now I am neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped but during the time I was loose and unvaccinated I got Feline Imunodeficiency Virus from another cat. FIV cannot be passed to humans or other animals but it can be passed to other cats. I should be the only cat in your home. I am a male kitty, approximately 5 years old, great with kids, cats and small dogs. Please call Anthem Pets to schedule a meet and greet with me. I will be the love of your life if you will let me!”

On our visit with Lucky we immediately fell in love with him. He was a beautiful gray and white Ragdoll cat with a tiny gray gotee. The scars on his nose told me he was stronger than whatever tried to hurt him. But the first night we had Lucky he was scared and hid under the guest bedroom bed. In the morning, I opened the patio door and in a flash, Lucky darted out, cut across the yard, scaled a 6' wall in a single leap and disappeared.

It was embarrassing to call Anthem Pets and tell them the cat we adopted yesterday ran away today but they gave me instructions, the phone number of the ladies who had the trap, and they assurred me he would probably not go far.

I put his litter box outside along with the trap and food. I also placed the pet carrier outside the front door with some tuna fish. That night we heard a noise so I went out front to check the trap. It looked undesturbed so I went through the gate into the back yard. Something was on the wall. I shined my flashlight. It was Lucky. My heart jumped for joy.

I tried to approach him but he ran down the wall to the front of the house. Then he came back up the wall. I went into the house to get some dry food but he would not let me approach him. I sat at the patio table for awhile and he watched walking up and down the wall. When I reached my hand out with the food, he ran down the wall again and disappeared into the night.

Some neighbors joined us in our search with flashlights but Lucky was nowhere to be found. The whooting of an owl nearby made me nervous but our only choice was to go back inside and hope the trap did its job.

Soon there was a "tap" on the front door. Imagine my surprise when I opened the door to see Lucky sitting in front of the doormat looking up at me very courious. I slowly stepped out the door but he ran away. I was sure by now, though, that Lucky knew where he lived. I brought the liter box in the house and placed the trap in the back yard with fresh tuna and water and we went to bed.

In the morning I awoke at 6:00 AM and the racket and meowing coming from the backyard got me out of bed immediately. Lucky was in the trap and he was not happy at all. The food and water dishes were upside down. I carefully brought the box in the house making sure all the doors were shut. Lucky had claws so I was careful removing him from the trap but he let me hold him and hug him. Perhaps he remembered the last time he was trapped and given a second chance.

Lucky soon became a calm and devoted cat but he yearned to be out doors. So, in time, I took him out. At first in a harness and leash but I was sure that, since Lucky came home to us, he would not run away again. And I was right. Lucky sat on the wall. slept on the wall, traveled the perimeter of the house on the wall and even hunted from the wall. He even liked to climb the tree in our back yard.

Lucky had the freedom of the frontyard and the backyard via his wall but Lucky never ran away again. Lucky did become the love of our life as he promised and you can certainly call us "Lucky" to have had him!

On May 1, 2023 Lucky lost his three-month battle against an intestinal tumor. He weighed just 6 pounds, down from 12 pounds. You are truly the smartest, most gentle, loving cat I have ever known and you will be in my heart forever. I will miss our hugs and sitting with you out on the patio every morning after you checked out the yard. R.I.P my precious Lucky. " -- Daddy Charlie

Brandy (October 6, 1994 - January 21, 2015)

One day in October 1994 someone found a tiny gray kitten lost on the side of the road. When I saw that cute little face peeking out of the carrier, I knew she had to be mine. I named her Brandy and for the next 20 years and 4 months we were inseperable.

Brandy was a purrr-fect pet. She was a small, tidy cat with a whisper meow. Always independent, she reserved a stern hiss for any stranger who came too close.

Two vivid memories I have are "Brandy the kitten." Having never owned a cat before, I followed her veterinarian's advice to have her declawed and to use a spray bottle to discipline her. But when I saw her bloddy, bandaged paws I was horrified. And, the spray bottle worked but it also made her extremely afraid of the sound of any spray. I decided I would never do either to another cat.

Brandy was never a "picky eater." She always had a bowl of dry food and I fed her first thing every morning and again when I got home from work. She ate 1/4 can of Friskies for each meal Monday through Thursday. Then, Friday through Sunday she had a 1/2 can of Fancy Feast fish for each meal. Brandy would never turn down tuna fish so if I had tuna, Brandy had tuna.

Brandy loved to play in a paper bag. One day, without thinking, I gave her a "shopping bag." As usual Brandy jumped right into the bag. However, when the handle of the bag got caught around her neck, she panicked. Racing through the house, under the bed and under the furniture, she ripped the bag to shreds before I could catch her and pull the handle off of her neck. After that, Brandy never played in another paper bag.

Brandy liked to stretch out between my legs at night and she was usually laying on my chest purring for her breakfast by 7 am in the morning. If I didn't wake up, she would jump from the top of the chest-of-drawers and land on me in the bed. Brandy only weighed about 8 pounds but this tactic of her's usually got me out of bed.

Brandy lived with me in Pennsylvania and then moved with me to Arizona. To my surprise, she was the best kitty ever on the trip across the country. I stopped at pet-friendly motels after every 8 to 10 hours on the road, set up her litter box, and gave her food and water. I would shower and go out to dinner. Brandy was always asleep on the bed when I returned.

Through the years Brandy never seemed to age. When we moved to Anthem, AZ with Joan, Brandy took over the guest bedroom as her own. As she did in Philadelphia, Brandy liked to go outside with me. In Philly she never attempted to jump the wall and run away and in Anthem she would not step off the patio into the rocks.

Then, in December 2013, a diagnosis of constipation would, instead, prove to be a colapsed colon. After more than 20 years together, Brandy crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Rest in Peace my precious little cat. You are loved and greatly missed Brandy. This is your story and I can only hope I did you justice telling it.

Chubby Foster Pet

“It was bitter cold night with a hint of snow in the air. I found a box of rags on an old wooden desk sitting on a covered patio. I had slept here before because the rags were dry. Tonight I snuggled into the box fluffing up my fur to keep warm.

When Charlie came out on the patio I didn't run. Other nights I had bolted over the back wall and disappeared. Tonight, I was too cold to run. He picked me up and hugged me. It was nice. He took me into the house where it was warm and gave me some food and water. Then, to my surprise, he set up a litterbox and a nice warm bed for me to sleep in.”

That is the beginning of Chubby's story but it would be spring before Chubby would find his fur-ever home. Since Brandy might be territorial, I kept Chubby in the basement. However, I had five tenants that used the washer and dryer in the basement so I put a note on the door so they would not be caught off guard when they found a cat roaming around in the basement.

I took Chubby to Brandy's vet and she gave him a clean bill of health. My next step was to try to find "Chubby's" owner. I posted flyers and contacted the local SPCA. Months passed and no one claimed Chubby. The weather was warming and Chubby was always happy when someone came into the basement and gave him some attention.

There was an outside door to my basement on 27th street. I usually parked on on 27th street and often brought my groceries in through that door. For months Cubby would follow me out to the car and then come back in with me. He never atrempted to run away. But I decided he needed a better life than the basement. He needed a more attention, more love and a warm bed.

I posted several newspaper ads before a charming young couple called about Chubby. We arranged to meet at my house and I explained to them that I kept him in the basement because I had a cat. I also explained that Chubby was not fat but that I had named him Chubby because he had "puffed up his fur" to keep warm the night I found him and he looked like a "fat cat."

The minute they saw Chubby they fell in love with him. They sat on my basement steps petting and hugging him. He liked the attention and that night they decided to adopt him and to keep the name Chubby.

I shared the expense of the vets visit, Chubby's shots and neutering with them and they took Chubby home. For several years they sent pictures of Chubby's progress to me and they truly loved their cat. It was a very sad day when I received an email from them that Chubby had passed away. Chubby had brightened so many lives and I will never forget Chubby.

Over the years I have lost track of their names but I have never forgotten them or Chubby. Only three photos remain of Chubby and, although I only fostered Chubby, he was missed and will always be remembered by me.