Nikolupdate
“In Soviet Russia, cat adopt you, okehhhhh?”
Niko is coming home to my apartment this afternoon. This is not going to make me very popular with the ranking felines, but the kind woman at Feline Felicity is coming by tomorrow for a “home visit,” to see if she can recommend a placement.
He seems to have a bit of an upset tummy at the moment, probably as a result of the thyroid issue (and wolfing his food…I almost lost a finger this morning. It’s just Fancy Feast, grandpa, settle down).
If you might consider taking him, even if you’re not super-local, please email me. I mean, look at that face. Also, I haven’t gotten a picture of it, but when he gets a big tail, holy crap. Peacock City, and he’s the mayor.
He’s awesome, you guys. And you guys are really awesome, too; thanks so much for your support and offers of help. We really appreciate it.
Tags: feline fun times friends Nikolai
That look he’s giving you just screams, “Are you my mommy?”
Gaaaaah I wish I could take him! That face! Alas, Abby is already getting a little sister (going to meet her soon to see if we hit it off) and possibly a baby brother as well…I don’t think we can add a grandpa to the family too. I would if it was just me here, but I live with two other people who aren’t even thrilled about the older female I’m hoping to adopt…
I for reals want him, but I’m in Chicago. With no car.
Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuux.
Look at those wise eyes! If I could, I would totally take him. Darn lease agreement.
Let us know how your current cats take to Nikolai.
I too was one thinking ‘help Sars out with Vet bills’ but since you vetoed that I tossed some dosh towards DonorsChoose in his honour.
From all the posts he’e been getting, I reckon the TomatoNation could fund his travel to a new home if one can’t be found in the immediate vicinity. I’d chip in for sure.
Meeble.
And I’m not even cat person. Hope you find a good home for little Kolyushka. And his mighty morphin’ tail.
Damn, I wish I could. My very first personal cat was a red Nicco – a Niccolo, he was. And one of the boys I have now (a tuxedo), used to bring me home red kittens, before I caught him and ended his wandering days (he’s mine and indoors now). Red cats are so affectionate. I wish I could.
And because I forgot to say it earlier: Sars, I love you. Poor kitty. You can see already he’s a beauty. *snf*
Ahhh! The cuteness! It will consume us all. :)
Oh, he just *looks* like a wise old man. And a very cute one, at that. I’m loving the wavy chest fur!
So sweet! Looking forward to hearing where he winds up – with you or a new family. Good luck Niko and Sars!
Ditto to the nth for the rescue. There’s a special place in the universe for people who take care of animals. Can you beat the abandoning subhuman with the flaming beehive and then stick it up the miscreant’s a$$? Maybe then it would be enough.
Quick question, no teeth, but does Nickolai have his claws?
Aw, if I didn’t live in Texas with a giant dog, I would totally take Nikolai. Look at that face! That is a good cat, right there. And you are good people, Sars.
And please update us on how the meeting with Hobe and Little Joe goes!
I’m allowed a cat in my apartment. It’s VERY tempting. I just don’t think I can quite afford it given current finances. I wish you well, though, and Little Orphan Kitty also.
OMG, how could someone leave that face in the street?
Tomato Nation’s hart, i haz it.
@RV: Niko has his claws. Just ask my right breast. Sigh.
@FloridaErin: I think the waves may be…nappiness. To add to the fun, I’ll probably have to give him a bath, so if I don’t post for a few hours, send in a rescue party.
I was just at the pet shop, and I checked their board to see if anyone had lost the Tsar, but I didn’t see any signs. I *did* see two dozen *other* signs for cats that had been found and taken in by various peeps in the neighborhood.
I understand being at the end of your rope when the pets act up, belieeeeeve me. I understand feeling like your whole house stinks and it’s war all the time, I understand pilling a cat is not the most fun you can have with Kevlar on, I understand the felicidal feelings that come over you like a wave at 3:42 AM after the seventillionth plaintive “mee!” that has neither cause nor solution. But THIS IS WHAT OWNING A PET IS. It is not for everyone, and not everyone can at least get some petty satisfaction from blogging about their stupid cats (although it does help and I recommend it), but life is not a fucking Purina commercial, and if you can’t take the bad with the good, get fish.
Actually, don’t. Fish deserve better. Get a table.
Two kittens were just dumped in our lawn a few weeks ago. They’re ours now-we were going to try and find them a family, but well, a big racoon turned up, and what could we do but take them inside, right? Once they’re in the house, that’s it. So be warned!
I do think there are always better options than just dumping a cat/other animal, but I have been hearing a lot of stories about how this has been happening recently-a lot-due to forclosures. Which isn’t an excuse, at all, in my book, but something beyond the scum reaction that first comes to mind reading this story.
So, you know, if you have the extra money, donations to local shelters don’t hurt either. They’re apparently overflowing right now, as if they weren’t already.
Oh, what a little cutie pie! If he were in Florida, he would SO be in my house with Wolfie and Coco (who are Russian Blues and would be able to communicate!).
For the record, Wolfie just loves to pee on our $8k sofa, even though we have THREE litterboxes in a 690 square foot apartment. Guess what? That’s what pet ownership is all about. You have to take them, warts and all, when you sign up for this ride.
I am so very, very tempted right now. My cat of thirteen years died recently and I had just lost her half-brother the previous year, and even though I just got a new kitty, he needs company! Dammit. If I hadn’t just spent a LOT of money trying to save my dying Lady (having just recovered financially from the LOTS spent trying to save my dying Ringo), I’d totally take him. Damn money and needing it to eat and such.
I sent an e-mail; I’m still pretty sure I’m a bit far away for getting to him, but my god he looks like a little tiny lion!
I think the toothless thing he’s got going on is really a plus, personally. That could be the over $400 I just spent on the once every two years teeth cleaning talking, but still. He doesn’t really need the teeth with wet food (actually, a fellow dog owner that has a pup with no teeth says that his guy can even crunch hard food with the bones that are under the gums or whatever) and that saves you the biggest chunk of change that my cat costs me.
I’m thinking the Tsar would enjoy living up here close to his Russian home (AK), but my cat barely tolerates the dog that I foisted off on her- I think another cat would end up leading to a revolution against me and all my currently non-pee covered things. Good luck, Sars and Niko!
*Sars* Let us know how Nikolai’s first bath (with you anyway) goes. And Pictures! I’m curious to see what he looks like once he’s been washed and fluffed.
Aw. My husband opened the living room curtains one morning and found an orange cat sleeping under the window. Poor little guy was skin and bones, but SO sweet. It was obvious that he was someone’s cast-off, because he had no problem with being indoors, and he loved everyone. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to abandon him.
Of course now he’s ten pounds heavier, the “I love to be picked up and cuddled” act was a total con (he HATES being picked up), and we had to replace the flooring upstairs because he totally destroyed the carpet with pee. And he’s STILL the best cat in the world. There’s just no excuse for abandoning your pet.
Amen, yo. I also understand the felicidal feelings in the early a.m. when a fat cat has decided, that for some reason, the shower curtain in the master bath represents the deepest and fallout-boy-est levels of angst viewable by a cat, and must therefore empty out her very soul in mourning.
I always threaten to bake her into a pie.
It fails to stop her, she knows I don’t cook.
Oh, if I didn’t already have an elder statesman of sixteen in the house…
My monster has shredded the arms of my formerly expensive sofa, destroyed 2 duvets & their covers, pees all over the place when she gets her biannual urinary tract infection (carpet cleaning + vet bills = mucho, mucho dinero), gets corked up every so often & requires professional & expensive uncorking, chews on my hair when I’m asleep until I wake up, tapdances on my head when I’m asleep until I wake up, tries to burrow under the covers with me until I wake up, etcetera,etcetera [Yul Brynner voice] until I threaten to make her into fur slippers.
And…she’s been with me 11 years now and doing this all along, so who am I kidding. This is the reality of pet life. If you value your pristine furniture over your lower blood pressure, enjoy your pet-free zone.
Also, while I recognize that times is tough and people may find that it’s a choice between feeding their kids & feeding their pet, there are humane ways to ease your pet out of your life and it’s your duty to the little life you took responsibility for to find one. And if you loved the animal enough to make it part of your life in the first place, you should love it enough to find it the best possible substitute. Leaving your cat on a park bench is not the answer, and carries a whiff of eau-de-sociopath.
I know, preaching to the choir here.
“life is not a fucking Purina commercial, and if you can’t take the bad with the good, get fish. Actually, don’t. Fish deserve better. Get a table.”
Yeah, there’s one I’ll be using early and often (with credit where it’s due).
@AlisonE – also loving the “It fails to stop her” observation. *Snerk*
My beloved ex and I used to have a little orange and white boy we called Oi-zee (my license plate at the time, on my little bronze hatchback, was OIZ something-something), and he was The Dearest Thing Ever. We totally took care of the little guy, but he left us without a goodbye after about a month. We still talk about him from time to time, 15 years and a whole divorce later.
Beasties make life possible sometimes. And, on occasion, they even make it necessary – which ain’t bad either. I have a dog currently, whom I found out too late (but wouldn’t have changed my mind over this, probably) is an INVETERATE kitty hater. So I miss puddies, very very much. For someone to discard one – whatEVER the possible list of reasons – is baffling and cruel. Even if you feel at the end of your rope, abandonment in a box is hardly a justifiable go-to option. Sheesh.
*Wanna go home and scritch Stinky McFourlegs*
*Sigh*
Ooh, I wish I could take him but 1) I am in Virginia and 2) my dad is deathly allergic to cats and I would like him to come visit me sometime. But I hope he finds a home soon!
I live just north of the of the Bronx, and have three former strays in my family. A dog and two cats, none of whom seemed to make it to the shelter. Ah, well.
Unfortunately, can’t take this guy in, BUT I have a car. I am williing to chauffeur Nikolai anywhere within four hours of NYC. Any further than that, and I wouldn’t be able to get to the new home and back in a single day. I can devote a day to this particular cat. Sars, if it’s okay with you, I’d be happy to pick him up at your place and drive him straight to a new home myself.
Boston? Philly? Connecticut and Jersey at large? You want a cat? If someone from the ‘burbs nearby wants him, and I can get there in 30 minutes or less, I’ll throw in a free pizza. :)
He’s adorable! And shame on the asshat that left him in a box! If I didn’t live so far away (I’m in L.A.) I’d gladly take him in.
That’s amazing, Angie. I’ll keep you posted. Thank you so so much for the offer.
Backing up Angie- I’m all the way in Chicago, so I doubt I’d be part of any kitty-related caravan (though if it made it this far, I’d be happy to help), but if someone wants to help transport the tsar beyond Angie’s boundaries to a new home, I’d be happy to chip in gas money (seein’ as it’s not cheap these days). I’m one more “I’d take him if I could…” but I already have two cats, a dog, and a baby on the way, so if I can help in THIS way, I’d be thrilled. Every cat deserves a home, darnit.
He’s a sweetheart! It’s all I can do to restrain myself from jumping in my car and driving up from NC.
I do not have a car, but Angie’s generous offer is highly motivating – I’ll donate a bag of fresh Wellness dry food (the stuff’s expensive, but it’s high quality) that should last a month to anyone who takes this cat, plus a box of Arm & Hammer litter.
I have 3 cats; yes, cat food can get expensive, but I clip coupons, note what flavors they’ll actually eat, and what brands they like and look for sales. Costco also has lots of options. Wellness brand dry food lasts longer than the cheap stuff; my guess is that the higher quality ingredients satisfies them longer. Also, Arm & Hammer brand litter is the best I’ve found yet.
This is probably an unworkable idea, but if Sol in Chicago wants him for reals, and we have at least one person who can drive a chunk of time, maybe a kitty railroad might be possible? Have a bunch of people each drive short legs of the trip? I’m pretty useless for driving unless you’re headed toward New England, but I’d definitely be willing to chip in a gas card to help out.
@Sars- Ahhhh. I was hoping it was natural (I’ve seen it on some), but I had a small hunch it was a grooming issue. Good luck with that bath! ;-)
As for Felicidal feelings, I’ve had a few. Mainly over my big boy’s new trick (and isn’t it amazing that, no longer how long you own them, they pull out new habits? Eeesh). At about 4am, he sits on my dresser and . . . paws at my mirror repeatedly. I have no idea what he’s doing! He literally just sits and runs his paw dawn my mirror like he’s trying to bury something on it, making this horrible soft scraping noise. Not quite scratching, but that’s the only way I can describe it. I’m buying a squirt bottle and keeping it at my bedside, because I haven’t been able to find anything at arm’s reach to throw at him that isn’t a) a pillow that I want or b) my cell phone.
In other news, I love my babies. :-)
Ooh, he is such a cutie!! I’ll gladly join in on the community flogging of whoever left him out there alone and scared. The nerve of some people…
If I was closer (SF is kinda far) and didn’t already have 5 kitties, I’d have taken him. We used to have and old orange tabbie that we adopted from a shelter. He used to stand on my chest at bedtime and make biscuits on my chest (ow, boobs don’t take kindly to kitty pencil paw poundings).
Hopefully the the commenter from your last post (Lydia? Linda?) who said she’d take him works out.
Although I can’t take Niko in myself (but would love to…what a gorgeous little lionface!), I’d like to do something to help out. I’d be willing to kick in a bit for gas, or I’d be willing to pick up a few toys for His Highness on Etsy. There are some fabulous catnip fortune cookies from a few sellers…and it does seem like Nikolai needs some good fortune!
Sars/Angie/crew, give me a heads up when he’s found a permanent home, wherever it may be.
I’m one of the people who sell cute cat toys on Etsy, and I’d be happy to chip in a full set for the lucky new owner!
Sars, let me know who gets him (and their addy) and I’ll send along a fresh batch of sushi, with an eggroll and fortune cookie chaser!
Sars, your readers rawk. on and on day and night they rawk nonstop. what good karma we’re all passing along. keep on rawking until little Niko has a forever home.
let us hope the poor person who was obviously foreclosed upon yesterday and vacated home post-haste without a new home secured, will be healthy and well and safe with a home also, very soon.
meanwhile, VOTE, people.
and in point of clarification, this foreclosed upon person would be Niko’s previous human, hence the abrupt abandonment.
Aw, you guys are all such heroes.
God, I’m so hormonal I’m crying. Seriously, if we can get the cat here, I’m in. I really am. I’ve never owned a cat (only dogs, belonging to other people) and I’ll have to get creative come xmas, but seriously. (I might have to call him Nicodemus though…no teeth? Wise old man face?) I don’t have a lot of money to spare, but I can post pics, and maybe even video if this actually works out.
I am emailing Sars now.
By the way – hormonal in that Colin Powell made me cry today too. Not that y’all aren’t awesome or anything.
And I cat sit all the time – I’ve just never owned a cat. And I count my brother’s dog as mine, so…yeah. Just to explain the previous post. Apparently I’m super sensitive right now too. Jeez.
So, add me to the list of willing helpers–if Nik gets out to Chicago I can chip in six hours of drive time, and if he doesn’t make it this far I’ll happily toss a BP card or some kitty starter-cash into the ring. Please keep us posted–I’m pretty sure we are all for reals with this, and we will find a way to get this little champ to the home he deserves.
If we can get the cat to Sol, I’ll kick in some VetBuck$ as part of his dowry. I’ll kick in some VetBuck$, in fact, no matter who Niko winds up with, because I was having this heavy, creeping feeling that it was going to be me, because I really want to take him, and I’m in the Dropoff Zone. (Not so good for the desperately asthmatic, though. Not that that has stopped me in the past. But it should have.)
And Sol? If you need help at Christmas, maybe I can do something. Remember: Duct tape is your friend, and orange cat hair is very flattering; it’s very softening to the complexion. (Yes, these two comments are related.)
I second (third? fourth?) the offers of food and kitty litter to whoever ends up with Niko, please let us know where to mail ’em. (And I have a 16-year-old kitty with thyroid problems, but we mush the half a pill up in her food twice a day, and she’s good to go, so six-years-younger Niko will be just fine. The upset tummy from the meds goes away fast.)
Sarah, for what it’s worth, we’re coming that way in a couple weeks. We’re in northern Delaware and Philadelphia November 6-9. I can pick him up in the Philadelphia area and get him back to central Ohio – can we get him to Chicago from here? Sorry – we’d take him, but we’re running a geriatric ward already with heart patients, diabetes and our own toothless wonders. Meanwhile, all I need in exchange is a little flaming beehive action for the jerks that dumped all over our cats at various points. We’ve got a soft spot for helping little guys in need – a few years ago, someone hit a cat in front of us, left him struggling in the road and we paid the vet bills just to have him put to sleep. And we’ll not even talk about the cats we’ve pawned off on others…. As my husband likes to say, “People suck,” and I thank all of you for reminding me that’s not always true!
I snuck a crumbled pill into his dinner no problem.
The ranking felines are not enthused, and Nikolai is apparently an even more enthusiastic litter-sprayer than Joe (which is saying something), and I still need to give the Tsar a bath, which I dread, but we’re doing okay so far.
I have an now-elderly Himalayan who was dumped at the vet by her stupid hobby-breeder (ugh) owner WHEN SHE WAS A KITTEN because she had FLEAS and they WANTED TO PUT HER DOWN. What the hell is wrong with people? The vets said “uh no”, and gave her to my cat-mad family.
Anyways, you guys are awesome, and I think if I lived in the area (as opposed to inner-city Sydney) I would be after the Ginger Tsar.
Stupid Tomato Nation making me cry at work.