Bowl-A-Thon 2013

The OSC humans want to write about the Bowl-A-Thon, so I offered my blog immediately.  Orange Street Cats saved me and Chance and I would do anything to help them.  Not to worry....my story will continue this week! Read on! 

Blinks and Purrs- 
Little Grace

We are gettin' a little crazy in 2013.  A Bowl-A-Thon! This is something new for us and we are so excited!  As an OSC follower, you know our number one focus is the cats.  We are a small group with a big heart. We have recently had crazy week of intake and as always, funds are tight!  Oh and spring means Kitten season!  Gaaaaaaakk!!!!  We need you and your support!  Come have some fun with us on Sunday.  Maybe win a prize, buy some delicious baked goods, and meet the volunteers that drive Orange Street Cats to success.  Best of all....meet your fellow supporters!

Our President, Iris, and new volunteers Ilene and Samantha have come together and planned a great event.  Bowling, door prizes, 50/50, an auction, a bake sale and a DJ!  The day is coming quick!  Get your teams together and register.  You don't want to bowl?  That is ok!  Come to the event, participate in the 50/50,the auction and cheer on the teams!  

Check out the flyer and register through our website.

The event is being held Sunday, April 14th, from 12 to 3 at the Playdium Bowling Center in Albany.  Orange Street Cats has the whole place!  Even Steve Caporizzo posted our event on his Pet Connection Facebook page.

As you may have seen on Facebook, the cats even got involved.  Radley composed a song and Elvis, Biggie, and Radley plan to have a Blue foster room cheering section.  

Can't come to the event?  You can still help!  You can donate via our website, purchase items for us through our Amazon's Wish List, come to an adoption event,adopt one of our cats, and share our posts, pictures, and blog with your friends!

As always, we thank you for your continued support.  Hope to see you all on Sunday!

The Beginning....Part 2

Part two of my story!  See Part 1 here
Blinks and Purrs,
Little Grace

September 2010
I have been in this cage for weeks.  There are many people that come take care of us, every morning and every night.  They are nice I guess.  People come to my cage and speak softly to me and sometimes they try to touch me.  I brace myself because I don't understand human touch.  Before this, it was rough and uncaring.  Now, it seems ok but I just don't know.  Sometimes, I don't like how someone smells.   

I am wondering what is supposed to happen.  I don't want to be in this cage forever.  I never get to walk around and stretch.  Some of the other cats have gone.  I have heard the people (Chance calls them "volunteers") say some were adopted and some are in foster homes.  I don't know what that means.  Can one of you volunteers explain it to me?  Zoe has been talking to me again.  She said that it is happening soon.  I thought whatever was supposed to happen already did.  I don't know what she means.  I asked Chance and she doesn't know either. 

Hands! Hands! Grabbing! Wait! Where are you taking me?!  Chance!  Chance!  I don't want to leave you!  I don't want to go back to that place.  Wait!!!!  I am back in a small space, it is dark and I hear talking.  The energy is nervous and that makes me terrified!  What if they bring me back to that place?  I was trying to be good!  I made sure not to make a mess. I hear Chance too.  Thanks goodness, at least she is going with me!  Someone named Iris (a "volunteer" Chance says) is saying that she is taking me and Chance to a foster home.  I still don't know what that is so I am scared!  Maybe it isn't the same place but I am scared anyway.   Iris is talking about a picture that someone saw on the internet of me and Chance and they wanted to foster us together.  Is this what Zoe meant?  Iris said that Chris (Chance says that is another "volunteer") cried when she heard someone wanted to help both of us.  

We are stopped and my cage is moving.  Iris is talking to someone.  Do I know that voice?  It seems somewhat familiar but I can't place it.  I don't think we are going back to that place.  We are moving again.  Chance is crying a little bit, I think just to make her presence known.  I am glad.  It soothes me to hear her.  The new person said her name is Suzanne.  She is going to be our Foster Mom.  I like her voice.  I am still not sure what Foster means.  Suzanne is saying that there are other cats at her house.  That worries me.  How many other cats?  Do I have to eat in piles again?  Do I have to fight for space again?  I don't want to do that anymore.  Zoe said this is it.  This is the someone.  I am curious and nervous and maybe a teeny bit interested.   What is next for me and Chance?

Me in a cage in the Garage

The Beginning.....

I look at my life in two phases, numbing terror and utter joy.  Now, I live in utter joy because of my Suzanne and my Guy.  Before utter joy, I lived numbing terror.  I don't know for sure how long I lived like that.  I don't like to talk about it but I will.  My name is Little Grace and this is my story.

June 2010
It is hot here, in this place.  It is stifling and the smell hurts my eyes and my head.  I have to try to stay off the floor because there is nowhere to walk.  There is no clean place to go to the bathroom.  I try to be invisible.  There are so many of us here.  I don't know everyone, just a few....I am scared all the time.  Some of the others are mean.  There are fights for territory and food.  Eating is hard.  We are fed in piles.  Piles of food. The shy and timid cats like me don't get to eat.  I have to prowl around and eat the regurgitated remains of someone else's dinner.  My teeth have been hurting and I think I may have lost a few.  There is one shining light for me here, in this place.  My best friend Chance really tries to stick by me.  She looks out for me and does her best to shield me from the horrors that are visible and invisible.  I feel there is a change coming so I hold on to hope because life isn't really supposed to be like this, is it?

End of July 2010
There has been some activity here.  Strange people knocking on the door.  I heard words like "animal control" and "condemned".  A cat named Zoe has been talking to me.  I can't see her but I hear her.  She tells me to hang in there because someone is coming for me.  I don't know who Zoe is.

There are some new people walking around here with masks on and long sleeve shirts.  It is hot out and they are wearing long sleeve shirts.  From my hiding place, I can see Marion walk right up to one of them.  Marion is showing them around and pointing out some of our hiding places.  What is going to happen?  Hey...they took Marion!  She calls out to all of us..."Pull yourselves together gang....this is it!"  What does she mean?  I can't see Chance to ask her.  I will just stay here.

Early August 2010
I am so scared!  A big gloved hand just grabbed me and put me in a small space!  I don't know what is happening!  I hear soft voices and I hear loud noises and some yelling.   Where is Chance? Do they have her too? 

I am in a dark room and I am by myself in this space.  A cage?  Wait....do I have my own litter box?  Is that food?  Just for me?  Huh.   Is this what Marion meant?  There are people here, talking and being gentle.  I am scared and confused.  I take a few quick glances around and I see Chance right next to me!  Oh Thank Goodness!  Chance! Chance! I am right here!  She winks at me.  Phew!  I wonder what she has done to her cage because it is a mess.  She piled all her stuff in the back.  I asked her what she was doing.  She said "I want to make them work for it."  Ok, what ever that means.  Do I feel safe?  I don't know. I will take Chance's lead on this one. I feel different.  Is this good? 

The original house

Marion

Chance