All of the "boat cats" have now been adopted!

In August 2006, workers at a boat dealership in Austin discovered a litter of seven tiny tabbies, aboard a boat that had been delivered from Houston. We imagine the mother cat was away hunting, or was startled, when the boat was hauled away. One of our volunteers brought them to Thundering Paws, and most of the kittens were in foster care before being adopted.

The last two "boat cats" at Thundering Paws were Solace and Victor. They have just been adopted, together! We'll miss them, but we know they'll be happy in their new home. We would like to thank the workers who saved them, and all the volunteers who cared for and adored them, and the adopters for giving them good homes.

Solace

Victor

There's nothing like a nice snug box to make a kitty feel secure. At Thundering Paws, we have plenty of boxes, carriers, beds, and even some open cages for cats to rest in. Edward is fond of this special pyramid-shaped box. Is he grooving to the supernatural resonance of pyramid power? Probably not, he's just naturally a very happy cat -- but it does make a good spot for a nap.

Edward relaxing in the pyramid

Edward is available for adoption along with his sister Evelyn. They are such a sweet pair.

Evelyn grooming Edward

Contact us if you'd like to know more about them.

Rocky, who didn't have a name at the time, was a stray cat living in a field in Round Rock. A kind woman named Angie fed him and one time took a tick off his eye area when he presented it to her. He showed absolutely no aggression, either when she peeled the tick off of him, or at any other time.

One day, however, she noticed some children tormenting him. I don't know--nor do I want to know--what they were doing. Before she could intervene, Rocky bit one of his tormentors and was subsequently hauled off to the Round Rock kill shelter. Fortunately for him, they kept him alive for rabies observation.

Angie and I spent a frustrating few days trying to find someone to whom the Round Rock shelter would release the cat. Beverly Williams from Animal Trustees of Austin offered help, as did Sheila Smith from Shadow Cats. Sheila took him out of the shelter and our veterinarians' office offered to keep him for rabies observation until his ten days was up. At that time, he showed no sign of rabies, so he came to Thundering Paws, where he got his name. He has certainly shown no aggression since he came here.

Rocky is a LARGE brown tabby, and he's probably around two or three years old. He enjoys being petted but does not like to be picked up. He is not crazy about the other cats here, but he is settling in and getting used to them. He arrived on Tuesday, 12/26/06, and he will probably be let out of his cage on Monday, 1/1/07. He was tested negative for feline leukemia and FIV at the vet's office. We should have a picture of Rocky up on our website by 1/7/07 at the latest.

Rocky is a good fellow and we are happy to help him find his forever home. If you are interested in adopting Rocky, or any of our other animals, please fill out the online adoption application, or call 512/402-9725.

Thank you for all you do for animals!

The Lost Bunny was out looking for a little something to nibble on. It was pretty scary hopping around all alone with nothing to eat and no comfortable hutch to rest in. There were dogs around, and foxes, and cats, and hungry coyotes. The Lost Bunny was not a wild rabbit. He was a big fluffy white bunny with cute grey ears and pink eyes. He was definitely not the kind of bunny that should be alone in the woods.

But the Lost Bunny was about to become a very Lucky Bunny. Why was this bunny so lucky? Because he just happened to hop right into the yard of some very nice people who knew just what to do to help him.

The nice people brought the Lucky Bunny some yummy things to eat. This made the bunny happy, and he thought about making friends with the people, but he was too afraid. He hopped away and spent the night hiding from all the dangerous animals that were out hunting.

The next day, the Lucky Bunny hopped into the same yard. Yes! The nice people were there again with delicious food! This time he wasn't quite as afraid, and took some food from their hands. But he was still a little afraid and did not want to be picked up. He hopped away again. Another night out in the wild.

These very nice people did not give up on the Lucky Bunny. They looked all around the neighborhood and at the local animal shelter to find out if anyone knew where the bunny's home was. Each day they watched for him to come into their yard, and gave him good things to eat. They paid attention and learned that he especially liked to eat slices of fresh peach.

One day they put some peach slices into the bottom of a cat carrier, and while the Lucky Bunny was eating the peaches, they closed up the carrier and brought him into the house. Now the bunny was safe inside, with real rabbit food, greens, hay, and of course, his favorite food -- peaches. He had a hutch and a litter box, and he knew just how to use it. No more scary nights alone out in the wild for this Lucky Bunny.

The nice people who rescued the Lucky Bunny, now named Peaches, arranged for him to come to Thundering Paws to live. Peaches is happy here at Thundering Paws, and is welcome to stay with us until he is adopted by someone who will love him and take good care of him. He is a very nice bunny who likes to be talked to and has soft beautiful fur.

If you would like to adopt Peaches, contact us to set up a time to meet him.