We need some help from you!

Pet Haven rescues cats from many different situations. Sometimes from the streets, sometimes a foster finds or hears about a stray, sometimes from another shelter, sometimes an owner needs to find a new home and calls us to help.

Our cats come in with all sorts of personalities, ages and looks. One cat might not appeal visually to one person but someone else will definitely love the look! Same with personalities.

Our cats stay in foster homes until they are adopted. Sad to say, some are in a foster home for several years before being adopted. Even those we think are attractive, have no special diet needs and who are easy to have around.

Riley is one of those slow-to-find-her-forever-home cats.

We've had her for over 2 years! What's the matter with Riley? We certainly can't figure it out.

Riley would love to be an only cat -

She's beautiful and wants someone to adore her alone.

She also doesn't like to have to share your attentions - that makes her cranky! What is more discouraging that wanting a little lap time only to find another cat in the lap!

She wants to sleep on the bed with you at night and not have another furry body interrupt her quality time with you.

She will take a week or two to settle in (pretty normal in a cat) and will be gradually warming up to her new surroundings and you during this time.

She's pretty low maintenance but you do need to be willing to give her regular head and body rubs - vigorous ones! With a brush, with your knuckles!

She's what we call a 'sunny window' cat - she comes for attention, likes to play with you some but is very capable of amusing herself. She won't be upset when you have to stay late at work but will greet you happily.

If you would take up her cause and help us find her her forever home, we'd all be pleased - not that she is a problem in her foster home. But just because Riley deserves her own home.

Riley's getting some extra publicity now too! Click here and spread the word about this gorgeous young girl.

Sisters

Sweet Adeline and Amber are sisters. They are busy, well-socialized girls who are very playful and who enjoy each other or playing with one of the owner's cats.

Sweet Addeline is the calico - she is a brown tabby calico with a predominantly white coat with splotches of tabby and orange mixed in.

Amber is orange and white - she also has a lot of white in her coat.

The girls are under a year, around 8 months of age.

Do they need to be adopted together? No, each would do well as an only cat (as long as you are willing to play with her a lot!) or each could go with another cat. They were raised with a chihuahua so have been in a foster home with a dog too.

Out shopping now that some of the snow has been plowed and hauled away? Stop in at Chuck and Don's in Highland to see Snowwhite who will be there through the weekend! A very white girl with pale blue eyes. Snow loves to play chase with you, play with her toys and watch out the window. She's sociable and enjoys meeting new people. Around a year in age.

A storm and a happy tail

A few brave fosters and their cats came to the adoption today - we placed one boy, Mr. Watkins, who has been enjoying being inside rather than outside as he spent at least the summer. We wish him the best in his new home!

We have an update on Iggy, now Squiggy, who has been in his new home for awhile.

After the elderly family cat was euthanized, it was time to look for a kitten - one who was social and who would like children and adults. The family was called by the foster mom of Iggy and he seemed a good fit - he liked the young granddaughter in his foster home, he was very curious and busy and loved to cuddle - sleeping in bed under the covers was great fun!

Iggy applied and is content at home and very well loved.

He's just what his foster said he would be - busy, busy, busy, a lover of children and adults, a cuddle-bug, a counter surfer (here comes the spray bottle with water in it) and a gentle fellow.

Squiggy has been known to slip out the door into the garage so a new rule has been set up. The door into the house cannot be opened until the garage door goes down - no chance for Squigs to get outside!

Squiggy is an equal opportunity bed-sleeper too - he makes the rounds so no one feels left out.

He likes mom, dad, younger and older sister - Squiggy pretty much likes all folks! Congratulations buddy!

Adoption sunday, Feb. 20, 1-3 p.m.

We'll be at the PetCo in Richfield on Sunday. Let your friends know who might be looking to adopt a cat or kitten or stop by yourself!

Some of the cats who will attend:

Amber and Sweet Adeline - sisters, about 9 months old, have been with a dog, playful, well socialized and affectionate.

Wilma - a cute black girl with a white chest, not very large, she likes to help by following you around, play with you with a fishing pole toy and comes for some lap time and loving.

Snowwhite - blue eyes, white fur, she loves watching outside from the back of the couch, games of chase are terrific (she'll come find you if she isn't tired of playing yet), social, loves her toys. An easy-going girl who is under a year.

Hudson - also under a year, his favorite toys are pipecleaners - where can I hide it next? Oh, look, there it is! If it goes in the water bowl you get to fish it out though!

Addie - a girl who wishes to live as an only cat, she's definitely playful and hopes to find a woman who wants a lap girl. She's a little shyer around men.

Phoebe - another playful kitten, she's medium haired and has a beautiful coat.

Penelope - Phoebe's mom, she's quite stressed at adoption events and pants but is relaxed at home. She's a young girl who loves to play and sunbathe.

Padua - another sweet lady who has raised her kittens, seen them adopted and is now waiting for her forever home.

Wishing you a Happy Valentine's!!

The cats  and dogs of Pet Haven would like to wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day.  We hope that today brings you lots of love  … and if you need more love our foster cats and dogs have a suggestion J how about opening up your heart and home to a rescued cat or dog? We have many cats and dogs in our foster program who would love to be your valentine and to love you forever!!

Check out the video below for a glimpse of some of the cats and dogs in our foster program who are crossing their paws and dreaming of the day when they will have a home of their very own ... well, okay one that they can share with you.

They are ready to love you, unconditionally, and forever!!

[Photo from Flickr]

A couple of boys

Derrick and Eddie are in the same foster home.

Derrick is playful but really wants someone who will want a big fellow who will be a close companion - he loves to co-op your lap or chest for a good love session and snooze. He's a bit of a talker if you're looking for someone to have a chat with when you get home!

Eddie is a playful fellow too and he loves to have another cat buddy. He's shyer and will take a little time to get to know a new owner and be comfortable in new surroundings. His foster home will have ideas on how to help him adjust.

These boys get along well together but do not need to be adopted together.

Kari

Kari came to Pet Haven almost a year ago in March. She was taken from a hoarder house with 6 kittens. All were covered with feces, urine and fleas. All were starving. Two of her kittens were dying and were euthanized.

Kari had not had enough food for months and was trying to support kittens too. She had almost no hair - in between the strands you could see the skin all over her body. Her backbone stuck out and you could feel every knob on her spine and pelvis. We knew she was a medium haired cat but had no idea she would be a long haired girl with feathers on her hocks and a 'mane' to rival a lion's!

Kari stayed with her kittens for a few days but was then separated so she could start to regain her health and they could begin to eat on their own. They loved to nurse on mom but she couldn't spare the calories and they were not getting enough nutrition from her. The kittens had to be fed 4 times a day - canned kitten food with dry left to munch on in between times. Kari was quiet but ate enough food on her own. By May she was healthy enough to get her vaccinations and be spayed.

She is a brown tabby torti and has lots of orange in her coat with white paws and chest. Kari is very playful, she especially loves to have you swish a toy on a stick along the floor and she will chase and chase it. She finds and makes up her own toys too - pens and pencils she can steal, pipecleaners that have been twisted and coiled. She loves the cat tree by the window.

Kari is a lap girl too. She settles in and likes a few strokes and is then content to stay and purr with an occasional pet from you.

Kari is a petite little girl and a bit sassy! She'll do best in a home with an adult or two but doesn't have the patience for being picked up and carried around or held like a baby. Her owner will have to enjoy having a cat to groom! With all her lovely hair, she now needs help in keeping the knots and tangles away. A wide toothed comb and a rake work well on her coat and a little combing each day keeps things under control. She can get matts under her armpits and that isn't much fun but otherwise she tolerates being combed quite well.

Kari's 4 surviving kittens were adopted over the last year and all are thriving in their new homes.

Soon we hope it will be Kari's turn to have a home of her own.

Adoption weekend - 2

Saturday, Feb. 5, 11-1 p.m

Sunday, Feb. 6, 1-3 p.m.

We'll have two adoptions this weekend with different cats and kittens in starring roles each day!

Take a break, stop by and meet the unique personalities we have.

Some who will be attending:

Snow White

Annalie

Smokey

Sammy - first appearance! Big boy, medium haired white, front paw declawed, snuggler and lover.

Watkins

Iggy - loves children, playful, good with another cat or dog.

Somerset - what a 'motor'!

Wilma

Schnoz - a 'nosey' girl who loves to help with everything - is she really a beagle?

Tom