June 4 2017

Big Cat Updates

Big Cat Rescue is Rescuing 2 Caracals and a Serval!

 Can We Count on Your Help For Their Transport Costs, Surgeries and Lifetime Care? Jamie is on the road now, picking up three new cats:  Cyrus, Chaos, and Zurcari.

• Learn more about that the three new cats at: http://bigcatrescue.org/may-31-2017/

Keeper Becky’s Coordinator Report for Caturday, June 3rd

Pretty good day overall.

Watered the 2 enclosures that Jamie asked for.

Very hot, had many multiple feedings today.

Had some great volunteers here today.

Big thank you to Keeper Lynda for coming out and helping with the supplements, metacam and meds.

Sarah and Rebecca were my go to ladies for feeding today – they did a great job.

Babs(a.k.a. Cicle Queen) went and got some chicken and tuna for cicles and made lots of cicles.

Brittany and Antonio “dirted” lockouts for Apollo and Little White Dove, Dryden, Frosty, Ariel and Lakota and Sioux.

Picky cats did ok for the most part.

BigCatRescue.biz

Honey, our gift shop manager, has picked out a few items to share with you guys.  Hope you like them.  Today’s item is one that is pretty popular.  She is running a little low on Medium but is ordering some more.  So, if it runs out, please know more are coming.

Tank – Purple Leopard Racerback:  This purple racer-back tank is ultra soft and loose fitting. Stunning leopard face on front with the words Big Cat Rescue scrolled across the bottom.

INVITATION to Viewers:  Send us photos of YOU Modeling your Big Cat Gear!  We LOVE seeing them!!!!  Send them to lawanna.mitchell@bigcatrescue.org  Feel free to add a little note, as well.

People Often Ask

People Often Ask:  What goes into planning for a new cat’s arrival?

There is a lot to getting ready for new cats and the entire team has pulled together to get it all done.  Getting ready for a new cat is more than just getting their space ready.

Now that the intake committee has done their work assessing the cats’ situation and gone over how many volunteer hours will be needed each week for the care of the new cats and double checked to make sure there are enough volunteers to cover the extra daily chores that bringing new cats in will require.  An assessment has been done to figure an approximation of how much the lifetime care for the new cats will cost and whether it is likely we will, or will not, have the ongoing support to provide life-time care for new cats has been done.

When we take in a cat we have to make sure we can provide for them the rest of their lives physically, mentally, medically, and financially.  Many places take in lots of cats without making sure they can maintain lifetime care.  A large number of facilities have gone under leaving many animals in limbo.  We have to make sure that does not happen here so much thought and planning is done when accepting new cats.

Fundraiser items have been created to help with the expenses that come along with bringing in new cats.

Carole and the team have been on the phones and emails and have worked out details of the transfer, gotten all the info to the offices that needed it so that the required permits to move cats could be acquired, spoken with the Ohio team, gathered as many details about the cats as they can, travel dates setup, and funds for trip expenses have been allocated.

Jamie and the rescue team have had the vehicle checked out, gotten everything they might possibly need on the trip gathered, double checked, packed and loaded, and are now on the road.  Jamie and the team also had to double time to get done all the tasks they needed to do here before being gone long enough to go pick up the cats.  They had mountains of emails to other loose ends to tie up before they could leave.

Each cat’s enclosure and dens have been cleaned top to bottom and back again, foliage checked and trimmed, top soil and grass seed added, water bowls and feeding tiles have been scrubbed and sanitized.  Fences checked to see if any areas needed Rustoleum paint.

With all the work going on, the squirrels have been quite entertained.

The cats have been entertained, as well.

Time is spent figuring out what toys are not being played with by other cats that can be borrowed for a while for the new cats.  You might ask, why we don’t just race and buy them new toys before they get here.  Well, we don’t know the cats’ purr-sonalities yet.  Different cats like different kinds of toys.  Toys for wild cats are really expensive so to be responsible with donated funds we need first to see what kind of toys they might like best.  Borrowing toys for a while from other cats who have grown bored with their toys gives us a chance to see what the new cats might like.  Besides, when the original cats gets their toy back it is, for them, like getting a new toy again.   They will play with it like they had never seen it before.

The office has begun setting up their files and records. The vets have gotten familiar with everything we’ve been able to find out about the cats and started the cats’ vet files.  When they can actually see the cats upon arrival their will be able to do a meal plan.

The keepers have labeled the cleaning tools and special supplies that will be needed for the cats.  When new cats arrive they are on quarantine for a while.  During that time their enclosures are cleaned with separate tools.

We also look at even figuring out where in the sanctuary the new cats will go so that they have lots of privacy while they settle in, can be quarantined for cleaning and who their neighbors are to be, to make sure everyone is going to be as happy as possible.  Cats each have their own individual personality.  Just like a new kid at school there are those kids who help new cats settle in and just being around helps the new kid ease into a new place.  Cats are no different.  If we want them to settle in we need to carefully choose their enclosures and neighbors.

You can help with the care of these three new cats by donating at:  BigCatRescue.org/donate

Other ways you can help us remain financially stable in caring for the cats are:

• Watching and sharing our YouTube videos BigCatTV.com & YouTube.com/DailyBigCat
• Doing Facebook fundraisers using Facebook’s special fundraising program
• Sign in to your Amazon account through Smile.Amazon.com and choosing Big Cat Rescue, Corp as your chosen charity
• Purchasing items for yourself or gifts for others from BigCatRescue.biz
• Donating unwanted gift cards

Find more ways to help (some of which are free for you) at:

• http://bigcatrescue.org/help-free/

 Foster Kitten Program

Viewer Donna Pickering 6/3/207:  I got a video of Aphrodite and Loki having a great time playing the big bowl today lol.

Facebook Live Video Replays

Nova Bobcat is on the prowl in the Rehab area at Big Cat Rescue. Here are a few glimpses of her and then you can continue watching her LIVE at http://explore.org/live-cams/player/big-cat-rescue-bobcat-rehab-and-release

It’s raining outside, but the kittens still need some fresh air. They are being fostered at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL until they are big enough to fix and adopt out. Continue watching them LIVE at http://explore.org/live-cams/player/big-cat-rescue-kitten-cabana

I’m answering questions over at https://www.facebook.com/pg/endangeredanimals

Share Hug Your Cat Day with a virtual hug from these cute kittens. http://explore.org/live-cams/player/big-cat-rescue-kitten-cabana

Goose House

Answer to Viewers:  In yesterday’s update we mentioned the “goose house” and three of you emailed/messaged asking what a “goose house” is.

SMILE, no, Big Cat Rescue is not housing geese.  One of our neighbors used to have geese in his yard. When we bought the trailer, it became known as “the goose house.”  This is the trailer that Gale has turned into an office and it houses our brand new Keeper Cafe’.  LOL, the name “goose house” has just kind of stuck.

Keeper Corner

Keeper MaryLou:  Mickey ALWAYS comes out for a sicle.

Sweet Mickey has endured so much be he came here that his keepers spoil him, A LOT!!  Well, they spoil all the cats but Mickey is one of the cats that has his keepers wrapped around his paw.

Note To Viewers:  Many of you have asked if there is something small you can send to the cats.  We ran out canned tuna for making the cats’ daily sicles and Keeper Babs had to run get some.  If you’d like to send them some, that’d be very helpful.

Jamie Veronica March 2017:  The story of Faith, the baby bobcat.

Keeper Susan R.:  Jade and Armani chilling on Friday. Miss Jade loves her tree — she is an original tree-hugger!

Viewer Pix

This is from April 2017, hope it is okay to post an older viewer video here. Ran across this today and just HAVE to post it. Cameron, the African lion and his best friend Zabu, the white tigress are such an odd pair but they are inseparable.  They were rescued together back in 2004 as four year old adults.  Both are fixed because we do not breed here.  This is a video compilation done by Viewer Ruxandra Nicolae.

The Many Faces of Seth

Well, Seth cannot allow Andy to upstage him so Beth Parent has kindly obliged Seth with a series of photos of Seth.

O, course, you cannot have the “Faces of Seth” without having the “You Can’t See Me, Now” face!!

Viewer Robin:  Andy enjoying the salad bar!

Big Cat Models

Put your paws together for Big Cat Model, PAULA!

Big Cat Model, Paula: This is the dolman sleeve 7-cat collage shirt. I love the material – it is so soft it feels like pajamas and is very feminine. I wore it out tonight. The 7-cat collage design is stunning. This is my last modeling for a while as have found my two favorite summer shirts – this one and the moisture wicking sleeveless V-neck.

BigCatTV.com

Nikita Lioness, a.k.a. “Her Royal Lioness” was born 2/3/2001.  She was rescued 11/30/2001.   Nikita was found chained to the wall in a crack house during a drug bust in Tennessee. Because she had been confined to a concrete floor, she had huge swellings on her elbows that took months to heal.  She was so thin that you could carry her under one arm.

The authorities took her to the Nashville Zoo at Grasmere, but she had been declawed and could not live with the zoo’s other lions.  They had to find a new home for her, so we received the call. Big Cat Rescue agreed to take Nikita in, as well as three other Bobcats who all arrived on 11/30/01.  She’s extremely playful and loves to roll on her back and grab her paws or try to do somersaults whenever she has visitors stopping by to talk with her.   Though we wish she had the freedom she deserves, we’re so happy that she survived her earlier ordeals to enjoy the blissful days we try to provide for her here.

Now that she is 16 years old she is not as playful and rambunctious as she used to be so I thought the her ‘cyber subjects’ would enjoy seeing this short clip her her being silly.

Here is a video by Viewer Robin Frye.  In this video can YOU figure out how tall Nikita is?  Those fence squares are 4 inches each.  In this video you see one of the keepers doing a little Operant Conditioning session with her while talking to guests on a tour.

CatRescue.biz

In the past week there have been a handful of viewers asking where Carole’s Cat Eye sunglasses could be found, so I thought maybe posting them again would be wise.   When you wear these stylish sun glasses, it gives you the opportunity to strike up a conversation about your favorite topic: CATS!!

 Viewer Videos From Explore.org/bigcatrescue

Here is a list of YouTube channels that feature videos of the cats here:

• • Jamie Veronica:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsY6X3rUv8UlIUbrxNeu-Aw
  • Susann  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUFOZiTvzKRvj-oVbzdByvg
  • Ruxandra https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCsjKptd1gM9BhfDkGQGNg
  • Donna P:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcFbhMc8Sqr-8MreWuYr4Bg
  • Shawna https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfl9S-vDPJIgjl8QpM6Aypw
  • Cathy S https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ynHBFLKj0BVnK5jo2gTnw
  • Janie M https://www.youtube.com/user/donutgirl100
  • Jaime T: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsY_oF0NhXc5OS8CcTaUi2A/videos

Robin F: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIhaYxEnHi3CQGxvKaRzNQA/videos?shelf_id=0&view=0&sort=dd

  WANTED – Graphic Artists

Carole is looking for a graphic artist who really gets what we are all about and would would like to help us with some graphics for shirts.  If that is you or if you know someone like that, please have them email Carole at cat@bigcatrescue.org

 Quick Links

As per viewer suggestions, Quick Links now has it’s very own page http://bigcatrescue.org/quick-links/

Bookmarking it will help you find things quickly.  That will come in handy for:

• Helping us answer questions on social media
• Finding answers to some of Carole’s Facebook Live questions