Author: Shadow Cats

In Memory of Cici    10/2/2001 – 9/10/2019

Cici came to us many years ago when she was about ten years old, from a neighbor who could no longer care for her. No cat had a more lustrous, silky smooth fur coat or more strikingly beautiful eyes. The other thing she had was a serious propensity to bite! She was a bit unpredictable but if you caught her in a good mood you could get lost in her sweetness and beauty. Among all the black cats at Shadow Cats, you could easily pick Cici out because she was always the cat at the top of the stairs. She loved to jump on the handrail and stand watch over her Downtown domain. She also loved being on the outside porch, where she could roam and keep an eye on the birds, squirrels, and other wildlife along the creek nearby.

Recently Cici began to rapidly lose weight and upon exam we found she had inoperable cancer. Today the scales tipped and she began to exhibit signs of discomfort, and she passed gently this afternoon in the arms of her caretakers. Cici will always be remembered for her independent nature, her sweet affection and her loving nature – mixed with a lot of sassiness.  Rest easy, sweet Cici girl.

Cici lived a sweet 18 years thanks to all the volunteers, staff, sponsors and all who support the lives of cats.

Cici had 4 Sponsors

Sheri Biggs

Roxann Baranowski

Pat Heltke

Carla Donaldson

In Memory of Sweet Boy    1/3/2016 – 9/7/2019

Sweet Boy passed this morning. He had a very high 106 fever and all the symptoms of active leukemia. We held him close and told him how he’d earned his name early on – such a sweet boy – and whispered our love to him as he crossed over.

Sweet Boy came from Tyler, Tx  in dire circumstances. His kind hearted rescuers in Tyler brought him to Shadow Cats and since that time he has lived a life where he has been cherished every single day. He was loved by all. Sweet Boy spent his days with volunteers and in laps. He watched the happenings on Brushy Creek, especially the squirrels running up and down nearby trees. He was a gentle soul and his crossing takes a little piece of us all with him.

Thank you to our volunteers, staff that cared for him, sponsors both near and far, and to all that cared about this little orange fluff of a cat. Thank you all for giving him your hearts.

RIP, Sweet Boy.

Sweet Boy had 5 Sponsors

Rebecca Raphael

Beth Martin

Anne Llana-Koob and Chris Koob

Renee Vorbach

Jessica Dorsey

In Memory of Coco Chanel    9/12/2018 – 7/5/2019

Coco Chanel certainly had the right name. She had the longest legs and posed like a model. She was a stunner!

Our precious beautiful tuxie girl crossed to the Rainbow Bridge today, and she took with her a little piece of our hearts. Although her life was far too short, Coco knew she was loved by so many. Ever since she first arrived, we were smitten with this gorgeous and energetic gal. Coco never missed a beat when she arrived from Austin Animal Center, so lucky to be rescued from a hoarding situation. She just fit right in as though she owned the place, strutting around on those long legs!

Not even a year old, her life was far too short before the dastardly feline leukemia claimed her, but we know in her time at Shadow Cats, she was a normal happy kitten. She played, she had plenty of friends, she loved being on the porch and watching all the activities overlooking the creek. She was loved and cared for every day.

Coco Chanel, you were such a beauty. We are going to miss you. We thought you would be with us longer, but it was not to be. Your life was meaningful and we will always remember you, our long legged stunning tuxie girl. A fleeting star who graced our presence.

Rest easy, Coco Chanel. We loved you so much.

Coco Chanel had 3 Sponsors

Amy Juried

Mary Ellen Taylor

Debbie Patterson

In Memory of Clarin    10/4/2014 – 6/8/2019

With heavy hearts, our sweet girl Clarin passed today, held in the loving arms that have cared for her since the day she arrived at Shadow Cats. Such a tough start in life – a feral stray kitten that was hit by a car.

Clarin was rescued by a good Samaritan and taken for treatment only to find out this kitten with bad injuries also tested positive for feline leukemia. Clarin was at great risk, but again, good people looked for a place for her. Shadow Cats had room for this little girl, and after many months she recovered from her injuries .

Clarin has lived her entire life at Shadow Cats. She has been a normal kitty – she has played, she had playmates, she lounged in the sun on the porch watching all the action overlooking the creek  outside, and she has been loved every day. Oh, and yes, our girl enjoyed her food! She was always first in line, and our tiny kitten grew to a fine young girl! She has enjoyed her best life.

But feline leukemia is a dastardly disease. Clarin had battled over the last few weeks with related issues and today told us she could no longer fight. She crossed to the Rainbow Bridge surrounded by love and light.

There have been many tears. Our sadness hurts. But Clarin, we know your life was full and so meaningful and we smile at the memories you have left us with. Our precious girl, we will miss you so very much. Rest easy, angel Clarin, and fly free, baby girl.

Thank you to all who loved her, near and far, her sponsors, volunteers and her caregivers.

Clarin had 4 Sponsors

Donna Clarin

Tara Wein

Debbie Patterson

Jeremy Kim

In Memory of Bobbi Hope    6/6/2011 – 6/4/2019

It’s always harder when it is unexpected.

What do we say about our precious Bobbi Hope? What a beautiful elegant girl. We do not know exactly what happened in her young days but we know it was probably a life of struggles. Bobbi Hope was being cared for by a big-hearted couple in Temple, living as an outdoor cat at risk of predators and people who did not love cats as we do. She began to look poorly so her caretaker searched for options, but a high kill shelter was not a good choice. Luckily, we had space at the time.

Life got a whole lot better for Bobbi Hope when she came to live at Shadow Cats. Initially very cautious, Bobbi Hope soon learned that being petted was really ok. We have smiled so much at her. She always had a great appetite and put on a little weight – ok, ok, she was quite round! She truly lived her best life – never wanting for anything, had the best of care, never hungry and always showered with love.

Bobbi Hope was diagnosed with FIV. Most FIV cats live long normal lives and we wish Bobbi Hope could have been one, but it was another diseases that ravaged her little body. It was not FIV, but severe renal failure that took her life. Bobbi Hope passed peacefully in the arms of the nannies, with whispers in her ears telling her she was the best kitty ever.

We will miss you so much and we will miss that one white curly whisker. Rest easy, beautiful angel girl. How we loved you!

Bobbi Hope had 4 Sponsors

Lynn & Sam McLellan

Mary Kellum

Lori Harris

Marilyn Boerger

In Memory of Huey    4/4/1998 – 5/19/2019

We knew this was coming, but knowing it does not make it any easier. Our precious boy Huey has passed. Our hearts are hurting, tears are flowing.

We didn’t know Huey’s background when he came to us from a shelter at the senior age of 17, and then we thought he might only be with us for a short time due to his severe stomatitis and other conditions. He needed so much medical care, we worried if he would be able to recover. Huey had many issues over the time he was with us but we knew he was so grateful to have had these years – his little face always seemed to smile at us.

Four years later, Huey reached the ripe old age of 21, having lived those four years to the fullest. What a boy! What a character! Always greeting everyone as you walked through the doors of Cookies Place, always ready for food and treats, always sticking his little tongue out. He played, even at his age, and he had lots of friends to cuddle with when it was time for naps. He enjoyed the outdoor space overlooking the creek as a cat of his stature should. Huey was treated like a king. Yes, what a boy, what a character!

Over the past months Huey has declined, and today he told us it was his time. Ever so gently, Huey crossed the Rainbow Bridge cradled in the arms of the kitty nannies, surrounded by love and light and sweet whispers in his ears telling him he was the best kitty ever. Huey was loved by so many every single day. Nannies loved this boy. He loved to be carried on a shoulder and was so good with medications and treatments. We love every one of our cats, but our beloved Huey was a favorite of many.

Thanks to all who loved and cared for Huey – our amazing nannies, our volunteers, and his sponsors. We are truly grateful for all that you do.

Rest easy, sweet angel Huey. You will be missed more than we can say. We will never forget you. We will speak about you often and say your name. Run free, precious boy.

Huey had 7 Sponsors

“Old cats need the love too!  Thanks, Dr. Smith!”
-Stuart McKnight

Julie Ferguson

Cheryl Townsend

Laurie Heupel

“In memory of sweet Mazie”
-Rebecca Katzenmeyer

“Mike Firestar is looking after you now”
-Peggy Willenberg

Leslie Cobb

In Memory of Bleu    10/25/2013 – 5/13/2019

One of the lucky ones, Bleu came to us as a kitten. He was rescued from a high kill shelter in the nick of time by our special friends in Arlington, where he stayed until we had room for him at Shadow Cats. As a feline leukemia kitty there is not much chance of finding a home, but soon we had space and were able to give him a wonderful home here. As a kitten, Bleu was very shy. He grew into such a handsome boy, still shy, but with  love and patience over the years, Bleu finally knew that being petted and given head scritches and yes, the occasional lap, was ok after all. Bleu had lots of friends in Cookie’s Place. He loved to sit on the high shelves overlooking the creek, watching all the activity outside or just being curled up with everyone for an afternoon nap! Despite his shyness, Bleu was always first in line for food, and a member of the ’chicken gang’, right by your side when chicken was handed out! Bleu lived his best life.

Bleu had his share of  health challenges over the years. He battled severe stomatitis, and he always bounced back, but after a sudden unexpected downturn, he told us that this was his time. Bleu passed ever so gently, surrounded by those that loved him, gentle whispers in his ears, being told he was the best kitty ever.

Our heartfelt thanks to all who loved and cared for Bleu, near and far, nannies, volunteers and sponsors. We are the lucky ones. We had the privilege of knowing, loving and caring for a beautiful, sweet, gentle kitty. Your life was too short and we will miss you terribly. Fly free, angel.

Bleu had 5 Sponsors

LeAnn Chamberlin

Stephanie Estrin

Margaret Lawhon

Jill Peterson

“In memory of my grey kitty Girl Kitty.”
-MaryEllen Taylor

In Memory of Zoe    6/14/2001 – 4/14/2019

Our beautiful Zoe passed this morning. She had an inoperable mass in her sinus cavity. She left us peacefully, held in loving arms with sweet whispers in her ears telling her she was the best kitty ever.

Zoe was a very special girl. She and her siblings, along with Mama, were all trapped near the Sanctuary almost 18 years ago. Zoe was the only one to find an adoptive home, but she came back to live at the sanctuary about five years ago when her adopter entered hospice care. Zoe took a while to settle into life at the Sanctuary. She preferred being on a high shelf with her litter pan and food bowls, but after a few months found her way into the Uptown area and new friends. And what a love bug she became! She blossomed in her old age and still, even at almost 18 years old, was a fluffy beauty. In the summers, when she had her ‘lion cut’, she was oh so glamorous!

Zoe reigned as a Super Diva at Shadow Cats. We thank the kitty nannies who cared for her each day, all the volunteers who spent hours combing her fur, her wonderful sponsors and all who loved and cared about her both near and far. Rest easy, precious angel, loved by so many. We will miss you terribly.❤️

Zoe had 3 Sponsors

Lisa Salazar

Renee Vorbach

Debbie Patterson

In Memory of Birdie    4/1/2018 – 2/5/2019

Birdie came to Shadow Cats as a young kitten about 12 weeks old.  Thanks to strong advocates in N. Carolina, Dallas and Austin, she escaped the fate of so many feline leukemia positive cats in shelters. Thumper Z traveled solo from Dallas to the east coast to pick her up (along with three others) and bring them to the Austin area and the safety of Shadow Cats. While Birdie never reached her first year’s birthday, she spent the last six months playing hard, running hard and loving hard. She never passed up a lap or a toy. She relished the sunbeams that warmed her, was mesmerized by the birds that were just beyond her reach and  savored the never ending bowls of food. She was a kitten in all her glory. Her life was joyous.

This morning she began to have labored breathing and we took her immediately in to the clinic. There, xrays showed a large tumor close to her trachea. We held her in loving arms and let her pass. Shadow Cats Kitty Nannies are with each of the cats as they pass and I know they take a piece of their hearts each time. Our appreciation goes to them for all the love and care they gave Birdie, to our volunteers who enriched her life, to our sponsors who give her the life she has and to all who love and care for our cats from afar.

Rest in peace, little Birdie. Fly away on your wings precious girl.

Birdie had 4 Sponsors

Gary and Yolanda McAninch

Jeanette Cacciola

Debbie Patterson

Starr O’Neal

In Memory of Polly    12/13/2005 – 1/30/2019

Another era has passed. Polly, grande dame of Shadow Cats crossed over peacefully this morning. She was a cause ce’le’bre who outlived the conditions of her arrival. Of the seventeen cats, including Cover Girl, that were flown to Shadow Cats from Best Friends during the Great Kitty Rescue of ‘07, she was the last survivor at Shadow Cats of that time.

Her life was spectacular! She was never a ‘kitten’ cat, had no time for them, but what she did have time for was your lap. Nothing gave her greater comfort than to curl up in a warm lap and stay.  She had free roam of Cookie’s Place and got along with everyone. Polly was President at Shadow Cats during the 2016 term and took her celebrity in stride. She and Pria were elected by popular vote (as it should be) and ruled over the Sanctuary with grace and  patience.

She was a perfect cat.

Over the last year Polly grew weaker. The kitty nannies were devoted to her, nursing her along, making sure she was comfortable and had plenty of enrichment. The volunteers gave her laps and everyone gave her plenty of love, and she still held her own, with plenty of attitude if she needed to show it.

This morning she told us she’d had enough. She crossed over surrounded by all the love we could give her. Her passing was peaceful.

Please celebrate her amazing life – from sure death in the heat and starvation of the Nevada desert sun to eleven blissful years as Queen of Cookie’s Place. Leukemia didn’t define her. She defined it.

Rest in peace, beautiful baby, you were loved beyond measure.

Polly had 5 Sponsors

Debbie Patterson

Leslie Cobb

Kevin Acuff

Rick Watson

Kris Safatinos