Tag Archives: Cat of the week

Cat of the week: Devereaux

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By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing


Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).


Drop-dead gorgeous Devereaux (ooh, so fancy!) came to us back in the summer of 2016 laden with intestinal parasites and looking for indoor housing. She quickly earned the title of ‘diva’, demanding constant attention and affection (the volunteers were happy to accommodate), and made her presence known to all who came to gaze upon her.


In January of the following year a love-connection was made, and Dev was adopted and taken into a home she could claim all for her own, which could not have been more perfect for this pretty princess. Jan and Dev lived quite harmoniously together for about a year and a half, but then our gorgeous girl developed some unbecoming litter box habits.


Over the next year, she was a frequent clinic visitor, Dr. Jen had many conversations about how to try to curb Miss Piddlepuss’s behavioral urination issues. Sadly everything we tried was ineffective in the long run, although multiple, hopeful respites were seen in between, Dev simply could not get her act together permanently.


So, three years after her initial arrival into our program, darling Devereaux (born in late 2013) once again graced us with her presence. Let’s just say that her return was anything but simple and serene; in fact, she had to spend several days at the clinic simply chilling in her cage in order for she and Dr. Jen to come to an agreement about handling her. With the help of a pheromone calming collar, Dev and Dr. Jen were soon seeing eye to eye, and then it was make-or-break time—to head on down to Crash’s and get acquainted and immersed into a multi-cat lifestyle once again.


As you can imagine she has had quite a bit to say about things, and we have made the following observations:


“Devereaux definitely thinks she is a princess. She hates the other cats with a passion but is doing okay since she has learned to avoid them. She likes attention, but only on her terms. As long as she has a cozy bed to snuggle down into she is very content. She needs to be an only cat—no dogs or kids. Don’t get me wrong, as she’s a very nice girl who deserves another chance, but with someone who understands she is a wee bit temperamental and is patient with her.


“There have been no reports of inappropriate litter box habits since she has been back (her bio was written about 2 months after her re-arrival).”


We completely understand that finding the perfect home for her is going to be a tall order to fill, as Jan was single, it was just the two of them and Dev still couldn’t behave. We’ve considered making her a permanent resident, but she hasn’t had a single accident outside of the box since she returned, so she deserves a second chance.


Why her manners have surfaced now is beyond us—maybe it is the fact we have boxes in every room, or perhaps she is being diligent in the hopes of being sprung from this ‘prison’ of sorts—but whatever the case is, we are happy that she is following the rules.


We are working on her entitled attitude, so we honestly do see a great deal of untapped potential waiting to emerge.

More about Devereaux:

  • Domestic Medium Hair
  • Tortoiseshell
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Large
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Prefers a home without other cats, dogs, children

Want to adopt Devereaux? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.


Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.




Cat of the week: Gendry

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Meet the man of the moment: Gendry

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing


Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).


On Aug. 22, 2019, Dr. Jen received an email plea from a Caledonia gal who came across this scruffy old guy wandering around her neighborhood. Her efforts to locate his owner or someone to take him in failed, but he was in need of medical care, so she took him in to her vet; sadly, the senior citizen (born in 2009 perhaps) tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). Having two cats of her own—and the new guy not really being a fan of others of the feline kind—the rescuer sought our help, lest he have to be euthanized.


Even though we really didn’t have the extra room at our free-roaming facility, Dr. Jen took him in and got to work on his health issues. Gendry (with a hard ‘G’) had suffered a mangled left ear and a tongue laceration some time ago, along with many broken teeth; he was in dire need of a dental, treatment for a bilateral ear infection and general plumping up.


The good doc and Gendry spent a few days together at the clinic where Dr. Jen discovered just what a gentle old soul he was, appreciative of chin scratches and gentle pets as much as the endless bowls of food presented to him. She knew it was going to be a bit of challenge to send him down to our sanctuary and ask him to get along with the 49 other cats, but he really had no other choice.


After a few days with us, it was evident that Gendry was LOVING the indoor life and all of the perks that came with being a Sid’s Kid:


“Gendry loves his one-on-one time with volunteers so much so that he frequently sneaks into the cat care office to ‘help’ with paperwork. He is a bit temperamental at times and is having a little bit of a tough time being around so many other cats, but he’s getting better as time goes on and he becomes more comfortable in the shared space (with the aid of anti-anxiety medication and a pheromone calming collar). He’s not physically aggressive but does tend to not back down during confrontations with some of the others; he may be little, but he is mighty. He’d definitely prefer to be an only cat, and to repay his adopters for their kindness he would eagerly express his gratitude by dropping the attitude and showering them with kitty head butts, purrs and total devotion. We feel that this old guy surely does deserve a comfy, cozy home all of his very own.”

And then Gendry started exhibiting some concerning symptoms that brought him back to the clinic. Digital radiographs of his spine showed significant bone spurs on the underside of his spinal vertebrae, which were causing him quite a bit of pain, an abnormal gait, and severe spasms that almost appeared seizure-like. The condition, known as spondylosis deformans, is somewhat rare in cats and typically isn’t present diffusely as his is.


So our old guy had every right to be a bit cranky since his arrival, but now that we have made the diagnosis, we can treat him accordingly with anti-inflammatory medication. There is no cure for this, but with the right cocktail of drugs, we can keep him comfy and agile—and hopefully lift his spirits in the process!

More about Gendry:

  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Tabby (Gray/Blue/Silver)
  • Senior
  • Male
  • Medium
  • House-trained
  • FIV+
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Prefers a home without other cats

Want to adopt Gendry? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.


Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.


Cat of the week: Margaery

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Margaery prefers to be queen of the castle

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing


Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).


Magnificent Margaery, a regal and royal specimen of all things fine and feline, came to us in late August of 2019. As the story goes, she had been wandering around a Wyoming neighborhood, searching for a place to claim as her own, for almost an entire year before one of our former adopters took matters into his own hands and enlisted the aid of his sister, who welcomed her into her humble home.


The lovely lady (born in early 2015) took up temporary residence there until she was brought in to the clinic for a work-up; when she tested positive initially for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), Dr. Jen offered to take her into our program. We were all very upset by this news, but more so because a microchip revealed that she once had an owner who had either abandoned her or released her out into the world to fend for herself; since the virus is transmitted by bite wounds, it was obvious Margaery wasn’t used to fighting off feline foes.


However, as luck would have it, when retested at her one-month follow-up, our gorgeous gray girl sported negative results, meaning that her immune systems was strong and valiant enough to recognize the virus was present and posing a threat, but yet conquer and defeat it before it laid claim.


We have gotten to know Margaery quite intimately over the past few months, and we are all in agreement that she needs to be the ruler of her own domain:

She may look down upon her subjects, but she’s a lovely, lovely girl

“Margaery is not too crazy about the other cats but for the most part doesn’t really stir up any trouble. She will hiss if someone gets too close to her, but a lot of it is talk. She had no trouble moving over to Crash’s side—the fewer cats for her, the better. She doesn’t care to be picked up, but does enjoy human attention, especially loves back scratches. She’s slowly learning that being brushed isn’t so bad but will still swat and let you know when she’s had enough. I think it would be best if she’s an only cat, no small kids, or dogs. She loves bird-watching, so give her a perch with a window view, and I guarantee you she will be the best girl ever.”


“Margaery is yet another pretty girl who thinks she’s a queen. She spends most of her time hanging out on top of a cage, looking over her peasants below. She also enjoys watching birds at the feeders. She needs a home where she is treated like the royalty she thinks she is, so no other cats and probably no children.”


We just know there is a place for her to call her own out there, and after so much time on the streets she certainly does deserve to reign supreme. She has so much love to give—so much potential laying in wait in that pretty little package—that we are most eager to give this to her.

More about Margaery:

  • Domestic Long Hair
  • Gray/Blue/Silver
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Medium
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Prefers to be an only cat; no dogs or children

Want to adopt Margaery? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.


Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.



Cat of the week: Davina

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Davina

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing


Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).


On Jan. 31, 2019, Dr. Jen received an email from Julie S. who befriended a cat that folks up the block from her dumped—and just as one of our nasty winter storms was blowing in. She was half-starved, shuddering and shivering and sporting a healing bite wound. Julie was kind enough to bring the kitty in out of the cold, but she wasn’t in a position to keep her, so she reached out to us. We were completely full and starting an intake waiting list, so Julie offered to house the kitty and get her the appropriate medical care in the meantime.


It took 2-1/2 months until we were able to open our doors, but by the time this 2-1/2 year old arrived (born in the fall of 2016), her caretaker was able to offer excellent insight on her personality, likes and dislikes:


“I have temporarily nicknamed her ‘Lady LongSpine’ because she stretches out soooo long when I hold her; I’m sure she will accept a name change easily. She likes being inside of a house, not outside. She prefers to explore space slowly and carefully, traveling around the edges of a room, pausing to check out the area; she tends to hide out under furniture until she feels safe enough to explore more openly. She likes to be where people are and once she has made their acquaintance, she enjoys the attention—in particular, she is fond of being stroked and cuddled like a baby. She’s a vocal girl, purring and talking to you quite a bit, letting you know if she is thirsty or hungry (again, like a baby). If she is in the mood for your attention or thinks it is time you tidied up her litter box, you will know it. She really likes to play with ‘da bird’ toy that is a bunch of feathers attached to a stick—I could swing that around for hours; she may be partial to stalking toys and chasing them around given her enthusiasm for this type of activity.


“Go easy on the nip, as she can get quite wild! She will be OK with a gentle dog that is slowly and properly introduced, and also has places to go to that a pup can’t reach. She’d also be alright with kids if they too are gentle, understand that she is timid at first and has had some hard times, and let her approach them until she gets to know them better. She may get along with other cats, but they would need a ‘getting to know you’ period of gradual adjustment. She will try to be the top cat in a home, so placement in a house of her own would suit her best; when she was on the streets she literally had to fight with other cats for food, and I believe she has a long memory of pain endured and a fear of dealing with felines she saw only as foes. Overall, she is very sweet and extremely cute—I wish I could keep her myself.”


Armed with this very detailed, helpful information, we set out to make Davina’s transition as smooth as possible, but first she needed Dr. Jen’s pre-program work-up to insure she was healthy; it was at that time Dr. Jen discovered that the bite wound Davina had suffered transmitted the feline leukemia virus. Sadly, this meant that she would not be going to Crash’s as planned, but thankfully she was going to become a resident of Big Sid’s, our sanctuary for virally infected kitties.

Easy on the ‘nip there, kitty. Wait! This is the resident imposter, Donut. See what happens when you succumb to the ‘nip?

After a few days of loving her up at the clinic, we sent her down to settle in. At the writing of her bio a month after her arrival, here are the insights the cat care team has about our lovely little gray-and-white girl:


“Davina—she was very shy when she first arrived but is slowly starting to be a little more social. She loves being up high on a tall cabinet until she sees people enter the room, then she’s right there asking for her well-deserved attention. She LOVES her wet food, treats, and back scratches.  She’s still a bit wiggly when picked up, but will sit in your lap once you sit down. She does have a feisty side to her towards the other cats, though she’s not mean or aggressive—just a girl who needs her space. She has gotten a little more brave and has been spending a lot more of her time on the windowsill watching the birds and squirrels. She would do best with only one other cat, or as the only cat. Dogs are probably too much for her.”


We couldn’t agree more with their assessment of this darling little lady, and since the virus is transmissible AND she really would like to be the queen of her very own castle, it will be our goal to secure for her the type of home life she has long been dreaming—and deserving— of.

More about Davina:

  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Gray & White
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Medium
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Prefers to be an only cat

Want to adopt Davina Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.


Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.



Cat of the week: Tinker

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This guy just loooooves to climb

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing


Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).


TERRIFIC is one of many fabulous words we can use to describe Tinker, a charming little chap (born in May of 2017) who came to us mid-November, 2018. Rescue dynamo Sandi D. was out and about making her rounds on Quarry St. NW in Grand Rapids when she stumbled across this handsome black-and-white guy who had been abandoned by his owners. Not one to let any grass grow under her feet, she scooped him up and took him on home; five days later Dr. Jen was able to work him up at the clinic with the intention of taking him into our program.


Unfortunately he tested a faint positive for Feline Leukemia, a transmissible virus that befalls too many outdoor cats in our area who don’t receive proper care and vaccinations, so instead of making his way down to Crash’s he got to pack his little kitty bags and head on over to Big Sid’s. On his one month follow-up, he still retested a faint positive, so he is an official resident of our sanctuary, or Sid’s Kid as we call them. 


No worries though, as from the get-go Tinker has been absolutely thrilled with his new surroundings—he is SO darn excited to be indoors and receiving three squares a day. He cannot absorb enough attention from his human caretakers and finds it fun to hang out high above everyone’s heads where he can look down and survey the activity.


He has been known to be a bit aggressive towards certain cats, but over time he is learning that it is a hoot to engage in play versus swatting and swiping at his feline roomies. Because the virus is transmitted by sharing of bodily fluids (saliva, blood), we feel it is best he go into a home with another positive kitty—or none at all, since he would wholeheartedly enjoy being the king of his very own castle.


Everyone simply adores this little busybody! When kids come to our Meet and Greets, he enthusiastically welcomes them and shows off a bit, matching their energy and eagerness to have a good time. Tinker is going to make a spectacular addition to any household who wants an outgoing, adventurous companion. He loves to climb, so keep that in mind if you have your eye on this great guy.


We are sure that once you meet him you will come to agree that he is too cute for words.

More about Tinker:

  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Black & White/Tuxedo
  • Adult
  • Male
  • Medium
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Good in a home with children, no cats

Want to adopt Tinker? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Cat of the week: Tyrion

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This guy will steal your heart, guaranteed

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing


Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).


It is a bit of a convoluted journey as to how this totally adorable classic tabby made it to Dr. Jen (finally) on May 6, 2019. Evidently he was found wandering around the parking lot of the Meijer on 54th and Clyde Park, just down the road from the vet clinic, and he was picked up by a woman who then took him home on the city bus.


Somehow she contacted none other than one of our regular rescuers, who then transported him to the Humane Society of West Michigan as we were full up at Crash’s, and she has a withstanding ‘in’ with them as far as placing strays is concerned. However, he tested positive for Feline Leukemia, so she took him right back on home, contacted Dr. Jen and asked if the good doc could do his medical work-up. Dr. Jen actually ended up doing one better, offering to take him, sight unseen, into our program at Big Sid’s.


The two-year-old (born in the spring of 2017) IMMEDIATELY took Dr. Jen’s heart for his own, along with every single person he made contact with at the clinic and sanctuary alike. It really bummed us all out that such a sweetheart had the bad luck to carry the virus, but since he was an intact male when found, it wasn’t surprising—sad, but not totally unexpected. 


Once at our free-roaming, fun-loving facility Tyrion found his place easily and quickly started entertaining not only himself but any audience he could command: 

“Tyrion is a non-stop, action-loving cat. He will chase a ping pong ball up and down the hall for hours on end, but playtime is even better when another cat will wrestle with him. He has a few ‘besties’ who are usually down for some hardcore, rough-and-tumble; in fact, they can get so into it that we actually have to make them stop out of fear they will unintentionally hurt each other. He would do amazing with kids!”


“Tyrion is one of our most popular guys. He’s always up for adventures and activities— and soaks up any attention he can get from us. He does play a little too rough with the other cats at times, but we are hoping time and his calming collar help him lighten up a bit. He’s got a lot of energy and will need kids that will tire him out at the end of the day. He would do well in a home with another cat buddy, one who matches his energy level and will stand up to him, and maybe even a playful dog. His exuberance and ebullience knows NO bounds!” 


As you can imagine, we are all as pleased as punch that his personality is so over-the-top and outgoing, as this type of kitty holds a lot of appeal to high-energy families. And at his four-week follow-up appointment, he tested NEGATIVE for Feleuk—not once, but twice, on our in-house test AND through our outside lab.


However, we have learned the hard way that this first round of diagnostics is an excellent screening test, but there can be false negatives, so in cases where a prior positive cat then turns up virus-free, Dr. Jen now sends out a specialized (and, of course, more expensive test) to confirm. This type of test is far more specific and has less margin of error, so when it came back negative, it was a major cause for celebration.


This terrific tabby is not going to be with us at Crash’s long, mark our words, as he is simply too awesome to pass by!

More about Tyrion:

  • Medium
  • Tabby (Tiger-Striped)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Good in a home with other cats, dogs, kids

Want to adopt Tyrion? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.


Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!


Cat of the week: Burdock

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Just look at the whiskers on this guy!

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing


Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).


In mid-December 2018, a ‘rescue regular’ came across this stunning black-smoke-and-winter-white tom cat hanging out near one of her feral feeding stations in downtown Grand Rapids. Never one to leave an unneutered male behind, she promptly got him corralled and into CSNIP, then took him home in the hopes of helping him acclimate to indoor living by setting him up in one of her many kitty condos.


Try as she might, the fearful 5-year-old (born in early 2014) just wouldn’t adjust to her gentle touch and soothing voice, and returning him to the not-so-great outdoors was out of the question.


So when she brought him in two months after his rescue for Dr. Jen to evaluate, she agreed to letting us give it a shot at Crash’s, since we have droves of doting volunteers who are pros at working diligently with the most timid of kitties. Maybe with the collective efforts of so many, Burdock would emerge from his cocoon, start to relax and enjoy life a little bit.

A month into his stay with us at Crash’s, he is still a work in progress, just as we expected him to be. Burdock is ever-so-painstakingly slowly starting to feel comfortable at the shelter, but he still terrified and very wary of people. He gets quite nervous when you climb up to the cat walk where he is hiding out, but he will let you pet him if you approach him calmly and quietly. We have caught him out walking around a few times in the middle of the day, but as soon as he sees anyone he is right back up to the cat walk; to try to socialize him we have been carrying him around the shelter with him in our arms.


His metamorphosis is going to require a great deal of patience, but we believe that he does have it in him to come out of the safety of his shell of self-preservation, overcome his fear and evolve into a confident cat. He’s not aggressive in any way, just intimidated by the other cats and his new surroundings, so we will give him all the time in the world and let him set a pace he is comfortable with. We can’t begin to imagine what on earth happened to him before he was rescued, but we have years worth of neglect to make up for, and a slow and steady approach is going to be paramount with Burdock.


We are all going to be by his side, coaxing him every step of the way until one fine day, he realizes the potential he has harbored within himself all along; what a grand day that will be for all of us!

More about Burdock:

  • Domestic Medium Hair
  • Adult
  • Male
  • Large
  • Black & White / Tuxedo
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Good in a home with other cats
  • Prefers a home without dogs, children

Want to adopt Burdock? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Levon

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Levon, Levon likes his cat food

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing


Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).


Fabulous four-year-old Levon (born in the summer of 2014) came to us in late July, 2018 as a FIV+ transfer from the Humane Society of Mid-Michigan in Montcalm County. Seems that this dapper tabby arrived at their facility in March, but given his viral status, they weren’t making any progress on promoting his adoption; when their shelter space became limited they asked us for help in housing him and giving him better opportunities for adoption exposure.


One of our dual volunteers transported him to the vet clinic where Dr. Jen did her typical intake work-up and happily discovered he was FIV-negative. However as (bad) luck would have it, he was free-roaming in an area with other FIV+ kitties and had suffered a bite wound that no one there was aware of until she examined him (he purred the entire time), so she had to schedule another retest a month later; at that time he retested positive once again.


Cats with strong immune systems can actually clear the infection from their bodies, but since there is no effective vaccine against it, he picked it up once again after three punctures wounds on his tail drove the virus into his bloodstream. So after spending a month at Crash’s, at the writing of his bio he has become a Sid’s Kid; in a month another test will be performed to see where he will take up permanent residence until he can find a home of his very own and stop shuffling around.


The interesting thing is that initially Levon was a tough nut to crack, as he wasn’t a happy camper given the fact that his bite wounds had to be tended to twice daily and were taking their time healing, but once he was moved over to Sid’s he was like a different cat! He hooked up with a few cats with whom he formed fast friendships and began to socialize, versus hanging out on the toddler beds or sitting on the windowsills by himself; though he was quite content to engage in those solo activities, we are thrilled that he has found his niche.

And he shall be a good cat…


There is more space at Sid’s but there is also a larger population, so we can’t help but chalk up his change in attitude—his finally showing everyone the softer side Dr. Jen was privy to while he was at the clinic—to the fact that his injuries didn’t require further medical attention. Levon also doesn’t have Hamish the Handful to contend with, a tabby that can be quite the terror when he is feeling sassy and saucy (which is most of the time, so he has settled in quite nicely and is no longer trying to become a big fish in a small pond.


Now that he has found his purr again, you get to hear it not just when we approach him, but when he hunkers down next to you. He isn’t fond of being picked up, nor is he one to actively seek out human attention that often, but if given to him he is now happily accepting and affectionate in return, versus trying to high-tail it on outta there. We have no doubt that the more time he spends with us simply getting to enjoy himself as a resident versus a patient, he will fall as in love with his human caretakers as we all have with him.


Levon is a good cat who deserves a home of his own, with good feline company, an older kid or two and perhaps even a mellow dog—and a little Elton John music thrown in there for good measure.

More about Levon:

  • Large
  • Domestic Short Hair & Tabby Mix (Tiger-striped)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • FIV-positive
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Levon? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.


Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.


Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Marcellus

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Hi, there, handsome

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing


Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

We certainly have a lot of gorgeous guys here at our sanctuary, but magnificent Marcellus (born in late 2015) is by far one of THE CUTEST cats around! We were fortunate enough to have been contacted by Dr. Paula Sauer from Schoolcraft Veterinary Clinic in December of 2018, when a client of hers brought this adorable stray cat that turned out to be FIV+. So she and her team took him in and gave him all of the necessary veterinary care (including neutering him) and contacted Dr. Jen to see if we perhaps had a space for this fantastic feline. On December 11th she drove him on up to the clinic, where he and Dr. Jen spent a few days getting to know each other.

Marcellus is an absolute doll, as darling as they come and as sweet as pie. More than likely he was the victim of unfortunate circumstance while he was out fending for himself and got bit by an infected cat; he is a faint positive for the virus. Although initially he was on the timid side, it didn’t take long for this magnificent specimen of a cat to find his brave side once down at Big Sid’s.

More about Marcellus:

  • Large
  • Medium coat length; Orange & white
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • FIV+
  • Not declawed
  • Prefers a home without dogs, children

Want to adopt Marcellus? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.


Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Eros

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By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

Dr. Jen absolutely fell head over heels in love with this engaging and extremely charming FIV+ fella the minute she laid eyes on him, but once she picked him up and nuzzled him close, she was even more smitten! And when it came time to name this fantastic fella (born in October of 2016), she really didn’t have to do much research, as the white heart on his chest and the way he stole hers instantaneously led her to Eros, the Greek god of love.

Even though Eros was quite banged up upon arrival, bearing scars and scabs left over from his days of fighting and fending for himself, Dr. Jen found him to be a breathtaking beauty, with that adorable white locket and ivory tufts of fur between each and every toe! How could one cat be so darned handsome?!

Once at our sanctuary Eros proved to be a boisterous, busy boy who only stopped moving when a bowl of canned food came into sight. Although he was a bit timid around his caretakers at first (we think he was a bit overwhelmed by being indoors and not having to do anything to earn his keep), he took to chumming around with some of the more outgoing guys at Big Sid’s which ultimately helped him gain confidence. In fact, at the writing of this bio two months after his arrival, we can tell you that Eros has become a bit big for his britches and has needed a time out on more than one occasion.

Now that he knows he can play with the others and sometimes get them riled up with his rambunctious behavior, we have to monitor his activity— he can be quite the little instigator. Eros reminds us of that pesky little brother who delights in ruffling the feathers of his siblings simply to watch the reaction it causes; he is a little stinker sometimes but we sure do enjoy him!


We would like to find Eros a home with another FIV+ cat if possible, one that will rough-and-tumble with him when he gets things going. As far as the type of human companionship we feel he is best suited for, we can see him becoming best buds with youngsters in a household as his energy level will certainly rival theirs! Considering that this gorgeous guy is typically in perpetual motion a busy, bustling household beckons him! Come meet our enthusiastic Eros for yourself and fall in love with this social butterfly!

More about Eros:

  • Medium
  • Black
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • FIV+
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Eros? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Aoili

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By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

 

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

What are the chances that this saucy, spicy kitty that is unable to hear would be discovered and ultimately rescued by an interpreter for the deaf? We couldn’t believe it either, but when former volunteer Kathy relayed the story of how this two-year-old (born around October of 2016) came to be, we were convinced more than ever that fate plays a huge part in our everyday lives.

 

This wispy little waif was literally starving out in Sandy Pines, taking up residence outside of a pizza joint and running after golf carts in hopes of scoring dinner; after spending far too many days chasing after humans for handouts that never came, and countless cold nights huddled in the rain in hopes of someone taking her in, she was literally begging for a second chance. So kindhearted Kathy took it upon herself to insure kitty had a safe place to go (Crash’s) and armed with cat food and a carrier, headed out to find, feed and cart this hungry kitty off to warmth and safety—and all before an early morning work meeting on Oct. 1, 2018.

 

Thankfully, adorable, outgoing Aoili had already been spayed before she was carelessly tossed out like the trash, but she was still quite defenseless given the fact she wouldn’t be able to hear danger presenting itself until it could have been far too late. She was filthy, flea-ridden and later developed an ear infection and nasty respiratory virus that caused oral ulceration and a high fever—as if the poor girl hadn’t been through enough already.

 

However, true to her spunky nature, she rebounded with ease and put much-needed weight back on her undernourished frame. Those first few days at Crash’s were spent filling her belly, sleeping and getting acclimated to her new surroundings, all the while letting her roomies and caretakers get to know what an independent and incredibly intriguing girl she is; suffice it to say she certainly made her presence known!

 

While she’s not one to physically pick a fight, she sure is one to let out a heck of a growl to let the other kitties know her personal space is important to her. It is safe to assume that because she’s deaf, she easily gets overwhelmed with all the other cats, and tends to be a bit hissy. She’s getting better about being picked up, gets excited when she smells treats or sees the food tray coming, and could spend all day on the window ledge watching the birds and squirrels. She really is an adorable, gorgeous girl with her baby blues and snow-white fur, but she would definitely need a home that understands she is special needs and will need some time adjusting to everything in her new environment that she can only see and smell.

 

Aioli can run very hot and cold: she can be incredibly sweet when it pleases her, but when she’s done with snuggles and loving she isn’t afraid to slap you. She also gets irritated if she is woken up suddenly as she can’t hear you coming, so it simply scares her. She prefers the other cats to keep their distance but is fine with them if they respect the spatial boundaries she has set up for herself. She would do best in a home without young kids since she does spook easily.

 

We would love to see her in a place where she could spend the afternoons dozing in the sun, then have her humans come home to spoil her with tasty little tidbits, a few pets here and there and some comfy couch time.

 

Aioli is going to be a bit more challenging to adopt out given her attitude, but it is her tenacity and take-charge demeanor that got her noticed in the first place, so we don’t fault her for being a bit demanding. Considering everything she has been through and how hard she fought to get to where she is today, everyone who meets her is instantly in awe of her survival instincts and enamored by her charm and beauty. We sure do love our saucy, sassy spitfire—and you will, too!

More about Aoili :

  • Medium
  • Domestic short hair
  • Adult
  • Female
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Special needs: deaf, spooks easily
  • Spayed
  • Not declawed
  • Prefers a home without children

Want to adopt Aoili? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

 

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

 

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

 

 

Cat of the week: Dave

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By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

 

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

Darling, dynamic Dave is all the rave, a stunning (yet ravenous) fella who showed up at the house of one of our cat magnets in late July 2018, making himself quite at home on the front porch, following her indoor cats from window to window, trying to convince the home owner to let him in. Because she was unsure of his health status, she first took him in to her vet (very smart on her part) to have him tested, dewormed and given flea control, but much to her dismay, this friendly fella came up positive for Feline Leukemia.

 

Sadly, the family had been prepared to take him in and make him part of their own furry fold, but Dave’s viral status forced them to look for alternative placement; that is where we came in. On Aug. 13, we opened our doors and hearts to this fabulous four-year-old feline (born in late 2014).

 

Dave needed a bit of a medical work-up–he had a nasty ear mite infection, an abraded foot pad, greasy stud-tail (he was intact), enlarged lymph nodes and a formerly fractured toe on his right rear foot. To top it off, he also had roundworms, giardia and lungworms. And shortly after he arrived at our sanctuary he broke out with calici virus which caused him to spike terribly high temps and develop painful tongue ulcers.

 

But in spite of it all, Dave never once complained, always cuddled, and took his meds like a the champ that he is; his true personality and spirit could not be dampened, as he showed us what a sweet, silly and playful boy he is, the purrfect mix of laid-back and inquisitive.

 

This beautiful boy proved to be one of those cats that will follow you around, not to bother you or beg for attention, but rather simply to see what you are up to. He is quite fond of nap time but will wake up in a hurry if a human enters the room and wants some snuggle time, though he waits patiently on his perch or in his cat cubby for his person to walk on over and rub his belly, an activity he will happily engage in until your hand falls asleep. He loves, loves, LOVES his canned food but it is pleasing people that satisfies him and fills him with contentment.

 

This awesome cat will thrive in pretty much any stimulating home environment, and we feel that he would also like to have another of the feline kind around; ideally finding him a home with another cat with FELV would be the best, but there are vaccines that offer protection against viral transmission that can be given to non-infected cats.

 

Dave is just too spectacular of a cat to pass on by—so don’t even try! Come meet him, pick him up in your arms and discover why we are all completely enamored by this cool cat.

More about Dave:

  • Large
  • Domestic Short Hair — Tabby (Brown/chocolate)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • FELV-positive
  • Good in a home with other cats; children

Want to adopt Dave? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

 

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

 

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Hamish

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By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

 

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

On Friday the 13th of July 2018, a kind-hearted, cat-trappin’ citizen contacted Dr. Jen about a pair of friendly brothers that she had on a waiting list for another local shelter. Back in June the duo was brought in to Focus on Ferals after having been taken from a large population of stray cats roaming around on the Northeast side of town; they were neutered, tested and started on vaccines in hopes of eventually going into their adoption program.

 

But one of the boys (born in early 2016) had evidently suffered a trauma so severe to his side that his body wall ruptured, leaving him with a huge herniation that continued to grow over time; in fact it had been present for so long (probably over two years) that the repair attempt by his initial vet was ineffective. So when Dr. Jen was asked to give a second opinion on the case, she offered to take the brothers in to our program and set out to fix that humongous hernia (in the words of his rescuer).

 

As it turns out, not only was Hamish’s intra-abdominal fat pooching out underneath the skin through the tear in his body wall, but his poor spleen had become adherent to the opening, so it had to be surgically removed in order to close the defect. However, we are thrilled to report that with layers of sutures, cage rest and many crossed fingers, Hamish’s hernia is a thing of the past.

 

Hamish was nicknamed ‘The Handful’ as he can be as bratty as he is cute. He is a door diver, likes to rile the other cats up by picking fights or causing them to go after him due to his over-exuberance—he is constantly in motion. We can imagine that it feels downright awesome to be able to move around without having an internal organ squish out your side, so we do give the guy a bit of a break on this.

 

He LOVES people, but when he has had enough, he will swipe or swat to let you know that your services are no longer needed. He could live with other cats as long as he can be the dominant one, but small kids we feel are out of the picture; we do however suspect a dog might be right up his alley.

 

For safety measures, his owner will need a two-door entry and exit system as he is constantly darting out into our lobby (we have a triple door system. We have had quite a bit of success with taming the wild beast running wild by squirting him with a short burst of water from our ‘naughty kitty’ bottle; slowly but surely he IS learning to play nice with the others.

 

Overall we feel he is somewhat of an overgrown kitten and is just now getting to live the life he had always wanted: crazy, carefree and with reckless abandon (versus abandonment).

 

And he is STINKIN’ CUTE!

More about Hamish:

  • Large
  • Domestic Short Hair — Tabby (Tiger-striped)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats; older children

Want to adopt Hamish? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

 

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

 

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Baz

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By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

If Tigger from Winnie-the-Pooh was a cat, boisterous, beguiling, bouncing-off-the-walls Baz would embody him for sure! This busy boy (born in March of 2017) came to us on May 31, 2018, after having been found in the yard of a Wyoming woman who lived in the trailer park just down the from the vet clinic. Initially his rescuer thought he was injured, and coming from the corner of 44th and Clyde Park, she thought perhaps he had been hit by a car and was laying in her grass, stunned and hurting; of course Dr. Jen had the rescuer bring him right down for evaluation.

 

Once Dr. Jen examined Baz, it was clear that nothing physically was wrong, so it left her wondering if he was yet another cat who was tossed out and left behind, too scared to move or cry out for help. Within a few seconds, he was trucking around the exam room like he owned the place, sporting a way too-tight collar that had probably been on him since kittenhood. Dr. Jen offered to take him in, got him neutered and program-ready with all of the required medical care. He hung out with Dr. Jen for a day or two to recover from his surgery, during which time Baz and she became fast friends. This fabulous fella has the most magnificent markings, a beyond playful spirit and is overall just a terrific tabby!

 

Once at Crash’s, he took the place by storm, acting as if he had always lived there amongst the furry fold. He is a hoot to watch as he tries to engage the other residents in a wrestling match, but sadly no one quite lives up to his activity level, so Baz is left with us humans to entertain him! We want — no NEED — to find him a home that is energetic as he is, one with kid cohorts and a cat or two that can give him a run for his money! We think he’d even do well with dogs as he is THAT easygoing and open to new experiences.

 

Nothing gets him down or stands in his way of having tons of fun; it is really fascinating to observe him in his glory, gallivanting around our place like the Energizer Bunny, with his inquisitive nature bringing big smiles to our faces. Not only is Baz adorable, he is comical and curious, promising that there will NEVER be a dull moment when he is around! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to welcome this wonderful, whimsical boy into your world!

More about Baz:

  • Medium
  • Tabby (Tiger Striped)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats and children

Want to adopt Baz? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

 

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Ace

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By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

Absolutely fabulous FIV+ Ace came to us by one-woman-rescue wonder Sandi D, who came across him on Davis St NW in Grand Rapids in February, when she helped her friend Cheryl live-trap him to get him off of the streets and into safety. Once indoors she noted a limp involving his right foreleg, and since Dr. Jen was out on surgical leave, Sandi took him into the vet clinic to have him checked out; three visits in total and nothing other than a soft-tissue injury could be determined as the cause of his intermittent limp.

 

Born in November of 2013 (guesstimate), Ace appeared to be the picture of health with the exception of an ear infection caused by ear mites, a bit of gingivitis and that darn old lameness. Dr. Jen witnessed his slight hobble for herself but again, could not find any radiographic reason for the hitch in his giddy-up. So Dr. Jen started him on short-term pain medication and a long-term joint supplement to counteract arthritis symptoms even though we couldn’t pick anything obvious up on x-rays. Within a few short weeks, the limp had resolved and Ace was trucking around like nobody’s business!

 

Since Dr. Jen is mostly hands-on at the clinic, she always asks for purr-sonality summaries from two of her right hand women at the shelter. Here are their glowing reports on amazing Ace:

 

“The way to Ace’s heart is through endless bowls of wet food! He is absolutely obsessed with food and often has to be locked away during feeding times because he will steal others’ food. He is a really nice cat and will do well in pretty much any household.”

 

“He’s really becoming a more laid-back kind of guy. He isn’t too bothered by other cats, but does enjoy his own space. He loves people, and will come sit by you on the floor. Not one for being fussed over or carried, but I think deep down he really does love attention. He’s a pretty handsome guy. Would do good with a cat buddy, and maybe even a calmer dog.”

 

So there ya have it — all about Ace and why we would LOVE to place him in a home! Since he is a lover and not a fighter, the risk of him transmitting FIV to another cat is minimal, so come meet this adorable guy for yourself and see why we are all so heads-over paws for him!

More about Ace:

  • Large
  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Adult
  • Male
  • Tabby (gray/blue/silver
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed

Want to adopt Ace? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

 

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

 

 

Cat of the week: Karaoke

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , , , , , ,

One of the sweetest kitties you will ever meet

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

 

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

On March 4 , 2016, this outspoken, kooky, little kitty ended up in a rural ‘kill’ shelter much to her—and our—dismay. Since cats very rarely get adopted from within the four walls that held her, a local group took it upon themselves  to pull her out and transport her to us, a feat made all the more impressive since the gray-and-buff tabby tested positive for Feline Leukemia. Born in early 2014, no one involved understands why this gregarious, outgoing girl ended up homeless and helpless, but all of us are in agreement: she was well worth the group effort to get her into Big Sid’s!

 

Initially she was dubbed ‘Smoky’ as the facility had to call her something, but those of you who know Dr. Jen know that she refuses to bestow such a bland name on such a bold, beautiful cat. In speaking with one of her caretakers, Dr. Jen discovered that this sassy little lass had a set of pipes on her, she thought that Karaoke would be the purr-fect name. This little kitty is so stinkin’ cute.

 

Karaoke reminds us a bit of the Energizer Bunny, a real honey of a gal who is as busy as can be, a most curious cat who has to explore this and that and everything in between. She is also exceptionally loving and sweet but can only stop by briefly for some pets and chin scratches before she is off to see what the heck else is going on. Places to go, people to see—that is the mantra of Karaoke.

 

It’s upsetting that such a darling kitty is harboring the Feline Leukemia Virus in her bloodstream, but even a high fever spiked a few days after arrival didn’t slow her down, as she responded to treatment and rebounded like an Olympic sprinter set on winning the race. Nothing gets this gleeful girl down as she has a fun-filled life to live to the fullest; we are pleased as can be that Karaoke will be ricocheting off the walls of Big Sid’s. With her, you definitely get more ‘bounce to the ounce’—there is NEVER a dull moment when she is gloriously gallivanting around, strutting her stuff for the world to see and admire. We are all in awe of her awesomeness!

More about Karaoke:

  • Medium
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Tabby (Buff/Tan/Fawn), Gray/Blue/Silver
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Not declawed

Want to adopt Karaoke? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

 

NOTE: A $825 grant from Lil BUB’s Big Fund for the ASPCA will enable Crash’s Landing & Big Sid’s Sanctuary, to fund comprehensive exams for five Big Sid’s Sanctuary cats before going to their new home. Each exam would include a full blood panel, dental care, radiographs, urinalysis, antibiotics and pain medication, if needed. Big Sid’s caters exclusively to cats who test positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) or FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). FIV and FeLV are viruses that can, if they flare up, suppress a cat’s immune system. The shelter takes cats with FIV or FeLV from all over Michigan.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Chrysanthemum

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By Sharon Wylie
Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

Volunteer Patti F. and her family are very well versed in this whole stray cat thing, as living out in the country has brought them many a cat over the years; this summer however they found themselves coming across several ill or injured kitties that needed medical attention.
Such was the case with Chrysanthemum, a young mother (born in the spring of 2015) who ended up on their property sickly, swollen and very skittish. Seems that another Saranac stray had taken an extreme dislike to Chryssy, biting her on the right side of her face and causing a major abscess that not only affected her jaw but the inside of her mouth and underneath her tongue as well.

Given her frantic nature when in the presence of strangers at first, we suspect the ONLY way her rescuer was able to catch her and bring her in to safety was simply because she was so ill she didn’t have the energy to put up a fight. But after her spay and wound treatment, coupled with heavy-duty antibiotics and narcotics, Chryssy was rip-roaring mad at Dr. Jen and not afraid to show it (yes, that is the thanks Dr. Jen gets).

Chryssy roomed with another terribly shy guy while she recovered at the clinic in the hopes that his tender timidness would rub off on her, but unfortunately within a day of arrival at Crash’s she turned her fear of the unknown into aggression. It was so rough going at first that she became extremely violent when anyone so much as attempted to approach her.

Over the next few weeks though, as she grew more comfortable in her surroundings and realized that we are not the bad guys, her attitude changed and she was able to finally move past her disdain and hatred of humans. Even though she is far from fond of any of us two-legged creatures, she is smitten with other kittens and is ALWAYS found snuggled up close to one cat or another (or two or three!).

We believe that it is through our kindness towards her kitty companions that Chryssy is learning what it feels like to be loved unconditionally, and we know that patience and kindness will win her over. We are taking baby steps and asking her to toddle on after us towards a more peaceful coexistence; we are confident that her roommates will show her the way—and we are happy with whatever pace she sets for herself. Interested adopters must have a quiet home with no other pets or children.

We have no expectations of her other than to let her guard down and allow us to show her what compassion and tenderness is all about; if it takes weeks, months or even years, that is fine by us—we aren’t going anywhere and she can stay here as long as she pleases!

MORE ABOUT CHRYSANTHEMUM

  • House trained
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Current on vaccinations
  • Prefers a home without dogs and Young Children
Want to adopt Chryssy? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Bryant

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Stunning Bryant

By Sharon Wylie

Crash’s Landing

 

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

A Cutlerville resident came across this stunning — but stinky — intact male on Nov. 18, 2016, and contacted a friend for help; that friend kept the kitty indoors for three days but was unable to house him long-term.

 

When the strapping stud arrived at the clinic on the 21st, he was completely loaded with flea dirt and crawling with live fleas, had significant gingivitis and completely missing an entire toenail from his left rear foot. However, he weighed in at 12.5 pounds — he was well-fed while out roaming the streets — so he did have that going for him, along with being a well-muscled, fine specimen of a cat; we now had quite the hunk in our possession! Dr. Jen’s first order of business was to retest him for FELV/FIV as he had supposedly tested positive for one of the viruses at another clinic; testing at intake (and again a month later) revealed a negative viral status. Once neutered and cleaned up, bold and beguiling Bryant made his way on down to Crash’s.

 

Born in November of 2013, Bryant is a total sweetheart the majority of the time, but has a tendency to get a wee bit nippy when he feels he has had enough attention. He will tolerate the other cats but we think he would ideally prefer to fly solo. He is a very confident guy, so he is not afraid to stand up to some of our more temperamental boys, not backing down and showing them what he is made of.

 

Because of his hot-and-cold attitude, we believe that it would be best that he be placed into a home without small children who might be apt to overlook his cues as to when he needs alone time. That being said, undoubtedly he will make a fabulous addition to someone who wants a cat who will be totally devoted to the human in his life, as long as he is given some space on occasion. He is a stunning boy who is sure to be the confidante and companion someone out there is looking for!

MORE ABOUT BRYANT

  • House trained
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Current on vaccinations
  • Prefers a home without young children

Want to adopt Bryant? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Flora

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Fabulous Flora has special needs, but that shouldn’t stop you from adopting her

By Sharon Wylie

Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

When a Belmont resident stumbled across this bedraggled old girl at the Madison Square Sportsman Club, she did the ONE thing that saved the kitty’s life: she took her home and brought her inside.

 

Weighing in at only 4.7 pounds, this senior citizen whose age can only be estimated at older than 8 (a birthdate of June of 2007 has been given) was in such dire straits, it was painful to look at her. The rescuer took her in to a vet for a quick once-over and testing, then called us to ask if we could help; we welcomed this beyond skinny, scrawny kitty into our program on June 23, 2016.

 

Upon kitty’s arrival, Dr. Jen had her work cut out for her: Flora was emaciated with significant muscle wasting, her gums were pale due to a non-regenerative anemia, had broken canines and dental disease, was ravenously hungry but literally everything she ate ran out of the other end, had a puncture wound on chin that abscessed and caused a significant odor AND was bugged by fleas as well! Needless to say, frail little Flora and Dr. Jen spent a few days at the clinic righting all of the wrongs that we could; by the time she headed down to Crash’s her stools were solidifying, she was up to 5.7 pounds and she was totally loving her new life.

 

For the next four weeks Dr. Jen had Flora on a course of oral antibiotics that would target a blood parasite if that was the cause of her low red blood cell count, but although she continued to gain weight (she was up to 6.9 pounds a month after her arrival), her anemia didn’t improve, meaning it simply is one of chronic illness.

 

In time, as she grows stronger and healthier, this may change, but given all of the problems this abandoned girl was plagued with for so long, it may take quite awhile. We will continue to monitor her closely for symptoms of IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) as that chronic condition certainly could be the root of the majority of her presenting issues.

 

It took several weeks of R and R at our facility before Flora had energy to do more than sleep, so now that she is getting three squares a day (ok, in her case it is unlimited snacks and meals) she is making her rounds about the place and is quite happy to see you when you arrive. She learned her name very quickly and will saunter on over to you if you ask her to (if she isn’t contentedly napping), relishing the gentle fur-strokes and face rubs given to her in return.

 

Overall, Flora is a fabulous, mellow, laid-back, even-tempered gal who would adore a home that would provide for her all of the ‘cushy’ things in life she was missing for so long. If you have a warm lap, designated snuggle spots and a bed or two she could claim as her own, then Flora feels she is the right cat for you! Her needs are simple and her gratitude is endless; she will be a loving, loyal companion who will repay your kindness with never-ending devotion.

MORE ABOUT FLORA

  • Anemic
  • House trained
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Current on vaccinations

Want to adopt Flora? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Hero

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By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

In June of 2013, Dr. Jen received a very nice email request from an employee at a Michigan shelter in regards to transferring over a Feline Leukemia positive boy who was stuck in a cage—with limited adoption opportunities. Since their shelter did not have a program for cats with FELV (most do not) and he was not able to roam much due to lack of space, he was primarily confined to one spot. The shelter was able to house him temporarily with a positive kitten, so Hero (who was born in late 2013) had a buddy to snuggle and cuddle with.

Since we focus on cats older than six months of age, Dr. Jen gladly accepted this striking, stunning tabby fella into our program at Big Sid’s. So on July 7th we welcomed this long and lanky, MARVELOUS manx into our free-roaming, two level facility after a work-up was performed at the clinic—and Dr. Jen got to bond and fall hopelessly in love with him. I mean those ear tips and tufts alone are enough to knock your socks off, but when you couple that with those piercing green eyes… it’s all over!

Hero is probably one of THE HAPPIEST CATS we currently have at our sanctuary! He could not wait to be released from our intake suite (we had to speed up the process a wee bit to accommodate his eagerness) so he could meet the rest of the residents and hang out with all of the volunteers. Instant-presto nice guy Hero impressed everyone with how cordial and outgoing he was from the moment he padded paw into our place. Our cat care director went so far as to say that he was one of the nicest cats we have EVER had at Sid’s—and that is saying A LOT. She says he thrives on chatting with you and following you around; no matter what you are doing or where you are, jubilant, overjoyed Hero is there with a smile plastered on his face (he sports a very winning grin).

It is a crying shame that our handsome Hero contracted the virus because it does limit his chances realistically of being adopted. He is too social and has formed such a strong kinship with the other cats that he absolutely has to have another kitty to play with, and he needs a bustling household that can energize and entertain him. It can be a tall order to fill when asking someone to take a chance on a Feline Leukemia positive kitty, but Hero has SO MUCH TO OFFER—virus be damned! He is most definitely worth looking into what it requires to take on a positive kitty, so if you are interested in finding out more about Hero and FELV, please contact Dr. Jen directly.

MORE ABOUT HERO

  • Felv+
  • House trained
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Current on vaccinations

Get the facts about Feline Leukemia here.

Learn about our adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Rio

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , , ,

Rio needs a home all to herself

By Sharon Wylie

Crash’s Landing

 

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

Up for a challenge? Rio is one tough nut to crack, but we KNOW on the inside of her hard exterior there is a sweet center waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. We have seen glimmers of her gentle self when she has been alone in a room with ’just us humans’ but the problem is that we don’t have the accommodations that she soooo desires.

 

See, the problem lies with the fact that Rio was in a home of her own—her VERY own—for nine long and luxurious years before she had to be abruptly returned in the summer of 2015. Seems that when her mom moved into a new house without a foyer or vestibule, Rio took to running outdoors; even though she is a senior (born in late 2005) and a chunky 12 pounds, this girl is FAST—and her owner couldn’t keep up. After months of putting up with her antics and fearing for her safety, it was decided that she should come back to live with us, lest she end up splattered on the pavement.

 

Now, Rio doesn’t understand one bit why on earth she has ended up in a place overrun with cats of all shapes and sizes—and she isn’t afraid to express her dismay and disdain quite loudly. We had hoped that she would simmer down and settle in over time — especially after Dr. Jen had to extract quite a few of her teeth due to profound dental disease — but that didn’t happen.

 

And since it is impossible for us to provide solo housing in a facility that holds on average 90-100 kitties at a time, we have had to make do and shuffle her from room to room, allowing a cat or two in at a time in the hopes that she would take a shining to them.

 

The sad fact of the matter at hand (er, paw) is that Rio is miserable in our place—even as awesome as it is—so we are desperately trying to find her a place to reside where she can be the Queen of the Castle, a Rapunzel of sorts since she cannot be allowed outdoors due to her front declawed and semi-toothless status. Until then, we will do our best to sooth our angry beastie and shower her with understanding and anti-anxiety medication to ease her less than desirable cat-itude.

 

Rio really is a sweetheart—just not in her current surroundings, and she isn’t going to blossom until she is truly comfortable and content. So if you feel you can help us all out by opening your heart and home to a grumpy old girl who really needs peace and solitude in order to regain the happiness she so suddenly lost, please let us know!

MORE ABOUT RIO

  • House trained
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Declawed
  • Current on vaccinations
  • Prefers a home without cats

Want to adopt Rio? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Heyward

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Just look at that handsome mug

By Sharon Wylie

Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

We happen to think that ALL of our Crash Cats are good looking, but this guy right here is one hot commodity, and so flipping handsome we can hardly contain ourselves when we gaze upon his gorgeousness! Hunky Heyward (born in late 2011) ended up homeless and helpless in mid-October, 2016 when a cat lover provided him with the safety and comfort of a really awesome outdoor coop she has set up for the strays she often comes across out in her northeast Grand Rapids neighborhood.

When Dr. Jen had the extreme pleasure of welcoming him into our program on November 14th, he was extremely shy and suffering from severe dental disease; in fact the neutered male had pockets of pus present in his mouth and was missing many teeth that had literally rotted and fallen out sometime before his rescue. He was pretty scruffy and matted, probably from not being willing to groom himself as meticulously due to profound oral pain, so we spruced and fluffed him up while he was under anesthesia for his surgery. He looked and smelled SO much better once he woke up and was able to enthusiastically dive head first into bowl after bowl of yummy soft food.

Once at the shelter, Heyward hunkered down in his two-story cat condo and refused ANY and ALL human contact for two whole weeks, though he delighted in the endless supply of meals and didn’t mind people speaking softly to him. Then, all of a sudden, at exactly the two-week mark, he waltzed on out of his condo and demanded affection, and he hasn’t stopped since that wonderful, glorious day. He prefers to stay tucked away out of the limelight but will seek out attention when all is quiet in the shelter.

Heyward is especially fond of belly rubs and lap snuggles; we suspect that once he feels comfy and cozy in his new, mellow home, he will offer his tummy up for major pets and warm the laps of those who have chosen to take a chance on him, take him home and love him up one side and down the other:) Heyward deserves to be doted on and adored, and he will most certainly reciprocate your kindness with unconditional love.

Want to adopt Heyward? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Yukio

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Tantalizing Siamese/Tabby Yukio takes about two minutes to warm up to new people, then all he wants to do is live on your lap!

By Sharon Wylie

Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

Although Yukio (born in spring of 2014) came in with fellow Siamese Fujiko (born in the spring of 2013) and Yoshimitsu (born in spring of 2014) as a presumed family, they really aren’t that interested in hanging out together, but more so in roaming and running rampant from one end of the building to the other with pure, unadulterated glee.

 

You couldn’t ask for a more stunning sample of Siamese/tabby cat if you tried — Yukio is  THAT drop-dead gorgeous! And not only is he incredibly easy on the eyes, but he has an absolutely amazing personality and has adjusted to indoor shelter life with enthusiasm and eagerness. This guy and his fellows were door-darters from the minute we set them up in the intake suite, awaiting their photo ops and allowing them to acclimate (which they didn’t really need at all)!

 

Siamese cats are popular and we don’t see them here at Crash’s Landing all that often. The trio arrived in December 2016 and already, Fujiko has been adopted, so Yukio just might get snapped up quickly. If you love Siamese cats — or mixtures thereof — don’t wait too long!

MORE ABOUT YUKIO

  • House trained
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Current on vaccinations

Want to adopt Yukio? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Maury Pawvich

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By Sharon Wylie

Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

Here’s what Dr. Jen had to say about Maury Pawvich:

 

Sometimes you cross paths with a cat so flipping adorable and outgoing that you cannot fathom why on earth he was wandering around town, aimless and abandoned. Seriously, this guy right here? Totally AWESOME! You all know my affinity for the fat-heads, but it just isn’t my penchant for pinchable cheeks that drew me in, but rather magnificent Maury’s alluring aura and his gentlemanly nature. Born in late 2010, the marvelous specimen of all things feline somehow ended up homeless and in search of a place to call his own, when a Wyoming resident took it upon herself to take him in temporarily until we were able to.

 

Although upsetting, it was really no big surprise when this studmuffin tested a very strong FIV+, considering he was ‘all boy’ and had been roaming the mean streets for who knows how long. I don’t think Maury was the aggressor in any skirmishes he was involved in, but he did suffer a nasty injury to his left rear foot that tore one of his claws completely off, leaving him with a nasty, smelly infection that needed immediate treatment, lest he lose that toe. After antibiotics, neutering, flea treatment, vaccines and deworming, my handsome tuxedo (former) tomcat was ready, willing and able to head on down to our sanctuary and become an official Big Sid’s Kid.

 

Again, not astonishing that he made fast friends with anyone he came into contact with, charming the other cats and the volunteers alike with his come hither gaze, affability and eagerness to be best buds — forever! Of all of the newbies we had taken in in December of 2014, Maury adapted the easiest, settling in like a champ and quickly learning and engaging in the daily routines and rituals with great enthusiasm.

 

He is SUCH a gracious, gorgeous guy that you can’t help but fall for him, hook, line and sinker, within mere minutes of making his acquaintance. Maury is absolutely delightful and I speak for all of us when I say how thrilled we are to have him as one of our own, that is until we to find him the kind of purr-fect home he deserves!

MORE ABOUT MAURY PAWVICH

  • FIV+
  • House trained
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Current on vaccinations

Want to adopt Maury Pawvich? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Get info about Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Heyward

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , , ,

By Sharon Wylie

Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

Dr. Jen happens to think that ALL Crash Cats are good looking, but this guy right here is one hot commodity—and so flipping handsome she could hardly contain herself when she gazed upon his gorgeousness!

Hunky Heyward (born in late 2011) ended up homeless and helpless in mid-October 2016, when a cat-lovin’ rescuer provided him with the safety and comfort of a really awesome outdoor coop she has set up for the strays she often comes across out in her northeast Grand Rapids neighborhood. When Dr. Jen had the extreme pleasure of welcoming him into the program on November 14, he was extremely shy and suffering from severe dental disease; in fact, the neutered male had pockets of pus present in his mouth and was missing many teeth that had literally rotted and fallen out sometime before his rescue.

Heyward was pretty scruffy and matted, probably from not being willing to groom himself scrupulously due to profound oral pain, so Dr. Jen spruced and fluffed him up while he was under anesthesia for his surgery. He looked and smelled SO much better once he woke up and was able to enthusiastically dive headfirst into bowl after bowl of yummy, soft food!

Once at the shelter, Heyward hunkered down in his two-story cat condo and refused any and all human contact for two whole weeks, though he delighted in the endless supply of meals and didn’t mind people speaking softly to him. Then, all of a sudden, at exactly the two-week mark, he waltzed on out of his cage and demanded affection—and he hasn’t stopped since!

He prefers to stay tucked away out of the limelight but will seek out attention when all is quiet in the shelter. He is especially fond of belly rubs and lap snuggles; it could be that once he feels comfy and cozy in his new, mellow home, he will offer his tummy up for major pets and warm the laps of those who have chosen to take a chance on him, take him home and love him up one side and down the other.

Heyward deserves to be doted on and adored, and he will most certainly reciprocate your kindness with unconditional love.

Want to adopt Heyward? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Rowdy

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , , , ,

Rowdy is adoptable!

By Sharon Wylie

Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

Rowdy’s rescuer has a way with cats — even the most timid of tom cats can’t resist her gentleness and this guy was no exception, although it did take quite a bit of sweet talking to reel him in, after which the rescuer and her cousin carted him off to Focus on Ferals for evaluation and neutering in mid-March 2016.

Although he was none too pleased, in time he did manage to forgive her and allowed her to once again pet him. She bestowed upon him the name of ‘Rowdy’ (born in the fall of 2011), not because he was a hellion at heart but simply because he gave her such a hard time when it came to corralling him into a travel carrier. She chose the name Rowdy after the character Rowdy Yates from the classic Rawhide television show back in the day of Clint Eastwood’s prime.

Rugged and ragged are two words that aptly described this handsome hunk when he arrived at the clinic on March 28 as he was sporting a previously broken tail tip, missing a canine tooth, was filthy and grimy with a stud tail present (from being intact for so long), in dire need of dental cleaning and sporting a nasty bite wound on his chest.

As you can imagine, this guy probably had some harrowing tales to tell, but instead he chose to keep quiet, hunker down in the safety and confines of the cushy cage Dr. Jen set up for him, and rest and recover. Wary and battle-weary, the poor guy needed spiffing up before going down to the sanctuary to be spoiled; he tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).

Once at Big Sid’s, Rowdy settled in, though at times it appeared as though he was afraid of his own shadow. With not a mean bone in his handsome, hunky bod, it does take him time to warm up, relax under a gentle touch and get to know you. The volunteers are patiently guiding him through daily life at the free-roaming facility, where he is making furry friends and reveling in the fact that he doesn’t have anything to be frightened of; his fighting days are over and his life of luxury has begun.

The dozens of doting caretakers are professionals when it comes to reassuring the shy guys, so in time, Dr. Jen has no doubt that Rowdy will be rolling on the floor, showing off his belly and relishing the attention showered on him.

MORE ABOUT ROWDY

  • FIV-positive
  • House trained
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Current on vaccinations

Want to adopt Rowdy? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Get info about Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Jheri

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Pets/Animals, , , , ,

 

By Sharon Wylie

Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

Hey! Remember Jheri Curls? (You’d have to be of a certain age.) Well, there’s a good reason Dr. Jen named this cutie ‘Jheri’.

Jheri’s saga began a few days before Christmas 2015 when Dr. Jen received a text from the Kent County Animal Shelter about an FIV+ kitty in need of transfer to Big Sid’s Sanctuary. The folks at the shelter told Dr. Jen that the fabulous feline in need was a lovable cat with loads of personality and, oh, by the way, he’s an American Curl. In Dr. Jen’s 13+ years of running a rescue, this was the first time she had encountered the breed.

Although Dr. Jen is not one to typically fall for a cat’s looks as it is what’s down deep down within that wins her over, she was completely smitten from the get-go.

“He could not be a more complete package of charisma, charm and adorableness,” said Dr. Jen. “If you are an ’80s lady like me, you are very familiar with the name reference — given how rare and uncommon his physical appearance is, I just had to bestow upon him a moniker as interesting as he is.”

Jheri only got to spend a few days at the clinic since Christmas vacation was almost underway, but in the time he and Dr. Jen were together, the fabulous feline roamed the halls and made his rounds, in spite of suffering from some sort of traumatic injury that caused one of his toes to swell and become infected. However, he was none the worse for wear and was raring to go the minute he set foot on the ground, assessing and “assisting” to the best of his abilities.

MORE ABOUT JHERI

  • FIV-positive
  • House trained
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Current on vaccinations

Suffice it to say that everyone who met Jheri fell instantly in love with his laid-back demeanor and happy-go-lucky attitude. Once at the sanctuary, Jheri made it known that he didn’t want to be contained in the intake suite, so the shelter’s photographer had to get down there in a hurry to snap Jheri’s glamour shots so he could roam and explore. From the second he was allowed the freedom to prance and prowl around the two-story shelter, he was like a little kid at Christmas!

Learn the facts about FIV and FeLV here.

Want to adopt Jheri? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

 

 

 

 

Cat of the week: Roku

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By Sharon Wylie

Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

In mid-November, 2015, a pet groomer alerted us to the plight of a cat in need that had been hanging around her house for a few weeks. Although she had set him up on her front porch, and he was camping out there quite contentedly in a heated cat house, she soon discovered that he had been kicked out by another stray, a wild child that wouldn’t let him back in.

So she set him up in her garage for a few days, awaiting program intake, and the overwhelmed, exhausted fella slept like he hadn’t in ages. He had absolutely no interest in venturing further than his food dish and litter box, so he was allowed to just rest and regain his strength.

Although Roku was grateful, he had a hard time expressing his emotions, as he wasn’t used to anyone being decent to him; he grumbled and growled in spite of himself. After some research, his rescuer discovered that this stunning Siamese (born in late 2011) had been living in the area for a few years, sheltered by people’s garages and porches, being fed intermittently, but most of the time fending for himself. Given his history, it is no wonder that this gorgeous guy was a bit grumpy.

Once at the clinic, Roku decided that even though he wasn’t too keen on this whole TLC thing, he did enjoy the endless supply of food and the creature comforts provided. Not a fan of other felines too much, he will tolerate them as long as they are not in too close of proximity; however since we house on average 90 cats at Crash’s, he won’t be able to go very far without encountering another cat.

One good thing though is that Roku now finds humans more tolerable, though if he has had enough petting or attention slathered on him, he will gently slap your hand away or nibble at your fingers, though not once has he attempted to scratch or chomp. We feel that given his strong personality and the fact that he is very set in his ways, he will do best in a solo home, but one where he isn’t expected to be a lap cat, because that just isn’t his thing.

Roku really is a nice boy, but he is stubborn and independent — and obviously these traits served him well in his past, so we can’t begrudge him that.

We have no worries that in time, with patience and stability, Roku will understand and accept kindness wholeheartedly. Each resident in our rescue deserves to have his or her care tailored to meet their individual needs, and Roku is no exception. He’s a work in progress and the volunteers continue to provide him the affection he may not know he wants — but most definitely needs — until his forever family comes along.

MORE ABOUT ROKU

  • House trained
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Current on vaccinations
  • Prefers a home without cats and Young Children
  • Primary Color(s): Flame Point Siamese

Want to adopt Roku? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the Week: Gorgeous Galen

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Meet gorgeous Galen!

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

By Sharon Wylie

 

This fabulous Feline Leukemia-Positive boy had been none too healthy when he first arrived at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic on Aug. 29, 2016, as a transfer from Montcalm County. Born in the summer of 2012, it’s a mystery as to how he ended up homeless and in need of help as he is absolutely one of the most laid-back, lovable lugs to saunter on into the sanctuary.

 

Although he was intact, filthy, flea-ridden, loaded with internal parasites and sporting a nasty bilateral ear infection that caused his eardrums to rupture, he was extremely affectionate, trusting and wanting nothing more than to snuggle.

 

It didn’t take too much to get him spiffed up and sent on down to Big Sid’s, but after about 10 days there, he developed a rip-roaring temperature of 106.8 degrees and was rushed back out to the clinic. Lab work revealed a profound inflammatory condition but unfortunately, antibiotics were not enough to control the fever; Dr. Jen had to go big and hit him hard with steroids and that worked.

 

A few days later, she was able to discharge this happy camper and get him back where he belonged, where he coerced all of the volunteers into giving him belly rubs and head pats overtime they turned around. He made his gentle, sweet presence known.

 

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Get ready to fall in love…

Galen made himself right at home, meshing with the resident population as if he had always lived amongst them. He is such an easy-going, easy-on-the-eyes guy that you are immediately drawn to him, and cats and humans alike find themselves enjoying his company immensely.

 

Galen’s middle ear infection is resolving nicely and he is doing exceptionally well at Big Sid’s. Stress can exacerbate underlying medical conditions so the fact that he acclimated with ease really helped speed up his recovery process. He is handsome, happy and now so much healthier than when he first came on board.

 

Galen is adoptable! Go here to read about the adoption process and then fill out an application form here. Get info about Feline Leukemia here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

 

See Galen’s Petfinder bio here.

MORE ABOUT GALEN

  • FELV+
  • House trained
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Current on vaccinations

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.