As a no-kill shelter, Cat Guardians sees many cats come in and get adopted. However, there are those few that spend their lives at the shelter, happy to be indoors, well-fed, and well cared for. Cat Guardians does not employ euthanasia except under painful circumstances. Most cats pass peacefully on their own in the arms of volunteers.
Cats past have been well-loved, and won’t be forgotten — These are their stories.
Sardine was a gray & white feral tabby who lived in our “medical room” with her buddy Mama Lil until she passed away in early May, 2010. She was considered “untouchable” due to her feral nature, but became more accepting of affection and treats from the staff in her final days.
A year ago, Cat Guardians created the Joann Dean Memorial Fund to honor the
memory of a very dedicated and beloved volunteer. The fund’s first recipient was Bruiser, a tough but sweet gray kitty found wandering our parking lot with a bad leg. We were lucky. We were able to save Bruiser’s leg and find a loving home for him.
Like Bruiser, Marlee was found wandering our parking lot in very bad shape. She was skinny, her fur was filthy, and she wouldn’t let us touch her left side. She was immediately taken to the vet where she was hospitalized to try and treat her for multiple conditions, including severe dehydration, anemia, multiple infections and possible kidney disease and cancer. Marlee was an independent, opinionated, feisty, and vocal cat who loved life and touched everyone who met her.
We don’t always get the miracle we ask for. We lost this very special girl on July 29, 2011, when she died of a blood clot. Even though we only knew our girl Marlee for just 20 days, she has a permanent place in our hearts. We were very lucky to have known her and we will miss her.
A very special thank you to everyone who donated to our fund to help cover the vet bills for Marlee’s care. Together we raised over $3000. With your support, Cat Guardians can continue to care for the lost and abandoned ‘street cats’ in our community, and we will to do everything possible to help cats like Bruiser and Marlee.
Tornado was less than a year old when a Cat Guardians supporter trapped her and the rest of her feral family in Addison. She spent the next 14 years, from 1997 to 2011, making friends with the shy/semi-feral cats and rarely leaving the safety of the group.
It was only toward the end that she ventured out and started reaching out to people for safety, food, and comfort. She finally let us pet her, and finally felt safe returning a little affection.
Sadly, she suffered a stroke in late April, 2011, and passed peacefully after spending the night in Kathy’s arms. It’s a shame we didn’t get more time cuddling with this sweet kitty. But, at least she finally knew just how much we loved her.
Final Farewell to a Favorite Feline Friend
Anybody who’s ever visited the Cat Guardians Shelter since its grand opening in August 1991 knows who “Stosh” is! Considered the shelter mascot, “Stosh” was the people-friendliest cat in residence. His numerous health ailments were the reason this gregarious fellow was never lucky enough to be adopted, but that meant it was lucky for Cat Guardians because he became the heart & soul of the shelter!
This spunky guy even defied he medical lab results when he outlived his cancer diagnosis by four years, living to the respectful age of 22! He was acting like his usual self until the end, jumping on the sink, insisting on being first at the food dish & water bowls! He went upstairs with Kathy for the last couple of days and died peacefully in her arms.
“Stosh” was a very important part of the shelter and we’ll always remember him greeting us at the door, running into the medical room & generally acting like he was the King of the place – which he was. We’re glad he got to spend so much time with Cat Guardians.
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