MEOW25: Your Stories

Roo was born with radial hypoplasia in both front legs. This did not stop her enjoying life and after figuring out how to “Roo-ize” the house she basically ran the family. 

Roo did not pass away young because of her polydactylism mutation but because she was also born with many heart issues.  That broke our hearts.

Roo loved: being carried like a baby so her front legs were comfortable, stretching as long as she could for her head to toe torpedo belly rubs, curling up in a tiny ball sleeping in my arms at night, eating roasted Co-op chicken, discovering a new world in the garden and sunbathing at the back window.  Her motor boat purr of contentment told us everything was to her liking and that was important since the household revolved around her.

Roo’s congenital heart defects; enlarged heart, hear murmur, leaky valves, thickened walls, aortic outflow obstruction and a hole in her heart, were too extensive for a long life.  We packed in as much love, belly rubs, sunbeams, naps and treats (the day Roo discovered lobster was monumental) as we could in our short three years together.

Never be afraid of adopting a special needs cat.  Adopting Roo was one of the best things I did in life.

– Founder, Jake Forrest

Mog and Pharaoh were rescued by MEOW in the early days of our foundation. They were born and lived outside for the first 9 months of their lives, along with 2 other siblings. They were very shy/feral cats, but I cared for them at MEOW from the first days of their rescue and then in early 2001, after the passing of my senior cat, they came home with me and were soon joined by a well socialized kitten, Mort.

They were so shy, so funny , so smart and were referred to by the teenagers in the home at the time, as the ‘farm’ cats. They began to accept pets while eating, then some firm body pressure holds and finally some short nano second lifts off the floor to ensure they could be crated for their annual vet visits.

Slowly but surely, they became ‘ my’ cats and as typical ferals, they bonded tightly and solely with one person – me. They also became somewhat fond of the youngest teenager and so he was enlisted at the claw trimming times.

For their entire life, the doorbell, children and strangers would send them fleeing under the nearest bed to wait until the intruders had left their territory. They taught me more about cats than anyone could ever glean from a text book. Their loyalty and love was a gift. Moggie passed in 2012 with inflammatory bowel disease and Pharaoh passed in 2018 at the age of 19 years.

– Founder: Debbie Nelson

I was volunteering with the adoptions group, when one day I went to the old adoption centre to meet the new cats. Upon entering, I heard this mournful meow coming from one of the back rooms. To my wondering eyes I saw a very handsome white flame point cat sitting on top of one of the cages. Upon approaching this cat, he immediately walked up to me and gave me a head butt. Realizing this guy was friendly, I picked up Ming Hui and it was love at first bite. Yes, I do mean bite. Cuddling him in my arms, he reached up and gave me a soft love nibble on my chin. At that moment he captured my heart.

When my husband received the same welcome, he was ours.

He was feline number four in our household. The saying goes: one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure, was exactly how we felt. He was the most amazing cat. Loveable, sweet, funny, cuddly, friends with all our other cats, peacemaker, handsome, did I mention loveable.? We had hm until he was 17 and got him through many years of IBD. He was our treasurer, and he is missed every day.

– Founder: Esther Davidchuk

A black cat probably isn’t what you imagine when you hear the name “Whiteout”. However, we needed a way to tell two tiny, indistinguishable black kittens apart, and a dab of whiteout on the forehead did the trick. Whiteout and his three siblings were just a week old when they were orphaned and came into our care.

They kept us busy and entertained, but they often had us worried – perhaps none more than Whiteout. While his sweetness was unmatched, his siblings quickly surpassed him in both size and playfulness. It became clear that Whiteout needed a veterinarian’s expertise when he struggled to keep food down, and his once-identical brother, Blackin, appeared to be nearly twice his size at the age of 10 weeks.

Our dear, little boy was diagnosed with megaesophagus, a condition where the esophagus is enlarged and has difficulty moving food to the stomach, often leaving it stuck in the esophagus. This can lead to regurgitation, a high risk of aspiration pneumonia, and poor nutrition. To make matters worse, Whiteout also experienced projectile vomiting. The prognosis was grim, but with proper management and extra care, we were hopeful Whiteout could still enjoy many happy, fulfilling years—and we were right!

Managing his condition required medication, as well as ensuring he stayed upright and relaxed during and after meals, and those meals had to be small, frequent, and soft. We elevated Whiteout’s food bowl by placing it on a small stool, then held him upright for about 10 minutes after each meal so gravity would help move his food down. Over time, his incurable condition was as well-controlled as possible and gradually improved.

Whiteout was our first foster “fail” as we were his first, last, and only home. We just couldn’t imagine him anywhere else. Gentle, patient, ready to play, and always happy to cuddle, he was the perfect big brother and helped us care for many more foster kittens.

To everyone’s surprise, it wasn’t megaesophagus, but kidney disease that claimed Whiteout at only seven years old. Whiteout will forever be one of the most beloved cats we’ve ever known.

– Kimiko M.

Glenn and I were volunteers with Meow Foundation, working and learning with feral cats. We met Budgie, a rescued female feline at Meow Shelter. Budgie, approximately 1-2 years old, displayed a highly feral demeanor. Due to extreme fearfulness, she sought refuge in a square box cat stand, hindering volunteers from working with her. Budgie needed a foster home, so we volunteered. We started her acclimation in a small room furnished with essentials. We interacted gently, maintaining eye contact, and engaging softly. Gradually, Budgie exhibited signs of increased comfort. Suddenly one day, she jumped up onto the couch beside Glenn, seeking pets. It was like a switch went on, and there was no turning back after that. She followed Glenn like a shadow, and there was no doubt that we had to adopt her.

She taught us so much and our experience in nurturing a feral cat was a novel endeavor, and we attribute our success in fostering trust to the tranquil ambiance of our home, gentle communication, sustained engagement, provision of toys, affectionate gestures, grooming sessions, and enticing treats. Budgie’s evolution from a timid, feral cat to an exuberant, affectionate companion was nothing short of remarkable, enriching our lives immeasurably. While Budgie has since departed for Cat Heaven, her legacy endures, immortalized in a poignant tattoo adorning Glenn’s shoulder.

Marley (MEOW name Zola) was living on the streets for a year before being rescued.   He was a beautiful Bengal and also my first foster fail.

It was discovered he had serious abdominal trauma requiring extensive surgery, after which I offered to care for him until he recovered and could be adopted.   After several weeks, he was integrated, comfortable with my cats and claimed my home as his own.   So he stayed.

Marley was a sensitive, independent soul but learned to live like my other cats—slept on the bed or my lap, loved watching the world from his outdoor catio or indoor tree, and wasn’t afraid to announce his presence with his unique Bengal yowls.

His favorite activity was the Temptations game, retrieving these tasty morsels from the numerous places I hid them on tables, shelves, windowsills, cat posts, furniture.   He led the pack of hunters and would even start doing the route before I had put the treats out—always made me smile.

I enjoyed Marley’s company for many years until cancer claimed him at the age of 13.   A beautiful cat in so many ways❤️.

Bruiser came to MEOW at the approximate age of 2-3 years. Someone in the neighbourhood had been feeding him, but he  arrived one day dragging his tail and with a bloody abscess near the base of his spine. Along with a severe case of ear mites, Bruiser really epitomized the tough life and injuries that intact tom cats are subject to.

He was beset with further medical issues with ear infections, multiple treatments and finally a specialist surgery called a lateral ear canal re-section of his right ear in hopes his ear issues would resolve and they did. He became a sweet loving boy who loved head and cheek  scratches and relished naps in soft beds.

He was rescued in February and adopted in June of 2006 and is a cat that proved that survivors just need a second chance and every cat can be changed by love.

Akira, her Mom Chablis, and litter mates Regan & Simcha were rescued from living in an alley by MEOW Foundation in the spring of 2007.  Akira’s mother had been abandoned outside to have her kittens. The little family was placed in foster care with MEOW so they could stay together, and for socialization as the kittens came to MEOW as ferals.  As time passed the Mom and kittens were ready for adoption to their forever homes.  Akira and her litter mates were sweet, but due to their shy nature the adoption process was slow. Eventually they were all adopted, and Akira was adopted by her foster mom.

After her adoption, it still took a bit more time and socialization for Akira to lose the last of her fears. Her sweet disposition was apparent through it all.  She was an inquisitive, playful, and friendly girl who was a pleasure to have around. She happily lived out her life until 2022, enjoying sunbeams and play with the other family cats who were also adopted from MEOW and other rescue charities.

In 2008, I used to clean the living room every Tuesday, at the old MEOW house. There was a cute little black and white cat that was always hiding in the “infamous” white cabinet. Every time I would open the door, she would hiss at me. I always had a real soft spot for her. One Tuesday, I told her if she hissed at me again, I was going to take her home, and the rest is history!!

Her MEOW name was Checkers. She was a very shy cat that had been with Meow for 3 years. I brought her home, we changed her name to Sophie, and her new life began. She NEVER hissed at me again!!

As shy as she was, Sophie was only in her safe room for about 2 weeks. During those 2 weeks, she made such a fuss, we finally just opened the door and let her out with the other cats. Shy cats are not usually so vocal, but she sure was. Her howling was driving all the other cats crazy!! When she came out, she strutted around the house like she had been there forever!! You would never know she was feral, except that she would not let us touch her. She would always stay just that arm length away. This lasted quite a few weeks. Then all of a sudden, she loved to be petted! She was very affectionate.

Sophie was the easiest cat you could ever ask for, and I have had a lot of experience with shy cats. She was actually a dream cat. She LOVED all her cat sisters. Dogs never bothered her and she never caused any problems with anyone.

She loved sleeping all snuggled up with the other cats and LOVED spending time out on her Catio. She could lay out there in the sun all day. She was such a content cat.

Sophie was very healthy all her life. Other than having a few teeth removed as she got older, she never had any health issues. She lived a long healthy life, and passed away when she was almost 18.

We were so blessed to have Sophie for all those years, although it never seems long enough. I am so glad I brought that hissy little girl home that day. The memories she left behind, will last forever.

Treacle’s story started when MEOW FOUNDATION reached out to find a foster home for an abandoned pregnant cat who was due to deliver very soon. Our kids persuaded us that our family needed to foster this cat.

Macenna arrived and within 2 weeks had a litter of 5 gorgeous kittens; 4 tabbies and one mini-me.

From the start, Treacle was one of the leader’s of the pack, full of energy and attitude. The minute I opened the door to the foster room, she came galloping out like a horse. The next minute, she would be jumping and leaping like a Ninja, or climbing like a monkey. Only when she fell asleep, exhausted, that she became a tiny vulnerable kitten.

When time came to post the kittens for adoption on the MEOW website, I had a lump in my throat and realized that I couldn’t let her go. So, Treacle had a fairy tale ending with our family.

All of the kittens (even mama Macenna) were quickly adopted. It was a surprise to no one that Treacle bonded with me…no other person or cat could take the place in her tiny little heart. Wherever I went , she followed and was always beside me.

Having Treacle (and our other 3 cats) has been an incredible and enriching experience in our lives. She had qualities which were so endearing and “human”….loyalty, love, empathy, intelligence. Treacle has a special place in my heart because she loved me wholeheartedly, and I couldn’t help but love her the same in return. She was definitely one of a kind .

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains un-awakened.”

– Anatole F.

Simcha was an exceptional companion. I first saw her at her foster home along with her mother, Chablis, her sister Akira and her brother Reagan.

They had the great luck to start o as kittens with their foster mom and soon after their 12 week birthdays, social kitten Reagan was adopted. Chablis, Akira and Simcha remained at the foster home for a bit longer before they came to the shelter. Both Akira and Simcha were shy, black youngsters…. Maybe dad carried the shy personality because Chablis was very social and soon she was also adopted.

I had been getting together with other MEOW volunteers every Thursday night to socialize these certain cats who were shy, feral or so timid they could not show how sweet they were when potential adopters came to choose their new fur friends. Over time, a small contingent of shy black cats were accumulating and so we socializers agreed as a group to each adopt one of these shy black cats. I chose Simcha. At this time I had just brought home Leonardo, a notorious angry 22 pound Manx, which infuriated my husband as he believed this big fellow would terrorize our senior Doberman cross dog. Sigh. I told him that I was about to adopt another shy cat who needed a home. Well, it has to be black he said. Oh yeah, don’t worry….she is black I said.

Meanwhile Leo kept to himself in my studio and was slowly opened up to being a cuddly sweet fellow. He passed away peacefully after living a long life. Catching these shy, feral types can usually lead to a sweaty workout…. Leo had been a challenge and Simcha was not to be outdone.

When I finally got her home, she was so scared she hid behind the piano for days, coming out to eat and drink and use the box when she felt no one was watching. Ha! I was a birdwatcher and could sit motionless for long periods of time, and I was happy to see her relax. Leo and Simcha agreed to live together but did not seem to bond so I started entertaining the thought of adopting a social cat.

Funny, my husband decided he wanted to adopt a Chin puppy, they were small and endearing but hard to nd. That is when Diddy, (MEOW Coconut) came into the shelter from a huge scoop of rescues coordinated by several organizations. She was small and endearing I said! And Simmie needed cat companionship. He adopted Coconut and named her Coco Pu Diddy. Diddy and Simcha bonded tight, they loved each other deeply. I moved house a couple of times and though Simcha regressed each move…. Diddy helped her come back to relaxation.

The last move took us to a small town in southern Alberta where I set up the outdoor cage-run again. It is blissfully quiet here and Simcha loved it. She cuddled for hours with Diddy in sunlit window seats but was still not a cat I could pick up and kiss. She loved to play and run around the house, but that shyness was her hallmark. Eventually the world turns so many times, and Simcha’s time had come, though I didn’t really realize she was passing. I had made an appointment for her to see the vet as I sensed she was not well, but the appointment was the day after the September 2023 long weekend. She died in my arms, I believe she felt safe finally being touched, and I kissed her several times. We miss her very very much. So did Diddy.

After one year of not having Simcha by her side, Diddy also passed the end of November 2024. You can see in the photos and video how close they were. We loved both dearly.

Joe Boxer and Annie Klein (now Joe and Annie) were 3 day old orphan bottle feds when they came to me 14 years ago.

They almost didn’t make it, and the odds were stacked against them. After a few close calls they started to thrive and we knew we just couldn’t let them go, so they became my first foster fails. They have enjoyed life here as 2 of 4 cats (all adopted) in our household.

Annie loves my husband, and follows him everywhere. She’s still just as cute as she was the day we got her. Joe is a mamma’s boy and enjoys sleeping on my pillow each night. He has retired from fetching toy mice and is now content with leaving them in food and water dishes almost daily.

intage and Original Joe 

Furrever names: Ninja and Samurai 

Ninja and Samurai are littermates (known collectively as the Bro-skis) who were adopted from the MEOW Foundation in 2011. Though they share genetics, they have very distinctive and separate personalities. 

They are living their best life – full of yummy meals, treats, 17 naps a day, and two other younger cat siblings to keep their wrestling skills up to par. They also have a doggo brother, whom they indulgently tolerate. They both keep busy making biscuits and muffins daily – if only they had opposable thumbs, they would be able to open a profitable bakery! 

Ninja is the bigger boy – 13 lbs and 100% lap cat. His favourite things are chicken wet food, bonito fish flakes, cat nip, lap snuggles, sitting in a window and trying to catch the rain from behind the window, and keeping the younger kitties in line by reminding them who the big boy of the house is from time to time with a good smackdown. He also likes to serenade his humans at dinner time with the songs of his people. 

Samurai is 11 lbs and not very good at being a cat. He’s always looking in the wrong direction while his kitty siblings are busy watching birds and squirrels from the windows. Instead of meowing, he has a vocabulary of chirping. His favourite things are dental kibbles, licking plastic containers (his humans are trying to figure out why, but have been unsuccessful thus far).  

I went to my MEOW adoption appointment knowing I’d bring Marius home. His story of living outside for three years had tugged at my heart. The only question was who would be coming home with us as I had decided it would be great to have two cats. After spending some time with Marius in the shy cat room, I met Jude, a beautiful B&W tuxedo, who had been brought to MEOW as a stray a few months after Marius’s arrival. I’d found his little ‘sister.’

I still remember their different reactions when we got home and their crates were opened. Marius bolted behind the basement couch while Jude stepped out on the bed in the spare room, plopped on her side and began to wiggle and purr. Marius came out of hiding after a couple of days and quickly grew to enjoy playtime, scritches and belly rubs but he remained a timid cat around strangers and would disappear when company came over. Friendly Jude would do the rounds, jumping on laps and demanding cuddles. They both loved to lie in the sun and check out the birds and squirrels in the yard.

There was the occasional sibling squabble but for the most part, they enjoyed each other’s company. I’d often enter a room to see the two of them snuggled up together sleeping. A few months after Jude crossed the rainbow bridge in 2018, I brought two 5-month old kittens home. They quickly won Marius over and the trio remained cuddle-buddies until Marius passed away in June 2024.

A few years ago, during his rounds, a postman noticed a sweet kitty that was very hungry – so the kindly postman started to pack a tin we cat food in his mailbag to feed the stray kitty. Upon closer examination, it was noticed that the kitty had a nasty wound on one of his front legs. Time for the MEOW Foundation to jump to the rescue. Postman Pete (the cat, not the postman!) was trapped and taken to the vet. He had an abscess on his leg that was quite severe. The vets did what they could and Pet went to a foster home where he fit right in. 

There was a young man in this household that adored Leonidas (formerly Postman Peter) Leonidas or Leo for short, thought that having his own person/staff was just the icing on the cake. Leo had a window to watch the birds when his BFF was in school, but preferred to spend his time snuggled on that one lap. Leo was a great companion and friend. He would accompany his BFF to play video games and conquer the forces of darkness in Middle Earth. He was always a friend in times of need. 

With lots of antibiotics and love, the abscess healed up and the leg was saved. Unfortunately, Leonidas also had Feline Leukemia, a devastating disease. Leonidas was thriving in his foster home until late 2013 when this disease reared its ugly head and unfortunately Leonidas made one last trip to the vet.  

 Although the young man has grown up, Leo will always have a special place in his heart.