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Ilene Richman

@ilene11221

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Oliver is moving on to a new foster home tomorrow. We know that he'll be very happy there. We also know that @after.sixpm @kanamotomei and her husband will miss him very much! I am infinitely grateful for the beautiful, loving, generous, attentive care that Oliver received from them. I can't thank them enough.

Of course, the ultimate goal is to get Oliver out of foster care and into a forever home. If you or someone you know is looking for the perfect house cat - mellow, loving, and playful - please consider Oliver! by @ilene11221

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14 days ago

OLIVER NEEDS A FOSTER (OR FOREVER) HOME!!!!

Sweet, gentle, affectionate Oliver has to leave his foster home with @after.sixpm by early October. He urgently needs a new placement in NYC, ideally (but not necessarily) within relatively easy distance to Park Slope/Sunset Park.

As you can see, Oliver is a snuggle bug. He loves to be near his foster people. Of course, Oliver is a cat, and he also loves to chase his toys and maul his catnip banana and watch cat TV and of course sit in sunny windowsills. But at heart, he is a people-cat. He makes an excellent co-worker! He can fall asleep with his head supported by nothing more than a hand. If he has been alone all day, and his foster comes in with his dinner, his priorities are clear: pets first, then food!

Oliver is quite shy at first but then quickly warms up and gets comfortable. We suspect that a quiet home without young children would be best for him. He seems to be ok with other cats after a nice and slow adjustment period, meaning that if you have other cats, you would need a room just for Oliver until the cats can be integrated.

Oliver is rapidly bouncing back from a painful condition in his mouth called stomatitis. He currently gets a medication twice a day, which he eats in his (soft) food. We anticipate that his mouth will be fully healed in a few months. In the meantime, he gets monthly check ups. Oliver is thought to be about 6 years old (he was trapped, neutered, and returned outside in 2022) and aside from the stomatitis, he is in very good health, has tested negative for FeLV and FIV, and is up to date on vaccines. He has a beautiful tabby and white coat and little pink toe beans.

If you can foster Oliver - or are interested in adopting him! - please DM.

(Shares appreciated!) taken in Park Slope Brooklyn NY by @ilene11221

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a month ago

Oliver is NOT who we thought he was. We had been under the impression – since we first met him 4 years ago – that Oliver was feral. He didn't allow touching. He didn't wind around our feet when we doled out the food. He usually came to eat in the middle of the night, and in general, he seemed fearful and avoidant of humans. Well, it turns out that we were wrong.

Somewhere back in the distant past, Oliver must have had someone who loved on him. He is still a very shy boy who startles easily, but if you sit quietly with him and let him know that he can trust you… he will let you pet him. And then he will really, REALLY want you to pet him. Head bumps, purrs, flopping over onto the floor of his cage – he is INTO it. It’s as if he’s been holding this in for years and finally is free to express it.

Now, if there is a sudden noise or movement, Oliver will run back into his little “house” (a crate inside of his cage). He has a ways to go before he can be a confident, fully socialized house cat. But he seems to have so much affection and potential in him! So, we have changed our plans. We don’t want to put him back outside when his medical issues are resolved. But in order for Oliver to stay inside, we urgently need a FOSTER home for him.

Oliver is currently in a 30x48 inch cage in a basement. He needs to be in a space where he can at least be in a playpen (usually about 50x50) or in a small room without other cats, where he can have more contact with people and enjoy natural light. Because Oliver will need some specific behavioral support, the ideal foster will have experience with socialization and will follow our directions for working with him. And because his veterinary care is ongoing, the foster should be in relatively easy distance of his vet in the Sunset Park/South Slope area of Brooklyn.

If you are interested in fostering (or adopting) Oliver, please DM or fill out the form linked in my bio. And please share this post so that we can help Oliver spend the rest of his life in a home and not on the streets. by @ilene11221

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2 months ago

One of the most beautiful things about Oliver's recovery has been seeing him EAT! Oliver has always had a good appetite. That's actually how he got his name, because when he first started coming around to our homes, back in 2022, after polishing off his food, he would often ask for seconds. But the stomatitis had made it terribly painful for Oliver to eat, and by the time he was trapped, he weighed just 8 pounds, a good 20-25% underweight. We are now almost 2 weeks past the surgery. His mouth has been healing up very well, and of course, he is still on several meds. The swelling and excessive drooling are almost gone, and he has begun to groom himself, a sure sign that his pain has been greatly diminished. The amount of (soupy) food this little man can now pack away is impressive! It brings us joy to provide it for him.

If you can support Oliver's treatment, which thus far has cost about $2000, you'll find a link in my bio and here. Any size donation is helpful and appreciated!
https://gofund.me/19ba3e2b3 by @ilene11221

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2 months ago

This is the photo that made me say, "Oh shit." It may not be obvious if you don't do cat rescue, but this photo shows Oliver, one of our colony cats in Bed Stuy, displaying symptoms of a very serious and extraordinarily painful medical condition known as stomatitis.

The full story is in the GoFundMe, but the part I want to highlight here is that cat rescue is and always will be a community endeavor. From the lovely team of neighbors who take care of Oliver and his cat friends, to my amazing rescue colleagues in @narn_cb , to the fantastic folks at @parkslopevet who help me and so many other rescuers - all these folks have played a role in getting Oliver the care he desperately needed. He is a week past his surgery now and has a ways to go, but we are hopeful that in a few more weeks he'll be able to go back home.

As you can imagine, I've incurred some hefty vet bills, with more to come, so I'm asking you to please join the community of support for Oliver. I'd be grateful for contributions of any size, as well as shares and good wishes for our sweet boy. (Link in bio.)
https://gofund.me/e18fa7d30 by @ilene11221

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2 months ago

Do you live in the vicinity of Malcolm X Blvd & Madison/Putnam/Monroe in Bed Stuy? We're looking to add two or three feeders to our team asap, to replace folks who are moving. By volunteering for one short feeding shift per week, you can make a huge difference in the lives of cats who live outdoors. Please reach out if you're reliable, have a fairly consistent schedule (at least on one night per week), and want to help cats!

#ColonyCats #CommunityCats #TNR by @ilene11221

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4 months ago

Some pics from prior snow dumps before the upcoming snow dump. This winter needs to come to an end.

Cat 📷 @owenoleary42 by @ilene11221

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8 months ago

Wendell is a 1 year old medium haired tuxie cat available for adoption in the NYC area. He is sweet and snuggly and loves to play! Neutered, vaccinated, and tested negative for FeLV and FIV. He'd like a home with other pets or where people are around during the day to keep him busy. Probably not a good fit for young kids. If you are looking for a smart, cuddly boy to be your forever friend, please get in touch about Wendell! Link to full listing & adoption app in bio.

https://www.adoptapet.com/pet/44316306-brooklyn-new-york-cat

#CatRescue #FosteringSavesLives #AdoptDontShop #floof #RescueCat #tuxie #CatForAdoption taken in Brooklyn, New York by @ilene11221

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a year ago

Wendell! This floofy goofball tuxie teenager has absolutely blossomed in foster care and is looking for his forever home. He's about 1 year old and he loves to be loved on. He also loves to play! We think he'd do best in a home with people working from home who can give him some attention during the day and/or with another cat to have as a play buddy. He's probably not a good match for young children. Wendell is delightfully awkward in some ways, from his too big tail to his tiny little meow to the way he can't quite figure out how to sit in a lap (though he keeps trying). If you are in the NYC area and are interested in adopting this sweetie boy, please fill out the adoption application linked in my bio, where you can also find his full adoption listing (on Adoptapet).

#RescueCat #AdoptDontShop #FosterCat #RescueCatsOfInstagram #Tuxie #Floof #FosteringSavesLives taken in Brooklyn, New York by @ilene11221

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a year ago

NYC didn't let the weather dampen our massive turnout. A fine afternoon was had, telling the Trump admin and their unelected cronies to take their #HandsOff everything they're attempting to dismantle, destroy, defund, delegitimize, or just outright steal. Much-photographed Hands Off sign by @rachelselekman ! taken in New York, New York by @ilene11221

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2 years ago

I'm moving from the community I've called home for 14 years, and everything I own is in a box. Life is chaos, and the very last thing I needed was a new rescue. But Bed Stuy had *one* more cat for me, so without further ado, I give you -- Wendell! This floofy one year old tuxie was either lost or abandoned and was found frozen in fear in front of my neighbor's house. We have not been able to locate an owner. He just got the works at @parkslopevet ✂️ and he seems to be a sweet, healthy boy who loves all the normal cat things - play, petting, treats, etc. He is a bit traumatized, however, and sometimes gets the Big Scaries. We're still learning about him. I need a few days to get thru my move, but in the meantime, I would gratefully accept any contributions to his vetting ($422). And, we need a foster for Wendell! He is currently in a crate in a basement, where he is safe and well cared for, but we want to get him into a home setting asap. For now, he should be kept completely separate from other cats. It's unclear how he feels about them. Do you have a room for Wendell? Please fill out the foster form linked in my bio! Adoption inquiries welcome, too, but we want to get to know him a little better to make sure his next home will be his forever home.

Big thanks to Shawn and @narn_cb members @kariehen and @monroestreetcats for all their help! by @ilene11221

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2 years ago

It's been 9 years since my heart malfunctioned, so here are 9 things that sparked joy for me in recent months. Some were gifted to me, some are beloved beings, some were moments I made for myself. I am grateful for all of them. by @ilene11221

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2 years ago