One cold winter day, a woman watched as a few kittens huddled in the snow beneath a tree.  She didn’t  know where they came from, or what had become of their mother but she decided to run an extension cord to a heating pad beneath the tree.  She fed them until she could get someone who could help  and take the kittens inside.

When help arrived, Hercules  and his sister, Xena were taken to a foster home where they were lavished with love and gentle care.  The foster parents quickly realized that not only had Hercules lost his family that cold day,  but had also lost some of his vision.  Herc’s foster mom held him close and told him that only someone very strong could have survived those terrible conditions and she decided to name him “Hercules” as a symbol of his inner strength. Today, He’s a happy and healthy young fellow, who knows that if not for the love of a human, I would not have survived.  Hercules is beyond extremely affectionate and gentle; and adores being near people.  His vision is somewhat limited in that he has trouble seeing things right in front of him, but in general, he gets along as if he had no problem seeing at all.   He loves other kitties; and is joy to have around the house.   Not all kitties are lucky enough to survive the cold winter as Herc did; and those who know him would say that the challenges he faced that winter  are part of what makes him so special.  Hercules is now waiting for his special angel family to come to find him and give him the forever home that he truly deserves.  Hes’ neutered, tested negative for FIV and leukemia and is up to date on all required vaccinations.

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ANSWER: Actually, what you have is a normal kitten! Mother Nature has us kitties born into a litter for good reason – we learn everything that we need to know as adult cats from the interaction with our moms and siblings. We learn to stalk and attack prey, run and climb to escape danger, and defend ourselves from foes. At the same time, we burn off TONS of explosive kitten energy in a harmless way by chasing, wrestling, and play-fighting with our sibs.
What you are experiencing with Zelda is a common phenomenon known as “Single Kitten Syndrome.” SKS occurs when a kitten does not have an outlet for pursuing natural instincts and therefore uses a substitute, i.e., YOU! She is chasing, attacking, and pouncing on you exactly as she would with a littermate. The only difference is that with her mom and littermates, a kitten learns boundaries. When she plays too rough, the other kitten screeches and runs away, ending the play. So kitty learns to play gentler so that the others will include her. When she bites too hard suckling for milk, her mom gives her a disciplinary but harmless “bop” with her paw and moves away. We kitties hate when that happens, but it does teach us that “when Momma’s not happy, ain’t nobody happy!”

What’s the quickest, easiest way to redirect Zelda’s behavior? Get her a kitten friend as a playmate! That’s probably not what people expect to hear when they’re having trouble with one kitten, but it’s the reason why adopters of kitties are advised, “Two kittens are easier than one.” A solitary kitten gets into all kinds of mischief that includes both the behavior you describe AND getting into your stuff. When all that youthful zest is directed into the natural, normal outlet of play, Miss Ferocious Lion becomes Miss Frolicking Lamb, exhausted but happy after a day of running, wrestling, & leaping with her own kind, enjoying soccer games with a ball and stalking competitions with a toy mouse. And is there anything more heartwarming than the sight of two kittens curled up together, snoring peacefully with their arms around each other after a session of rough-and-tumble?

If getting a second kitten is not a possibility due to lease restrictions, you must take on the role of the other kitten, only this time you will be setting up the play with your safety in mind. First, you need several interactive toys that will keep your hands away from the line of action. Fishing pole type toys, fake birds suspended on a wire, and the laser light are three excellent ways to engage your kitty’s stalk-and-attack drive. If you have never watched a cat franticly chasing the little red dot of a laser toy, you have missed a hilarious opportunity to see just how much energy and persistence is packed into your kitten’s compact body!

Second, keep your kitty’s nails trimmed so that they are short and blunted at all times. Practicing this grooming routine every other week will remove the sharp points that have been making you an unwilling blood donor! The Cat Angel Network volunteers will clip your kitty’s nails free of charge any weekend at the Pottstown or Downingtown Petsmart stores. Watch closely and you will learn a few secrets that make nail clipping a cinch!

The climbing behavior that has Zelda trying to scale you and every other tall object in the house with her claws will gradually extinguish until, by about eight months of age, she will be able to jump everywhere she needs to go. Throughout her life, though, she will need to stretch and scratch at her tree substitute. What’s a tree substitute? It’s a nice, tall, sturdy scratching post or cat tree covered with deliciously rough sisal rope or natural bark, and every cat-friendly home needs one! Here she will do her isometric stretching after a nap, pulling off the old nail sheaths, and marking the post with her scent. Happy work for us kitties – it feels great and we will gladly stay away from your possessions when we have something so much better suited for our instinctual scratching needs

Lastly, NEVER allow the kitty to play with your bare hands as this will teach her that your hand is a plaything which, I assume you agree, it is not. Often the root cause of aggressive play in adult cats is that a person in the family thought it was cute to play roughly with the kitten, using his/her hands, sometimes even touching the cat’s sensitive underbelly. The kitten clamps down on the hand and thereafter views a person’s hands as something to be wary of and attack. Then when Aunt Tilly visits the home, she does not find this behavior cute at all and wonders why, oh why, you have such a mean cat. ‘Nuff said.

So, enjoy Zelda and let her teach you all the joys and wonders of living with a being who is only one small step away from the ways of the wild. By knowing and respecting her needs, and learning day by day how to work WITH them and not against them, you will see her predatory relationship with you disappear, and in its place will grow a deep and satisfying friendship between you, Zelda, and, hopefully, that second kitten we hope you’ll adopt.

Imagine adopting one kitty and being its only source of entertainment round the clock to provide adequate mental stimulation and exercise. Go out for a few hours and you may find yourself coming home to the results of a bored and lonely little “angel” who had no companion to share his time and energy with. With a companion, your kitty will engage in playtime which can involve wrestling, chasing one another, batting toys around together which ensures a happy, well adjusted feline. As an added benefit, you’re provided with hours of endless amusement.

Many of our adult cats have joined us from situations where they grew up with a sibling or other housemate and find themselves in danger of losing that lifelong bond. Being adopted together allows them comfort and ease in making the adjustment to a new home. Happy kitties will make your home a happy, fun place with continuous entertainment.

Just as solitary kittens can feel bored, lonely and anxious, adult cats, too, can experience many of these same feelings. A new survey amongst veterinarians has shown that, contrary to the belief that the cat has a solitary nature, they are in fact very social creatures. Within the veterinary community, it’s understood that many single cats may be suffering from Separation Anxiety Syndrome, much as humans do. Social isolation can actually cause many behavior problems seen in cats today. These problems can often lead to the cat being surrendered at a shelter, where they run the risk of being euthanized, solely due to space limitations.

With the overpopulation of homeless cats in the world today, the single most effective way to reduce their numbers is to adopt more than one. The benefits and rewards are many. The power is in your paws!

As the only electric provider to offer a partnership program for nonprofit organizations, Ambit Energy is helping America’s nonprofit organizations succeed! If you would like more information before switching, please contact Henry at catangelpa@aol.com.

FAQs

Q: How involved is switching to Ambit?

A: It takes about 2 minutes on line. You just need your current electric bill. You also then will either need to call them to verify your decision through an automated system, or wait for them to call you.

Q: How will my electric bill change?
A: Ambit provides the energy generation portion of your bill. In most cases, you will still get only one monthly bill from your current provider, who will continue to supply the electricity to your home and service your electric needs.

Q: I currently have an all-electric home and am with PECO. Will I save money with Ambit?
A: Definitely not this winter. As long as rate RH is in effect, PECO will remain less expensive than all competitors for all-electric homes with rate RH. However, the rate RH discount was cut in half on January 1, 2012 and will completely disappear by the end of 2012. When rate RH is completely gone, you should consider your options.

Q: I would like to compare rates between electric companies before switching. How do I do this?
A: The best resource for Pennsylvania residents is www.papowerswitch.com, a site maintained by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Q: Are there other perks involved with joining Ambit Energy?
A: Yes, if you refer friends and family to Ambit, you become eligible for more great rewards! Refer 5 friends, and you qualify for a free vacation! Details at www.ambittravel.com. Additionally, by referring a total of 15 clients to Ambit in the first 6 months, you qualify for a free energy credit for LIFE! Details at www.catangel.joinambit.com.

Q: I’m worried about switching. Is there any risk?
A: You have nothing to fear! Ambit currently has no cancellation fees for any contract you sign up for. If you don’t like it and want to switch back to your previous provider, you can do so at any time without any penalty!

Next year’s auction will be held at the West Chester Senior Center on Sunday, 10/21/12. There are many ways you can help starting now with next year’s auction. If you are interested in buying items for the auction, think seasonal sales this spring. If you would like to donate items, help coordinate a silent auction table, help with advertising/audience development or help with food for the event, please contact Henry at catangelpa@aol.com.

CAN volunteer and artist Ami Dushkowich

Thanks to our many wonderful supporters, our annual Happy Holly Spays/Neuter Year Fundraiser brought in over $16,000 this year! These much needed funds will assist us in our mission as kitten season approaches and as we continue with our TNR efforts. Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this year’s Fundraiser. We are so grateful for your continued generosity, even in these tough financial times.

On Sunday afternoon, April 1, 2012, faculty and friends of the West Chester University School of Music will perform the lucky 13th Annual Cat Angel Network Benefit Concert. The 3:00 p.m. event will be held in Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre in Swope Hall (817 South High St.) on the West Chester University Campus.

This year, we are excited to welcome the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus who will be performing a portion of the concert. Under the artistic direction of Dr. Kristen Albert, the KSCC has gained notoriety as a first rate ensemble. In addition, many faculty, students, and friends of the School of Music will lend their musical talents to ensure a very special event.

The concert is designed to be a fun-filled afternoon for the casual concert-goer. Bring your kids and friends! A reception will follow the event. While the concert is free and open to the public, donations will be appreciated. Contributions sent prior to the concert and received by March 26 will be acknowledged in the concert program at the following levels:

• Halo                           $15 -   $24
• Angel Wings            $25  -  $49
• Angel                         $50  -   $99
• Guardian Angel       $100 – $249
• Archangel                 $250 – $499
• Seraphim                  $500 and up

Donations for our 2012 Concert may be sent to: Cat Angel Network, P.O. Box 3071, Stowe, PA 19464.