Annie

Hi, my name is Annie, and they told me you were having some kind of contest, and wanted to know my story. About a month ago, I was living at this house with lots of other cats. The lady who took care of us was very nice and did her best, but it seemed like there were more and more cats every time I turned around. Since she lived on about an acre of land, some cats would just appear, sometimes on their own and sometimes because other people would put them there, and she would do her best to feed them. 

But unfortunately, the number of us was just getting overwhelming, so she contacted some group called Animal Outreach. They came out to examine the situation. They inspected all of us, and determined that we were physically well cared for, and most of us were very friendly. They then told her about two of the programs they ran which could help her.

The first program is called Rescue, Foster, and Adoption, and they said they had placed over 2400 cats into new homes through this program (and all of them were altered before adoption so the adopters didn't eventually get overwhelmed as well). The second is a program called TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), and it's useful for those cats who unlike myself will never be able to be real human-friendly because they're feral (there's a number of those guys running around here as well), but who still deserve to live. It's a great program, and the only technique which has proven to be effective and humane in actually reducing the number of cats in this country.

Anyways, back to my story. The day the Animal Outreach people arrived was quite special timing for me. I was just giving birth to four kittens in this cupboard that day. They said they didn't have a foster home available that day, but two days later they came back and whisked me and my 4 kittens into one that had become available. They also took five other cats with them as well that day (and have taken even more since then), and are still working with that nice lady to help her TNR all the feral cats on the property.

There is a picture of me and my four little ones there on the right, aren't they adorable. I've been spending a lot of time nursing them, and when they're old enough, they will be adopted, and so will I.

So that's my story. I hope you vote for me for Queen for the Day, but I already feel like one.

Although our contest has ended, please consider making a donation in Annie's name to allow us to help other animals like her and her kittens.

Juno (a.k.a. Junebug)

Hi, my name is Juno. I used to live in a small town called Ringwood. I spent a lot of time hanging out with my sister, basically chilling. Unfortunately, after we got involved in some shenanigans....well let's just say both my sister and I wound up preggo. The people we were living with already had three other young adult cats besides ourselves, and one of them had given birth a few months earlier to four of those totally boss polydactyl kittens, so combined with my sister's and my five kittens each, all of a sudden five young cats became 19.....Yikes!

Thankfully, these really cool people from Animal Outreach were able to help. First off, they took both me and my sister, and our brood of 10 kittens, as well as the four polydactyl kittens (who were older than ours and already weaned), and got us nice spots in foster homes. They also made sure that the three remaining cats in my old house were spayed/neutered pronto, no more population explosions there.

I'm really enjoying my time with my kittens, their names are Panda, Flower, Chicklet, Sandy and Rocky. I thought I was going to be one of those really laid back moms, but turns out I'm pretty good at keeping the kids in line when they rough-house too much or go where they shouldn't.

They say soon, I'll be up for adoption myself after I'm um....modified. I think it's great there are people who volunteer to help cats like me and my spawn. I'd love to win this here little contest, but even if I don't, no biggie. I'm just hoping soon I'll find my family who won't see what anyone can see.....in anyone else......but me.

Although our contest has ended, please consider making a donation in Juno's name to allow us to help other animals like her and her kittens.

Little Feather

Hi, they call me Little Feather and I'd like to tell you my story. In the summer of 2007, I was living in this tree stump with my four babies. I was doing the best I could, but I had grown really skinny, and I was having a rough time. I was also a bit confused, as I used to have a home. I've always been very sweet and friendly to people, so I'm not sure how I wound up in this stump.

Anyways, this group of friendly people called Animal Outreach took me in. It was really nice, they assigned me and my little ones to this place called a volunteer foster home. I had a good time there, as I got to provide for my babies, and even was able to get myself back up to a healthy weight. My foster family named my babies after some characters in some book called Little Women, but I've never read it. I'm not a big reader.

Once they were old enough (and altered), my little ones were ready for their own homes. Joe and Beth actually got adopted together, and Amy and Meg also found great homes. Then they said it was my turn.

They took me to this place called Petsmart, and I lived there for a while. It wasn't quite as cushy as my foster home, but I got to inspect many prospective families, and they got to see how great I was in person (that's hard to beat). I even got to help take care of some other kittens that would come in on weekends to be adopted. I really enjoyed helping. It took me a long time to finally meet my people, but Animal Outreach never gave up on me, even when I got a minor urinary infection. In fact, many of the volunteers were a little sad to see me go as they had become quite attached to me and my loving purrsonality.

So there you have it. I really hope you help me win this contest so Animal Outreach can help more moms like me, but I've already got my mother's day present, loving homes for me and my babies.

Although our contest has ended, please consider making a donation in Little Feather's name to allow us to help other animals like her and her kittens.

Misty

Hi, they call me Misty. My fortunes have changed quite a bit over the last year. In late spring of 2007, I was living on the street with my 6 young kittens, five boys and one girl named Little Joe, Eddie, Leo, Kyle, Alex and Lexi.

Someone who saw us contacted some organization called McHenry County Animal Control, and they brought us in. Unfortunately, they get lots of calls like this (particularly in the spring), and they often wind up with more animals than they can help. I was fortunate though, as animal control works with this other group called Animal Outreach, who over the last few years has been able to help animal control by taking over 330 cats from them when they were short on space.

Once Animal Outreach took me they sent me to a volunteer foster home with my little ones. There I was able to take good care of them, and ultimately they all got adopted. The great thing about Animal Outreach is that even we adults get cared for until we're adopted, even if it takes a little longer than those cute kittens. So I patiently waited my turn. They put me on something called petfinder.com on the internet, and I spent some time at a bright place called Petsmart. At one point, I had a pretty bad infection, but it didn't discourage those Animal Outreach volunteers. They took care of me, and in a little time I was good as new.

Eventually I found my new family, and I'm very happy. If I win this contest, I'll dedicate it to all of you who help Animal Outreach help animals like me. Happy Mother's Day Everyone!

Although our contest has ended, please consider making a donation in Misty's name to allow us to help other animals like her and her kittens.

Twinkie

Hi, they call me Twinkie. They tell me you are having some sort of contest, and want me to share my story. Back in late 2004, I was hit by a car. As I lay in the road, thinking this might be it, some kind people scooped me up and rushed me to an Animal Emergency Clinic. They were able to patch me up, but unfortunately, I had nowhere to go. So they sent me to some place called McHenry County Animal Control.

They treated me nice there, and I put on quite a show. Even though I had both lingering injuries from the recent car crash, as well as injuries from previous accidents (one of my back legs is permanently damaged, so they say I walk like a hyena), I showed them how affectionate and energetic I could still be. Unfortunately, they had lots and lots of cats there, and I still needed a lot of costly medical help, and I didn't have any money because....well....I'm a cat.

I heard them say they might have to euthanize me, and I didn't like the sound of that. But then someone from some group called Animal Outreach agreed with the animal control people that I deserved another chance for a permanent home. Apparently, Animal Outreach has worked with Animal Control for many years, and has helped Animal Control by taking over 150 cats from them over the last few years.

So the Animal Outreach people took me to their doctor, and he said my one injured eye needed to be removed. That was fine by me, as it wasn't working and it hurt a lot. I also had such severe upper respiratory problems they thought for awhile I might not make it, but I did. I was a homeless lady for a long time, I raised many kittens, and I've had to deal with lots of problems these people will never know, I wasn't going to let something like this finish me off.

Once I recovered from the surgery, I went to some place called a foster home. I spent over two and a half years in that home, hanging out with my foster family, and doing things like watching TV (I thought I had a crazy life until I saw those Desperate Housewives). Anyways, just when it seemed I would never find a permanent home to call my own, it happened. A woman who had seen me on something called petfinder.com had a special place in her heart for unique cats like me, and adopted me. I'm hoping my journey is finally over. I'm still only 10 you know, I've got lots of lives still left in me, but I'm ready to settle down.

I can't thank all of you that support Animal Outreach enough. Without you, they wouldn't have been able to give me a chance. Thank you for saving me through them, and if you elect me queen I will add it to the list of amazing things that have happened to me over the last 3 years.

Although our contest has ended, please consider making a donation in Twinkie's name to allow us to help other animals like her.

Feisty

Hi. They call me Feisty. Someone told me you're having a contest, and that last year, a feral mom just like me won it, so I should give it a try. I've been living large and enjoying the good life outside for as long as I can remember. I come and go when I want and where I want, and I've never had much contact with any of you humans.

It wasn't always the easiest life, since sometimes I didn't really know where the next meal was coming from, but I am quite good at catching small rodents. I've also learned that there are these places called houses that have people in them, and if I hang around and act real hungry they'll put food outside for me to eat! Every day! Can you believe it? I don't like to get too close though, who knows what kind of germs these people have- bleh! Kooties!!!

I've had maybe four or five boyfriends over the years, we hang out and then bam! - there are these kittens running all over the place. They usually grow up and move on to their own territory. I figure I must have oh, I don't know, 100 or more grandkids by now. They're good kids most of them. This year though, I made a BIG mistake. I got too close to this lady who gives me food, and when she saw me and my latest batch of kids, we ended up in this thing called a humane trap.

We're hanging out in a cage for now, until I can wean my babies. The kids are having a blast playing with the fake mice and feathery things, I think they're called toys. As for me, I just go to back of the cage when the lady comes to bring fresh food and water. It's ok, but I need to feel the grass under my feet. The kids are talking about getting adopted and going to new homes. The lady tells me as soon as this batch of kids are big enough, she'll "fix me up" and I can go back to my old stomping grounds, but this time there will be no more kittens, and I'll have someone watching over me to help with my food and shelter, making my life a lot easier. I guess that's fair. Not sure what fixed means, but I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Although our contest has ended, please consider making a donation in Feisty's name to allow us to help other animals like her and her kittens.

Abby

Hi my name is Abby. Last fall when it was really, really cold, I was outside looking for a place to have my babies. I didn't have a warm home to go to and I was pretty much on my own. There aren't any homes for single pregnant moms like myself so I had to settle for the next best thing, someone's garage.

Thank goodness they left the door open that bitter cold day. I made a place in the garage to lie on as best I could. Through that long cold night, I gave birth to, all by myself, five of the most adorable babies you ever set eyes on! I kept them close to me to stay warm. We tried to stay hidden but my babies mewing got noticed and the next thing I knew we were in this big cage inside.

At least it was warmer but I wasn't sure what to make of these people who kept poking their heads and hands into my space and picking up my babies!!! My boys and girls got bigger every day and played and played. The women who fed us kept telling me they were going to new homes and I should be proud at how well they behaved and how loved they were going to be.

Then one day she told me they were going to try to get me a new permanent home too. I went to this bright place they call a Petsmart Adoption Center, but I didn't want any part of it. I just wasn't ready for something so big, with lots of people staring at me and picking me up. For some reason I just got very depressed. I guess they got the hint that this wasn't helping me find my permanent home, because now I am back at my foster mom's house. I like it when she pets me and it's fun to sit in the living room and watch the pictures on the big box they have in there.

I'm still not too sure about this indoor life, but at least I get regular meals and these people here are nice to me. They say thanks to things like petfinder.com and other creative ways of promoting cats like me, I still have a chance at being adopted, like my babies were. Maybe even someone reading this story will want to give me a chance. For now, I think I'll just sit in the ray of sunshine and think about it tomorrow.

Although our contest has ended, please consider making a donation in Abby's name to allow us to help other animals like her and her kittens.

Ginger

Hi! We're really busy eating and stuff but Ms. Judy said Mommy could win a contest so we want to make sure she does whatever it takes!

We want to tell you why our Mommy is the best and PURRfect! We know she did a lot so we could be born in this nice warm house and not under a bush somewhere.

Our foster grandma said Mommy was probably put outside because she was not "fixed". Last August, a nice lady and her neighbors started feeding her and watching out for her. At the end of February they said they saw an orange tabby with Mommy. I wonder what that means?

Anyway the lady told her friend that Mommy was getting fat. How rude! That lady told grandma. Grandma said she knew people who could help. The nice lady brought Mommy to Grandma. Thank you nice lady for looking out for Mommy!

Mommy likes the new house. She doesn't have to be out in the cold anymore. It rained the night she came to her new home. She was very glad she was watching from a nice warm window! Anyway, Grandma was making arrangements to get Mommy to a "better home" and she said Mommy surprised her. She came home from work and found Mommy under the bed with all of us, well, three of us. Little brother came later. She said Mommy had us all by herself. Another nice lady came over and they set up a nest for mommy and us. We've been here ever since. All comfy cozy.

Foster Mommy thinks I'm the oldest. She said I am all white and a girl. She calls my brother an orange tabby. My next sister is a brown tabby. She also said it is important to know that we were born on May 1 and that she puts us on the scale all the time. It doesn't hurt but we have to stop eating so it's annoying.

I'm glad Mommy worked so hard to get us here. It is really comfy eating and sleeping here. Foster Mommy keeps saying Mommy's doing a good job and doing everything right. She says it all the time. It must be important. She also said she'll help us get "fixed". That's good because I don't want to get put outside under a bush for not being fixed!

Please vote for my Mommy for Queen for a Day. She really is the best! Thank you!

Although our contest has ended, please consider making a donation in Ginger's name to allow us to help other animals like her and her kittens.

Erin

Um...hi there, they call me Erin. A few years back, my owners drove me, my two daughters (Ebony and Socks), and my sister to a forest preserve. I was wondering what the plan was, and then they put us in this little room. It was really quite disgusting, I think you call it an outhouse. Anyways, once they locked us there, they just left. I was sure they would come back for us....I mean, we were four fabulous females, why would they leave us? Then one day passed, then another, and another. My girls were worried, they said we are all going to die! I told them to have faith, because there are more good people in this world than there are bad.

Then...it happened. After over four days in that stinky little room, with no food or water, someone came by, our angels. They said they were just ordinary people, hiking in the woods, but to us they were lifesavers. They took care of us, and then they contacted some group called Animal Outreach, that helped abandoned homeless ladies like us, and we were transferred over to them.

Well...I'm happy to say that both my girls got adopted, actually Ebony twice (the 2nd time just recently after spending years with a loving foster home). As for me, I have something called stomatitis. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but my foster mom said that she would take care of me and adopted me permanently. She is very caring, and sure knows a lot about us cats.

I would be honored if you made me Queen for a Day, but considering where I was a few years ago, I think I'm already treated like royalty.

P.S. to my girls - I love you.

Although our contest has ended, please consider making a donation in Erin's name to allow us to help other animals like her and her daughters.

Louisa

Hi, my name is Louisa. I grew up in New Orleans, but last year, this fierce storm came. It was the worst I had ever seen in all my one and one half years! When it was over, no people were left in my neighborhood. I wandered around for over three long weeks, looking for someone...anyone...nothing. I ran into some other dogs and cats, and they were as puzzled as I was. How could they just leave us? One cat said his people had wanted to take him, but they were told NO. He said they cried when they left him.

Then it happened. I saw some people. I was wary of them, but by this point I was desperate. They caught me and put me in their truck. They could tell that I had been nursing recently, and looked for puppies, but my babies were not to be found...I don't want to talk about that.

They took me to this destroyed grocery store to be checked out. Outside in the brutal heat, more than a dozen people (they called themselves volunteer animal rescuers) scurried around, feeding us, and walking us. There was this nice doctor lady, said she was from some place called Canada (I don't know where that is), and she gave me fluids. I was put in a cage under a tarp with fans and I waited. I watched groups of people come and take all the small dogs and all the dogs with tags. They took the cats, they even took some chickens and fish. But no one took me.

Then some people in a official-looking big green truck showed up. They said someone was coming, I think her name was Rita, and that we all had to clear out of there for our safety. It was then I saw these two people looking at me. They stared at me for a little while and talked to the man in charge. Before I knew it, I was headed to some place I had never heard of...Illinois. It was nice and cool in their truck, so I pretty much slept the whole way back.

They posted me on some website (whatever that is), for people who lost animals in the storm to reclaim them, but no one called. Then they took me to the doctor. He said I had some sort of advanced case of worms in my heart (sounds silly to me- I didn't eat any worms), but that it could kill me. On top of that, I have some problem walking, they said its my hips.

Now look at me, who could believe it. They said my worms are all gone, I'm at my full weight, and in a few weeks they will fix my hips and soon I'll be as good as new. I have not one, but TWO sets of people who care for me. They asked me if I wanted to be Queen for a Day, but I think I already am ...everyday.

Although our contest has ended, please consider making a donation in Louisa's name to allow us to help other animals like her.

Hope

Hi, my name is Hope, and I am a feral cat and mother of five. They tell me you are having some kind of contest, and want me to participate. You might not consider that very amazing, but considering how little respect feral cats have gotten over the years, even from some humane groups, I think its pretty neat.

In case you don't know, feral cats are cats that are not domesticated and never will be (although we look exactly like housecats), so we are different than say what you people call 'strays'. Years ago, one of my great, great, great grandmothers was left to fend for herself, and over generations of fending for ourselves, we've reverted back to our undomesticated roots. Until recently, we were offered no protection or formal help, since we were called unadoptable. If we were caught and taken to an animal control, we were killed (and still are, in most parts of the country). The funny, no make that unfunny, thing is, the more they try to exterminate us with this method, the more we flourish, and the more hostile some people get at us, accusing us of all sorts of things we're not responsible for.

Some people, I think they are called animal welfare experts, say that in many places, the majority of all cats and kittens that are entering animal shelters today are either ferals or descendants of ferals, so effectively dealing with us not only saves lives like mine directly, but also frees up more space in other shelters so other, non-feral cats, can live. We're pretty good at that multiplying thing you know, nature and all.

Anyways, rather than kill me (which in my opinion wouldn't solve anything), there is a new plan. This plan is being done now all throughout the U.S. It's called, Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR), and some good people here in McHenry even made it officially legal and all. It's quite simple really. Regular people, people who just want to help animals, work with local humane organizations and trap us in these little cages (that part scared me a little at first, but it was ok). But then, instead of just killing us if they determine we are feral, they make it so we can't multiply anymore. If there are kittens or strays in our little group (which we call a colony), they adopt them out, and for the rest of us, the feral ones, they make sure we are put back and provided with someone to watch over us. They do all of this on their own time, with their own money, they are really quite special.

While there is nothing wrong with being feral (I love the others in my colony), I want the best for my children. Since they are so young, they can be..what's that word - domesticated. That means they get to go live in people's houses. Meanwhile, I'll be healthier now, since I won't have to go through bearing more kittens every couple of months, and I'll have my new guardian angel helping me. So that's my story, if you elect me queen, I'll share it with all my other feral moms out there. Have a great mother's day, I know I will.

Although our contest has ended, please consider making a donation in Hope's name to allow us to help other animals like her and her kittens.