Goodbye To Another Old Friend, 2006 to 2018

2006 - I was volunteering at the animal shelter near Albany, New York and bringing home many fosters, both dogs and cats. One day they sent me home with an orange cat and her one orange male kitten, who had been abandoned in an Albany apartment. But before they sent her home with me, they also gave her a litter of orphans to nurse:

 2006 - Because I already had many dogs and cats in the house, I put Georgette and her kittens in a crate in my bedroom. I gave them time to explore and play outside the crate when I was there to watch them, but they stayed in the crate when I was at work or in bed, sleeping. She as a good mother:

 2006 - I was taking photos for Petfinder at the time, and I put the kittens online when they were old enough. This was her her biological son, George. He was the first to be adopted:

 2007 - When her kittens were all adopted, Georgette went to an adoption event, where she hissed and spit at everyone who came near her. A shelter worker returned her to me, saying "Georgette has decided she will live with you." So she became my cat and got along with everybody. This was her at my old computer table with Wally, a foster dog who also became my own:

 2009 - When an elderly foster dog, Gerry (for "geriatric"), passed away, Georgette took over his doggie bed:

 2010 - Georgette and my two other cats, Draco and Snoozy (also refugees from the shelter), had a large cat tree where they spent much time:

 2011 - The cat litter box was at the top of the stairs and fenced off from the dogs, making it an ideal place to hang out and watch the activity below:

 2013- I put vinyl runner over the carpeted stairs to keep the animals from destroying it. Georgette did not seem impressed - and she was right. The vinyl runner did not save the carpet:

 2014 - We moved to the farm when I retired in 2013, and the cats got a new cat tree which I put at the top of the stairs. Georgette claimed the top shelf:

 2015 -I took lots of photos of Georgette atop that cat tree, with the copper angel behind her. I called those pictures "My two angels:"

 2016 - Georgette was slowing down and spending most of her days lounging in various places:

 2017 - Georgette was sweeter than ever, purring loudly when I gave her any attention:

 2017 - Georgette decided that my kitchen table/desk was hers. I tried to dissuade her, but finally gave in and put a pet bed there. She resided on the kitchen table for much of the rest of her life:

 2018 - This year she moved to a pet bed on a rocking chair. She slowed down even more. One weekend she stopped eating. I was able to coax her to eat small amounts of canned cat food, meat flavored baby food and tuna - but I knew her body was shutting down. When she would no longer eat anything, I took her to the vet to be put to sleep, where she purred until she died. I buried her beneath the big hay bales outside the barn. Farewell, faithful friend. You will be missed:

Cats And Dogs, Dogs And Cats

Little Jack seems to have made himself completely at home since he was rescued as a seemingly hopeless case from the shelter. He still has fears and abandonment issues, though overall he's living a happy life. If you've seen the pictures of him running for joy while we hike, you know what I mean:

All the dogs enjoy being outside. If it's hot, they can find shade. If a car passes by, they get to exercise their vocal chords:

Seamus is old, big, black and woolly, so I'm careful not to let him get overheated. He seems to understand, though, and seeks out shade when needed:

Georgette has had a complete personality change and now often associates with the dogs and other cats. She was enjoying her square of sunshine when Daphne came up to see what she was doing:

Georgette, who has spent a couple of years without going upstairs, suddenly started doing so again. She likes a hidey-spot in one of the upstairs cat trees:

She also likes the uppermost perch. If you think that top is tipping dangerously, you'd be right - but Georgette doesn't seem to care:

 

As for Daisy, she loves the wide windowsill in the upstairs bathroom. There's fresh air, a nice view and she can roll and purr, begging for attention, if I walk into the room:

A rare shot of all three cats together. Daisy is in the bed on the bureau, Georgette is in the bed on the rocking chair, and Bugsy is on the yoga mat:

Bugsy has his own personal cat tree upstairs too. He's a bit too big for this box, but it makes it easier to pet him when I walk by:

Seamus, Jack and Daphne lounged on the ramp while I mowed their lawn:

Fergus and Clover lounged at the bottom of the ramp. How Clover got comfortable on those rocks is a mystery to me:

A Farm House Full Of Dogs And Cats

All the pets at home are safe and sound, comfy and enjoying the good life. This kitchen corner collection consisted of Daphne, Seamus, Fergus, Clover and Bugsy:

Out in their fenced yard, the dogs make sure the lawn is well fertilized. The brown spots you see are now lush and green:

 When I mow the grass in their fenced yard, Clover and Fergus watch my every move:

 Bugsy the cat joined three sleeping dogs (Fergus, Daphne and Clover), a cuddle-fest if I ever saw one:

 Georgette seems happy in her own bed atop her own small table, even as she has been emboldened to strut around the house while ignoring the other two cats who used to chase her:

 Seamus looks kind of skinny right after a haircut. He's beginning to show his age, so it's a good thing I put him on a diet. Now, if I could only do the same for myself:

 Clover likes to curl up in the grass and snooze:

 Black dogs and cats are notoriously difficult to photograph, so I was happy with this otherwise poor photo of Bugsy at the cat food feeder:

 Jack, Fergus and Daphne, lounging on their ramp:

 Another ramp collection: Jack, Seamus, Fergus and Daphne:

 Seamus and Daisy have been hanging out together a lot lately, though they seem to keep a respectable distance lest rumors get started:

 As for Bugsy, his specialty is stretching out and making himself comfortable: