Happy First Birthday Trixie!!!

Thanks Ann from Zoolatry for the great birthday picture!!

So today is Trixie's First Birthday! Well, at least it is sometime around today - see we aren't quite sure, because Trixie, and her brother Leo, and their sisters, were found by Chrystal as tiny feral kittens - and we aren't 100% sure when they were born. But Chrystal estimated they were 7 weeks old, and counting back from there brought us to today - so it is the day we picked for their birthdays!

It all started back on October 8, 2010 - Chrystal had gotten a call about a feral mom and her kittens, and had started to try to gather up the family. She got two the first night, one more the next day (Trixie) along with their mom, and the rest after that. They were all adorable but all very scared. With Chrystal's love and care, they all began to come around. Their mom was a total feral, so with her they spayed her and released her back, knowing she would be watched over by her mother-in-laws neighbor, who had originally spotted the family.  The kittens were taken care of and soon they grew into sweet wonderful kitties. That is thanks to the love and patience of Chrystal and her family.

Now around that time, we were helping out with the transport of Ash - the first kitty that was being adopted under the Winnie's Wish campaign.  At the time I hadn't planned on adding to our group - yes all the ferals were just adorable, but we had six and that seemed like a great amount. The transport went great but I have to admit it was very hard for me to part with Ash because he was such a sweetheart and I just instantly fell in love - I actually cried because I missed him after only a couple hours. I think that is really when the thought of another cat started to get in my mind.

Time went by, the kittens got bigger and tamer at Chrystals, and then the holdays came, and then Chrystal was helping puppies, and in the middle of all the craziness Chrystal posted this picture:

And that was it - I was hooked. I couldn't stop thinking about that cutie - all the feral's were adorable of course (Leo was a gorgeous boy who reminded me of Ash, and the other girls are total cuties too), but something about Tuxie, as she was known then, just got me. And Tuxie - so close to the name I had already picked for our next ladycat - Trixie - it just seemed like fate. So I kept talking about her and eventually Brad and I agreed we could make room for one more kitty (but only one more -  believe me two was tempting but I knew that would be out of control in this house).  So back in February we announced that we had decided to adopt Tuxie, and she would be renamed Trixie, and it was so exciting - waiting to meet up with Chrystal to pick her up was tough. But that day came back in February - we met in Effingham (which still makes me laugh when I say the name) and we picked up our sweet girl. She was nervous at first but that didn't surprise me. Once she was out she was the biggest lovebug I have ever met. And things have just gotten better since then (she is sitting next to me now as I am typing this). She has really become a perfect member of the family - she gets along with all the cats and plays with them all. Even the crabby old ladycat Lola likes her - and she hardly likes anyone that isn't human (I think only Gus gets the same amount of respect that Trixie does). She is the perfect size for Virgil to play with - they are close to the same size, and all the others are bigger, she is a snugglebug for Barney and Gus, she is a tomboy to chase around and be chased by for Stella, and she has a good respect for Kirzon as the alpha cat. 

A few months later, Trixie's "big" brother Leo was adopted by Andrea, who started a blog for him and his new sister Star - Andrea is lucky because there was a picture of Leo and Trixie posted at one point that almost had me picking him too (but I knew I could only do one, and honestly I kind of thought about all of the others at one point or another - heck if we won the lottery tomorrow and got a bigger house I would probably bring one up here if not all of them - but it would have go be a big win to get a big enough house at that point!) Leo has grown up into a gorgeous mancat, and it is funny because he looks a lot like his new sister Star, but nothing like Trixie (Trixie was the only tuxie in a family of gray cats - but we know she is related because of their polydactyl mom and her polydactyl sibs). It is funny - when we got Kirzon he was also the only tuxie among a group of calicos.  But oh, when I read the blog, Leo is so similar to Trixie in so many ways! He prefers climbing to jumping (so does Trixie), the TV made him nervous at first (same with Trixie), he likes to pull feathers out of things (yep, that too), and in so many other ways!  So today, as both our blogs celebrate our babies first birthdays both of us together have a wish - we wish that Trixie and Leo's sisters (and of course all of Chrystals other kitties too) would find their perfect forever homes.

Chrystal is one of the most wonderful people I know - she takes in these cats (and dogs) who really need help - but there is only so much room in the cathouse. Right now the cathouse is full - 18 cats that need homes. Now, not only can I say that Trixie is super sweet, but I can also vouch for the fact that it isn't just Trixie - I met Ash and he couldn't have been a sweeter cat. And Leo is sweet too - this cannot just be a coincidence. I know all you other cat bloggers out there will agree that the kitties you adopted from Chrystal are sweet too - this cannot be a coincidence. This is because Chrystal, her daughters, and her husband are such wonderful people and take such good care of all the animals they have there. I have to assume that all the kitties currently in the cat house are the same way - amazingly sweet. And they need to find good homes, so that Chrystal can have room to help more kitties that need it, and so that there can be even more sweet kitties out there for people to adopt. So, if you know ANYONE that is looking for a sweet, loving, wonderful member of the family to add (or two or three - heck, we have 7 so if you haven't reached that yet, well, keep up!) please keep Chrystal in mind and mention them to anyone you know. And, she does have a couple polydactyls there too - so you get more toes for your money (which by the way, is zero dollars - though I of course always think that if you do adopt that sending them home with some stuff for the remaining animals is always a good idea - we always try to load them up with stuff when we meet up with them). Now if you aren't nearby don't worry - things can be worked out (if you are needing a transport to the north, for example, we can always help with a leg of the trip). Chrystal's cats have gone as far as California and Canada - with the power of the Cat Blogosphere behind her they can pretty much make it anywhere - at least on this continent (though I bet there would be some way to get them overseas somehow).  And of course one of the best Birthday presents for Leo and Trixie would be for their sisters to find loving wonderful homes - just look at the pictures that Andrea sent over that prove it (these are from when Trixie and Leo still lived at Chrystals - and include the picture that had me almost adding Leo too - but I am glad that he found his perfect home with Star and Andrea)!!

Ok, so I guess that is all for today - if you haven't met Leo or if you know him but haven't had a chance, please stop by, say Hi, and wish him Happy Birthday! He is such a sweet brother he sent Trixie a birthday present - we will have  a post of her opening it up in a couple days (I am terrible because I have a package for him I just haven't sent out yet - I wonder if that is why Trixie keeps talking to me - she has gotten very chatty lately!)

And if you have the chance stop by to visit Chrystal too - I have the link to the story of the Feral Six up a the top, but be sure to read about all the babies that are there now!!

And of course, I have to again say Happy First Birthday to our baby Trixie Belle - we are so happy to have you in our family!!