Georgie (top left), Charlie (grey Tabby) and Chilli (bottom left), Jerry (centre), Amber with Kahlua (in the background) (top right), JJ (right centre) and Chaiah (bottom right)
Written by Jazmine Cole
Professional photography by elysian
My day with my “Motley Crew” starts at 5am every morning and ends often at 10pm at night; yes, my day is always very busy, but I wouldn’t change a thing! Having always been an animal lover, it comes as no surprise that my life is filled with so many of them.
Biscuit
I was alerted by my neighbour that there was a cat stuck in her garage, assuming it was one of mine.
After crawling around on the greasy garage floor, I managed to find a little kitten that was clearly in distress, with masking tape around her neck. After giving her some food and much-needed water, I rushed her off to the vet, where it was ascertained that she was no more than eight weeks old.
She was severely dehydrated, had no microchip, and, after searching for her owners for the mandatory waiting period and all the essentials done, Biscuit was welcomed as the new addition to our family.
JJ
My brother and sister-in-law were camping in Grootvadersbosch in Swellendam when they came across a little wandering soul, searching for food. After making enquiries at the manager’s office, they were told that the poor cat had been there for over a month. He’d just appeared out of nowhere and had to fend for himself against baboons, etc. and beg the campers for morsels of food.
The next morning, my brother and sister-in-law cut their stay very short, packed up camp and loaded their belongings and said cat into their car and headed home – Operation “Save the Siamese” was well underway.
JJ was unneutered and not microchipped, and so, after being tested for dreaded kitty diseases, neutered and microchipped, our darling JJ was home, never to be abandoned again!
Toffee and Apple
While taking a cat to the vet, I was informed about two 10-month-old Siamese-cross cats that had been surrendered for euthanasia. What was I to do? After seeing how bonded they were, I simply couldn’t take one and leave the other to be put to sleep, so I took both.
Toffee was absolutely petrified – he’d pee himself wet when touched and hid for two weeks behind the fridge; Apple was his reassurance that all would be well. Slowly, Toffee’s loving personality began to show and, with Apple by his side, he soon blossomed into a loving boy who loves letting us know that we’re loved. Apple, the sock stealer, will only allow us to love and cuddle with her on her own terms and when she so wishes.
Jerry
Little Jerry was, sadly, tossed out of a car window as a kitten. He’s now the most adorable little cat with the most magnificent tail.
Amber and Shanny
The two most exquisite mommy cats that, after having raised their own kittens, found themselves up for adoption.
Amber was the first mommy cat that I’d adopted; I was somewhat anxious, as it was new to me and I worried about the introduction to the rest of furries, but Amber soon made herself right at home and is now the matriarch of the furries.
I adopted Shanny, my second mommy cat, two years later after I saw her post on Facebook and instantly fell head over heels in love with her cute little face. It didn’t take long before she and Amber became firm friends. Amber and Shanny were adopted through Sharon’s Foster Furries, and both are loved so very deeply.
Little Georgie
The cutest little guy, with even cuter little ear tufts. Georgie was rescued during an outreach programme in a township in George (hence his name). He was being fed potato skins and, without the right people being in the right place at the right time, the possibility of him surviving was close to zero.
Thankfully, he was brought down to Cape Town, where he spent two weeks with his foster mom, during which time he was also tested and sterilised. Soon after, little Georgie came home to us and has blossomed into the most beautiful kitten, with a lovable personality, who loves nothing more than to have a good cuddle.
Included in the feline Motley Crew we also have Charlie, Chaiah, Chilli and Bailey, the most beautiful cats that were adopted through Capetonians Against Animal Abuse.
So many people ask me how I manage with all my fur kids. I firmly believe that only good things happen when people are kind. I’m blessed to have a husband who loves the fur kids as much as I do, and a property big enough for all of my fur babies to run and play comfortably. My bed is often a tight squeeze to get into, as Molly, our 30kg dog, also feels that she needs to be included.
I consider myself so incredibly blessed to have been able to save those that I have, and not a day goes by when one of them doesn’t do something that makes us laugh and smile! I find our many blessings in their little souls, which have enriched our lives by simply being part of it.
