My wife and I found a small black tuxedo kitten a couple nights ago. He had been abandoned on our street along with a carrier and a few cans of cat food. It was raining and he was clearly terrified; after 45 minutes of scheming, we managed to get hold of him. He’s been living in our bathroom ever since.
Orville (as we have currently dubbed him) is the sweetest kitten I have ever seen. (He purred as we immersed him in water to give him a bath, and he purred during his rectal exam. He didn’t try to claw us even when we first grabbed him off the street).
The vet thinks he’s 8-10 weeks old. He’s been treated for fleas and is undergoing treatment for roundworm and giardia (he should be absolutely fine in two weeks; meds are free and easy to administer. Like I said, the little guy is super sweet.) He’s had a few basic shots and tested negative for FIV and FELV, and will be neutered this week.
He purrs nonstop if you’re anywhere near him and loves to fall asleep on your stomach. I would assume he’ll be more playful once he’s gained a bit more weight (he weighed 1.25 lbs when he went to the vet yesterday) but he’s very curious.
Unfortunately, I am super allergic to cats, our building doesn’t allow pets, and my wife and I are both in school (i.e. unemployed). Although we love the little guy, there is no way we can give him the forever home he deserves.
So I thought I’d turn to the Balloon Juice community. If anyone knows of a no-kill shelter in NYC who might be able to take him in the midst of kitten season, or wants the sweetest, most loving kitten imaginable, it would be such a relief! He deserves more than to be shut in a bathroom all day indefinitely!
PS – pictures attached, and there’s a video here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10101017938649765
If you have any leads towards a forever home for Orville, contact me at AnneLaurie (at) verizon.net — click on my name in the right-hand column under ‘Contacts’ — and I’ll put you in touch with Sarai. (And if we weren’t still working on integrating our own latest rescue, I’d be scheming to adopt Orville myself, because I’m a sucker for little bat-eared kittens with oriental bloodlines!)
Gex
Oh man.
I wish I didn’t have the max number of pets my apartment allows.
And I wish I was in the Manhattan area.
I would totally adopt that cat.
BGinCHI
Very cute.
Anthony Weiner has time on his hands. Why the hell can’t he take care of some pets?
cathyx
Paging John Cole. There’s a kitty at the courtesy desk for you.
schrodinger's cat
@cathyx: Great idea, Boss will have someone to boss over!
gogol's wife
Someone should snap him up. Tuxedos are the bestest cats. They are so, so sweet.
cathyx
@schrodinger’s cat: Well, he’s already got John for that.
Mnemosyne
Aww. Reminds me of when we first got Keaton and the vet had to give up on trying to listen to his heart because he was purring so loudly she couldn’t hear it.
schrodinger's cat
@cathyx: But having a bebbeh kitteh to boss over, priceless!
schrodinger's cat
He is going to grow up to be a big kitteh! look at his paws. Such a cutie
I can has furreber home?
Elizabelle
He’s just beautiful. I would take him, if I could have a pet, which I can’t right now.
And that is from a more dog than cat person.
Appealing little soul. He will find a home.
Roger Moore
Purring isn’t always a sign of happiness. Cat’s apparently also purr when they’re sick, injured, or otherwise in distress; it’s been suggested that this is a way of cheering themselves up. It’s possible that Orville was purring so much when he went to the vet because he was scared.
Will
Don’t know if they will take him, but Hope Vet Clinic (390 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn) runs a no kill shelter/adoption agency called “Infinite Hope.”
http://hopevet.com/adoption.html
I got my two little kitties there just about a month ago.
pat
@Roger Moore:
Spoilsport.
Yatsuno
SQUEEEEEEE!!! WANT!!! Too far though dammit.
I am not a kook
I’m seriously considering moving because my landlady doesn’t allow pets. I thought I might sneak in a cat or two but it would be cruel to deprive them of the perfect cat window to hide them (south facing sunny window looking at the street).
Mandalay
@BGinCHI:
No more free pussy for Anthony. He’s grounded.
Johannes
What a beauty! I’ll ask la Caterina to check with her peeps when she gets in.
Interrobang
Oh my goodness, what a cutie pie! I’m in love with those whiskers! I can’t have another cat, though, and I’m too far away anyhow.
greenergood
So sorry I live in another country. But have emailed a few East Coasters regarding this gorgeous Orville. I read somewhere that purring is a cat’s way of healing (maybe Ms Way of Cats will fill this in). Apparently the level of vibration (not decibels, something else like mega hertzes or something) of a cat’s purr is conducive to bone and tissue knitting, which is why cats heal faster than dogs, in veterinarians’ accounts. So yes, cats purr not just when they’re happy, but also when stressed, but there’s a positive reason for it.
Violet
Oh, what a cutie! Those ears are amazing. I hope someone snaps him up soon. Looks like he’d be a total love to have around.
The Dangerman
@Yatsuno:
Koda says “Too far, never” (hold it, that’s Yoda).
WereBear
Yes, cats purr under stress. But look at that face! He’s, at least, happy now.
abo gato
Such a handsome and well dressed young kitty. Would love to have another tuxedo, but there are too many dogs/cat at our home now. Those ears make me want to squeeee.
ruemara
Oh my, if I was in NYC, I’d be on it in a heartbeat, landlord be damned. If only I knew some cat people in NYC. I only know Jamaicans and bitter, unsuccessful artists.
WereBear
Tweeted & Facebooked out to my fans… I would take him in a heartbeat if we could. Four in a little apartment is our limit.
I moved in with two, though. Shows how I Borged Mr. WereBear!
Dee Loralei
Man, I am in love with that cat. But I have 2 dogs and cats already. Though poor Gabby cat is soooo lonely she needs her own kitten. The rescue kitty hates her. And I’m in Memphis anyway. I do hope you find a forever home for that adorable baby.
Roger Moore
@greenergood:
Just regular hertz, not megahertz. 20 Hz is about the lower limit of human hearing, and 20 kHz is about the upper limit. 1 MHz would be too high even for bats to hear, much less kitties or humans.
burnspbesq
Somebody light the Maude-signal. She lives in Jersey.
Yo, Maude, you need a kitteh, capisce?
geg6
@The Dangerman:
Heh, so true. I’d be willing to do some pay it forward.
kc
He is freakin’ adorable.
Howard Beale IV
Now if only said kitten was the Chicago Tribune test kitteh….
greenergood
@Roger Moore: Thanks for the science, Roger; I’m just amazed that kittehs evolved to emit a sound (in hertz) that helps knit bones back together.
Litlebritdifrnt
@WereBear: My darling Bobbie (because she was sans tail) was hit by a car, the neighbor saw it and called me. I gathered her up and put her on my lap and she purred loudly right up until the minute that she died. Twenty years ago. Still hurts.
WereBear
For those who are curious:
The Healing Power of Cats
Their purr does have healing powers!
greenergood
http://consciouscat.net/2009/09/14/the-cats-purr-a-biomechanical-healing-mechanism/
Anna in PDX
@gogol’s wife: We adopted a 2 month old Tuxedo and he used to purr so loud that we named him Buzz.
He grew out of the loud purring though. Maybe it is a thing just with tuxedo kittens. Now he still purrs but not that loud. He is still the cutest cat ever, though. I love tuxes. They are the best. I wish he had been found in Portland, I’d seriously consider raising our cat limit to 4.
Kristine Smith
Tweeted and FB’d.
greenergood
@WereBear: Thanks Werebear, you are the undisputed authority!!
Armadillo Joe NYC
http://www.wahicats.org
I have three lovely kitties, all adopted from this place. I’d take him, but three is almost too much in my Manhattan apartment. Still, posting it to Facebook anyway
serena1313
Orville is absolutely adorable. I would take him in a NY second, but I live in Dallas, Texas. The minute I saw his pic I looked to see where he is located.
Please keep us updated.
Roger Moore
@greenergood:
It’s cool, but it’s not that amazing. Kittehs like climbing trees, a behavior that has a strong tendency to lead to falling out of trees, which leads to borken bones. Something that helps them to recover from borken bones has an obvious evolutionary advantage. If there’s a surprise, it’s that other tree climbing animals, like apes, haven’t developed a similar capability.
Leslie
If that little guy were out here in Cali instead of on the other side of the country, I would so take him. I’ve shared on Facebook with my NYC-area contacts.
Yatsuno
Hate to spoil sweet kitteh thread with this, but please keep fornicating that poultry Issa.
WereBear
@Roger Moore: Just to add to the further mystery of cats, there is still no settled agreement on the mechanism by which cats do purr.
Gex
@Litlebritdifrnt: Ouch. My heart just broke. I’m sorry you went through that and lost your cat that way.
Roger Moore
@Yatsuno:
Yes, he thought it was a rodent, but it turned out to be a galliform.
TaMara (BHF)
@WereBear: I liked you on facebook recently and have loved the articles.
I’m in for some $$ if we need to ship this kitteh. He looks so much like my big boy Jake. I’ll 3rd, 4th or whatever, that Tuxes are great, great buddies.
jeffreyw
Thread needz moar puppeh!
TaMara (BHF)
Jake says, I see you and you need a kitteh.
MazeDancer
@serena1313:
Distance is not an issue. If you want this precious kitty, he’s yours. He’s a kitten. Someone can fly him in the cabin to Texas.
Funding that flight, and carrier, also not a problem as Balloon Juice has shown. Someone surely wants to go from NYC to Texas. Maybe you want to go to NYC?
Really, this kitty can be yours. BJ has transported pets cross-country before. Just contact Anne Laurie. It can happen.
If not…Tuxedo Kitty, people!
Seriously, Tuxedo. If you’ve had one, you know. If you haven’t, time you did. And a kitten in dire need of rescue so you don’t have to feel guilty about adopting a kitten instead of a full grown cat.
Where is John Cole? Steve is going to need some kitty companionship so he won’t be tripping Mr. Cole in the kitchen.
Standing by to send funds for transporting this sweet baby anywhere in North America. Actually, he’s in NYC, Europe is closer than many parts of the US.
Mnemosyne
@WereBear:
And no one seems to be able to agree whether the similar sound that big cats (Pantherinae) make is a “true” purr or not.
ETA: Though apparently the question of whether tigers like catnip has been definitively settled.
Mnemosyne
@serena1313:
The readers here got a labrador puppy from California to Pennsylvania. I’m sure we could manage to get a kitten from New York to Texas if you e-mail Anne Laurie.
Just Some Fuckhead
@MazeDancer: Do we know if the cat wants to live in Texas after he has experienced the cosmopolitan flavor of New York? I certainly wouldn’t.
Yatsuno
@Roger Moore: Indonesian ground fowl are cool. Alton Brown had one on one of his show once. Issa can’t have one. Bird would peck his dick off anyway.
MazeDancer
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Yes, kitty wants home. Kitty will get good take out food and fine (at home) theatre – which are prominent among why humans live in NYC – wherever he lives. And no adoption from BJ going to include parent who votes Republican, so kitty will be fine.Besides Texas is going Azul in Orville’s lifetime.
Oh, just noticed that LESLIE mentioned interest. CA is not a problem. Six zillion starving NYC actors would be happy for a funded trip to CA with a kitten in the cabin, certainly someone at BJ knows one.
Please email Anne Laurie if you’re interested, no matter where you live.
Burnspbesq
The pissing contest between Christie and Ramd Paul just keeps getting awesomer.
I predict a global popcorn shortage.
Roger Moore
@Yatsuno:
The pheasant section was my favorite part of Jurong Bird Park. Seeing some of the other kinds of pheasants certainly makes peafowl seem more evolutionarily plausible.
Calming Influence
We would take him in a second, except we’re on the wrong coast. Can he drive? I could send gas money.
Plus, we would not change his name. He’s definitely an Orville.
Leslie
@MazeDancer: I just did, thanks. If we can work out the transpo, assuming no one in NYC snaps him up, I am definitely game.
MazeDancer
@Calming Influence:
Distance is not an issue. Please note other posts.
Plus, everyone who lives anywhere and would like a Tuxedo Kitty, here is rescue doggie BJ transported cross country to Pittsburgh: https://balloon-juice.com/2013/03/25/another-koda-update/
MazeDancer
@Leslie:
Oh, YAY!!!!!
Hope it works. If not, Anne Laurie having a waiting list always a good idea.
SiubhanDuinne
@Calming Influence:
You would have to name him Toonces.
Johannes
If we start a transport fund, I’m in.
Beeb
My three rescue cats have informed me that they don’t want another one, which disappoints my dog, who thinks there’s no such thing as too many cats. But I would definitely contribute to a transportation fund.
Elizabelle
@ruemara:
You just wrote my favorite sentence of the day.
There’s a short story in there.
Good use of a comma, also.
Just Some Fuckhead
@MazeDancer: I’m willing to contribute money to keep him out of Texas and any other regressive states.
Kristine Smith
Will kick in for transport costs if necessary!
Mary
If he’s still available, we’ll take him. We have two cats already (1-year-old brothers) but they’re very sweet indoor cats so I don’t think there will be a problem. He looks just like one of ours. Unfortunately, I’m out of town until Sunday but please let me know if he still needs a home. We live on Long Island so getting into the city is not a problem. Just let me know.
Thanks,
Mary
WereBear
I’m in for transport funds as well, because it will be fun to see him grow up!
WereBear
@TaMara (BHF): Awesome, thanks. I do love the tuxy boys. But I’m easy to please :)
schrodinger's cat
I made Orville a lol and posted it on my blog.
Michele C
If he hasn’t already gone to a Balloon Juice home, contact Anjellicle Cats [email protected] or 646.457.2130. I volunteer checking references for them and they’re totally no kill and helpful. We can’t take a fourth kitteh as we will move to Manila next month.
PurpleGirl
Orville is cute. Cute, CUTE. I’m glad a few other NY area folk have come forward as a potential home because he is very tempting. I’d love to have a cat/kitten.
Michele C — thank you for the mention of Anjellicle Cats. I might be interested in volunteering with them.
Yutsano: I mentioned them before but a no-kill shelter in the Seattle area if Purrfect Pals. One of their volunteers — John Bartlett — has a kitten cam. (He has a new family, mom and 4 kittens.) You should check them out.
boatboy_srq
If nobody’s claimed this little feller yet, here’s a DCer who’s four hours away by car and kitten carrier. The housemate’s very happy, very well-behaved Siamese needs a little cousin to play with while her humans are at work. My black-and-white part Russian Blue left me last year (sniff), and the landlord is agreeable, so outside sorting out what he’d eat vs. what Her Highness (her name’s Spirit, but she’s got the royalty act down) demands there’d be no problems.
The email in the handle works – or you can leave a message here.
Wayners T
I beleive the North Shore Animal League is on your area and is a no kill shelter that paces tons of animals.
MazeDancer
@Mary: @boatboy_srq:
Wonderful if one of you wants Orville, hope you emailed Anne Laurie. That’s how it works. She kindly puts you in touch with the original poster. While the rest of us keep our fingers crossed something works out for everyone.
Maybe you already have emailed, but as she noted, her e-address is: AnneLaurie (at) verizon.net.
celiadexter
I’d take him in a second if I didn’t have a rescue cat who’s terrified of animals and people he doesn’t know. But I’ve posted this to Facebook.
Paul in KY
@Roger Moore: Purring seems to be an audio expression of enhanced emotion. Could be good emotions, could be bad.
Paul in KY
@WereBear: 4 in a small apartment is above & beyond!
boatboy_srq
@MazeDancer: Thanks.
Done. Email went out this morning.
The need got reinforced last night: the housemate and I went out to the movies (Wolverine – while I can’t believe I shelled out money for a Newscorp product, it was pretty good and the locations were fantastic), and Spirit was heartbroken that she couldn’t come along. We had to have a major play/cuddle/chase/food/play/cuddle session with her when we got home (he’s Daddy/Cook/Blanket, and I’m Waiter/Playmate/Backscratcher – you know how Siamese are: everyone has a role). The sooner she gets some 24/7 company the better.
Paul in KY
@Roger Moore: Cats may have evolved early in their development to live & hunt primarily in trees, but all modern cats (pantherines & felids) have developed more towards a ground hunting existence. Cats from 25 million years ago are much more developed for life in trees than modern cats.
Monkeys & apes that currently live/hunt in trees are much better adapted for climbing, etc. than any modern cat (leopards included).
MazeDancer
@boatboy_srq:
So hope it works out. You are wise to recognize that two kitties will make all the difference. They are so much happier. And so are you.
p.s. Orville’s a kitten, so they should be pals. But if not, three kitties also a good number. Others can attest to more, but, I personally, can endorse three. Even if only two like each other.)
Mireille Strunk
Please contact http://www.kittykind.org (they have a adoption center at Union Square Petco – 17th street and Broadway) or contact Bronxtail.com. You could contact the ASPCA.org or call 212-876-7700 (they are on 92nd street between York Avenue and First Avenue).Listen to their adoption recording and leave a message or go straight there with kitten.
These organizations should not have difficulties accepting the kitten because he has been tested (negative), vaccinated and soon neutered. Good Luck. I am a rescuer and have some ten cats in my house, half for adoption.
bmcchgo
Too bad I am in the greatest city on the planet and too far from the bewitching Big Apple! I’d snap that lil cutie up in in a NY Minute…