Choji is one of a kind.

About a week after I got him, I hurt my back to the point of having to go to the ER in an ambulance because I couldn't move -- I'm fine now. For four days leading up to that trip, while I was in serious pain, he massaged me from my sternum to my tummy, up and down, over and over and over, the most gentle massage you can imagine. He has not done it since I came back from the ER and have been out of pain. He knew. Yet he hardly knew me.

He is a very special cat -- those words seem so poor when it comes to describing his magnificence -- and I am so grateful for everything you did to bring him into my life, and to delivers others as well.

Happy holidays.
Best wishes,
Ben & Choji (aka Big Tiger Little Paws)

When a cat ends up at a shelter, it can be hard to tell what type of personality they have in a home environment. Cats that react violently are euthanized more often those that do not.

Emma is an example of a cat that reacted poorly at the shelter. She hissed and tried to bite, the shelter ended up having to use a catch-pole to transfer her.

Thanks to the shelter for not giving up on Emma and for teamwork on the part of Fancy Cats volunteers: one person worked with the shelter to facilitate the transfer, another drove her from the shelter to a foster home, and two more volunteers fostered her; Emma was given a chance to show her true personality and to find a forever home.

In her foster home, she transformed from a violent, scared cat to a very sweet, gentle, and VERY loving girl. Based on this, her foster home knew she would be very quickly adopted- they were right, she went home two weeks later.

Dear Fancy Cats:

Just wanted to let you know Emma is doing wonderful.

She has definitely made herself at home with us. She is so loving and sweet with us. I am so glad we adopted her because she loves to be everywhere we are. She enjoys hanging out on the couch while we watch tv and she loves to cuddle, especially when I try to go to bed.

My fiance took her to the vet last week at the Columbia Pike Animal Hospital that you recommended. The vet said she looks great. Her age range is between 1 and 2 years old. She gave us some heartworm medication to give Emma between March and October. Also, she gave us tips on trimming her claws and brushing her teeth. Overall, she is very healthy and doing well.

I will send you some pictures of her soon.

Thanks so much again!
- Amy

Emma at the shelter.

Emma with Fancy Cats.

She didn't have to wait long
for her forever home.

Dear Fancy Cats:

Clinton has been with me for almost 3 weeks. Though he was sad to leave his foster mom, he has become quite comfortable in his forever home and really opened up to me within the first day or so (the cat treats didn’t hurt).

At first he was skeptical about what was going on, but once he realized that he was home he settled right in.

He still loves his whisker city catnip scratchers and is always up for play time! He has grown rather fond of his newest toy the “catfisher” where I cast the line and he follows the catnip bait all around the condo.

We love to lounge around together- he is never far from me and is the best little buddy I could have asked for.

He is constantly striking silly poses and sitting in what I can only describe as yoga positions.

When I get home from work I usually find him keeping my spot on the couch warm for me. He is quite a considerate cat who is full of love and character, and I could not be happier with him.

Thank you, Fancy Cats Rescue Team, for taking care of this sweet boy until I found my way to him!

I've attached [several] photos of him - I love taking his picture! Thank you,
Anna

Letters from adoptive families are often the reason that foster homes find the strength to say good bye to a cat that have long been in their homes and hearts.

This is the letter Clinton's foster family sent to fellow volunteers after receiving Anna's letter.

Dear Fancy Cat Volunteers:

Anna, the nice lady who adopted Clinton was kind enough to send us some more photos of him. I told yall he was hilarious in his poses. She seems to be a lot faster with the camera than I was though.

He seems to be doing so well and I am so so happy for him. I was really concerned he may have got grumpy with her at some point but he seems to be just as in love with her as she is with him.

THIS is what it is all about for me. I love these happy endings. Sometimes there just doesn't seem to be enough of them in this world.

-Clinton's Foster Family

Clinton when he was with Fancy Cats.
He arrived overweight and it was a long
process to slim him down.

Clinton showing off his white belly.

Whoever said yoga isn't for cats?

Happy endings are the best!

Dear Fancy Cats:

Thank you for letting Buster become part of our family. From the moment he came into my apartment he was exploring and enjoying the space to roam around. I think he was very happy to be out of the small box he was in.

He loves to get bellyrubs and is very affectionate. He is eating well but likes to be petted between bites of food. He definitely likes to be around people. My daughter Surah and I are thoroughly enjoying having him here.

I've enclosed two pictures of Buster. The first one shows him relaxing in his new home. The second one shows him playing laser tag with my daughter.

Thank you again for letting us adopt Buster. He will be loved in his new home.
- Mash and Surah

Buster relaxing in his new home.

Buster when he was with
Fancy Cats.

Buster playing laser tag.

When Fancy Cats received Sunshine from the shelter- he was in pretty bad shape. He had an injured shoulder, a broken canine tooth, and he was completely emaciated. Based on his general condition, the shelter vet estimated his age as being around 18-20 years.

Despite being so bad off, Sunshine was very affectionate to his foster family- from the very start.

His foster mom gave him the name "Sunshine" because when she was singing, "You Are My Sunshine," he liked it so much, he curled around her legs and gave her head-butts in the face.

Good evening Fancy Cats:

It was such a pleasure meeting you today.

Thank you so much for all your help today.

Our new addition's name is Sherlock - fair hair.

John and I were just spending some quality time with him. We think he will enjoy it here after he gets relaxed.

This evening he is enjoying classical music with soft night light. He really enjoys his house that you sent with him as seen [in the photo].

We will keep in touch with you so you can see him grow big and fat.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Best regards,
John and Toye

Sunshine when he came to
Fancy Cats.

Sunshine after recuperating
at his foster home.

Sunshine/Sherlock in his cat house
at his new forever home.

Jack was adopted from Fancy Cats in 2007 at age 11.

On December 29th, 2009, Jack was featured on http://www.catoftheday.com as the "Cat of the Day."

For your convenience the original article has been copied below. The original can be found in Cat of the Day's archive.

My name is Jack now, but it used to be something else before my current mom adopted me and my sister Baby. We have lived in our new furrever home for almost two years. I love it here because I command my world!

Not long after I came to my new home, I woke up one morning deathly ill. The vet said I had a big abdominal mass, and then my mom had to decide whether to evaluate me for surgery or not. She didn't want to put me through any ordeals. The decision was made to put me on painkillers, and if it was my time (yikes!) it was my time. But I pulled it together, improved, got on steroids, and my mass even shrunk a whole lot. Now I live with a small mass, in very good health. See, I have a strong will to live. My last owner took me and my sister to be put down at the vet because we were no longer wanted. A nice rescue organization called Fancy Cats Rescue Team eventually got us and we lived in a cage until our mom heard about us.

My mom thinks I am so special because I keep surviving against the odds. I have a strong personality and a lust for life! And I have the best home ever with the most love ever. Why would I want to give that up? Mom thinks my sister (she's in one of the pictures) and I are so special that she made a blog about us, Lisa Lisa and the Cat Jam

Dear Fancy Cats:

We've renamed "Peanut" to Minka Bleu. Since she is a Russian Blue mix and her coat is as soft as a mink, we thought the name fit her well.

Along with a wonderful new home and name, Minka Bleu has gained a deaf dog as a friend.

She is an awesome cat and we are all becoming quite attached to her! She is very loving and enjoys being petted and doted on and we all enjoy indulging her.

She still does not like our lab, but she doesn't run from him or hide. If he comes near her just to sniff or greet her (he's not aggressive with her) she will hiss or growl at him, but not run from him. Since he's deaf, he doesn't hear it, so is probably not too insulted by it! For the most part, they ignore each other, but they can at least be in the same room together! So I guess they are learning to live together and we are hoping in time she will realize that he's just a big oversized teddy bear that means her no harm.

I took her to the vet as she was sneezing quite a bit a few days after I brought her home. But she checked out fine and the vet said it was a viral infection, not a bacterial one. She had her rabies and distemper shots and checked out very healthy...she was a real gem for the vet.

She's adjusted quite well here, follows me around, and enjoys having the run of the house. She especially enjoys sitting in her window seat and watching and chirping at the birds at the bird feeder!

Thanks again for all of your help to find a cat for us.

Happy New Year,
Cathy

Dear Fancy Cats:

Good morning . . . hope you had a great Christmas.

We are attaching Katie's latest portrait. From her expression, I think you can tell she has taken over the house and we are just guests.

I plan to send a donation to Fancy Cats today. Hope you have great success with your campaign -- your work is so important.

Thanks for all you do.
Dick and Cheryl

Katie photographs so well, perhaps she should consider giving cat modeling a try.