I’ve actually kept up with my new running regime this year. This Chicago winter was probably the best winter ever to start. We have had nothing but great weather, and it is amazing to enjoy the spring now in full bloom. Even the sidewalks look pretty.

Thank you! You look pretty good yourself.

The hardest thing about running in my area is, um, staying on track, so to speak, because I keep getting sidetracked by cat sightings, and meeting other neighbors who are also trying to help the cats. A few weeks ago I actually saw a homemade feral villa on a neighbor’s front porch.

It’s perfect! Does this person TNR, or have feral cats in their yard? I found out yesterday when I ran by and she was sitting on her stoop reading to her kids. It turns out this neighbor used to have a feral kitten living on their block, but the kitten didn’t make it through the winter. Since then she has not seen many more cats but they kept the villa just in case. I’m so happy to have found one more neighbor that wants to help the cats in their yard.

This is Caesar.

Hey ladies, check out my eartip.

Caesar is so friendly that when I came to pick him up at the clinic, I was able to drop him into a carrier immediately. I have terrible technique handling cats – if they don’t want to go into a carrier or a room or wherever, I don’t know how to make them. There are scruffing techniques, etc, but I usually leave that to other people.

Caesar is also FIV+. This is not surprising as he is an outdoor tom cat who fights for food and mates. FIV, feline immunodeficiency virus, can be transmitted from cat to cat through deep bite wounds, and fighting cats like to bite each other on their haunches. FIV is not a death sentence. FIV+ cats can live a long life, especially if they are well-cared for.

Caesar is now admitted to PAWS Chicago, which has an FIV+ feline adoption room. If you want to learn more on how to adopt out cats like Caesar, check out PAWS’ adoption page. The cats that are FIV+ or have other special needs are marked with a red heart. Chicago is lucky to have an organization like PAWS to adopt out these cats.

Joe lives across the street from my sister in Florida. He’s an indoor/outdoor cat like many other pets here. Every once in awhile Joe’s owner leaves the state for weeks at a time and rents out her house. She leaves Joe behind outside and he sticks around because my sister and her neighbors give Joe food when he comes around. He’s well-fed enough to be picky, as he prefers Fancy Feast. This time around Joe’s owner came to my sister’s house and dropped off food for him while she’s gone. Joe found me right away – here he is waiting for his Fancy Feast. It’s not an ideal situation, especially if something happens to Joe in the meantime, but he seems pretty content. He’s also neutered, so that helps him stay out of trouble, or making trouble for someone else’s cat.

How you doing? Wanna take the boat out?