Black & Orange Cat Foundation (or “B & O”) is named for two very special and very spoiled cats, Butler and Oswald. Butler, the “B” in “B & O” is the black cat in the group, while Oswald, the “O” in “B & O” is our orange feline. Although, we are especially fond of our black and orange cats (and, yes, we love those black and orange tortie mixes, too), we do not just help cats of those colors. We help all cats, no matter their shading.
Both Butler and Oswald were adopted from the Union County Humane Society in Marysville, Ohio. Butler stole our hearts, when, after being released from his cage, he ran up his new mom's arm and perched atop her shoulder.
Oswald, on the other hand, got our attention by screaming his head off until we finally came over and opened his cage door. Whereupon, there was no putting him back inside without suffering permanent hearing loss.
While these two mongrels were adopted from our local shelter, the rest of the cats who have padded into our lives have come looking for us. Like the hobos during the Great Depression who marked “X's” on gates to let other hobos know where a kindly person lived who would give them a meal, these cats seem to have marked our homes to lead other unfortunate felines to our doors.
Stray and abandoned, often very ill or injured, these cats led us to the idea of starting an organization to spay and neuter feral and stray cats in order to decrease the overpopulation problem and help cats who have no other angels looking out for them.
Our February Sweethearts - Mitch and Clayton
You won't find nicer boys than Mitch and Clayton. They are just so happy and practically seem to dance as they run around. They love other cats and every day seems like a new adventure to these two. They never run out of fun things to do.
Clayton is all black. Quite uncommonly, he actually is completely black (this is rare to find)--no white anywhere. Most black cats have some white on them, because during the Witch hunts, a black cat with a tiny touch of white or "God's fingerprint" was considered to possess some goodness. Completely black cats, however, were thought to be evil and were killed.
Clayton is nothing but good! He loves to play with his little fuzzy toys and will carry them around in his mouth like a dog. As he runs with his toy, his tail waves back and forth.
The boys are about a year to a year and a half old. They came to us last winter, very sick and almost dead. Two of their litter mates died from horrible upper respiratory infections and severe diarrhea. These two are doing really well now and are as healthy as can be. We would like to have them stay together since they have been through so much! They are neutered and up-to-date on all vaccines.
Mitch is a bit shy at first, but once he knows you are his friend, he is the sweetest cat alive. He will follow you like a little dog, going everywhere you go. He also loves to make you play with him and his feather toy and will patiently sit beside it until you pick it up and entertain him. He loves to get belly rubs and will come and just sit beside your legs. He and Clayton are very, very special.
If you would like two sweet, sweet kitties, please read more about Mitchie and Clayton on our Petfinder site and then email us an application. You won't find two better cats."
View previous Kitties of the Month in our photo gallery.
Kitten's Kiss From Eldchrist Winery
Eldchrist Kitten's Kiss is made from 100% Lake Erie Traminette grapes. The wine has a light and refreshing citrus flavor balanced with residual sweetness.
Eldchrist Winery will make a donation to the Black & Orange Cat Foundation for every bottle of Kitten’s Kiss sold. Available to buy now at the Eldchrist Winery, Lovejoy's and Old Town Inn.
Learn more about Eldchrist Winery at www.eldchrist.com
"Spay-ghetti" Supper and Photo Contest
Join us for our first ever "Spay-ghetti" Supper being held in conjunction with our friends from the Humane Society of Madison County. The Supper will be on Saturday, February 20 from 5-8 pm at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church's Parish Activity Center located at 670 W. Main Street, behind the fire station. The supper will include: spay-ghetti with or without meatballs, salad, rolls, and a beverage. We will also have desserts available for a donation. We'll have more information as the planning continues, but please save the date: Saturday, FEBRUARY 20.
We are holding this event in honor of "Spay Day," which was originally started by Doris Day and her foundation. Today this is carried out by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Spay Day is held each year on the last Tuesday in February. The HSUS asks groups nationwide to take part in events that focus on education and spay and neuter fundraising activities throughout the month.
Groups that participate in a Spay Day event are eligible to participate in the HSUS' Online Pet Photo Contest. Beginning on January 20th, people can enter photos of their pets in the Spay Day 2010 Online Photo Contest. Each vote costs $1 and the minimum number of votes you can purchase is five. When a person uploads their photo, they can choose Black and Orange Cat Foundation to receive their photo's vote money. The last day to enter the contest is February 26th and the last day to vote for a photo is March 4th.
Additional Details about the photo contest.
Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge
The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge is back, with a new twist to double the chance of success: twice the number of weekly winners! This is a new opportunity for B & O Cats to win grants of $1,000 to $10,000
Help us win! All you have to do is click to help rescued animals, and then vote in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge. Both of these actions are absolutely free!
You can vote once a day, every day, from January 18th through April 18th, 2010. Every time you vote, or tell a friend to vote, you are making a huge difference for us.
BISSELL Most Valuable Pet (MVP) Photo Contest
Black and Orange Cat Foundation could receive a $10,000 donation from BISSELL Homecare Inc.
Please enter your pets in the BISSELL Most Valuable Pet (MVP) Contest. Our friends at BISSELL are accepting pet photos from the public through March 25, 2010. In addition to having your pet featured on BISSELL pet product packaging, the lucky winning pet parents will receive a $500 shopping spree AND a $10,000 donation to the pet cause of their choice. That could be BLACK AND ORANGE CAT FOUNDATION!
Four runners up will also be featured on BISSELL packaging and have donations of $5,000 or $1,000 made to their favorite pet cause. Here is our chance to BE that favorite pet cause.
Please submit a photo of your most valuable pet at mvp.bissell.com and then encourage everyone you know to vote for them. Not only can your pet be named MVP, he or she could be responsible for helping many more pets like them by selecting Black and Orange Cat Foundation as your favorite pet cause. Winners will also receive a BISSELL pet-cleaning product.
Black and Orange Cat Foundation T-Shirts
We have discovered the perfect attire to wear with anything, even a kilt----your very own Black and Orange Cat Foundation t-shirt. You can buy one for $15 or two for $25 and if you send us a picture of yourself wearing the shirt, in combination with any ensemble, we promise to post the photo on our web site. Thanks to Brian for supporting us!!
B & O Cats is enrolled in Kroger's Community Rewards Program. Kroger will distribute up to $1.25 million dollars per quarter to the organizations enrolled in the program. The amount earned will be based on the percentage of spending credited to each organization.
You can help by registering for the program on the Kroger website. You will need your Kroger Plus Card number or phone number to register and must use the card/phone number when making purchases.
The number you will need to use in order to designate your purchases toward The Black and Orange Cat Foundation is 84918
Sign up for the Kroger Community Rewards Program now!
Detailed signup instructions here.
View additional easy ways you can support
Black & Orange Cats!
Shelter Stories - Mutts Comics
To read about Fannie's continued story, search for the cartoons dated April 28 to May 2, 2009 on the Mutts Comics website.
Click comic below to enlarge
MUTTS © PATRICK MCDONNELL. KING FEATURES SYNDICATE