[To be imagined in the voice of Keith Morrison from Dateline]

It’s the stuff that dreams are made of: a cat of privilege, raised in a comfortable home in urban Oklahoma. A clean litter box every day, fresh catio air, and a caring family. But things don’t always go the way a loving mother or father might hope for their feline children.

This is the story of three different cats. Cats that had the right upbringing, the right environment, and the right dreams. Squandered opportunities and poor choices, each culminating in a lesson we should all bear in mind. ​

These are the lessons we all must heed, lest we find ourselves caught up in the wrong clowder.

He had humble beginnings. One of a ragtag group of foster children, brought into the child welfare program at a very young age. Brock, or "Brockstar" as he became known as an adolescent, was not your average cool cat.

​Handsome, rugged, with a thick undercoat that made him impervious to insult or hardship. His family describes him as confident and at times caring, but he was always one to add a little "bite" to his affections. "He was always so fluffy, so cottony, but... then he'd lay next to your arm and before you knew it, CHOMP, he had his teeth on your skin," his adoptive mother said.

Oh no... his humble beginnings did not result in a humble feline. He knew his good looks and charm could take him places that few could imagine.​

Before anyone realized what was happening with this fine fellow, he had become mixed up in the wrong crowd, the kind of cats that you just don't want to bring home to meet your momma.

And with his slightly cross-eyed charm and beefy size, his friends looked up to him as a natural leader. But where he was leading them... that's not where you want your kittens to go.

He discovered catnip at a young age. Likely inadvertently given to him in a package delivered from the pet food store, he took to it immediately. Rolling around in the nip, getting it in his fur. Yes, he was hooked the moment he found it.​

Before long, the short nights and the long days of travel began to catch up with him. And so did the federal authorities.  Court and law enforcement documents we've discovered found that for years, the FBI and local police were investigating him for wrongdoing.

But at each turn he was able to dodge the law man.​

One day, according to his friends and family, he woke up and realized what was happening - what his life was destined to become. And he didn't find it pretty.  "We were so worried about him," his Humom told us. "We always hoped that the good cat inside of him would help him find his way back to us."

Brockstar, that same cool cat that was seen leaving Opurrah's house in the wee hours of the morning, sneaking into the back door of the Late Late Show to have private meetings with Craig Furrguson, yes, he had decided to turn a corner in his life.

Now a devoted pastafarian, he has completely given up his old habits, his old ways. Today, he can be seen visiting with inner city kitties and sharing his experience with them, helping to keep them from wandering down the wrong, dark path. He volunteers his time to work with other foster kittens. He knows that life. And he knows how to help them stay out of the dank corners of Catnip Alley.​

Next in our series, we follow Brock's sister, Molly - forced to raise her siblings from the time she herself was a child.  Kittens raising kittens, in Part 2 of our exposé.

There are dog people. There are cat people. And nary the twain shall meet. …right?

This may come as a shock to some that know me only as Sauerkraut’s Pops, but before the days of our favorite little sourpuss, I was a Dog Person. That’s right, with a capital D and capital P. A dyed-in-the-wool canine fanatic. A paid member, and at times perhaps officer of the board of directors, of the Cat Skeptics Club of America.

So how did I get from *there* to *here*??

As I was growing up, we had family dogs. The first one I remember was a poodle named Caesar. He wasn’t necessarily the friendliest dog, especially to my mom when he’d been sleeping with my dad on my parents’ bed for a few hours and was plenty comfortable right where he was, thank you very much. But he was the family dog, and us kids loved him.

After Caesar, we had Brandy, the golden retriever that everyone loved. She went from adorable, playful, fluffy puppy to loving adult to cherished old family dog. When I was in college and would head home for the weekend, I would tell my classmates, “I’m goin’ to see my dog for the weekend! …and my family will be there too, I guess.”

We temporarily had one cat when I was in high school, a white cat named Cleo, and she was (in my memory anyway) not the friendliest cat. Being an early riser, I was almost always the first person out of bed, and each day Cleo would greet me by dashing out from some hiding place, implanting as many claws as possible into my legs, and then rocketing away. Having no experience or understanding, I was just as happy when she found her forever home and left my poor legs alone.

When I became an adult, my first pets were a pug named Harriet, and my mutt Tigger. They were both a mess. Harriet was a diabetic, cancer-surviving tub who lost one eye to an infection, and Tigger was a skinny shelter dog that had to have one-on-one training before we could even get him to stop eating raw pork chops off the kitchen counter. I absolutely could not have loved them more if you had paid me to.

So how did I make the move?  Dog lovers will ask… Pops, what *happened* to you?!

When I met Humom about eight years ago, she had a dog, who is still with us, named Winston. She somewhat jokingly tells people (though I’m convinced it’s not a joke) that the only reason she married me is because Winston liked me. He didn’t take too kindly to men, but I somehow passed muster.

Soon after we got married, she said, “You know, I think I wanna start fostering cats again.”  My reaction - literally - was, “Fine. As long as I don’t have to touch them.”

And then the kittens came home. Our first group of foster kittens were very, very small - four tiny bottle babies. One was quite sick when we got them. It took Humom’s days and many sleepless nights to try and keep them alive and healthy, and despite heroic efforts, we lost one of them to illness.

In that brief time, I had somehow become attached to these little kittens. Upon reflection, I think there were several factors. First, it was the independence they showed, even as tiny kittens. Second, their fierce curiosity and zest for life. Third, their deep pools of intelligence. Fourth, their soulfulness - it’s like you could look into their eyes and see the universe swimming inside.

As I became more familiar with these kittens, and later with many other cats and kittens that have passed through our home, I learned how to speak with them - through the slow blinking and head-bumping; how and where to pet them; and how to play with them.  

When we lost that tiny kitten in that first group of fosters, we decided to name him before we buried him in our yard. Humom chose “Jack” after the Leonardo DiCaprio character in Titanic, who also died tragically young. We decided to name the other fosters after other characters in the movie: the studly oceanographer played by Bill Paxton; the feisty busybody played by Kathy Bates; the aloof boyfriend played by Billy Zane.  That’s right… Brock, Molly, and Cal.

I was hooked by cats. Their mystique, their charm, their playful inventiveness, and their aloof and stubborn nature. I found it a delightful challenge at times, and a comfort and joy at others. Dogs are simple: get excited, and for even no reason they will celebrate with you; if you’re sad, they will grieve with you. But to get a cat to sit with you, celebrate with you, even something as simple as eat what you’ve served them.. THAT takes dedication and know-how.

I am a convert. I love cats. By the time Sauerkraut came along, I was already convinced. And she has cemented my love of felines for all time.  I do still love dogs and their goofy nature.

Can it be that there are actually people in this world who are dog AND cat people?  I certainly hope so, because I count myself as one of them. And I couldn’t be happier about it.

Hi. It’s Sauerkraut here.  I’m forced to write the Blog this week because Pops is busy.

“Busy.”

Is he busy cleaning and organizing my closet? No.

Is he occupied with making me homemade treats? Not a chance.

Is Pops out finding new cute outfits for me?  Nuh uh.

Perhaps he is making plans for some upcoming Meet & Greet?  Nah.

Pops is…

…get ready for it…

…petting strangers.

These are two of the cats in our Foster Room right now.

But because I am me, Pops, I will forgive you.  After all, you and Humom are sharing our home with them, feeding them, caring for them, giving them the care they need, and preparing them for Forever Homes.

At least they’re not *gulp* DOGS.

A few weeks ago, we were fortunate enough to be the guests of the Central Oklahoma Humane Society at the Internet Cat Video Festival! It was an amazing evening. The weather was perfect, the people that stopped by the meet us were friendly and relaxed, and the Myriad Gardens were full of people just like us: crazy cat folks. What more could we ask for?

The very next weekend after the CatVidFest, we were invited to the Cat Connection in Dallas, TX for their first Cat Café, with proceeds benefitting Operation Kindness.  Sauerkraut was supposed to make an appearance from 1:00-3:00, but we got there early, and people were anxious to meet her, so she began her Meet & Greet at about 11:45, and the line to meet her didn’t slow down until about 4:15! Everyone there was so relaxed and pleasant and interested in just hanging out with Sauerkraut in her private room, and with the other cats that were in the Café.

Our next big event is this weekend. On Saturday, August 22, Sauerkraut is the celebrikitty at the Pet Expo in Oklahoma City!  She will be making three appearances, at 11:30, 1:30, and 4:30. Humom will be speaking on the stage at the Expo, talking about Sauerkraut’s story, her medical conditions and care, and our mission of raising awareness around special needs adoptions and fostering/volunteering. And of course, we’ll have Sauerkraut swag for sale!

If you have some time this weekend and you’re in the area, come meet Sauerkraut - it’s free to meet her, so come take a selfie with her!

Some of you were interested in getting to know Sauerkraut a little better, so here are 10 questions for the little stinker.

1. Who is your favorite musician?

   Sauerkraut: Kitty Perry.
   Pops: Don't you mean Katy Perry?
   S: No, Kitty Perry.  You know, she does the song *Roar*, which is of course about cats, so... And anyway, who the heck is KATY Perry?

2. What is your favorite food?

   S: I'd say.... whatever you have in that bowl right there.
   P: It's ice cream. You can't have that.
   S: Wanna bet?  Just look away.
   P: Other than what I have, what's your favorite food?
   S: Whatever Humom has over there in *that* bowl.

3. Who is your favorite TV or Movie star?

   S: That's easy. Judge Judy. She's my spirit sister.  You've seen the picture, right?

4. What is your favorite pastime?

   S: Sitting out on the Catio probably provides the most entertainment, relaxation, and stimulation. Although I must admit I do like taking a good long nap.

5. Who is your hero?

   S: I have a lot of cats I look up to.  Lil Bub and The Dude for their generosity and dedication to animal welfare.  The Central Oklahoma Humane Society for saving me from the city shelter, and for all they do for animals in our state. And Humom for taking me in and making the decision to adopt me.
   P: Uh.... didn't you forget someone? Some man in your life, perhaps?
   S: Forget someone?  .... Oh yes, I did almost forget. Bruce Willis.  His action movies kick some serious booty.  Wish I could be more like him.
   P: But, but... oh, never mind.  Next question!

6. Which of your siblings is your favorite?

   S: My favorite? That's a tough one. I don't necessarily have a favorite; they each have their own upside and downside. Molly is fun to chase, but she's as fast as me so she sometimes catches me which isn't ideal. Cal is funny, but he has a shoe fetish which is a little weird. The dogs... they're not my favorites because they kinda look like cats but don't really act like it at all. So if I have to pick one I'd have to say Brock. Humom calls Brockstar a big meatloaf, which he is, but he's really soft to lay up against.

7. If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?

   S: Buy a really fast speed boat that shoots flames out of the back and launches fireworks from the front.
   P: Sauerkraut... you can't drive a speedboat. And you're not that crazy about fireworks.
   S: Oh, right. Well then, I'd donate most of it to rescuing animals, and improving the lives of adoptable animals everywhere. I'd set up a fund for people who are caring for special needs pets like myself.  And then I'd take whatever was left and buy a jet ski and paint my face on the side and ride it around and splash old people.

8. What's your best quality?

   S: My best quality is clearly my ability to choose a family. I mean, who could ever ask for more than Pops?  The guy is the BEST. He's AMAZING!
   S: Uhmmm.. Pops?
   P: Yes?
   S: I said, "MY EYES"...
   P: Oh... must've heard you wrong.

9. What's your worst quality? 

   S: My attention span. Are we almost done here?
   P: Almost. One more is all, I promise.

10. Siri tells jokes. Can you tell us a joke?

   S: A man goes to a movie theater and when he sits down, he notices what looks like a cat in the seat next to him. 
   "Are you a cat?" asked the man, surprised. 
   "Yes." 
   "What are you doing at the movies?" 
   The cat replied, "Well, I liked the book." 

We have some exciting news! Sauerkraut will be on the road again, making appearances and raising awareness around special needs adoptions, fostering, animal welfare, and the importance of volunteering.  Here’s where we’ll be in the coming weeks:

Internet Cat Video Festival - Saturday, August 1, 2015, Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City, OK

Appearing from 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Sauerkraut and her Humom and Pops will be at the Central Oklahoma Humane Society booth.  While festivities begin mid-afternoon, the pre-show event begins officially at 7:30 pm, and the movie starts at 9:00.  Come and see us - we’ll have pictures with Sauerkraut, plus she’ll have her swag to sell, including coffee cups, t-shirts, tank tops, and her special Sauerkraut Shizzit Catnip! You can add yourself to the Meet & Greet Facebook Event by clicking on the link here and then click Join.

The Dallas Cat Cafe - Saturday, August 8, 2015, 14233 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX

The Cat Connection is hosting the Dallas Cat Cafe from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, and Sauerkraut will be holding a Meet & Greet from 1:00 - 3:00. Lovecup Coffee will be providing the refreshments, and there will be animals there to adopt courtesy of Operation Kindness.  The Cat Connection published this amazing article on Sauerkraut and her visit to the Lone Star State, so check it out and come see us!


There are a lot of people that have said, “Hey, come to our city! We want you to visit us here!”  While we’d LOVE to be able to travel full-time around the US and abroad with Sauerkraut, raising awareness and spreading feline joy, our full time jobs keep us closer to home most of the time: Pops at his desk job, and Humom taking care of the fosters (we currently have eight in residence that you can watch on the Foster Cam!)

We truly want to travel where we can and when we can, so if you’d like to host a Sauerkraut Meet & Greet with your animal welfare organization or adoption facility, please send us a note and keep in touch with us.  We will keep a list of locations and organizations willing to host us, and if/when we have the time and capability, we’ll let you know.

Thank you for your support and interest!  See you on the wide open road!!

• A sponsoring organization - as I mentioned above, it’s almost required that you have a sponsoring organization to work with. They will help you with resources, medical care, guidance, and will take care of the intake and placement of the animals you foster. It’s technically possible to do it without a sponsor, but they handle so much of the things that would be difficult for an individual, I just can’t imagine going it alone. We have received so much assistance and care and friendship from the Central Oklahoma Humane Society we work with, I couldn’t imagine doing it without them!
• A strong stomach - Because, after all, there are few things stinkier than a kitten. Or a kitten’s litter box.
• Fearlessness - There are many wonderful things about fostering kittens: they are funny, adorable, and spirited. But sometimes you get a foster that can be a challenge, whether it’s illness, aggressiveness, or timidity. It may take everything you have to overcome your own apprehensions to care for it in the calmest and bravest way possible. From time to time, a kitten might not survive. It’s at times like this I want to give up. But to give every kitten the best chance possible for survival and a wonderful life, I need to pull myself up by my bootstraps and carry on!
• Grit - I don’t know how else to say this. Sometimes the hardest thing about fostering kittens is in giving them to their forever home. Humom and I will become especially fond of a foster from time to time, especially if it’s one we’ve had to nurse back to health, or that has some special challenge we’ve helped it through. But each day we can’t take in a foster because our house is full, that’s another day that more kittens are being euthanized because there’s nowhere for them to go. Fostering is absolutely crucial to the rescue process, and although it’s hard to see them go, every time we give up a group of fosters to their forever home means it’s a day we can save another litter. And there’s no better feeling than that.

Fostering is not for everyone.  It does indeed take time, money, fortitude, bravery, and a caring spirit. But if you can, consider making room in your home for a litter. There are few things better than saving the life of another. Like Sauerkraut's. <3

“Pops?”

“Yes, Sauerkraut?”

“What does ‘adopt’ mean?”

“Well, when you adopt something, you choose to take it as your own. For example, let’s say I am talking with my neighbor, and they’re telling me about this new way of growing cucumbers. I decide I like it so much, I start to do it the same way, so I’ve adopted their way of growing cucumbers. 

“It can also mean if something is taken in and made a part of you. Like, if the lawmakers decides they want to make it illegal to turn right on a red light, then the state has adopted a new law.

“Finally, it can mean to make someone a part of your family. You remember Uncle Dan, right? He’s adopted into our family.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks, Pops.”

“No problem, kid.”

“…Hey, Pops?”

“Yes, Sauerkraut?”

“I adopt you.”

❤️

A friend of Sauerkraut’s brought a research article to our attention: Sauerkraut Could Be The Secret to Curing Social Anxiety (Chicago Times Post, 6/10/15)

I thought, “Holy Cow!  An article about how awesome our cat is!”  

Well, if you click the link, you’ll see that it’s not about Sauerkraut Kitty, it’s about Sauerkraut the stinky cabbage dish.  When I saw what the article was really about, the juxtaposition to what I expected made it really funny.

But then I got to thinking about it, and I realized… Sauerkraut really can be the cure to my anxiety.  Maybe I should broaden it to say that animals - our pets, the neighbor’s dog (that you like), the petting zoo, or helping out at the animal shelter - can do so much good for us.

HelpGuide.org summarizes the studies that have analyzed the health benefits of having a dog or cat:

• Dog owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets
• People with dogs have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets. One study even found that when people with borderline hypertension adopted dogs from a shelter, their blood pressure declined significantly within five months
• Playing with a dog or cat can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax
• Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease) than those without pets
• Heart attack patients with dogs survive longer than those without
• Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets

Not to mention, there is a whole class of animals that we so often can’t pet, but so many rely on every day: service animals.  The Delta Society indicates that service animals, from dogs to cats to monkeys and even rats, can assist people with injuries, illness or disabilities including:

• Spinal cord/head trauma from injury or stroke
• Visual or hearing deficits
• Arthritis
• Ataxia/poor balance
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cerebral palsy
• Muscular dystrophy
• Seizure disorders
• Cardio/pulmonary disease
• Psychiatric disabilities

From time to time, when I have to clean the litter boxes ...again... or when I have to take the dogs to the groomer, or go out in the rain to feed our rabbit April, I sometimes think… why do I want all these pets again?  

But then I spend just a few minutes with little Sauerkraut in my arms, and I realize, I would do it all, for even half the benefit and twice the work.  I get so much enjoyment, peace, and entertainment from the cats, the dogs, the kittens we foster, even the rabbit that lives in the back yard, I am positive I would have it no other way.

Social Anxiety, you ain't got nothin' on what a cat can bring you.

It’s the final day of the Sauerkraut Summer “Kraut and About” Road Tour 2015!

The most interesting thing happened this morning: we were driving east along the highways, leaving behind the beautiful red and gold vistas of Utah, and headed toward the deep greens and rich browns of Colorado… and when the RV passed from UT into CO, we totally, completely entered the Twilight Zone.

First, it started to rain.  Then REALLY rain.  Then the GPS suddenly and inexplicably added one hour to the arrival time, even though we’re in the same time zone, so instead of an hour’s grace period, we were cutting it close.  Then Humom got a text, from me… while I was driving (and not texting), that I’d sent over a month ago.  As we were driving through the twisty, up-and-down highways, and you can’t tell if your engine is shifting into high gear because you’re ascending or descending, the rivers seem to flow uphill sometimes.  Then the winds picked up - bad - and the RV was tossed around so much that Sauerkraut’s water bowl spilled.  (It was right above my head, so dribbled down my back.)  Then we went up, up into the mountains and it started snowing.  In June. SNOWING.  It’s bad when the tornado you saw in Utah was the LEAST stressful weather event of the drive!

But we did make it to Fairplay, Colorado!  Today, we were at High Paw Pet Supplies, which hosted our Meet and Greet for Animal Rescue of the Rockies.  It’s also the home of Andre the Giant Cat, and if you don’t know who that gorgeous hunk of cat is, you need to check him out.  He’s, shall we say, a bit bigger than Sauerkraut.

So... this is the last from-the-road Blog Post for the 2015 Kraut and About Tour.  Tomorrow we head back to the Sooner state.  Thank you for being a part of this journey with us!  It’s been an honor, and a lot of fun.  Most importantly, it's been a pleasure to work with so many amazing, fun, dedicated people in each city we’ve visited!