For the past several weeks, my human has been snatching up cat toys — some came from cat shows, some came from pet stores. She mostly got small toys so she could buy lots, but she also got a couple of cool wand toys because she knows how much kitties love them. She also included some sample bags of Zuke’s G-Zees cat treats — the human who was in charge of the Zukes booth at MeowWorld gave her a bunch when she was breaking down the display at the end of the conference.
Boodie helped me do quality control. No, she did not eat any treats she was not supposed to!
As you can see, this bag of toys and treats was meant for good kitties only! But that was okay, because all the cats at the place my human was going to are good kitties.
So where did my human take this awesome bag? To Kitten Rescue! Kitten Rescue was founded in 1997, and it is now one of the biggest rescues in Los Angeles. Every year they find homes for around 1,000 cats and kittens. Most of these live in foster homes, but there is also a facility that is not far from where we live. There is room for about 150 cats and kittens there. Some are cats that people board while they’re out of town (boarding fees go to help pay sanctuary expenses), but mostly there are free-roaming cats who don’t have fosters and who are looking for homes. These are kitties who don’t really get to have Christmas (or Hanukkah) unless someone brings it to them. Which is where my human came in.
One tuxedo kitty got a little bit too excited about the bag of toys and treats! But before she visited the main area where the adult cats were, my human stopped by the kitten room. There were only a couple at the moment, but they were very cute!
This is Serenity
This is Bane. The two of them were a lot of fun and my human spent time playing with them and tossing toys around. But they, and the other kittens that spend time in the kitten room get lots of toys because there’s a kitten cam, and they get lots of fans. My human wanted to visit with the adult kitties because she felt they needed the attention and toys more. And she was right.
There was a lot of excitement the moment my human walked in with the bag. I mean, it’s a bag — how could that not be exciting to a kitty?
Some kitties need some encouragement to join in on the fun.
Some dove right in!
The buildings that house the cats are divided into different sections. One area that was partitioned off was for the cats who were less well socialized. But that doesn’t mean they did not want to play! In fact, my human remembers how she bonded with Boodie (who did not like humans much at first) by playing, so she stepped right in with some toys and one of the wand toys.
They had a great time.
Of course there is always one cat that has to try and steal the toy.
In fact, this guy got so happy, he jumped on the beams and started poking my human on the head.
Kittens are cute and it is very easy to play with them because they are so energetic. But it is the adult cats, especially the shy ones and the ones who are not sure of people who need playtime with humans. This kind of enrichment is good for them because they don’t have to get up too close to humans they don’t know well — but at the same time they realize that humans do good things for them, and give them nice things.
Grown up cats like playing (so do grown-up humans, even if they won’t admit it sometimes), and they are grateful when you are willing to have fun with them.
Look at these faces — don’t you think they deserve homes for the holidays?
My human was so happy she did this! I hope you are inspired to go play with some kitties at your local rescue too, especially the adult kitties. Even if you don’t have room in your house for another cat, you can still bring joy into the lives of some at your local rescue!
2022 Somali Cat Calendar Starring Summer Samba
See all of Summer’s merch at her her Zazzle Designercat Shop
What a wonderful thing for your human to do, Summer! Thank you and her for organizing the Santa Kitty Toy Hop. We took our gifts to PAWS on Saturday, and had a most wonderful time spreading from cheer amonh the kitties. Hugs!
All those kitties big and small are so beautiful! We are happy they were able to spend some time playing with your human , Summer. Our human gives toys and blankets and other things to two rescues here in Vancouver. She always leaves fervently hoping the kitties finding shelter therein, will soon find the love and homes they so richly deserve.
the critters in the cottage xo
Mum is so excited she is doing our blog post right now for the 18th of December she is getting some cool toys, not as many as you because its a tiny rescue but we will have pictures!!!
Phoebe
So wonderful!!! It looks like your human and the kitties all had a wonderful time. We are sure they appreciated the attention and the toys. We will be sharing about our visit to our favorite rescue for the Santa Kitty Toy Hop tomorrow!
Thank you for all you do Summer!!
Your TX furiends,
This is such a big deal Summer. Purrs for you and your human for hosting the hop. It taught us that giving to the local public kill shelter is a very good thing to do
This is such a wonderful idea. And look at those kitties! They look so happy:)
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
Summer, your Human rocks! What an awesome post, we loved seeing all the pics of the kitties and what a loot she took them, very cool! Wishing them all safe, loving forever homes.
That was one wonderful post – and a fantastic concept. Thank you so much for creating this blog hop. We hope this is its inaugural year, too!!!
Tell your Mom thanks so much for sharing all the great pictures! Us adult kitties do love to play! Hope some of those wonderful kitties find furrever homes soon!
Luvs
Marty
This is so wonderful. Lots of happy kitties.
you’re right Summer those kitties do deserve homes and I hope that Santa helps them out ,xx SPeedy
The all-white kitty looks SO much like our Miss Pea did as a kitten!
What a neato thing to do.
Thanks for doing this, Summer and your Mom!
A while back…before blogging, meowmy brought over a cat tree, and a lounger with a brush on it…none of our kitties liked it, MOL! She always brings food if she goes there, and they also crave cleaning supplies.
How wonderful of you to get some toys for the shelter kitties. All the kitties are gorgeous, but the white one really caught our eye.
What a wonderful idea! Your human is so nice, Summer. We think she’s pretty cool!
That is fantastic! All the kitties look so happy. How nice of yor human to gather all those great gifts and for you to promote this drive.
Ok as I read this and scrolled through the photos all I could do was say woo and arr and oh so cute
That is so heart warming to see those kitties enjoying playing. Me and mum have put together several boxes of cat food and I have donated some of my gently played with toys. They will go to a local very small rescue group near to us.
Love to see them having so much fun! Such a great idea!
Glad your human got to play with the cat’s at the shelter 🙂
My mom-person will leave our bag at our local Cat shelter next week.
XOXO
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these photos! Loved seeing the senior kitties get the chance to sniff the toys and play. Our mom still wishes there was a Home for the Holiday thing at her shelter for kitties, not just for the dogs. So many dogs are adopted at this time of year because of that. Just think of how many cats might find a home if there was! Purrs….
Those are very beautiful cats – how could they not have fur-ever homes? Your terrific human is, well, terrific.. Good job everyone!
WOW, Summer! What an amazing and wonderful visit that must have been! I could watch the Kitten Cam all day long, but adult cats really have my heart.
Watch out for those orange guys. 😉
Oh those lucky kitties. That was so wonderful of your human. The publicist really wished she could go to AniMeals but it just didn’t work out but at least we sent good stuff.
Summer this is such a wonderful post …give your human a hug from us
Madi your bfff and Mom
We are so glad that your human spent time with the shy kitties. It is very good for them to associate humans with good things so they can begin to trust them.
Our mom always visits the adult kitties, especially the seniors, at Cat Care. Hers says those are the kitties who need the most love. 🙂
I love kitten rescue (I’m a volunteer there) I love going in to the rooms to see the shy kitties. Your human made some kitties very happy!
That was a really pawsome thing your human did…..visiting the cats is so rewarding for her AND for them – and playing Santa Paws like that in a shelter is THE BEST. Blessings to your human for making the holidays a lot brighter for those kitties and we hope there are some forever homes for them just in time for Christmas!!
Hugs, Sammy
It is so great to see the kitties playing! I wish I could see pics of the Call 4 Paws kitties with my donations but Linda doesn’t have time for that. The one time TW brought a wand toy out for the Maple kits, they were scared of it. Oh, I fleshed my post out and added the Blog Hop Linky to it. High paw!
What a wonderful thing your human has done. We love the pictures of the adult kitties playing with the toys. Thank you on behalf of all those cats and kittens at Kitten Rescue.
how nice of your human to stick around and play with the kitties, I’m sure they really appreciated it.
What a wonderful thing your Mom did. We hope all these beautiful kittehs get their Forever Homes very soon.
This is a pawsome idea – thanks for thinking of it. Ours is up!
That is so wonderful that your human brought Christmas cheer to those kitties!
How wonderful your Mom went and spent time with those kitties and brought all those toys. Hoping they all find their forever homes soon.
This is so fantastic. You made those sweet babies SO happy. I sure hope this becomes an annual event!
looks like your human and those kitties had a great time with the new toys….
We have been inspired………….. now for the human to take pictures and do a post. It would be so nice if we didn’t have to depend on humans for everything. Between naps and meal times we could get so much more accomplished if we didn’t need their help.
That is such a wonderful thing to do. We know those kitties enjoyed all those toys. Our Mom is scared to go to the shelter here because the cats etc. get put to sleep in a day or two. She knows she would have to bring them all home. We don’t have a no kill shelter here which is too bad. But Summer that was such a nice thing for you and your sisters to do.
What a lovely thing to do! These kitties clearly had a ball!
Purrs,
The Chans
that was a very nice thing for your human to do. I hope all those kitties find good homes over the next year.
Pawsome! We know those kitties will have so much fun with those toys for days to come.
That is just the most wonderful thing pretty Summer and we just love seeing them enjoy some happy times!
Awww what fun! A few years ago when I went to Kitty City with toys it was so fun watching them play as you did! This year, because Michigan Humane was collecting donations at the Expo, I didn’t get to see the kitties in action. Thanks so much for creating this fun event!! Hope it will take place every year!! xoxo
I’m glad you were able to spend time with the cats as well as giving them nice toys and treats. Reminding them that humans are kind and loving helps cats become comfortable around people. And that leads to more adoptions. Yeah!
xxoo
I’m commenting out of context but ever since I read about your human’s boyfriend calling you kitties sandbags, MY mom laughed then and still does. She says that is a right on description and she’ll not soon forget it as a description!
We hadn’t the pleasure to see our furriends play with the toys, but we’re sure they enjoyed it as much as yours ! Purrs
So cool!!! Looks like those sweeties are loving it!!
What sweet kitties!
We can see how much they enjoyed the toys.
Bet your human had lots of fun too 🙂
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ