PATRON SAINTS

St. Basil- Patron Saint of the Roadkilled

Basil was one of many cats in Otis’s flock that had been captured by an unknown person, neutered and then abandoned back into the wilderness. The tip of his left ear had been cut off so that he would be recognized in the future as a cat that had been neutered. While the surgery prevented him from reproducing, it did nothing to protect him from the dangers of the world. After being run over by a car, he dragged himself beneath the low-hanging branches of a cedar tree at the side of the road and died.

Saint Basil reminds cat guardians that their feline charges, including those that are feral, should never be allowed to roam freely, crossing roads and putting themselves in great danger. Saint Basil watches over those who keep cats safely confined in enclosures or through the use of a leash and harness when they are outdoors. He also watches over cats that are allowed to roam freely and cross roads. He cannot protect these cats from cars, but he can at least be with them when they are hit so they do not die alone and afraid as he did.

St. Big Boy- Patron Saint of Neutering

Big Boy is believed to have been the father of Otis. He was a feral, FIV positive, unaltered tom that likely sired many kittens before he was saved from his shadowy existence.

Saint Big Boy watches over those who are diligent about neutering all of their male companion animals. He blesses all who adopt animals rather than buying them from breeders, and reminds all insecure men that neutering your animals does not make you less of a man, it makes you a better man.

St. Big Smoky- Patron Saint of Suffering

Big Smoky was a large, unneutered feral tom that suffered a seemingly endless array of injuries, illnesses and other hardships. He would appear bearing horrendous wounds from fighting with other cats. He often had severe gastrointestinal issues, apparent tooth infections, upper respiratory issues and sometimes approached starvation when injuries or illness prevented him from eating. His life was full of fear and pain, but he would not enter a trap and could not be captured. He disappeared forever after last being seen with severe case of diarrhea and looking very weak and emaciated.

Saint Big Smoky watches over those that actively work to end the suffering of stray and feral cats. He reminds all that the life of an uncontained feral cat is one of hardship and pain, filled with injuries, illness and constant fear. He gives strength to those who attempt to see beyond their own fear of death to find what will truly be the most humane way to help feral cats that they encounter. He also reminds all that a feral domestic cat is not the same thing as a wild animal, and it does not have the skills, immune system or instincts needed to survive the dangers of a wild world.

St. Bootsie- Patron Saint of the Innocent

Bootsie was truly an innocent soul. Like all feral cats, she was terrified of humans but utterly dependent on them for survival. Many people that are frustrated with the impact free-roaming cats have on their yards or the natural world begin to blame the cats for the problem. In reality, the cats are not the ones who are at fault. Instead, they are the victims in this equation.

Saint Bootsie’s innocent face is a constant reminder of the fact that it is human choice, not cat choice that is responsible for the impacts of free-roaming cats. Saint Bootsie lends her strength to all humans that attempt to right the wrongs that have been done to these innocent feline victims by bringing them in from the wilderness and either placing them in appropriate, protective confines or humanely ending their suffering.

St. Oscar- Patron Saint of Hopefulness

Oscar was a puzzling, unaltered tomcat that seemed to ride the line between a feral cat and a cat whose trust could be gained. Although he was never ultimately able to make the full transition to the life of an indoor companion animal, he always seemed to have a spark of hope within him that a better life was waiting just on the other side of his fear.

Saint Oscar lends support to those who have been working with cats against what are seemingly impossible odds. He encourages them to hold on to that glimmer of hope that all cats can be brought in from the shadows to a place where their suffering will be alleviated.

St. Claude- Patron Saint of the Fearful

Claude was an unaltered tom that was likely a brother of Otis. He was never able to overcome his fear in the way Otis did, and he always ran at the first glimpse of humans. He eventually disappeared entirely.

Saint Claude watches over people that are coping with fears that may be preventing them from lending a hand to abandoned cats in their neighborhood. Perhaps the fear is of becoming attached to a cat that may never be tamed. Perhaps it is the fear of having to make the choice to euthanize an animal. Or perhaps it is simply the fear of becoming overwhelmed. Saint Claude gives strength to those who actively face those fears and act in spite of them.

St. Clyde- Patron Saint of the Saved

Clyde was originally known as “Goldie” because of his striking, golden eyes. Although he was afraid, he quickly overcame that fear and was allowing people to pet him and pick him up soon after he was discovered. He was taken to a shelter, neutered, and adopted out to a loving family. During his transition from the uncontained wild to the kitty promised land, he was given a new name. His “saved” name- Clyde.

Saint Clyde watches over those who seek out lost kitty souls that are just waiting to come in from the wilderness. He helps them quickly recognize the potential in these cats and gain their trust. He then watches over the cats as they transition from a world of fear and danger to one of love and protection.

St. Gilbert- Patron Saint of the Lost

Gilbert was a uniquely patterned tabby tom that was seen less than half-a-dozen times. He was so fearful that he would run far away at the merest glimpse of humans and would not return for many days. As with so many feral cats, his fate is unknown. He was truly a lost and suffering soul that could not be reached.

Saint Gilbert watches over cats that are paralyzed by fear. He attempts to give them strength to overcome the fear that he himself was unable to conquer. He also lends support to humans that are trying their hardest to gain the trust of cats that are fearful.

St. Inky and St. Inky 2- Patron Saints of the Black Cats

Inky and Inky 2 were believed to be one cat until they showed up in Otis’s yard together one day. One of them was eventually captured and taken to a shelter, but the other simply disappeared. Black cats have long been mistreated and abused simply because of their color. A lot of negative mythology surrounds the black cat, and they are disproportionately targeted for cruelty by people, especially around Halloween. Black cats also have a more difficult time getting adopted than other cats.

Saints Inky and Inky 2 watch over black cats and attempt to keep them safe from harm. They also help people that are searching for a companion animal at the shelter to see beyond the cat’s fur color and see the special individuals within.

St. MJ- Patron Saint of Spaying

MJ is believed to have been Otis’s mother, as well as the mother of many of the Patron Saints. She was a trap-shy, unaltered female that was suffering due to the effects of repeated pregnancies. After being seen with a greatly distended, clearly pregnant belly she disappeared for several days. When she returned for food, she was no longer pregnant and she was having difficulty using her hind legs. Unfortunately she could still move well enough to avoid capture. Her condition seemed to improve slightly over the course of a week, and then she disappeared again never to return.

MJ’s story reminds us of the vital importance of spaying all of our female companion animals. She undoubtedly created many litters of kittens during her short, painful life, and although some of those kittens were saved, most went on to live the same kind of life as their mother. There are currently far more house cats in the world than there are homes in which to place them. Allowing your pets to breed only adds to this problem and increases the likelihood of animals either being euthanized or ending up on the streets. Saint MJ watches over all pet guardians that make the responsible, caring choice to have their female pets spayed.

St. Marvie- Patron Saint of Forgiveness

Marvie was believed to have been Otis’s sister. That knowledge makes her story an even more difficult one to tell. At some point in Marvie’s first or second year of life, she was live-trapped, spayed, the tip of her right ear was cut off and she was abandoned back into the outdoors. It is questionable whether or not the person responsible for this even provided food for her after the fact as Marvie was frequently spotted in Otis’s backyard, hungry and in need of a meal. Understandably, she was extremely distrustful of people and would not go near a live trap. Eventually, when the rest of Otis’s flock had either been captured or disappeared, Marvie began to warm to the Guardians of Otis. Through 6 months of patient work, she progressed all the way to the point where she would allow herself to be pet for short periods of time. Just as it looked as if she would be able to make the transition to living indoors with Otis and his family, she disappeared. She reappeared a week later with signs of a severe respiratory infection. In her weakened state she was again terrified of people and could not be approached or captured to accept aid. She slowly wasted away for 5 days until she was weak enough to be captured. By then the only help that she could be given was a humane release from her suffering.

Saint Marvie’s eventual trust of the Guardians of Otis demonstrated the enormous capacity she had for forgiveness. She had been badly betrayed by humans in her past, but in time she was able to face her fears and lower her guard enough to make a connection with people who cared deeply about her. It is very likely that, had she been worked with earlier in her life when she was first trapped, Marvie could have made the transition to life in a loving family just as Otis had. Even in spite of the pain of her past, she was well on her way to making that transition when disease took her. Saint Marvie watches over cats who have been wrongly identified as ferals and trapped, altered and released. She tries to give them the courage to face their fears and seek out humans who will recognize their plight and bring them in from the shadows. She also gives strength and patience to humans that are trying to reach these cats, and she attempts to give them comfort if they are unable to reach them or if they lose them.

St. Mr. Man- Patron Saint of the FIV Positive

Mr. Man was a large, unaltered tom that was constantly fighting with other cats. He was also constantly showing signs of illness, and his health was slowly deteriorating. Fortunately, he entered a live trap and was captured. Completely feral, in poor health and FIV positive, Mr. Man’s suffering was ended through humane euthanasia.

Saint Mr. Man watches over cats who are living with FIV. If they are feral, he attempts to give them the courage to enter a trap so they can find release from their suffering as well as eliminate the chance that they will spread the disease to others. For FIV positive cats with guardians, Saint Mr. Man attempts to help these animals stave off infections and stay in good health.

St. Pumpkin- Patron Saint of the Disappeared

Pumpkin was a petite, light-gray tabby with a bulls-eye pattern. Her story is similar to that of many feral, stray or otherwise outdoor cats. One day she was around, the next she was gone, never to be seen again. Her fate is unknown. She simply disappeared.

Saint Pumpkin gives strength to those who are feeling torn about not letting their cats have unfettered access to the unprotected out-of-doors. She is a reminder of what very commonly happens with uncontained cats. She attempts to comfort the families of cats who have disappeared, while at the same time making sure that they do not forget their pain so they do not make the same mistake with cats under their guardianship in the future.

St. Shadow- Patron Saint of Shadow Cats

As his name suggests, Shadow was usually only seen as a dark figure retreating from the gaze of humans. Like all feral cats, he lived in the shadowy world between wildness and domesticity, doomed to exist in the former but longing for the latter. His life consisted of terrified moments with only brief respite as he rapidly devoured human-supplied food. When he did meet the gaze of a human, there was a moment’s pause in which his painful, torn-between-worlds experience was clearly visible on his face, and then he would run. He would approach no trap, nor would he trust any human hand. A human choice sometime in the past banished him to a lifetime in the shadows.

Shadow watches over all cats that are living in the shadows. He attempts to give them courage to accept the help of those that are attempting to bring them to the light. He also gives courage to all those that attempt to bring feral cats in from the wilderness, shining light on their plight and ensuring that they do not have to suffer any longer than is absolutely necessary.

St. Snowshoe- Patron Saint of the Neglected

Snowshoe was a cat that was under someone’s guardianship that was not doing a very good job keeping him safe. He showed up in Otis’s yard wearing a small dog collar with no identification. He climbed a tree and then began crying because he did not know how to get back down. One of Otis’s guardians climbed the tree and rescued Snowshoe who clung gratefully to his rescuer’s shoulder on the way back down to the ground. A note was then attached to Snowshoe’s collar that said, “Please keep your cat inside. We just rescued him from a tree and it is not safe outside for him.” Two weeks later Snowshoe showed up again. The note was still attached to his collar. Otis’s guardians took Snowshoe to the shelter where he was scanned for a microchip to try to identify who his guardian was. He had none. His dog collar was removed and replaced with an appropriate cat collar. He was then adopted out to a new, loving family.

Saint Snowshoe watches over cats that are being ignored or neglected by their guardians and allowed to roam free outdoors. He especially watches over those that find themselves trapped up in a tree without the courage to come down. He tries to steer tree climbers to yards in which caring people can be found to help them. He also gives people the strength to take cats in to the shelter if they have collars with no identification on them and they appear to be abandoned or neglected.

St. Spot- Patron Saint of the Compassionate Act

Spot was a young, unaltered tom that was likely a second or third generation feral. He was completely terrified of people but could not survive without the food that they offered. If left completely to his own devices he likely would have died of starvation, disease, being hit by a car or some other very unpleasant event. If he had been trapped, neutered and returned he would have had to suffer the terror of capture, the fear associated with being in an unfamiliar, human-dominated environment, the trauma and disorientation of being anesthetized, the confusion of waking up with post-surgery pain, and the shock of being released back out into the world before his surgery site had even healed. Once again abandoned in a world with no protection he would have then suffered the same fate (death by disease, starvation, being hit by a car, or other) that he would have before all of this was done to him. His ability to reproduce would have been eliminated, but his ability to suffer the pain and anguish of his shadowy existence would have still been intact. This was not to be his fate. Spot was captured, taken to a shelter and humanely euthanized. Both his reproductive potential and his potential for suffering were eliminated by a compassionate act.

Saint Spot reminds those that are working to end the tragedy of feral cats that humane euthanasia really is a compassionate course of action for these suffering souls. While we may be able to rationalize releasing cats by saying things like, “anything is better than death…,” this is not necessarily true. All cats will eventually die. Feral cats will most likely die a prolonged or gruesome death that we would never wish on any animal. If they have been trapped, altered and returned, they will likely not go into a trap again. This means that if they are seen to be suffering at some point in the future, you will not have the opportunity to make sure that the suffering does not go on any longer than it has to. But more likely than not, you won’t see their suffering. Like most ferals, they will die alone. If you make the compassionate choice when the animal is first captured, you can ensure that their life ends with dignity, and without prolonged suffering. Saint Spot attempts to give people the strength to make that compassionate, selfless choice in spite of the emotional pain they may feel as a result.

St. Starvin’ Marvin- Patron Saint of the Hungry

Starvin’ Marvin was a young, skinny, feral tom that could not seem to get enough to eat. He likely had a heavy parasite load and was always hungry. He would take the biggest bites of food that he possibly could and then struggle to chew it and swallow it as fast as he could. He came regularly to Otis’s yard for several weeks but was never captured. Eventually he stopped coming and was never seen again.

Saint Starvin’ Marvin watches over cats that are struggling to find food. He also supports people who provide these cats food in a responsible way that does not begin to cause problems with wildlife, in conjunction with attempting to capture the cats and bring them in from the shadows.