'Loving' Ivie: Huntington Adoptable Pet Of The Week

HUNTINGTON, NY — Ivie, a 5-month-old striped tabby, is the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter's Huntington Pet of the Week.

Ivie was part of a backyard colony in Westbury where she and her siblings were friendly but the mom was not, and the decision was made to TNR the mom, said Debbi Larkin, president of the shelter.

"Ivie and her three siblings were all very timid when they first arrived at the shelter but considering the chaos of trapping them and then separating them from their mom, that is not surprising," Larkin said.

The trio was immediately checked by the shelter's in-house veterinarian and placed in foster care.

Ivie really blossomed in the foster home with the humans, the resident adult cats and the dog, according to Larkin. Ivie is waiting for "her people" to come and give her a forever home.

"She and her siblings entered the shelter in mid-June, and she has had to sit back and watch all of them get adopted while she is left behind…what a terrible feeling that must be," Larkin said. "We were hoping to see her adopted with one of her siblings since they were all so bonded, but we were
willing to settle for a single adoption and that still has not happened."

Although Ivie does not have any striking markings like a lot of the other kittens, she has "such a loving personality," according to Larkin.

Ivie loved to explore her surroundings while in foster care, run loose in the house, sunbathe in the special sunroom and snuggle for afternoon naps. She still loves to explore the much smaller
surroundings in the kitten room and inspects every new toy or cat condo that is placed in the room. She is the official greeter and welcomes all of the new kittens who enter the room. She starts purring the minute someone picks her up, and she loves to be held. She has an excellent appetite and will let her caretakers know when she is hungry, especially for snacks. And there isn’t a toy that she doesn’t like. Her favorite spot in the room is the top of the condo with one her
buddies, Larkin sid.

She would often cuddle on the human laps at night while they were watching TV while in foster care, and she would love to do that in her own future home, Larkin said.

"She zips around the room like a little racehorse and frequently runs out of the room when the door opens…I guess she is trying to make sure she is not overlooked and chosen first by anyone who is in the hallway. She is constantly playing and wrestling with the others and chasing the balls and toys. She plays until she is exhausted and then settles in for a long nap."

Ivie has tested negative for FELV and FIV, has been wormed, tested negative for parasites, has received all of her vaccines, is litter box trained and spayed.

The foster mom fell in love with all of them and while watching TV one night with all of them on the couch with her and her husband, she wrote this little blurb about them, Larkin said:

"I may have found these babies the perfect jobs..employment at City Whiskers Toy Company for cats. They can work in product research checking out the newest cat entertainment products. They can work five hours per day, three days a week with two snack breaks each day for 15 minutes. They will have free pet health care and kitty litter as a bonus for their extraordinary employment efforts. They will be eligible for retirement benefits once they reach the age of seven. And other
benefits include vacationing at CATalina Island and having free medical CAT Scans."

Larkin said that is the sign of a foster mom trying to get potential adopters' attention.

"Since Ivie is the last one of four to be adopted this would be perfect for her!" Larkin said.

If you are interested in meeting Ivie, you may call the shelter at 631-757-4517, email cats@laphuntington.org, visit the Facebook page or visit at the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter.

The rescue is at 3 Verleye Ave., East Northport, and visiting hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

The shelter is also open from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday nights only for those who cannot make it during the daytime hours.

"We are all waiting very patiently for Ivie's family to come into the shelter so she can finally find the happiness and love that she so deserves," Larkin said. "She will reward you with allowing tummy rubs, nose kisses, play time and unlimited cuddle time. She will probably decide that her favorite sleeping place is right next to you on your pillow at night. Won’t you make her kitty dreams come true?"