Published: June 13, 2008 11:35 am      

Stray cats content with loving owners

DANVILLE — It’s obvious a couple of cat lovers live at this home.

The signs are everywhere: scratching posts, dozens of toys, a nylon tunnel, bowls of dry food, beds and — the ultimate indulgence — a DVD made specifically for cats to watch.

Diane Valentine and Barb Albers of Danville love their five cats — and the ones who have gone on — and it shows in many ways. All are spayed or neutered, get plenty of attention, are current on shots and go outdoors only under supervision.

All were strays who were lucky to find a home with responsible owners.

“When there are stray cats, they have a lot of health problems,” Valentine said. “A lot of people wouldn’t give them a second chance.”

The two owners, however, nursed the cats through health issues and corrected their behavioral problems.

Here’s a rundown on the feline residents and a couple of special ones who have gone on to kitty heaven:

— Boo, a black cat, joined the household nine years ago. She was a farm cat with a litter of kittens, whom the owner was trying to find homes for. Valentine fell in love with the mother cat, who is about 11 or 12 now.

Boo was lean and sleek then; now, she’s a 12-pound cat who is queen of the household. It took her about two months to adjust to life in the city.

— When Albers moved in, she brought Mercury, a big orange cat who was found on the street as a kitten. He died in February 2006 at age 9.

— Then came Tiger, who was fighting with another cat outside the house in 2006. Albers chased him down, and discovered he had a dislocated hip. Tiger, a gray cat, is about 4 years old.

He has Albers trained: When he gives a high-pitched meow, she comes running to see what he wants. He also has a fascination with water.

“He has such a sweet personality,” Valentine said.

— That same year, Lee showed up. Albers named him General Lee because of his gray coat.

“He fought like a general,” Valentine said. “He was aggressive.”

Albers noticed Lee would calm down when he ate. She thought about the times she would get irritated when she had low blood sugar, and wondered if Lee was going through something similar.

It took awhile before he was diagnosed as a diabetic. Once his blood sugar was under control, he was mellow.

The women gave him medicine and took him to the vet regularly. Then, he was diagnosed with hemolytic anemia, and he was euthanized just last March. He was 5 at the time.

He had been in the women’s lives for only a year and a half, but, Albers said, “We sure did love him.”

— Solomon is another gray cat who showed up about the same time Lee did. He was just under a year old when he came into the house in January 2007.

He had such a majestic bearing that Albers named him after a king.

Solomon was limping, and it turned out, he had had a broken leg that didn’t heal properly. Still, he runs and climbs as if nothing’s wrong.

— Panther, a black female, came to the house last Halloween as a kitten about a year old.

Albers didn’t plan on keeping Panther, but then Diane came out of a room with the cat on her shoulders — and that was that.

Panther isn’t allowed into the play tunnel, which Solomon has claimed as his own, but she has other activities — such as perching on top of the fold-out closet doors.

— Finally, Pumpkin was about 1 year old when the women brought him indoors last March. The yellow cat was sitting outside their living room window.

“He’s the youngest, smallest and biggest bully of them all,” Albers said. “He doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

Pumpkin is a handful, and is very inquisitive. Of all the cats, he’s the only one who watches the cat-sitter video, featuring birds and wildlife.

The five cats keep their owners entertained with their antics.

Originally, the women had planned on keeping only two cats, and finding homes for the others. But the cats won their hearts.

Both advocate spaying and neutering — not only to control the cat population, but because it’s healthier for the animals. Plus, it’s important to take cats to the vet for shots and checkups.

Although both love cats, they want everyone to know there are no vacancies at their home right now.

Valentine is a licensed practical nurse at the Veterans Affairs Illiana Health Care System and Albers works at Meijer in Champaign.

VALENTINO

Valentino is a hound-dog mix whose photo was published on this page last week. To clarify some information about him, the dog is being boarded — not fostered — at River Road Kennel near Bismarck. He’s 5-6 years old and loves people. He’s recovering from heartworm treatment. If you’re interested in adopting him, contact Diana Bryant at 443-3751.

RUMMAGE SALE

While doing your spring cleaning, think of the homeless dogs and cats. The Vermilion County Animal Shelter Foundation will accept donations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through June 22 at the David S. Palmer Arena. No clothes or large appliances will be accepted.

The sale will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 28 at the arena.

REMINDERS

— Through this month, the county animal shelter is offering a special price — $50 for adult dogs and cats.

— The first Poochie Pageant will be Saturday at McFerren Park as part of the Drivin’ the Dixie Days. A parade will be at 10 a.m. For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 283-7873.

— A walk to call attention to the plight of pit bulls at the Humane Society of Danville will be July 5. The walk will start at 10 a.m. at Central Christian Church, 1101 N. Vermilion, go up Vermilion to Winter, cross the street and return to the church.

Donation is $10, which will go to the Vermilion County Animal Shelter Foundation.

E-mail organizer Megan Drake at meganrdrake@yahoo.com.

If you would like to have your pet featured in this column, contact Mary Wicoff at 477-5161, send an e-mail to mwicoff@dancomnews.com or write to Commercial-News, 17 W. North, Danville, IL 61832.