USVI-On-Line

Heres a couple we help out while at Cruz View

Does anyone know if there is any place in particular that would except donations? In the form of cat food, equipment, money, volunteer time, etc.

My husband and I will be down there in May and would love to contribute in any way we can.

There may be others, but we've been donating to the Animal Care Center of St. John.

http://www.stjohnanimalcarecenter.com/

(from their site)

What are the ACC Goals?
To spay/neuter and medically clear all the homeless animals on the island
To educate the public on the importance of spaying and neutering their pets
To prevent pet over-population, alleviating the suffering of unowned animals
To care for and find good loving homes for abandoned animals
To provide the funds for medical attention to abandoned animals in need
To supply food and water to unowned animals in the bush

Here are some cats that were at Lavender Hills in July 2004

When I was on STJ last May, a feral cat had sort of "adopted" the villa. Thanks to many generous guests who kept him around, the cat has now officially been adopted by the villa owners. They had him neutered, got his shots, and keep a supply of food on hand for him. So, here's a former feral cat turned fat, lazy villa kitty.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42427255@N00/2189604868/" title="Untitled by Vicki_H, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/218 ... 5e14e5.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt=""></a>

Many villas seems to have a cat hanging around. This wonderful cat has been around Guavaberry in Virgin Gorda for many years. We always adopt her. A real cutie!




Another taken while I was deeply asleep... talk about catnap!

California Girl - the story about that cat is that she had a steady home until her mom died and the husband could not take care her. The cat then moved on to Guvaberry surroundings and the villa guests and staff takes care of her.

I think she lives on being this cute and I do believe someone might groom here once in a while. Last year, when we visit VG after STJ, she looked really in good condition. First time we met her was 2003.

Her fur is not that thick, and sometimes I guess it can protect against both heat and cold.

I love how that black cat has a white ring around the base of his tail! Reminds me of the story that in ancient Egypt, women put their rings on the tails of their cats while they bathed, and that's why Siamese have crooks in their tails (so they don't lose the rings.) OK, guess I'm a cat fan too!

Here is a friend we made at Vie's:

My husband and I have many cat-related memories from STJ, but unfortunately my pictures are on a different PC so I can't upload any to share.

During our second trip in 2004 we fell in love with a great cat who would come to visit us every night. We were staying in a condo, and the condo owner was staying just around the other side of the building. There were a bunch of steps up to the front door of our condo, and we asked the owner if that cat ever made the trip up to see him. He said no, that he wasn’t familiar with the cat. But somehow the cat figured out that we were cat people and he’d come by for a visit every night around 8 pm. We’d hear him at the screen door, always “meow, meow” (including the very first time he came to visit) and we’d let him in to hang out with us for a couple hours. He was a WONDERFUL cat. He was very loving and sweet. I have lots of pictures of him, but that was before we had a digital camera so I can’t easily post any.

There were a few other cats that lived nearby, and the entire trip we never once saw any of the them (including our buddy) when it was daylight. They always hid during the heat of the day. We’d even try to call our cat friend and he would never come out during the day. Then on our last night, our trusty friend came by at 8 pm and I told him that he shouldn’t come the next night because we wouldn’t be there anymore. I told him that we were going to leave at 9 am the next day. And amazingly, who showed up at 8:55 am to show us off the next day but our special kitty friend!! He made his first daytime appearance to say goodbye.

I was devastated to have to leave him. I don’t know if he had an “owner,” but leaving him was incredibly difficult.

So I have really mixed emotions about having an island cat around when we’re on STJ. It’s one thing if you know the cat has someone to care for it when you leave, but it can be heart-wrenching otherwise.

We always stop by the dumpsters above the Westin to feed the cats…they love leftover meat scraps…the waiter might look at you like you’re a weirdo when you ask for a take-home container at dinner when you’ve got nothing but scraps left, but the kitties are worth it

We’ve had feline friends at our villa for 3 out of our 5 trips. We’re staying at Sol Inclination this June so according to Chet it sounds like we may have a kitty around this year. I’d love to set a trap and get him fixed

My husband and I have 5 cats, and they are our children.

Wow, this thread has taken off much more than I reckoned it would Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and pics, there are too many to comment on! California Girl got me started on this when she knew the name of the one at Ship Wreck Landing I have a pic of.
Buster
<a href="http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w41/ ... hcat-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w41/ ... hcat-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w41/ ... hcat-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w41/ ... hcat-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Salty Dog,
Thanks for fill'in me in on "Sock's" in Mongoose Juction. Of all we saw on that trip, he was my favorite!

This was our friend who loving was named Cross Eyed Kitty. He hung out with us at Cruz View anytime we were around the pool deck. What a great cat that loved attention. Please be aware no animals were harmed in the taking of these pictures (Beer can was empty)

<a href="http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z271 ... 005050.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z271 ... 005050.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z271 ... 005051.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z271 ... 005051.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Sorry about the size. It took me long enough to get the pictures on. I haven't mastered ( or even figured out) how to resize them yet.