Animal Loving Friends, Inc.

05/30/2026

Hug your purrkids today!

Happy National Hug Your Cat Day! 🐈❤️

There’s just something special about loving a cat… even when they act mildly inconvenienced by your existence most of the time. 😂

And somehow, no matter how many times they walk across the keyboard, knock things off the table, or stare at us like tiny furry landlords… we still scoop them up for hugs they clearly did not ask for.

Because deep down, every cat owner knows the truth:
the quickest way to show love is to annoy your cat with affection for approximately 7 seconds before they wiggle away. 😆

05/30/2026

Happy Caturday!

05/29/2026

It's been a whirlwind of a week. I mentioned Muffin in my last few posts about others seeing the vet. Well, Muffin had an emergency procedure with the Neurologist this week, and the results are serious.

She'd been gradually declining. It wasn't really obvious at first, but she'd been staying more outside, staying low instead of up on a perch (she usually likes to be up high), not hanging with the others as she usually does, and then began hiding in the Habicat all alone. As I carried her in one night for meds, she just felt dull, not quite listless, but decreased mentation for sure. Her body felt loose, doughy. I noticed that every time I set her on the floor after meds, she would make a full circle to the right before walking away. Every time. So even though she didn't have an appointment, when Doc came to see Izzy and Boca, I moved Muffin to the top of the list. She had lost some weight, and she was just very subdued. Her eyes reacted normally, legs a little bit slow, but she's such a scaredy cat that when the vet tries to get her to walk side to side, or forward on her front legs only, for example, she's not sure what she's supposed to be doing, what the human is requesting of her. When I taught her to take her anti-seizure meds years ago, I would tilt her head back and open her mouth, drop in the pill, and she would just stay frozen in that position, didn't know what I expected of her. I had to teach her about closing her mouth, and swallowing. Very compliant. This is just because she's always been either a flight or freeze kind of kitty.

We did full labs on her, and everything was pretty normal. But we both felt it was neurological. So I made an appointment with the Neurologist, which would have been yesterday. But over the holiday weekend, Muffin worsened. She switched directions, from turning only to the right, to now circling repeatedly to the left. Tight circles, over and over and over again, for several minutes, until she collapsed in frustration. She'd get up and try to walk away, and do the circling all over again! While lying next to me on the sofa, her head cranked as far to the left as it could, basically staring at her tail. She would try to look away, look back at me, and it was like the muscles were spasming, or there was a tight band pulling her head back in that direction. It was quite scary, and bewildering for her. So I left VM and sent email to the Neurologist Monday evening.

Tuesday morning they called and asked if I had videos to show them. I sent them, and they called back right away, and asked, "How soon can you get here?" They saw Muffin on an emergency basis on Tuesday. She had an MRI which revealed a lesion in the brain, in the thalamus. While a bit uncommon, it has the typical presentation of Valley Fever in the brain. She also had a spinal tap and some other tests sent out; those results are pending.

So Muffin will be on the anti-fungal and anti-seizure meds for life, and will have more frequent bloodwork, to make sure the liver isn't suffering damage. She's also on a steroid short term, to reduce the swelling in her brain.

Muffin was running a low temp for the first day and a half after the anesthesia, so I put a heating pad in there for her. For now, she's in the guest bathroom, with a piece of plywood covered with a blanket over the top of the bathtub. She seems to be feeling a little bit better, but she's got a long road ahead of her, to return to somewhat "normal".

This has already cost us about 75% of what was just raised for Arizona Gives Day. We still need to order litter, get Jasmine and Monte in for their procedures, exams for a few others, and ongoing care for those with existing medical conditions, including several follow ups and tests for Muffin. I know it's a big ask so soon after our last fundraiser, but we really need your help. Please consider a donation for Muffin and the others cats of ALF.

And thank you for always being there in partnership with us, for the cats.🫶

Arizona Gives Day
https://www.azgives.org/organization/alfrescue

Paypal GivingFund
https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/38355

If you'd like to contribute funds immediately, please visit
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=BNS7VDTLPGAZU

or mail a check to:
Animal Loving Friends
7650 S McClintock Dr
Suite 103-120
Tempe, AZ 85284

05/29/2026

So true! As I sit here just now texting with a fellow animal lover, worrying about how to find the time and the energy to sit in the driveway night after night to try a different way of trapping the injured feral. I'm tired. I have SO many things overwhelming me right now. I have other cats who also need my time and energy. I can't just magically stir up a potion and find more of either. But how can anyone with a heartbeat even consider NOT helping? Please thank a rescuer, a trapper, and be grateful when you see a cat with an eartip. That represents the sacrifices of someone, maybe several someone's, and maybe someone you know. For another living being. For their community. It's a win-win for all. Ask how you can help be a part of the solution.

“𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.”
Honestly?
𝙉𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙚.

Nobody doing TNR has extra time laying around.

😪The people trapping after work?
Tired.

😪The people setting alarms every 45 minutes to check traps?
Tired.

😪The people driving before sunrise to clinics?
Tired.

😪The people answering messages while cooking dinner, raising kids, working jobs, and barely holding their own life together?
Tired.

𝗡𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.
People just decide something matters enough to make room for it anyway.

That’s the part we wish more people understood.
𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲?
𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.

❗️Somebody rearranged their schedule.
❗️Lost sleep.
❗️Spent money.
❗️Sweated their ass off in the heat.
❗️Learned how to trap.
❗️Drove across counties.
❗️Was frustrated.
❗️Overwhelmed.
❗️Burnt out.
…𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽.

Because once you truly SEE the problem, it becomes really hard to ignore it.

This work is not built on people with unlimited time, money, or energy.

It’s built on ordinary people deciding:
“Someone needs to do something… so I guess it’s gonna be me.”

And honestly?
That mindset is the only reason any of this works at all.

The people making a difference in this community are not super human.

They’re exhausted, ordinary people who decided these “unowned” cats still mattered anyway.

05/29/2026

I shudder to think how much worse the pet crisis would be in Arizona if not for Bari Mears and Phoenix Animal Care Coalition (PACC911). They've helped ALF save so many of the cats you all know, and have known over the years. Join us in thanking them for the tireless work they do, for the love of animals. If you can, please consider attending the Glimmer of Hope this fall, and purchase some raffle tickets as well.

05/26/2026

19 yr old Boca also saw Doc recently. She was due for the full senior total health panel (blood work). After seeing Muffin who's not doing well, when Doc picked up Boca she exclaimed how strong she is, her life force energy is strong!

Boca does have chronic kidney failure, occasional pukes and constipation, and chronic sniffles and respiratory infections. Doc didn't like how her lungs and airways sound, her congestion is a bit worse. But overall she's doing pretty well. Her kidney function is actually improved, but her WBC is a little high, indicating infection. We've started her on another course of antibiotics, and an immune booster, and running some anti-virals through the diffuser again. After 3 days, she's already much better!

She'll be happy when we can move back into the bedroom again -that's another disaster, a story for another time, but it sure would be nice to have the kitchen done by now, you know, only one disaster at a time! The kitchen has been over a year!

05/26/2026

Doc came to the house last week. We were scheduled for Izzy and Boca, but I added Muffin and moved her to the top of the list. More on that soon.

Izzy got a recheck of her thyroid levels, and follow up on whatever the infection or inflammation was in her face/upper jaw last month. Even though nothing was found on CT scan, and there was only one very loose tooth extracted, and everything seems to have healed with whatever that was that ruptured, she still licks oddly, like she's sensing a hair on her tongue, or something. This could still be some lingering effects of the nerve block.

Her WBC and T4 were both completely normal on recheck. Yay! She seems to be doing just fine, fat and happy! And likely only 15, not 18. Did I tell you about that? The microchip mixup? I guess that's a story for another day, but so far nothing has been confirmed, and probably won't be. We're just happy she's healthy for the most part. No matter how old she is!

05/25/2026

Biscuit had her follow up last week with Dr. Fink at AZ Veterinary Dental Specialists. The Scottsdale practice has now moved to the 101 and Princess Drive, just too far for us to commute during rush hour twice a day for dental procedures. So we're transferring back to Dr. Balke at the Gilbert office. Biscuit is fond of Dr. Fink, we'll miss seeing her, but know that they'll all be in good hands in Gilbert as well. Izzy has already seen Dr. Balke, and had a positive experience.

Biscuit's still got some inflammation, but it's truly much better than before. And she's gained about a half pound! Yay! It was too soon for another steroid injection. I'll be monitoring her at home, and take her to Dr. Balke if needed, but Biscuit's one who can't be handled for daily meds, so I'm hopeful she'll continue to improve as time goes by.

05/25/2026

I want to update you on the injured feral, who I call Ash. Unfortunately, I've not yet caught him. I first saw his injuries on camera Monday morning, May 18. I set traps that morning because he's around a lot during the day. Pumpkin, Earl Grey, and Ash all checked them out multiple times day and night Monday and Tuesday, but Tuesday evening was the last time Ash has come here. Wednesday morning I caught Pumpkin in a trap, so I released him and fed him separately. I tied the traps open for few hours Wednesday, with food a little bit closer to the front, but nobody came around. Wednesday night I was able to feed Earl Grey separately, then set the traps live again. I caught Earl Grey again Thursday morning, and boy was he mad! He didn't come back again until Saturday. Ash did not come back at all on Wednesday, and wasn't seen anywhere in the neighborhood for a couple of days. He had been drinking a lot of water Mon and Tue, and I was afraid he'd gone septic and was holed up somewhere. I finally spotted him in the neighborhood Thursday night, but he hasn't come back here at all, not since Tue. I've removed the traps and am feeding normally again, but only Pumpkin and Earl Grey are coming here now. BC hasn't been back since seeing the traps Mon morning.

I managed to get close enough for a few distant, fuzzy pictures of Ash. I think his injuries are healing, but I'd still really like to get him in to be checked, clipped and cleaned, and maybe an antibiotic injection. AND get him neutered. I'll try again when the clinics open back up after the holiday.

05/18/2026

Oh my! I checked security cameras this morning and found this. This is Earl Grey's lookalike. I didn't know there were two of them until one was TNR'd and sporting an eartip. This one's not been trapped yet. I'm hoping since he's come to the garage to eat several times this morning, even late morning, that he'll return for a treat in one of the traps I've set. If I catch him before 1pm, Cobblestone Veterinary Care can get him in today for treatment and neuter. If it's after that, we'll go to ARECA for wound treatment if it looks like an emergency, but they won't neuter. Either way, we'll get him fixed up and won't release until he's been neutered. I can't tell from these injuries if he has an embedded collar, or if it was an animal attack. Since he's out during the day, and acts cautious but not panicked when he sees humans, he's likely another formerly owned pet who's been on his own awhile. I'll keep you posted.