Well, as I said below, The Kat Barn was our first 'shelter' building and it housed maybe 35 cats at the most, all happy to be inside out of the weather and sleeping in straw and cozy bunks. Now that's a long way from The Kat Barn of today which not only has central air and heat but also linoleum and wonderful new bunks made by volunteers just for the furkits. That might have been 'that' .....but things change when you aren't looking or paying attention....and change they did....
We moved to Iowa from Minnesota, Wanda and I, in 1980. We built our log home and had moved there because my parents were elderly and needed us close by. We were there but a year and my father had a massive stroke. That began a new career for me. I had been teaching in Minnesota for some years and had planned to substitute and continue my teaching career in Iowa. Well, that ended with my father's stroke. I began a 'new' career for the next eleven years of 'in home health care' for both of my parents. My father died in the same room he was born in ..in what is now The Kitty Kottage.
The Kitty Kottage is a two story over-a-century old farmhouse with, oh, probably twelve rooms...and a few ghosts as well...but that's another story. I think our rescue 'movement' would have continued to be a rescue and adopt effort but just as we were wondering what we would do with 'the old house' a lady with cancer and not much time left contacted us and asked if we could help her with her 12 cats. She could not longer care for them and she would help us monetarily....we said yes, and THAT decided what was going to happen to 'the old house.' A volunteer helped us with putting up hardware cloth 'walls' in the upper level and screen doors for dividers so it would have an open effect throughout the 'old house.' And, then the cats arrived and 'that old house' became known as The Kitty Kottage-Buddy's House. Buddy, a Morris looking tabby was the first resident in 'the old house'. And another white cat named, what else, BUDDY moved in with him and together they lived in harmony with Echo, a dog that was dumped in the early 80's and who lived in The Kitty Kottage with many cats until she could no longer make it down the stairs to go outside. She then moved into the 'doghouse' which is a LARGE summer kitchen building that my parent's cooked in during hot summer days. It had a wood stove and sink and made it easier to live in the hot summer sun. And, of course, MY bedroom was upstairs so however cold it was outside......was pretty much how it was INSIDE. Running downstairs in the morning to undress all the heavy 'night gear' and 'dress' in my day clothes was the daily routine. The felines in The Kitty Kottage now have central air and heat throughout. DID I MENTION I grew up with an UNheated bedroom upstairs which is now the blue room. I know....boo hoo.. the kitties don't care either. They live the 'good life' and they know it. The Kitty Kottage soon became lit up with bright kitty eyes and happy meows and the ghosts seem to have had enough and left... yes, I said 'ghosts' and that IS another story. Mostly I believe the spirits were finally content that I was not going to bulldoze down their 'old house' as we had actually talked about before realization that is would make a terrific 'cat house'.... The Kitty Kottage has linoleum throughout, new windows, outdoor screened in 'catios' and playrooms and of course, television with Catsitter videos playing. The ghosts are gone....I know...that's another story...
To see some of our buildings check out the videos on our website at www.rustichollowshelter.org
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