More Than Just a Pretty Face Original 8x10 framed painting: $250. Reduced size print matted to fit 8x10 frame: $25. Charlotte was one of over 800 cats rescued by Best Friends from a terrible hoarding situation in the Nevada desert. She has some physical challenges: the gene that left her without a tail also caused problems with her spinal cord and the nerves in her hindquarters. As a result, she has a somewhat comical strut when she walks and she’s incontinent. Although she’s a “special needs” cat, Charlotte and her many fans know she’s just plain special. (Image of Charlotte based on a photo by Tammy Yamada).
Small, Dark and Handsome Original 11x14 framed painting: SOLD. Reduced size print matted to fit 11x14 frame: $35. It’s unfortunate, but black cats are less likely to be adopted. Why? Maybe it’s superstition, or maybe they just don’t stand out in a crowd. For whatever reason, these sleek and mysterious felines don’t always get the attention they deserve when people are looking for a new family member. I think it’s time to consider black cats from a different perspective: black goes with everything and is always in style! There are wonderful black cats available for adoption at Best Friends as well as through other rescue groups and shelters.
Remembrance Original 8x10 framed painting: SOLD. Reduced size print matted to fit 8x10 frame: $25. Angel’s Rest is the final resting place for more than 4,000 beloved animals, including residents of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and pets of Best Friends Animal Society members. There are niches in the stone wall around the perimeter where visitors have placed mementos of their pets, such as photos, collars and toys. Visitors also place small polished stones on grave markers to honor the memory of those buried there. Filled with the soft music of wind chimes, Angel’s Rest is a serene and magical place to reflect on the love our animal companions provide.
Looking for Love Original 11x14 framed painting: SOLD. Reduced size print matted to fit 11x14 frame: $35. Mikayla’s not going to let her difficult past get in the way of a bright future. Despite her rough start at a horrific hoarding situation, she loves people and would like nothing more than to have someone fall in love with her. She may not be a cute little kitten any more, but Mikayla is hoping that someone will appreciate her many great qualities and give her a chance to show that adult cats can bond just as closely with a new family. Luckily, she can stay at Best Friends until she finds her perfect match.
Let Sleeping Cats Lie Original 8x10 framed painting: SOLD. Reduced size print matted to fit 8x10 frame: $25. The spacious and comfortable cat rooms at Best Friends have cubbies mounted on the walls where cats can sleep or just hang out and watch the action below. Still, no matter how great it is at the sanctuary, it’s not the same as having a real home. No More Homeless Pets is a nationwide movement to bring about a time when homeless, unwanted animals are no longer being destroyed in shelters, and when every dog or cat can be guaranteed a good life in a caring home. Best Friends has a variety of campaigns and programs focused on achieving this goal.
Someone to Watch Over Me Original 11x14 framed painting: SOLD. Reduced size print matted to fit 11x14 frame: $35. Shy or feral cats don’t respond well in a traditional shelter environment, but most of the cat areas at Best Friends have rafters overhead where they can feel safe, keep a watchful eye on their surroundings, and interact at their own pace. A funny thing happened, though—some of these cats saw their more-outgoing roommates making positive connections with people, and decided to try it themselves! Given a little time and patience, many cats that had been considered feral have learned to seek out and enjoy human interaction.
Imminent Mischief Original 11x14 framed painting: $500. Reduced size print matted to fit 11x14 frame: $35. Smokey Bones is a busy, energetic little guy with a ridiculously short attention span. He feels perfectly healthy, so you’d never know he has both Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia (FeLV). He came to Best Friends when the shelter he lived in closed and no one else was willing to take him in. Since FeLV is contagious to other cats, he now lives in a special building just for FeLV-positive cats. With proper care, cats with FIV and FeLV can live long and happy lives, and you can bet that Smokey’s not going to waste a single second!
Ready to Bloom Original 8x10 framed painting: SOLD. Reduced size print matted to fit 8x10 frame: $25. Mystery was rescued from a so-called cat sanctuary in which hundreds of cats had to compete for even a minimal amount of food, water and shelter. The real mystery is how she survived—she has no teeth or claws! Some people don’t realize that declawing is extremely painful and involves amputating the last joint of each toe. The procedure is even outlawed in some countries as inhumane. Mystery is understandably a little fearful at times, but at Best Friends she’s slowly learning that it’s safe to let her personality shine.
Lullaby Original 8x10 framed painting: SOLD. Reduced size print matted to fit 8x10 frame: $25. Formerly feral Wolfi has come to crave human attention so much that caregivers sometimes carry him in a sling while they work. Thanks to his undeniable charm, and to his appearances on the Kitty Motel Facebook page, he’s developed quite a fan club. His life is good at Best Friends despite his failing health—he has stylish sweaters to keep him cozy during the winter, and even a teddy bear to cuddle with at nap time. Still, he’s never given up hope of someday finding a home and a family to call his own. (Image of Wolfi based on a photo by Tammy Yamada).
Once Upon a Time Original 11x14 framed painting: SOLD. Reduced size print matted to fit 11x14 frame: $35. In a cat building at Best Friends there’s a room called the Incontinental Suite. Knowing that the cats in this room get fewer visitors, tour guide Jennifer Johnson began a reading program for them as well as a blog called “Reading with my Furries!” on the Best Friends Network to get the public interested in these special felines. The Stinky Book Club meets weekly and is a big hit. Petite and beautiful Baby, whose back legs don’t work quite right, closely supervises Jennifer as she reads aloud to the group. (Image of Baby based on photos by Mark Morgan).
Superior Kitty Looks Down on You Original 11x14 framed painting: $500. Reduced size print matted to fit 11x14 frame: $35. Saigon was named for the street from which he was rescued in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Given his past, it’s not surprising that he’s a little shy and prefers to watch what’s going on from a high perch. Best Friends had a major role in rescuing animals affected by the disaster. Their rapid response team arrived just days after the hurricane hit and remained in the area for more than eight months, rescuing about 4,000 animals and transporting another 2,000 to new locations for adoption.
Rising Above Original 8x10 framed painting: SOLD. Reduced size print matted to fit 8x10 frame: $25. Beautiful Mango had bravery to spare and an incredible will to live. She was the victim of an act of unbelievable cruelty, but a group of children rescued her and many people worked tirelessly to save her. Despite what had happened, she was willing to trust and to forgive. Unfortunately she did not survive, but she crossed the Rainbow Bridge surrounded by love at the Best Friends clinic. Mango’s spirit lives on in the memories of everyone who knew her or heard her story.
Resistance Is Futile Original 8x10 framed painting: $250. Reduced size print matted to fit 8x10 frame: $25. Who could resist that face? Certainly not Deborah Bradford! She rescued Montana, but quickly realized he had some unusual medical issues. Deborah brought Montana to Best Friends, where he became part of the Guardian Angel program. Through this program, weekly updates are posted about animals with special physical or emotional needs, and donors can provide a monthly gift to help. Montana quickly became one of the most popular animals in the program, and with a little extra care, he began to thrive.
Brotherly Love Original 11x14 framed painting: $500. Reduced size print matted to fit 11x14 frame: $35. Tyler was born blind, and both of his eyes had to be removed to stop painful and recurring infections. He was a little unsure of his new surroundings when he first came to Best Friends, but he had help: a wonderful cat named Mufasa, who was happy to show his new friend around. Luckily for these two boys, a very special adopter came along who understood the close bond between them. So Tyler and Mufasa are not just best buddies—now they’re brothers, too!
Going Home Original 11x14 framed painting: SOLD. Reduced size print matted to fit 11x14 frame: $35. Korky is quite the world traveler! She was born in Lebanon, and the shelter she lived in was in a war zone. Korky and her friends were in danger while volunteers risked their lives daily to care for them. In 2006, Best Friends answered a plea for help from Lebanon’s only animal welfare organization, evacuating 295 dogs and cats from Beirut. After a few years at the sanctuary, Korky found that she had one more voyage to make: the trip to her forever home!
Silent Night Original 8x10 framed painting: $250. Reduced size print matted to fit 8x10 frame: $25. Like up to 85% of all blue-eyed white cats, Lilly Lane was born deaf. White cats are also very sensitive to sunlight and can be prone to skin cancer. Lilly lives indoors, though, so she’s safe from excessive sun exposure as well as from hazards she wouldn't be able to hear coming such as speeding cars or loose dogs. Lilly didn’t let her deafness get in the way of her ability to communicate with the many visitors to Best Friends, and it certainly didn’t stand in the way of an adoption.
Senior Class Original 11x14 framed painting: SOLD. Reduced size print matted to fit 11x14 frame: $35. Senior cats have a very special friend in Lee Van Camp. She’s been adopting older cats from Best Friends for several years. The cats in this painting—Vernon, Scarlett, Madonna, Princess, Nighttime, Antoinette, Ozzy, Cash, Samuel, Sammie, Babycakes and Ventura—all found a forever home with Lee, and all were over ten years old at the time of adoption. Some were even over 20 years old! Lee knows that older cats still have a lot of love to give and that they deserve a real home in their golden years.
Greetings! Original 8x10 framed painting: SOLD. Reduced size print matted to fit 8x10 frame: $25. Although both his back legs had been amputated after a serious injury, Scooter had a very important job: he was the official greeter at the veterinary office where his surgery had been performed. Unfortunately he lost that job when some of the clients found his appearance upsetting. But Scooter was not one to dwell on misfortune; he came to Best Friends where he was able to continue his career. He could scoot around the lobby of his building as fast as any four-legged cat, and his confidence and charisma won him many fans.