Today was our open house. There were times I thought we were never going to do it. We had to postpone it twice we were just so busy. Anyway we got everything nice and cleaned up for today. I'm a little of a perfectionist sometimes I just like everything to be perfect which of course I never quite get DONE but I try. 

We had 2 families show up. One lady and her aging mother came. She sat and we got her a chair. She petted the kitties a long time and had such a great time. Another couple came and they got to tour around the property. They were so nice and understood all the work we do and made sure to tell us how much they appreciated us. It's great to meet other kitty lovers! The kitties really enjoyed all the attention and so did the dogs! They were amazed at how we know all the kitties by name and personality but after all, they are out "kids". Even the vet is amazed when he comes out to do our rabies shots. He has no idea how we can remember them all. 

If you didn't make it out today you missed out! I took some pics this evening to post for those who didn't get to come. I got some tour video too,  but ugh I gotta get up to get the camera lol might be a little while I'm lazy. Plus I got sick the other day and my sinuses and sore throat I really have not had any energy so that made it even harder to do everything. All in all though it was a great day! I took the evening off for once and laid on the bed playing with Emma and Reese, the 2 kittens and even Doc played with us.  

Tomorrow Troy is going to a house burning/training thing in town so I'll be ..who knows..doing chores then I might actually get to work on some of my art projects and just clean house. Lots of things  I need to repaint like the propane tank that's a submarine and some of my artwork in the kitty house and I have a few new things I want to do project wise..I'll leave it a surprise. :) We have worked so hard the last few weeks getting the property back in shape we are just killed! So let me explain a little; 

 For those who don't know Troy was pretty sick for the last 2 years. I just let the property go because he just couldn't do the work. Weed eating and mowing was so hard on him and we couldn't find anyone to help and frankly we just hate to even ask. So this year we have been trying to get it cleaned up. I gave up on having shrubs that I have to prune and keep honeysuckle out of and briers. I just cannot and don't WANT to do that kind of back breaking work anymore. I have had 2 back surgeries (over $50,000!) and I"m not even supposed to DO any heavy lifting or half the stuff I do. SO we just cut the dang bushes down and burned them. We cannot afford to pay anyone to do it for us so they had to go. Looks better anyway and its easier for Troy now and less for us to fight about! Its looking really good I think so it was a good decision in the end. We aren't getting any younger and we need to have this place easier to maintain so we have more time to do other things. 

Also this year we have had to start buying our dry kitty food and with all the dentals we are trying to get done it has taken a toll on our rescue funds. Winter seems to be trying to come in early too and that means I need to think about heating money. Propane goes on sale here and if we have the funds I try to get all we can to save in the long run. It is looking to be and early and long, cold winter. I hope I'm wrong! but then I am a worrier! 

So with all this work going on of course I just had to get sick  with a cold. I plan on taking  it easy tomorrow .lol yeah right. I say that but know I'll start cleaning or something off my never ending "to do" list.  Troy works sun/mon too. If you don't know he is a paramedic. Works 48  then off for 4 days. Usually he sleeps half a day on his first day off just to catch up on sleep because they run non stop here. Its hard on us as a rescue. Troy works full time PLUS this and when hes gone on his 48 hrs straight I do all the kitty chores too on top of all the other things I do. Most rescues our size with this many cats/dogs have help. We do everything ourselves just me and Troy no help unless Kylie (my 9 yr old granddaughter)  comes over! Shes my little minion. I've taught her to give the insulin shots already and shes really good at it. 

You wouldn't think there is that much to do but its not just petting kitties. I've written about this before but it is a LOT more than I ever realized and I'm still learning after 5 yrs. Some days I just want to get in the car and drive and not look back I get so burned out but then I think who will give the meds and well the list is endless. So usually when that happens I just go to bed and forget it all for the night and start over in the morning. I am a little bit of a pessimist and I suffer at times from depression so when I post on FB sometimes even when I try really hard it shows through in my comments. I just hope people understand. Troy has his moments too! But then he's not the one posting so no one knows! Sometimes it takes so little to set me off like a few weeks ago I decided to see how many people gave us stars and  I know its silly but some gave like a one or two star and I was so upset because we work so dang hard and haven't even had a vacation in over 8 yrs it was kind of insulting to think anyone would rate us so low! ahh FB drama..anyway I'm over it now because our real supporters know how hard we work and that's all that matters. That and the kitties! ok so I've rambled on too much here. 

Soon we will be putting up the annual computerized Christmas light display which I have vowed yet again that I'm DONE With doing! It takes a month or more just to get up all the lights.  We should sell pre show tickets to our yelling and arguing while he puts them up and I supervise the set up. 

Just when we think no one cares and we aren't going to do it people start stopping us in the grocery or in town saying oh we love the show and the kids think its great! So then I know dang it! Gonna have to do it again lol ..sigh. Just can't say no to the kids. 

One thing will be different this year. Our loved Little Boy died this summer due to cancer and he was 14 yrs old too. He always climbed the ladder with Troy and did the lights with him. He was one of the "original" kitties and we had him since he was a kitten. He will be missed. 

So there's a little insight into "us" .. I'm the artsy, crazy, pessimist cat lady. Yeah I'm an Eyore. Troy is the heavy lifting , omg what has that woman thought of for me to do NOW guy. Poor man goes to work just to get a break! haha So that's it! We are just a mom and pop rescue.  Anyway I'm done for today!
 Thank you for all your support. 

This year marks our 5th year in our endeavor to help save the cats in Graham County. We have come so far from when we first started in 2009. I wasn't even sure exactly WHAT we were or going to be I just knew we needed to do something. I knew we didn't want to be an adoption facility. We already have several near our county that do that and cannot even keep those cats adopted out. I wanted us to be different in that we would give these kitties a loving home and a lifetime of care. Their last stop in searching for a home and someone to care. So many don't get this opportunity. We wanted to focus on sponsorship and giving these deserving kitties the absolutely best home they could ever want.

Troy had wanted to work in disaster rescue and we even took classes towards this, but as we went on through the years this has gotten pushed farther to the back as the need for us to take in the many unwanted cats escalated, Troy and I having health issues and lack of participation has taken its toll.

With the help of many wonderful supporters, we have run full force with upgrading the buildings, maintaining the sanctuary, ensuring proper medical care, and pursuing funding to accommodate the felines in our care. We have done everything from filing for grants, working festivals, holding fundraisers and  finally (at our own expense) built a thrift store to hopefully bring in some much needed funding.

After 4 years we had reached our capacity for what we ourselves could care for and decided to adopt out some if and only if we could find really good homes. These cats are family to us and we had never wanted to be an adoption facility. We did find several good homes but they are not as plentiful as the cats who need help. Although we had stopped taking in cats in general we still ended up with emergency take in's from ones dumped on our property to some who just had nowhere to go. 

We have managed to keep going and break even every year but never really saving up anything for the rescue. Many much needed upgrades to the buildings were done such as putting in tile floors, waterproof boarding on walls, painting, as well as building a new 8x8 building thanks to  the Lakin Foundation Grant. Vetting has been a very large expense but we were lucky enough to receive donated food through Purina until this year. We do not know why but they have not done any more donations and this year we are having to purchase dry food for the first time. With vetting bills getting higher and most of our population is older cats which are requiring more vetting this added increase plus the added expense of dry food has taken its toll on us.

We are so thankful for everyone who has supported us even with just a few dollars. It has made such a tremendous impact in these animals lives. Troy and I are willing to put in the work and the time to do this as long as we are physically able to do so but at this point our hands are tied. While we have accomplished what we had intended for our rescue to do, the demand is far greater than what we can do at this point. We would love to have a facility where we could take in more and do more adtoptions but without more funding this will not be possible. We turn cats down constantly and just today turned down 25 cats from 2 different people. Some were feral and some friendly. It breaks my heart but we are confined by the funding we receive. Sadly funding is what it all boils down to. No money, no rescue. 

The economy has gotten steadily worse through the years and has hit hard on many rescues not just our own and forced some to shut down. Ours is no exception. We will keep going as long as we can both physically and financially but without further resources and funding  we are forced to stay as we are. If we get funding to move forward we will gladly do so but if not we will do the best we can for what we have and eventually at some point, if we cannnot find anyone to continue our mission, we will shut down. 

Graham County has absolutely no help for animals. Valley River Humane Society in Peachtree has agreed to take in our unwanted animals but there is a $50 fee per animal that they take in so the dumping will continue. Especially with the Stanley Plant closing which was our main place of employment here.  

One of the big problems is people who are willing to help.  I wish we could offer something but without the funding or employees to do it we will not be able to. People will not and can not work for free in this day and time. Plus with troy working a full time job and all the added work of the rescue it has put a lot of stress on him as he is the main person doing all the hard work and heavy lifting. If we had more funds coming in we could get a building and  he could do this full time and maybe have one or two paid employees. I know this is not what people want to hear but volunteers are impossible to find and if you look at ANY big rescue they have paid employees which is why they look so wonderful and are so productive and can do more. You get what you pay for in other words. I don't mind being small but I had dreamed of more and becoming more. Maybe not big like Best Friends but big enough to make a difference in our county at least. 

So while we are happy with what we have managed to accomplish we still wish we could do more. 

This has been a very tough learning experience to us. We have learned so much through the last five years. I never realized how much work was involved until we started this. There are so many aspects of rescue and its not just petting cats!

 I now know why you need so many people doing different jobs to be successful. You have to be able to sleep sometime and maintain a little personal life or you just get burned out. Some days I think I have reached that point and I know so does Troy.We are very disappointed with the support in our community. It seems no one acts like we exist until they want us to take in 12 cats. Suddenly we are visible but when we ask for funding you just hear crickets. Sure they love us but they do not want to donate to help us continue. And while we really don't care about the circumstances we just really care about the welfare of the animals but without the funding or the building we are forced to keep declining taking in unwanted animals in our county. 

Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for all your support and allowing our dream to come true. We do love what we do and hope to keep moving forward. Who knows maybe we will win the lottery. Until then we will continue to do the best we can for our furbabies and hope you stay with us through the journey. I am optimistic that one day our plight will reach the right ears and we will be able to grow and do even more. We will do as much as we can to improve the quality of life in Graham County cats and hope for many more anniversaries to come. The kitties thank you too! 

Thank you! 
Marianne & Troy Grindstaff (Founders)

With the increase of owner turn in's and animals being dumped at not only our facility but many others throughout the state as well as at dumpsters, peoples houses and down roads, and with Christmas around the corner I thought it might be a good idea to do a post on this problem and hopefully shed some light to those thinking of adopting a pet for the holidays.
There are several things you need to consider before adopting a pet; cost, time, allergies, as well as the havoc a pet can wreak on your home are just a few of the things to think about. You can click HERE To read about the top reasons people get rid of their pets with some of the solutions available.

First I would like to say for those who do not want to pay an adoption fee but choose to take in a free cat off Facebook, Craigs list or in the paper, There IS NO SUCH THING as a FREE animal. To care for an animal it takes money. They are no different than having a child. There are vet bills, food and vaccinations to consider. There is more to a pet than just giving it some food every day.
I will talk mainly about cats here but this applies to dogs or really any pet you might be considering. Many people don't think past the part of owning a cuddly little kitten to what this sweet little bundle of joy is going to cost them in the future. So many times people get or give pets for Christmas or other holidays and get overwhelmed with the cost, especially with the economy like it is now.
Unfortunately it is the pet who pays the price in the end when it comes down to feed the family or the cat. The cat is either taken to a shelter or if as is the case usually here and the shelters are full they dump them out when no home can be found. Everyone wants a kitten so any adult or older cat will be homeless and either euthanized in a shelter or die on the streets. Owning a pet is a big responsibility and you need to be prepared to be able to care for it for its entire life to be a responsible owner. As with anything in life there are exceptions I know. Sometimes things happen that just are not foreseen and cannot be helped but I am talking about the ones that can be helped with a little forethought and planning.

The cost:

The costs of bringing an animal into your home go far beyond any initial adoption fee, which can vary from nothing at all to hundreds of dollars. Here is a breakdown of the average first year cost of pet ownership costs for one medium dog or one cat, according to the ASPCA.

One Time Expenses

Spaying or Neutering: Dog: $200 / Cat: $145
Initial Medical Exam: Dog: $70 / Cat: $130
Collar or Leash: Dog: $30 / Cat: $10
Litter Box: Cat: $25
Scratching Post: Cat: $15
Crate: Dog: $95
Carrying Crate: Dog: $60 / Cat: $40
Training: Dog: $110
Total One Time Costs: Dog: $565 / Cat: $365

Annual Expenses

Food: Dog: $120/ Cat: $145
Annual Medical Exams: Dog: $235 / Cat: $130
Litter: Cat: $200
Toys and Treats: Dog: $55 / Cat: $25
License: Dog: $15
Health Insurance: Dog: $225 / Cat: $175
Miscellaneous: Dog: $45 / Cat: $30
Total Annual Costs: Dog: $695 / Cat: $705

Total First Year Pet Ownership Costs: Dog: $1,260 / Cat: $1,070

As you can see, having a pet can cost you over $1,000 in the first year, and well over $500 each additional year. Depending on the food you buy and your actual medical expenses, the costs could be much higher or lower. Furthermore, these tables are not inclusive. If you travel, tack on pet sitting or kennel services, and if you rent an apartment, expect to pay a sometimes no refundable pet deposit or cleaning fee, if your landlord allows animals at all.

These figures take into account having pet health insurance, which many pet owners do not. If your animal gets sick and you do not have insurance, vet bills can quickly escalate into the thousands of dollars. Without it though, having pets is another big reason to have an emergency fund of at least several thousands dollars.

I found this website with a worksheet for the cost of pet ownership. http://www.valueyourmoney.org/parenthood/pet-ownership.asp. Although it is geared for children it could be a good tool to use if you think you want to adopt a pet.
 
If you have any helpful ideas on saving on pet care please be sure to comment!

Here is a link to help with vet care:
http://www.warreneckstein.com/g/Groups-Providing-Financial-Assistance-For-Veterinary-Bills/299.html

DO YOU HAVE THE TIME:

Other things you need to consider are not just the expense. Do you have TIME for a pet. I have read many ads with people getting rid of their animals because they find they just do not have the time to put in to having a pet. Your pet wants to spend time with you! Whether its taking your dog for a walk or playing with your cat, it needs daily interaction with its owner. If you work more than you are home a pet might not be a wise choice for you right now. Dogs need bathing, exercise, grooming, more exercise, you get the point. Cats take a little less time but still need time to play, snuggle and depending on the length of hair daily grooming as well as vet visits. Young pets need house training. You have to be sure you are willing to put in the time.

Try this link for some more information:
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/family/pets/article3.html


CAN YOU HANDLE THE MESS/STRESS:

Another thing to consider is the inconvenience of having a pet. Whether its having hair on your furniture , your sofa being clawed as well as the walls or anything else your pet might choose to claw or chew this needs to be considered. If getting hair on your new sofa or having it clawed, or if a pet soils the carpet or any number of other problems you might encounter is a deal breaker then please reconsider getting a pet.
And I would like to say here that declawing should never even be considered as an option! This is a barbaric cruel procedure as well as debarking! There is nothing beneficial to the pet by doing any of these procedures. I know there are those who argue that by doing so it allows many more pets to be adopted but in our opinion, if you do not want a barking dog or a clawing cat then perhaps you would benefit from owning a fish.

To learn more try these links:
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.html
http://www.dailytitan.com/2010/02/debarking-hurts-more-than-voices/

Here is a link for help with pet behavior problems:
http://www.petbehaviorproblems.com/

ARE YOU ALLERGIC:
Allergies is another major reason for pet owners relinquishing their pets. Try fostering a pet first to see if you are allergic or borrow your friends pet for a week or so. Do whatever you need to do before you adopt. It is so devastating to the pet and to the adopter to have to return it or find a home.

Here are a few helpful links:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/10/health.pets.allergies/
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/cat-allergies
http://animal.discovery.com/pets/healthy-pets/are-you-allergic.htm

I'm pregnant and my Dr says I need to get rid of my cat!

I have been asked many times to take in a cat because the family has decided to have a baby and I would like to take a minute to post some information on this topic. The reason doctors recommend to get rid of your cat is because of the danger of Toxoplasmosis which cats can carry (not always) and you get from cleaning the litter box. This can harm an unborn child if you come into contact with it.
As a pet owner I would NEVER give my pet up they are like family to me but some do not feel this way. Most people will not take a grown cat. Most want KITTENS. So finding a home for your pet will be very hard. Most people do not know that if you turn your cat over to a kill shelter thinking they will find it a home you are greatly decieved! As an owner turn in, if the facility needs space and usually during kitten season they do, they can immediately kill your cat without a 72 hr wait never even offering it up for adoption. Your cat will pay the price with his life.
It is very simple and easy to keep your cat if you are pregnant all you need to do is have someone else clean the litter box. OR you can use gloves if you must and thoroughly wash your hands when done. You can still pet and cuddle with your cat! You can also rule out the exposure with Toxoplasmosis by having your cat tested. Shame on doctors for telling families they have to get rid of their pets! Here is more information:

From the ASPCA website:
Toxoplasmosis What Is Toxoplasmosis? Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which can be found in garden soil and raw meat. Cats can get toxoplasma infection by killing and eating infected prey. The disease can also be passed on from cats to humans.

How Do Cats Get Toxoplasmosis? Cats most often become carriers of toxoplasmosis by killing and eating wild animals who have been infected—a good reason not to let your cat outside to hunt! A cat may also contract the disease should he come into contact with an infected cat’s feces. Once a cat is infected, the parasite multiplies in his intestines until immature eggs called oocysts are shed in his feces. Infected cats can shed oocysts for up to two weeks after initial infection.

What Are The Symptoms Of Toxoplasmosis in Cats? Most cats become immune to the disease through exposure to the parasite. However, those who aren’t already immune may have mild diarrhea and a loss of appetite; the disease can also affect a feline’s lungs, liver and nervous system. Kittens exposed to the parasite while still in the womb are most vulnerable—and are more likely than adult cats to show symptoms.

What Should I Do If I Think My Cat Has Toxoplasmosis? If you suspect your cat is carrying the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, it’s time to get him tested by your veterinarian. If he tests positive, it means he has been exposed to the disease but is unlikely to be shedding oocysts after an initial two-week period. If he tests negative, it means he has not been exposed and could still become infected and shed oocysts—but again only for two weeks.

Cats who are capable of shedding eggs should be isolated from children and other pets, pregnant moms and any immunocompromised people in the household. Also, be sure to clean his litter box and bedding twice each day while wearing disposable gloves.

Is There A Cure for Toxoplasmosis? Antibiotics are available that can clear up most of the symptoms of toxoplasmosis. Although they do not kill the parasite, they can provide an effective treatment.

How Can People Catch Toxoplasmosis? Although people can be infected through contact with cat feces, the far more common way for someone to have contact with the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis is through unhygienic handling of raw or undercooked meat, drinking contaminated water and exposure to garden soil or sandboxes where infected cats may have defecated. People do not get the disease through direct contact with the cat himself.

Can Humans Get Toxoplasmosis from Cats? Fortunately, most people have been exposed to or infected by Toxoplasma and already have immunity to the disease. People with weakened immune systems run the greatest risk of contracting toxoplasmosis. If a woman is infected while pregnant, the growing fetus can also become infected. This can result in cysts in the fetus’ brain, and can lead to developmental abnormalities, miscarriage or stillbirth. People with compromised immune systems are susceptible to a number of infections and should take the proper hygienic precautions to protect themselves against exposure to the disease.

What Are the Symptoms of Toxoplasmosis in Humans? People who are affected by toxoplasmosis may have fever, shortness of breath and neurological problems, such as seizures and lack of coordination. Those in relatively good health will usually show no signs or simply have mild, flu-like symptoms.

How Can Toxoplasmosis Be Prevented? If you have reason to be concerned (if your cat hunts, for example), cat parents, pregnant moms and immunocompromised individuals can take some simple precautions against toxoplasmosis:

• Have all cats in your household tested by your veterinarian for the parasite and make certain the test results are explained to you.
• Keep your cat(s) indoors.
• Do not feed your cat raw meat.
• Do not eat undercooked meat yourself.
• Do not allow your cat to hunt and eat wild mice, birds, etc.
• Use disposable rubber gloves when cleaning the litter box.
• Wear gloves and protective clothing when gardening.
• Cover your child’s sandbox when not in use; this will prevent possibly infected cats from defecating in it.
• Take proper hygienic precautions when handling raw meat.
• Pregnant moms and immunocompromised people with cats who cannot get someone else clean the litter box for them should wear gloves, clean the litter box promptly twice a day before the oocysts can become infective and wash their hands when finished.

It is not necessary to relinquish a cat if he has toxoplasmosis. By taking the recommended steps above to practice good hygiene, both cat and humans can remain safe and healthy.


You can also use our worksheet ; Are you ready for a furry friend?

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any helpful suggestions for keeping your pet or other insites on things to consider before owning a pet please feel free to comment. Also any suggestions on how to save money with your pet would be welcome.

Recently one of my beloved kitties got sick. I couldn't figure out what was wrong and after a trip to the vet and bloodwork it was inconclusive but showed it could be a virus. My vet gave her a shot to lower her temp and another (Convenia) for the virus. 
After I  relayed this information on our FB page someone commented that their vet was told to stop giving this shot but  she couldn't remember why so I did some research on google. 
This shot, as I understood it from my vets info years ago is mainly for deep tissue injuries and dental infections. Several of my cats have had this shot and we've had no problems or reactions from the ones who have received it. So needless to say I was not really that concerned about the shot until she told me this. 

The first cat we had that got this shot was for a deep tissue wound. The second had diarrhea. Others that received the shot were feral and sick and I could not medicate them so they gave them the convenia shot for various colds/URI infections. The vet told us that even though it was mainly for deep tissue wounds that we could give it a try and it might help which it did. So the scope in which we have used the shot for was for more than just deep tissue or dental  problems and it did seem to work.

One such instance was when  our Wendycat had horrible watery diarrhea and stopped eating. After the shot she didn't eat for 4 days straight and then suddenly started eating whether it was the shot or something else we don't know but she survived and I was thankful the shot helped at least I think it did. I have noticed that my vet seems more willing to give this shot for a more wide variety of ailments than at first and I believe its because it seems to have helped. There are many drugs that are used for more things than they are intended for at first and vets have found other uses for them. 

So back to my research online. I found this information that I did not know which is the down side of this shot. I think its good to know all you can about a medicine so you can make a decision as to what you would like your vet to prescribe for you cat as its usually the owners preference that determines this. 

This shot is an extended slow release antibiotic. As with any medicines it can have reactions and sometimes they can be severe depending on the animal. The problem with this shot is that it is not like other antibiotics that are usually out of the system quicker. Convenia exerts its antibacterial effects for approximately 1-2 weeks but stays in the body for over 2 months.So if your cat has a severe reaction to this there is no way to clear its body of it. Death has occurred in some cases. 


Convenia shots seem nice to those who don't want to go through the trouble of medicating once or twice a day as most antibiotics require but you must decide if it is worth the risk especially when there are safer means of medicating available. Many of my cats have had this shot and we have not had any bad reactions to this shot.  I believe, after much reading, that it is an alternative for say ferals (who you cannot give medicine to or handle)  or for what it was intended for but in the future we have decided we will use this only when we cannot use other options in light of what I have learned about the risks of this shot. We use several vets and all have told us they have not had any severe reactions to this shot.
Most people don't understand that the drug lasts in the system for up to 65 days. I know I didn't and so I thought I would pass this information along to all of you. 
 I do find it concerning some vets will just give the shot without informing you about it and so you have to tell them you do not want them to give it and keep it on file. 

Here is a very helpful link where I got most of my information. 
http://www.catinfo.org/?link=convenia
I  am including a few more links and if you google this you can find many more sites and blogs on the subject. So please be informed and use at your own risk just be informed and make the best decision you can for your pet. 


 http://www.livestrong.com/article/249522-side-effects-of-convenia/

http://consciouscat.net/2011/09/26/convenia-for-cats-sacrificing-safety-for-convenience/ 

If you would like to discuss this there is a Facebook page dedicated to this. This blog was meant to be informative and not a forum for people to belittle those who choose to use convenia. 

Ever wonder why your cat is laying in the sun, enjoying the heat when you are sweating and thinking clearly your cat has lost his mind?

First you must realize that cats do not feel heat the way we do.

A cats body temperature is 102 degrees which is much warmer that our 98.7 degrees.

Cats also have fewer heat receptors than we do. While we feel pain at a temp of 112 degrees a cat won't feel pain until it reaches 126 degrees which is why cats get burned more easily. They will lay too close to a fire or walk on a hot stove.

The breed of a cat makes a difference too. Different breeds are more tolerant of cold. Breeds like the Maine Coon with their thick fur coat helps to keep them warmer than other breeds.

Also the age of a cat can determine how warm they need to be. Newborns cannot produce enough heat on their own and therefore depend on the mother cat for warmth. Newborns have a keen sense of temperature using the receptors on their face. This allows them to find the mother cat while their eyes are still closed. This is why you must provide warmth to kittens who have lost their mother. Kittens that are too cold will not eat or thrive.

Illness will also change a cats heat seeking behavior. While some illnesses cause cats to seek out cooler spots than normal others will cause them to find warmer than normal places. It is very important to observe your cats behavior and if there are any changes you should contact your veterinarian.

It is also helpful to understand the origin of the cat to get a better idea of why they seek warmth.

Desert cats bodies are built to throw off heat with their long bodies and short hair while colder climate cats have longer hair and shorter stocky bodies.

Cats are mammals which means they use a certain amount of fuel to heat their bodies. Almost a third of their fuel is used to maintain their skin and fur.

Cats will conserve energy by using the solar energy of the sun to stay warm. You will see them follow the sunlight as it inches across the room.  This odd behavior offsets the body's drop is basal metabolism that occurs with sleeps shutdown of certain body processes.

It doesn't necessarily have to be the sun, but any warm place such as under a lamp or next to a fire, on a car hood or even under the car in the motor which you must be extremely careful of as many cats get killed in the fan when the car is started for this reason.

This heat seeking behavior allows a cats body to not work as hard to stay warm while napping.

So while your cat may baffle you at times with his odd behavior remember it is serving a much needed purpose.

To learn more about this and other cat related wonders you can try this wonderful blog I found :
http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/why-do-cats-lie-in-the-sun/3302

I also found this link helpful:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=297