Apache was bought to be a “birthday party puma” – a life that involves being brought to parties where lots of people want to pet you.  Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that once a birthday party puma grows too big to be brought to events, the puma becomes somewhat “useless.”  Apache is one of the lucky rescues: she came to Panther Ridge in 1999 once she was deemed too big to entertain.  She arrived wearing a pink collar that was so tight that even after it was removed, it took weeks for the collar mark to disappear. 

Apache can be slow to warm up to new people and clearly plays favorites.  She doesn’t like loud noises or loud people, which probably reflects her early upbringing.  However, if you’re one of her favorite people, she can be incredibly sweet and will “chirp” to call you.  We call her “Apache Scissor-Teeth” because she is so meticulous in the way she manicures the greenery in her enclosure with her teeth.  She looks so proud of her accomplishment – new plants last only a few hours with Apache Scissor Teeth!

CJ, who turns 15 in 2009, was brought to Panther Ridge in 2001 by owners who needed to “board” the cat while they were working on his cage.  The owners never came back to reclaim CJ, as the laws in their home state changed, making private ownership almost impossible.

These sweet cougars have become Panther Ridge’s greeters.  CJ will sit by the fence for hours, “asking” for back rubs. 

NOTE: We recently said goodbye to Coco, who had arrived with CJ in 2001. She had medical problems her entire life, including pancreatic insufficiency and inflammatory bowel disease. For some time we managed those conditions with enzymes. After much medical attention, we discovered that the only remedy was a diet of whole foods: rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small animals. She was a high maintenance kitty, but returned all of our attention with love and feline curiosity. We will miss her, but are glad to have provided a happy home for so many years. 

While CJ had been healthy for years, his recent blood work shows early signs of kidney problems.  His daily regimen now consists of kidney strengthening herbs, glandular and vitamins, and oh yes, daily back rubs!

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