JUNE IS ADOPT-A-SHELTER-CAT MONTH!

Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash

It’s Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month!

This is Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month, the month I remember the two cats I’ve adopted in June as a celebration of the campaign. One has crossed the Rainbow Bridge, far too soon. The other, at a ripe old 20 years of age, is still very much with me.

Blaze with Tyler in the background

Blaze was only with us for a few years. Though he was only twelve, he had issues that created all sorts of physical problems including causing his broken arm to heal very slowly. That was when Blaze came from the Oregon Humane Society to our home for three months of fostering, then stayed forever.

Once the arm was healed, we thought he was out of the woods. But though he was my heart cat, it wasn’t meant to be. He broke my heart when two years later he developed an incurable neurological disorder and we had to let him fly free.

Tyler

Meet Tyler, my sage old boy. His actual adoptiversary was June 1, 2017, but we celebrate all month. Every day is a celebration with a super senior cat like Tyler!

Tyler has slowed down since he came from the Oregon Humane Society seven years ago. At that time, the doctors thought he was 18, even older than he was. Though I knew he would have the best of care, I couldn’t bear the idea of a cat that age languishing in the shelter. On the plus side, his health was very good despite untold years as a street stray. The only thing the docs had noticed were his chronic conjunctivitis and extensive tooth decay.  The conjunctivitis was something we would need to monitor, but they removed his bad teeth at the hospital. Tooth decay and stomatitis in cats are responsible for all sorts of issues that impact a cat’s health. That was something we would never have to worry about again.

When Tyler first came home with us, he was underweight with coarse fur and wavy, brittle whiskers. It didn’t take long to see improvement though. With regular healthy meals and a comfortable and non-stressful environment, Tyler blossomed. His fur became soft, his whiskers straightened, and he began to gain weight to match his large and muscular body.

He often played like a kitten. He’d race through the house after the other cats, most of whom enjoyed this game. He’d jump high in the air after feather wands. He’d retrieve sparkly balls which he would lay at our feet as an offering.

Seven years later.

It has now been seven years, and though he still plays between naps, the chase sessions are usually instigated by Clarence the kitten. He doesn’t jump much but will bat the feathers as they go by. He still brings us sparkly balls, meowing as he drops them on the floor before coming to lie beside me on the couch as we watch television. (I, also, am older than I used to be and not as energetic.)

A brand new toy, Just for me?

One toy Tyler hasn’t lost interest in is the Classic treat puzzle from CatAmazing. (Read my 2018 review here.) We bought a new one for this anniversary because the kitten has destroyed the old one. Granted we had it for a long time before he ripped it to shreds. Thankfully they are fully recyclable! Tyler is enjoying his new toy that is just for him. (Don’t worry. We have another one for the kitten made from a postal box that can be easily replaced.)

Beautiful Tyler

What will you do for cats this month?

Whether you are inspired to observe Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month with an actual shelter adoption, celebrate with the adoptees you already have, or find another way to help homeless cats, it’s important to remember that with love and kindness, we can change the cat world, one cat at a time.