Meowllo and Happy Humpday to you all.  (Mommy wrote a poem at da end of meez posty, hope yous like it.)  First me wants to tell yous sum good news.  A foo postys back me told you all ‘bout a cute little Bengal boy dat wuz missin’.  Him IS Back home now fankfully and da lady dat bwought hims home didn’t want da reward so it wuz donated to udder kitties in need.  Him had been catnapped by a neighbor man acwoss da way and da nasty man had even we-named him.  Anyways, Cheetah’s home and hims mommy be welieved.  Fank all of yous who shawed him and prayed fur him.  But dat kinda leads us to todays posty.   It’s gunna be one of those serious ones where we speak human so evewypawdy can unnewstand. And so wiff out further adieu,   

 

I wanna talk a bit today about adoptions and surrenders.  Seems like lately we have read about more and more older kitties being surrendered to shelters.  Oh there’s a myriad of reasons, from behaior problems, to illnesses and relocating of the human family.  The reasons are as varied as the cats and never cease to amaze us.  As you all know, cuz we tell you all the time; sis Lexi is 15 years old and doesn’t have very many teeth anymore.  She drools when she get happy (course she always did that) and before she takes a drink, she sticks her paw in the water and then shakes it off slinging water all over the place, and anyone or thing that happens to be in the vicinity.  

As for me, again as you know, I have began to piddle outside the litter box ‘bout 60% of the time.  So it’s not like we don’t have our issues that mommy has to take care of, and we know some of you deal with a lot more.  And yet, each and everyday instead of making the trip to the local shelter to surrender your problem cats you deal with them. 

So are you and our mommy saints?  Is there something special about you?  Do you know something that these other people don’t?  Well if you ask me and sissy we of course would say absolutely yes to all of those questions.  But the truth is that you are just like those people with one exception, you treat us like members of your family and not just animals.  Truth is there a quite a few things that set you all apart, but me would be here forever and this would be the longest posty ever if me went into all of it.  Some of you purchased pure bred animals and some of you adopted pure breeds and/or mixes.  Doesn’t really matter, how you got your fur family, you love us.  And we in turn love and adore you.   

Truth is a lot of the behavioral problems kitties have are either due to an illness or human neglect.  By neglect we don’t necessarily mean abuse, but a cat that scratches the furniture probably hasn’t been exposed to the proper scratching post or surface.  Or perhaps it’s even more simple and it’s a Persian kitty purchased or adopted because it was popular and looked so pretty with all that fur and smashed face, but now it’s all matted up and smelly and fights and bites it’s humans when they try to brush all those mats out. 

If peeps would do a little research before adopting or buying maybe they would find that kitty that looks so cool in the photo doesn’t really fit their lifestyle.  Or the Bengal or Savannah that makes you feel like you own your very own wild cat is too active or destructive because you don’t have the time to spend socializing and exercising them.  Come on peeps, all us kitties want is a forever home where we will be loved and taken care of.  But all of us need a little extra care depending on breed.  Even mixed kitties have a dominant breed that will sometimes determine their extra care.  Or maybe it’s what they were exposed to before coming into your life.  Certainly me doesn’t wanna suggest that you not adopt a kitty, cause you should!!!  But you should educate yourself a little first.  Make sure the kitty you’re looking at fits your lifestyle and that you have adequate time to provide them with the appropriate care. 

And then we get to those who turn in that older cat cause the family is moving and the new house/apartment doesn’t accept pets.  OMC ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!!!!  Just who do you think you are?  Abandoning a living, breathing, feeling family member?  One that has been devoted to you and loved you and been there for you through the years.  Guess where most of those kitties end up.  DEAD!!!! Me not going to sugar coat it for you, or give it some nice politically correct term.  The shelters kill them!! Kittens are far more adoptable and run to the edge of the cage at potential adopters.  All the while your “beloved” former furry cowers in the back of the cage wondering what it was that they did wrong and where you are. 

Or even worse, you surrender the older kitty with a chronic illness.  Sure enough he/she is dead.  He/She was dead the minute you walked through the door.  Shelters don’t have the time or staff to take care of the sick older far less adoptable kitties.  Guess what you’re teaching your children and/or grandchildren?  Someday when you become too old or too much trouble they’re going to drop you off at the old folks home and never come back.  That is if anything in this universe is fair!!! 

You know you wouldn’t move to the house or apartment that told you your children weren’t allowed.  And for you younger set, there really used to be properties/landlords that said that, until the government passed a law that forbade it.  If you have a cat, DON’T move somewhere that you can’t take them!!!  It shouldn’t be okay with you to give up a family member just because it has fur and walks on 4 paws.  We have feelings and we love you.  We don’t understand when you dump us off somewhere scary.  And more often than not we don’t stand a chance of finding another home.    

Please, if you’re going to adopt/buy a cat or kitten, do some research first to make sure you choose the right breed or mix.  And be certain that you’re ready to keep us until it is our time to go.  And please, make some preparations for us in the event you can no longer take care of us due to death.  As we and that includes our mommy; see death the only reason you can no longer provide a home for us.  These days there are so many options there’s really no excuse.  We didn’t intend to offend or hurt any body’s feelings with this post, but this is something we feel very strongly about.  Please don’t leave us wondering “where’s my home?” 

                    FUREVER

Mommy: I love you with all my heart and soul.

You make my days brighter and fill my nights with joy. 

When you came into my life it was forever,

And not just until I found something better. 

Kitty: I will be by your side and in your lap,

Cause for me you are my hero, my world. 

I will love you and cherish you till the light dims in my eyes,

For a loving and forever home my heart cries.

Mommy: Together forever and ever we’ll be, 

Till the good Lord above shall take you from me. 

We’ll meet again on the other side,

Where the light again will shine,

     in both our eyes.

 

©2014 {Audra High} All Rights Reserved

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses    

Dezi