IT STARTED WHEN ONE CAT SPENT A YEAR IN THE SHELTER
IT STARTED WHEN ONE CAT SPENT A YEAR IN THE SHELTER
I had three aged cats, one at 17 years (Charlie), one of unknown age but was a beat up former feral that ‘came with the house’ (Niko), and a 14 year old cat (Toby) who I had rescued years before as a stray kitten. The Niko died abruptly one day, and a few months later, kidney failure took Charlie.
I sat and watched Toby fall into a depression.
I adopted an older cat (Spell) who was happy to be out of the shelter, but was not the snuggle-buddy that old man Toby needed. I was torn. Toby needed a friend, but I wasn’t going to send Spell back (turns out she’s a very talented shoe artist!). So I looked at shelters.
Sage had been in the shelter for months and was continuously passed over because of his age. He was 12 at the time. When he came home with me, he had spent an entire year at the shelter. That’s when I decided to start taking in older cats.
Shadow came along, needing rehoming as a result of a divorce. He has health problems that require a special diet. This didn’t bother me.
I was at four cats now. All older. One with special needs. I felt good, like I was making a difference.
Then Toby died. Kidney failure sneaked up and took him in a few short days.
But I had had my eyes on another shelter cat that was getting overlooked. Snickerdoodle was hyperthyroid, and no one wanted to deal with that. At about that same time, a call went out to help an old cat named Spike, who had FIV.
Then came Skittles. her heart problems precluded her coming with her family when they moved to New Zealand.
And Stan, and Monster, and Animal, and Peanut, and Snow – each cat with a tragic story. Each needing a place to be safe.
Mew-Mew House was born.
Help us help them.