by Lupe Gore

Feral Paws Rescue Group in Fresno shares with us some of their animal rescue adventures every month. Check out KRL’s article about Feral Paws to learn more about them. Lupe Gore is a FPRG volunteer.

My name is Mr. Mann, and I am a handsome (if I may say so myself), large orange tabby. I am eight years old. Mom found me when I was a kitten, in a drain hole, on a rainy day. I was almost dead when she pulled me out. She rushed me to the vet and was so patient, because it took a while before I got better.

Now my mom needed to find somewhere willing to foster me while my she was going to school out of state. She was running out of hope, and thought she was going to have to give me up for good. Then a friend told her about Feral Paws Rescue (FPR), that they might be willing to help. I watched my mom on the phone with the Rescue; she was so hopeful that they would be able to help. I could see on Mom’s face it wasn’t going well, that they didn’t take in fosters. After hanging up with the rescue, she told me that it looked like she was going to have to give me up for good and send me to a shelter permanently. But then the CEO of Feral Paws Rescue called Mom back and told her that her story touched her heart. She said she was willing to take me in for the time that Mom would be gone to school out of state. My mom brought me over to FPR, got to see the Rescue, and felt that I would be safe while she was gone.

I came to FPR on August 17, 2018, and due to my need for special food because of a medical condition, I had to be separated from the other cats. I was initially put in a kennel, which turned out to be too small for me, so the nice people at the Rescue got me a special house to live in. It has a roof, a perch big enough for me to sleep on, and plenty of room below the perch for my litter pan, and food and water bowls. They also wanted me to have a nice view from my condo, so I am in the front of the property next to the house that belongs to the Rescue owner’s granddaughters. I got to know them and we enjoy talking to each other all day.

When I arrived, the weather was still very hot, so it was nice to be in a shady area where I could take nice long naps. Over the last few months I have enjoyed watching the other cats who roam freely at the Rescue, along with some chickens and the two dogs. I have a view of the front lawn and the street where I can watch everyone who visits. Every time one of the humans comes into my area I start talking to them. Everyone is nice here; they all stop and say “Hi Mr. Mann.” They pay a lot of attention to me! I like that!

I make videos where I talk to my mom, and Feral Paws sends them to her. My mom even calls me on the phone, and I can hear her voice and love talking to her. She missed me so much, she flew in from Montana just to spend three hours holding me before flying back. If it wasn’t for Feral Paws letting me stay here, my mom would have had to give me up for good!

She checks in on me every week. I can’t wait to get back to be with her and my best friend, who is a dog. Our mom had to find a place for him to stay as well while she is away at school.

Meanwhile it’s now winter, and I am enjoying things like watching the rain. I like to try to stick out my paw to catch the raindrops, but I can’t get it through the wire on my enclosure! There’s also this thing called fog, which makes it so I can’t see very far. There are cold nights and mornings; even the sun doesn’t always warm things up. I’m keeping warm, though, with my nice big blankets and cat bed, and I have a very thick fur coat.

On Christmas there were lots of adults and children who were visiting the cats housed next door to me. They paid attention to me but not like Mom would, and it made me miss her again, even though I am managing very well here. I’m very grateful to Feral Paws Rescue for giving me a “home away from home” during these months. Now, I’m just waiting for Mom to come through the front gate, give me one of her special hugs, and take me home.

The next Cat Adoption Event will be January19, Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tractor Supply Co. 1630 Herndon Avenue, Clovis CA.

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section & watch for more stories from Feral Paws every other month, and we would love to have you join our KRL Pets Facebook group. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to Feral Paws.