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 and check out their website.
Golden years. Those years when one is supposed to be living a life of leisure without a care in the world, secure in their life situation, and secure in their home. This month, we will profile three cats who thought they were in such circumstances but were sadly surrendered to the CCSPCA by the humans they trusted. Two of them are ten-year-old siblings who were put into separate kennels while at the shelter. The third one felt so betrayed he was starting to shut down. Feral Paws Rescue saved them all.
This is their story.
Mamas and Papas
Mamas and Papas sounds like someone was a fan of the popular ‘60s folk rock group! In fact, they are a bonded, longhair, black brother and sister who are over ten years old. Their fur is soft and silky, and they have bright beautiful eyes. The one way to easily tell them apart is that Mamas has white whiskers. They are both very gentle and want to be held and loved. When Feral Paws rescued them, rescue staff knew this bonded pair had to be housed together, so they now have a nice condo with an upstairs bedroom area where these dear cats enjoy sleeping together on a warm blanket. They were so happy to be together again when they moved into their new dwelling at the Rescue that they immediately went to their sleeping area to nap together. The downstairs area has their food, water, and litter pan, and they can look out and see other cats who are similarly housed. They know when their new human caretaker comes around to feed and see them and the other cats and are waiting for that person. A recent trip for a routine Vet check made it so they had to be in separate carriers, but they were promised they’d be back in their little house soon. It might not be the same life they once had since birth, as they had been with their previous human since they were newborns, but at least they will be together and given all the love they so deserve.
Johnny
Johnny is a fifteen year old brown/black tabby with white markings on his face and paws. He had been with his previous human for seven years, and was not adjusting well to the shelter environment, had gotten a cold, and wasn’t eating. Shelter staff was concerned about his behavior, and Feral Paws Rescue stepped up and pulled him after only four days at the shelter. Instead of taking him to the main rescue due to his age, he was placed in foster care. The foster has several other cats, but Johnny bonded with his new human, even though not so much with the other cats who he still hisses at occasionally. Johnny loves to sleep on the bed with his human, and when she isn’t in bed, he stays there most of the time in the same place she sleeps. Johnny also loves to sleep under the blankets and snuggle. He isn’t playful, those days in his life are gone, since after all, he’s the equivalent of a seventy-year-old human. But he still purrs and loves to be petted. He knows he’s safe now for the rest of his days, as he will remain with the person who initially was his foster “mom” who has chosen to keep him.
Feral Paws Rescue understands that people’s lives and circumstances change and sometimes people are unable to keep their beloved pets, and those people think the best thing they can do is to take them to the shelter. These senior cats are usually not adoptable from the shelter, however, and that is where and when a rescue must come forward to save them. All pets have emotions, and when they are taken from the homes they are familiar with and end up in a metal kennel in a building with people they don’t know, they can react differently, mostly depending how long they have been in their previous home and their own natural disposition. And likewise, when they come under the care of Feral Paws Rescue, they are placed accordingly to give them the best life possible. Even cats deserve to be secure in their golden years.
EMAIL: fprg.org@gmail[dot]com
Phone: 559-412-7226
Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section & watch for more stories from Feral Paws every 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.
Related
You are compassionate and understanding and thank Heavens you were there fore these seniors. I would take on a senior here in New Zealand with NO hesitation, they value a safe haven and are a real blessing.