Golden Years
-Helen Morrison, Board President
It's inevitable, isn't it....growing old. And actually, those that have the time to grow old are very lucky. In 2007, three stray cats showed up at my door. Two were perhaps a year old, and one was a kitten. Time has passed, with all its ebbs and flows, peaceful times and challenging times...and now, they are 16 and 17 years old. Recently, one passed away. His name was Tuxedo Junction. He developed heart issues and probably lung cancer. Olivia was a young orange girl, zooming across my hillside, and hiding out in a shed. It took a bit to tame her. I worked with her, first in the basement, and then as she came up and mixed with the other cats. I was going to find her a home. But we all know how that goes. You get attached. She has had a wonderful, long life. And now, Olivia is dealing with progressive kidney disease, and accompanying high blood pressure. But we have those managed with meds. Nothing drastic, nothing invasive...but trying to slow the progress, keep her comfortable and enjoying life, making concessions so that she can enjoy her food. And there is Smokey Shadows. Such a handsome boy, in wonderful shape for 17 years. His back legs hurt a bit when he walks. I can tell, because he walks very stiffly. But he is well, sometimes even getting the zoomies. Arthritis, we think…not so easy to deal with in cats, not so easy to manage.
And then there are our very senior Shelter cats
There is Goldie. She is 15 years old, has beautiful long white fur...which gets brushed and petted by loving volunteers. Goldie is blind...and at least partially deaf. She is in a sweet, quiet room, with everything she needs...a chair for a human to sit on and hold her on their lap...a tower that she loves to sleep on, her food and water area, and a special place for her litter box. Nothing gets moved...everything is always in the same place. She counts on that.
-Helen Morrison, Board President
It's inevitable, isn't it....growing old. And actually, those that have the time to grow old are very lucky. In 2007, three stray cats showed up at my door. Two were perhaps a year old, and one was a kitten. Time has passed, with all its ebbs and flows, peaceful times and challenging times...and now, they are 16 and 17 years old. Recently, one passed away. His name was Tuxedo Junction. He developed heart issues and probably lung cancer. Olivia was a young orange girl, zooming across my hillside, and hiding out in a shed. It took a bit to tame her. I worked with her, first in the basement, and then as she came up and mixed with the other cats. I was going to find her a home. But we all know how that goes. You get attached. She has had a wonderful, long life. And now, Olivia is dealing with progressive kidney disease, and accompanying high blood pressure. But we have those managed with meds. Nothing drastic, nothing invasive...but trying to slow the progress, keep her comfortable and enjoying life, making concessions so that she can enjoy her food. And there is Smokey Shadows. Such a handsome boy, in wonderful shape for 17 years. His back legs hurt a bit when he walks. I can tell, because he walks very stiffly. But he is well, sometimes even getting the zoomies. Arthritis, we think…not so easy to deal with in cats, not so easy to manage.
And then there are our very senior Shelter cats
There is Goldie. She is 15 years old, has beautiful long white fur...which gets brushed and petted by loving volunteers. Goldie is blind...and at least partially deaf. She is in a sweet, quiet room, with everything she needs...a chair for a human to sit on and hold her on their lap...a tower that she loves to sleep on, her food and water area, and a special place for her litter box. Nothing gets moved...everything is always in the same place. She counts on that.
There is Ranger, who is 12 years old. He got bounced around a bit, after he was adopted out six years ago. But he is back with us, safe and sound, and very well loved. He is a bit stiff in his hind legs, and has a bit of a heart issue, which is taken care of with meds.. He is so friendly and engaging...and loves to go from his special room with a window...out into the lobby to explore. He is definitely Mr. Social Greeter.
And there is Mimi, who is 18 years old. She is probably deaf and was living in a home full of sadness...and cried out a lot, very loudly, non-stop. It was almost a kind of wailing. But she has a nice big room at the Shelter, that we fondly call the "Senior Living Center". She has a cot to sleep on, two windows, towers that she is able to navigate. Folks go in and take naps on the cot...which she loves. She gets a nice combing every day. Of course, Mimi has some kidney health issues...but that doesn't stop her. She greets visitors with her cheerful loud voice and loves being petted and combed.
So...the progression of time...with our beloved lifelong pets. We may get them as kittens or young adults. But we know they will age, and that will be accompanied by changes and challenges in health and comfort. But, that is what we sign on for...to see them through to their transition out of their present feline form. It isn't always easy...it brings worry, heartache, and expense...but in the midst of that, are the very sweet moments where we hold them, and love them, and look into their eyes...maybe do a few slow blinks, all so they know we love them and that they are as safe and sound and secure…. and as peaceful as we can make them.
So...the progression of time...with our beloved lifelong pets. We may get them as kittens or young adults. But we know they will age, and that will be accompanied by changes and challenges in health and comfort. But, that is what we sign on for...to see them through to their transition out of their present feline form. It isn't always easy...it brings worry, heartache, and expense...but in the midst of that, are the very sweet moments where we hold them, and love them, and look into their eyes...maybe do a few slow blinks, all so they know we love them and that they are as safe and sound and secure…. and as peaceful as we can make them.