In the Moment
Helen Morrison, President, Board of Directors
I don’t know about you, but whenever I come in contact with beings, especially cats, that are challenged in some way, have some disability, my heart just aches for them. I can even get a bit obsessed with it all, wanting them not to be uncomfortable, wanting to make their life easier, even taking on this attitude of pity.
That happened for me with Mischa…whose previous life was pretty horrific.
That happened for me with Mischa…whose previous life was pretty horrific.
And it happened with Addie…whose face had been badly injured by a predator. It looked so horrible, so uncomfortable, that I wanted it to be better quickly, I wanted to fix it “now”.
But Dr. Sally and others had such a good sense of calm, of being careful and methodical and sensible, that I was able to fall into a pattern of care for Addie that was gentle and proper. And slowly Addie got better and healed. All along, she just had this incredible joy of life. She still has a bit of a funny face. But she doesn’t know it’s a funny face!
(See the update on Addie in her new home in the Adoption Updates).
And here’s the thing. Cats don’t go into this emotional contortion of anxiety and “wishing for another now”. They simply live in the moment…no pondering on the past, no worrying about the future. And because of their being in the moment, they are able to settle into it, enjoy it even, and not have the weight of all that has happened linger on and color everything.
It is a wonderful lesson, really.
But Dr. Sally and others had such a good sense of calm, of being careful and methodical and sensible, that I was able to fall into a pattern of care for Addie that was gentle and proper. And slowly Addie got better and healed. All along, she just had this incredible joy of life. She still has a bit of a funny face. But she doesn’t know it’s a funny face!
(See the update on Addie in her new home in the Adoption Updates).
And here’s the thing. Cats don’t go into this emotional contortion of anxiety and “wishing for another now”. They simply live in the moment…no pondering on the past, no worrying about the future. And because of their being in the moment, they are able to settle into it, enjoy it even, and not have the weight of all that has happened linger on and color everything.
It is a wonderful lesson, really.
Not long ago, we took in four kittens from a feral colony in Ryegate. Their names became Ashton, Ebony, Stuart, and Frances. They really came along quite well in terms of socializing. But we began to notice that Ebony and Stuart, when out running around the lobby at the Shelter, were bumping into things. And we began to notice that their eyes would stare a bit blankly and had a greenish glare to their lenses. Dr. Sally determined that these two had Progressive Retinal Atrophy. It is a genetic condition where the vessels bringing blood to the retina and optic nerve kind of shrivel up and no longer “feed” the tissues in the back of the eye. And so the sight diminishes until there is almost-to-no sight.
As I watched this happen, as I watched them run into things, or stare at the ceiling lights, my heart just ached for them. I felt such pity, such sadness. And then…a strange thing happened. I realized that they were having a great time being alive…playing with their friends, jumping on each other, wrestling, zooming around, following the noises of toys.
Click here to watch Stuart and Ashton playing on YouTube
Click here to watch Stuart and Ashton playing on YouTube
They had no interest in my pity or sadness. They were in the moment, and having a ball. It was really a wake up moment for me…a reawakening, really…that these challenges, even heavy duty ones, are not the determiners of these cats’ lives. That it is our responsibility to simply make the moment the best and most comfortable and normal that it can be. That’s all they want…to be safe and loved and as much as possible, able to enjoy all the things that other cats and kittens enjoy.
So…for my part, always hopefully able to learn, I present to you, Stuart and Ashton, who are available for adoption. Stuart is a tabby boy, full of beans and mischief and the joy of life, even though blind. And I present to you, Ashton, a black young feline fella, full of beans and mischief and the joy of life, even though sighted. We are looking for a home for them together. If their new owners can make sure that Stuart is relatively safe, then these two will be a total joy to have in one’s life.
So…for my part, always hopefully able to learn, I present to you, Stuart and Ashton, who are available for adoption. Stuart is a tabby boy, full of beans and mischief and the joy of life, even though blind. And I present to you, Ashton, a black young feline fella, full of beans and mischief and the joy of life, even though sighted. We are looking for a home for them together. If their new owners can make sure that Stuart is relatively safe, then these two will be a total joy to have in one’s life.
Here are some suggestions that are helpful for adopting a blind kitty. They are all quite manageable, for sure.
❤️ Create a safe and consistent environment
❤️ Remove or block hazards: Secure electrical cords and remove sharp objects, toxic plants, and clutter to prevent injury.
❤️ Keep furniture in place: Avoid moving furniture to maintain a predictable layout the kitten can learn.
❤️ Use tactile markers: Place textured mats under the food, water, and litter box to help the kitten identify key areas.
❤️ Block off unsafe areas: Secure staircases to prevent falls and keep toilet lids closed.
❤️ Engage with your kitten
❤️ Communicate with your voice:
❤️ Always talk to your kitten before approaching or picking it up to avoid startling it.
Encourage independence: Guide the kitten to walk around on its own, as it will follow the scent trail left by glands on its paws.
❤️ Provide stimulating toys: Use noisy toys and those with scents like catnip to engage its senses of hearing and smell.
❤️ Love them to pieces!!! You can create an amazing bond and they will be forever grateful!!
So, lesson learned from the best teachers in the world, on how to live life. No pity, just love, being in the moment, and experiencing the joy of being alive!!!
That’s Stuart and Ashton.
❤️ Create a safe and consistent environment
❤️ Remove or block hazards: Secure electrical cords and remove sharp objects, toxic plants, and clutter to prevent injury.
❤️ Keep furniture in place: Avoid moving furniture to maintain a predictable layout the kitten can learn.
❤️ Use tactile markers: Place textured mats under the food, water, and litter box to help the kitten identify key areas.
❤️ Block off unsafe areas: Secure staircases to prevent falls and keep toilet lids closed.
❤️ Engage with your kitten
❤️ Communicate with your voice:
❤️ Always talk to your kitten before approaching or picking it up to avoid startling it.
Encourage independence: Guide the kitten to walk around on its own, as it will follow the scent trail left by glands on its paws.
❤️ Provide stimulating toys: Use noisy toys and those with scents like catnip to engage its senses of hearing and smell.
❤️ Love them to pieces!!! You can create an amazing bond and they will be forever grateful!!
So, lesson learned from the best teachers in the world, on how to live life. No pity, just love, being in the moment, and experiencing the joy of being alive!!!
That’s Stuart and Ashton.