Happy April, my sponsor friends!

Spring has been full of new beginnings at Tabby’s Place. The Suite floors were refinished, and the Lobby has new furniture and decor. Everything looks so nice.

Some of the cats disliked being shuffled around to temporary quarters during renovations, but I didn’t mind at all. I was pretty happy and comfortable wherever they put me. It is great to be back in Suite D with my friends, though.

Spring has seen some new beginnings for me personally. I have big news to share….. I have a girlfriend! Her name is Sage. She’s really nice and likes to hang out with me way up in my favorite spot. She even washes my head. I think we’re in love.

I’ve begun to feel much healthier, and I’m thrilled to be off two medications. What a change for the better. I’m finished with antibiotics, and I also no longer need pain medication. I guess I’ll always need a steroid to keep my skin condition in check, but that’s a small price to pay for finally feeling comfortable in my own skin (pun intended).

In order to move on to a new beginning, you oftentimes say goodbye to something else. I think it’s safe to say that I’ve said goodbye to my old life of being alone on the streets with no one to care about me.

Did I ever tell you that I had a soundtrack for my old life?

Do you know the rock band Green Day? Their song Boulevard of Broken Dreams defined my old life.

Even though it was written before my time, I considered it my personal anthem. It was as if the band deeply understood what it felt like to be me. Even though it’s a great song (you can listen to it at the end of this update), I’m officially saying goodbye to it. It no longer applies to my new, happy life here.

I often wondered why they chose to name their band Green Day. I assumed, because this song epitomized a deep understanding of loneliness, that a green day is when you’re having a truly miserable day. Like when you’re feeling blue because another cat is sleeping in your favorite spot and breakfast is late, but much, much worse. Like how I used to feel when I didn’t have a home. Maybe life wasn’t good to them, and they identified strongly with this.

I was a little wrong with my thinking. I’ve since learned that they chose to call themselves Green Day because they really liked smoking weed. I get it. I’m really fond of catnip.

My correspondent Nancy said it was interesting that I identified with that song, because I resembled the lead singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, back at the time the song was written. I think she might be right about this. I rock “guyliner” as he did, and I have naturally scruffy hair.

Correspondent Nancy sometimes calls me her little rock star. I thought it was because of how I dealt with everything I went through. But maybe it’s because I actually look like one. I don’t really look like any other cat here. Could it be that early onset of male-patterned baldness is actually making me… cool? 

Maybe I’ve discovered my “thing.” Lots of cats here at Tabby’s Place have a “thing” they’re known for. For instance, Rori is a famous “sitfluencer ” who writes Facebook reviews about the many things she sits on.

Olive’s “thing” is that she’s the official lobby meet and greeter. Tux was recently crowned Meow Madness tournament champion. He’s never mad at anyone or mad about anything, so I don’t get it. It was a very close final between him and Trifecta, who is the mildest-mannered cat here. I have a question mark over my head about this one.

My very nice suitemate, Faith, is all ears about everything that goes on. There’s a good reason for this because she is, after all, blind. But as soon as she heard that I might be a rock star…  she immediately started auditioning in case I start a band.

I wish I were a rock star. There are a couple of things I would do right away if I could. 

First, I would host a benefit concert to support the Cherish the Kittens Fund Drive, which is taking place through May 15th. I’m told that this fund-raising event takes place every year, but this year is especially significant. The goal is to build a state-of-the-art kitten nursery. The new facility would include specialized housing for nursing mothers and incubators for vulnerable wee ones. Donations are doubled during this drive. With the price of concert tickets, imagine what I would be able to contribute. I was a struggling kitten once. I remember. Too many of us don’t make it.

Second, I would ask to have all my front arm fur shaved so I could get tattoos. On one arm, I would want the names of the Veterinary staff who saved my life, and the people who took care of me.

On my other arm, I would want your name and the names of my other sponsors. I’m so appreciative every day for the generous support you give me. It would be a great way to show how much you mean to me.

I hope spring brings beautiful beginnings to your life, too. Thank you from my heart for making all these positive changes in my life possible. Rock on, dear sponsor!

Love,
Chester
(With help from your correspondent, Nancy)