Tabby’s Place sponsorships are a very serious and an extremely silly matter. The proportions of serious to silly change daily, monthly, and yearly with the changing needs of our much beloved, advanced needs cats. The proportions also change by the moment because cats, man. One thing that has remained steady is that a particular sponsor has been visiting Tux for years. Did you know that sponsors can sign up for visits with their sponsored cats? Happily, Pat, one such visitor, has allowed me to share a glimpse of the rewards to be gleaned for all involved from such meetings.
As many of you may be aware, Tux is smashing the whole 22-year-old thing. He and I met when he was a youthful 14-year-old, who fell over himself trying to catch a little dot of light. Since then, his compatriots of the Community Room have changed and changed again. Somewhere during the intervening 8 years, Pat and I met because my enrichment activities and her sponsor visits brought us together in the Cool Kids Room (™ pending, or it should be). During that time, Pat has been playing with Tux, grooming Tux, and doting on Tux…and anybody else who wants to join in.
These days, Gulliver (short on tail, long on affection), Bob (short on hearing, big on affection), and Aries (big on squeaks, longing for laps, and ain’t nothing but affection) all take advantage of the wellspring of love that Pat is willing to spread around. Rori, for her part, monitors every interaction to ensure protocols for such visits are followed. For Rori, primarily this means ensuring that her sits* will be uninterrupted unless Rori herself deems it appropriate to sits somewhere else…or even sits along with the rest of Pat’s posse.
It is difficult to quantify the benefits of these visits from Pat or anyone who comes to spend time with their sponsored cats. The positive impacts on the quality of the cats’ time at Tabby’s Place, however, is readily apparent. From energetic cats who thrive on extra time chasing wand toys to low-key cats who simply want to occupy a lap (or simply be nearby) to tousled cats who need and enjoy a good brushing (for the record, this last group does and does not include Anka), sponsor visits provide much needed attentions and adorations.
Yes, our stunning staff and fantastic volunteers spend amplitudes of time caring for all of the cats every day. Yet, every individual has time limits and other work to do. So, even with very many people (Nearly 500 to date!!!) involved in the daily caring and operations at Tabby’s Place, there is always room for sponsors to sign-up and sign-in for a few precious minutes of paying extra special attention to advanced needs cats like Moo Moo, who is a dazzling senior with asthma, Berry, who is still basically a baby (He will always be our baby!) with spina bifida, and Steven, who at 16 (HAPPY SWEET 16, STEVIE WEEVIE!!) is still as babied as he was when he came to Tabby’s Place as a kitten even though he now battles heart disease and arthritis.
With such precious friends to care for each and every day, sponsorship funds are extremely important. Being so, it should go without saying that Tabby’s Place sponsors are among the most cherished people on the planet. But, this is Felis Catus, so we’ll say it loudly: WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS!! As one among many wonderful individuals, Pat’s contributions in the form of sponsorship and doting affections are treasured by every creature that graces the ark that Jonathan built. One by one, two by two, or by many sets of four (paws, that is), the cats of the Community Room show their appreciation whenever Pat comes by. This is the way at the sanctum sanctorum.
This is true for you too.
If you’re a sponsor already or if you want to learn more, come in for a visit and a tour. We are eager to meet you, and so is Olive. The queen of the lobby is ready to greet you at the door any day of the week.
*For those not yet aware, Rori has postings on Instagram and Facebook where she sits on and rates various objects. The feature is called “Rori Sits.” Rori is both fair, eloquent, and opinionated (Yes, that’s 3 things, but who’s counting?). Follow Tabby’s Place to stay up on the latest!