Tabby’s Place has a veteran diva worthy of the great opera houses of Sydney, Australia, Milan, Italy, and New York City. In Ringoes, New Jersey, Grecca sings to everyone who enters the lobby. Her rich contralto resonates in our hearts and echoes in our heads. She hopes that singing to us will bring her attention…and food…faster…also more…of both. Wise in the ways of tabbies of every stripe, Grecca is sure that nouveau lobbyist Bello, a swirly tabby with flare, will follow her lead.
Unlike Grecca, though, Bello does not bellow. Nevertheless, from the moment of his arrival, Bello had been singing. His songs are quiet and punctuated with purrs. His preferred percussion instrument is a lap. Bello’s biscuit-making sets the rhythm, and pets provide a counterpoint. Because his song was heard and also due to his sweetness of temperament, Bello was fast-tracked out of an “intense socializing needed” suite and into a prime spot for meet-and-greets (This means you!). Careful consideration and relocating another known crooner into the Community Room have made Bello a lobby cat, sure to have his soft songs heard loudly and clearly.
But what move enabled this enriching reassignment of space? Smokey shifted to a prime spot with the Cool Kids in the Community Room. In a different key than Grecca and beating a different drum than Bello, Smokey sings to whomever might respond to his requests for a cuddle. With miniature mews and purrs, he provides his own counterpoints. Smokey is a one-cat show that should not be missed. Of course, being Smokey, he is seldom to be found alone, unless he’s examining a box for comfort. The Community Room offers him many companions who are happy to share a window ledge and sing in Smokey’s choir.
With so many chorus members at Tabby’s Place neither Grecca, nor Bello, nor Smokey can claim every lead in all of the musicals. There is no one top cat, no single headliner, no matter what any of them claim. From oldest to newest, loudest to quietest, scaredest to bravest, they are all number one. Each purr and every meow is music to our ears. The cats’ songs are signs of life, a gift of hope. That fabulous felines like Grecca, Bello and Smokey can thrive because of the mission and mantra of Tabby’s Place: A Cat Sanctuary is a magnum opus. If you feel the need to express your joy and celebrate the marvelous staff, amazing volunteers, and stupendous donors who make their songs possible, come by on a Sunday and sing to me about it.