Dear Carrot Friend,

Carrot had a pretty good month and seems to be in good spirits, which he usually is. He has been on a few stroller walks this month, which he always loves. With the weather being so mild for this time of year, our volunteers are making the most of it and getting the cats out to stroll.

Carrot seems happy to be able to stay at Tabby’s Place this month and doesn’t seem to be missing going on visits to the nursing homes. We may try Carrot at the nursing homes at some point, but for now, he is getting the break he obviously needed.

I actually saw Carrot inside the suite a few times this month, which is unusual for him, as he usually prefers the solarium. He has still been outside in the solarium, of course.  I don’t think he would ever give up his outside solarium visits!

Due to the temperatures getting colder, especially overnight, we put out the heated water bowls and heated beds for the cats who want to be out there. The cats really love the heated beds, and will usually snuggle up for a nice nap on them. We also put a heated bed in the igloos out in the solariums, so it creates a nice warm house for the cats.

We recently moved Merriweather into Carrot’s room. Merriweather has been with us for a long time and was in Suite B until recently. She was not doing well in Suite B, due to some of the strong personalities in that room. She was getting bullied and was being very quiet and hiding, in an attempt to avoid the bullies. We wanted to get her out of the room that was causing her anxiety, so we moved her over to Suite C, where Carrot resides.

Merriweather immediately liked the new room and started to blossom in the new area. A few days after she joined the room Carrot decided to start bullying her, and he had reports of cornering her several times, causing her to get scared. Carrot had some “time outs” for this behavior, and a stern talking to. I am not sure why he was bullying her, but he does seem to be getting better with her, so let’s hope the bullying has stopped. Poor Merriweather just escaped being bullied, so she certainly doesn’t need it in her new room. Even with Carrot not being too welcoming, Merriweather is still much happier in her new room.

Carrot has enjoyed many, many visits this month from our socializing volunteers. Suite C is a popular room to visit, and Carrot really enjoys the attention, and sitting on a lap, if anyone happens to sit down in his room.

We just put out a request for more enrichment volunteers for the cats.  Right now we only have 1 enrichment volunteer who comes once a week, so we would like to add a few more. Enrichment is so important for the cats, and for active cats, like Carrot, as it breaks up their days and gives them something to do, as well as provides them with physical exercise.  Our enrichment volunteers provide wand toy play, motorized toy play, and various puzzle toys with treats and different scents that cats like (such as catnip) inside. The cats love their enrichment sessions, and they will really benefit from more sessions each week.

Thank you so much for your continued support of Carrot. Carrot wishes each of you a wonderful holiday season, and he wanted to let you know he wants lots of treats in his stocking this year.

Your correspondent,
Karina