Dearest New Friend of Elliot,

As this is Elliot’s very first monthly update, I thought it best to begin by getting you up to speed on Elliot’s time at Tabby’s Place. Elliot is the oldest and largest kitten who calls our kitten room (Special Needs room) home. This particular room is the smallest one in our Suite hallway and the only one without access to a solarium. While the room has served different purposes over the years, it is currently a safe environment for our kittens to interact when they have aged out of their foster homes and await their forever homes. Elliot was one of the first kittens to move into the suite this year. But while many of Elliot’s smaller friends have found forever homes, Elliot’s medical and behavioral quirks make him a challenge to place in a home. This is why he is so very grateful to call you his friend and sponsor! It is likely that Elliot will be a Tabby’s Place resident for quite some time.

Elliot’s situation is not his fault and certainly not for lack of charm. Elliot is all kitten cuteness, with an overbite that adds to his quirky charm. Since Elliot deals with chronic constipation, he seems to have developed a love/hate relationship with the litter box. He is particular about his litter (he prefers World’s Best Multicat Formula) and really does try to use the box when the need for a #2 arises. What we’ve learned from observing Elliot is that he will prepare, position, and push, but he will sometimes “give up” and leave the box before the session is really complete, leaving his dropping to fall where they may. This alone is not the real challenge in finding a forever home for Elliot. The bigger concern is that he is what we call an “inappropriator.” This means that he pees outside of the litter box on a regular basis. Such behavior is not very charming, even if Elliot’s personality is.

With the unpleasantness out of the way, what I want to share with you today is more insight into Elliot’s personality. Elliot is a goofball. He loves to play and interact with everyone and everything. His charm and good looks made him an easy choice for a particular Tabby’s Place project that required a special photoshoot with Elliot. We are fortunate at Tabby’s Place to have a number of talented volunteers who regularly photograph our kitties. When the request came in for a Fall photoshoot featuring Elliot, one of our photographers answered the call and we collected props and a plan.

Well, kittens are a bit like toddlers or preschoolers. The best-laid plans have a way of unraveling rapidly when a youngster comes along and has a completely different agenda for the afternoon. Elliot didn’t want to sit still, he didn’t want to look at the camera, he wanted to play and frolic without concern for the camera. Even a second volunteer assistant couldn’t keep Elliot engaged for the shoot. The report was something to the effect of, “we had a great time watching his shenanigans, but the photos were a wash.”

What better way to introduce you to dear Elliot than to share some of the mischief he got up to in the way of “failed photos.” Each of the images shared here made me chuckle. I hope they bring a bit of joy to your day too. They may not be the stuff of magazine covers, but they sure do capture the spirit of this young kitty.

Your Guest Correspondent,
Lisa