Dear loving sponsors of Macaroon,

Welcome to autumn–oops, I mean summer! The weather here has been crazy, with hot and humid days and only an occasional break for what we might call cool and crisp autumn weather. The impact of that for Ms. Macaroon is simply that she isn’t yet seeing the flurry of leaves outside her huge window or feeling the draft of a cool breeze from the back door being opened to let in the volunteers. By this time next month I hope to report that autumn has truly arrived.

It’s amazing what a change in venue can do for a group of plump girl kitties! Life in Adoption Room #3 is working wonders for Mac’s pack. Along with almost all of her neighbors, Macaroon has lost significant weight. It’s triumphant to see her newly lithe and healthier frame these days! Mac is enjoying sunshine, playtime and lots of love.

Macaroon shares her special space with Danielle, our Operations Manager, whose desk is right there amidst the girl clowder. I asked her what special stories she had about Macaroon. Two funny Mac-isms came immediately to mind for her: 1) Mac?s special talent as a keyboard cruiser (ostensibly to help Danielle with her work by dancing across her keyboard) and 2) her delight in participating in the enrichment program, where motorized toys are used to engage kitties in active play.

In general news at the sanctuary, some special angels brought a new paraplegic to live at Tabby’s Place. Anka’s story is a magical one! This gentle and adorable green-eyed kitty comes to us from Istanbul, Turkey (where cats are held in high regard) by way of some special Manhattan angels. Wandering the streets of Istanbul you will see many small containers by the sides of buildings, and discreet food rations doled out by its inhabitants. While the cats are not adopted formally, they are taken care of by no one and everyone, a giant community network of cat caring.

Anka had been struck by a car and rescued, but suffered a devastating spinal injury. After world-class care by a Manhattan vet neurologist it was determined he would never walk again. Anka made the final leg of his journey to Tabby’s Place and has stolen the hearts of everyone who has met him. Everything about this brave boy is lavish, from his flowing mane to his gleeful affection to his massive, magnificent body. We are so lucky to have him as part of the Tabby’s Place family.

This month also concluded our annual Linda Fund campaign to raise funds for the medical needs of furry babies such as Mac and Anka. Through the generosity of so many wonderful cat lovers, we raised quite a nice sum to ensure our resident cats remain healthy. We are humbled by the love you all show for these beautiful creatures.

I was reading a 1992 essay “Dogs, Cats, and Dancers: Thoughts about Beauty” by Ursula Le Guin. I love how she describes a cat’s scope of self-awareness: “Cats know exactly where they begin and end. When they walk slowly out the door that you are holding open for them, and pause, leaving their tail just an inch or two inside the door, they know it. They know you have to keep holding the door open. That is why their tail is there. It is a cat’s way of maintaining a relationship.”

We see this every day at Tabby’s Place, especially as specific cats (e.g., Pixie, our caramel colored paraplegic) roam from the lobby into our community room and we lovingly open the door for them and wait for them to pass through. Mac does this when she inserts herself front and center as visitors enter the room, knowing exactly how much space she takes up and knowing that one cannot ignore even her smaller size and that she needs attention first and foremost.

Thank you for your continued generosity and for staying connected to Mac and to Tabby’s Place labor of love. Wishing you a wonderful autumn season filled with delight!