Hello, Olive lovers! It’s time for a monthly update on our little lobby greeter. The medical news first: there isn’t any. Woohoo! We are always thankful when Olive enjoys a month of stable good health.

Olive has new competition in catching visitors’ eyes these days. Jonathan (pictured here), a Persian, is new to our lobby. We know that a lot of people like purebred cats, and Persians are one of few breeds that are instantly identifiable, even to people without a lot of feline experience. So when visitors walk in and see a Persian strolling around, many gravitate toward him. So far, at least, Olive appears to be co-existing peacefully with Jonathan; we’re pleased with that, since Jonathan is distinctly frail.

Tabby’s Place recently held a TNR (trap, neuter, release) class that was a source of great fascination to Olive, probably because there were so many cat scents on the various attendees. Naturally, she was on hand as soon as people entered the lobby. But to Olive’s great annoyance, the meeting was held in our Community Room, and she’s no longer allowed in there. She crouched by the door for a long time, but when it became obvious that she was not going to be permitted in, she sought consolation in other ways.

Olive cannot eat the same kibble eaten by most of the lobby cats. She loves it, but it gives her diarrhea, so we have it on two low tables out of her reach. But elderly Maria, another lobby cat, lives under the front desk these days. Maria is not in great shape, and we encourage her to eat however we can. That encouragement extends to two bowls of kibble left on the floor for her near a water bowl. Olive had never gone near that kibble until the day of the TNR class, but I found her happily chunking it down. The result? Both bowls placed out of her reach, and one very angry lobby greeter, who expressed her displeasure by hissing vigorously at any cats that crossed her path for about 15 minutes afterward.

We love Olive, temper tantrums and all. It means so much that you’ve chosen to help us provide her a true safe haven, even if she doesn’t get to eat whatever she wants. Thank you!