Hello, Pepita devotees,
I’m happy to start out this month’s report by noting that it’s been a happy, healthy month for our sweet girl, who has dodged both urinary tract infections and a nasty case of conjunctivitis passed around Suite A.
Pepita is enjoying regular fresh air in the solarium, along with her regular pals Abe, Steven, Adam and Chewbacca. The fall weather has set in and it was time for the heated pads to come in from the storage shed and provide a little warmth for those who choose to lounge on them.
One day I walked into the solarium and looked all over for Pepita. It is so unusual for her not to be out there that I was puzzled by her apparent absence. But, lo and behold, she WAS out there, but hiding in a paper bag on top of one of the hammocks with the heated pad underneath! She looked so adorable in that bag and seemed quite content to stay cocooned in there during my visit. She did emerge when I came back with the treat bag in hand. It is a rare kitty who passes up treats!
A few visits later I noticed the brown paper grocery bag was looking a bit raggedy, so I delivered a replacement. Pepita hopped right in and settled down. I think she appreciated having a new, clean bag! This may get to be a new duty of mine (just don’t call me a bag lady!).
Although there have been reports of bullying by both Rorschach and Abe, Pepita hasn’t been seen on the receiving end of their bad-boy behavior. It is always such a fine balancing act for the staff to know which kitty personalities will work together in each mini-community (suite, office, lobby, community room, lounge). Occasionally I will have to break up a little scuffle but generally the Suite A crew gets along fairly well.
On November 17th Tabby’s Place will be hosting its 2nd annual Thanksgiving with the Cats event. Last year it was a huge hit and we are hoping to have another great event. Activities this year include self-paced tours (with tour guides in each room) and a silent auction with amazing gift baskets and donations from our retailer friends. Of course, the main activity will be visitors feeding the cats an early Thanksgiving feast of turkey or turkey baby food. Last year we received a boatload of donations (we ask each visitor to bring litter, food, toys, or other items for the cats). Please join us if you can; you won’t be disappointed.I was reading the statistics about the Tabby’s Place adoptions in our recent newsletter. Of the close to 800 adoptions in the last 5 years, 80% of them were of cats less than 4 years old, and the majority of those were kittens under 12 months. The numbers drastically decline as the cats get older, with only 1% of our adoptions happening for cats 15 years and up. We are always elated when older cats or those with medical conditions get adopted. It takes a special forever family with lots of love to walk by the kittens and seek out a cat whose needs are a bit more intense. Pepita knows her situation would require a super special family and that she is likely to be at Tabby’s Place for life. So she stays happy, healthy and comfortable in her suite and the solarium, with more visitors and love than she could ever imagine. She is a real favorite with staff and volunteers.
We can’t say it enough: thank you for your generous heart to make all things possible for Pepita. She sends special Thanksgiving purrs and head bonks to you this month, knowing how much your love and sponsorship mean to her having a happy life. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!