Hello to my sponsors!

This is Shifty, “signing in” for duty this month.  I have assigned myself to write my own update since we cats at Tabby’s Place are missing visiting with our volunteers!

I have sent along a photo of me, taken one day this past month when I had lost my patience.  You know the saying:  “Curiosity got the cat?” Well, it sure did!  I had not seen any volunteers in a very long time. I am kind of popular, if I do say so myself. Those kind volunteers give me cat treats I adore and loving pats on the head. I have grown accustomed to receiving “good boy” compliments and nice strokes down my back and tail. “Where is everybody?” I asked?

Now, please don’t get me wrong; I love our staff members here at Tabby’s Place!  They take such good care of me, both physically and emotionally.  I am not the only cat under their care, and I remain grateful for their patience and kindness to me in the “storm” of the coronavirus pandemic.

Here at Tabby’s Place, we went through increasing degrees of state-mandated quarantine, for the safety and protection of every single member of the Tabby’s Place “family.”  What started as just a warning escalated into a full shut-down to public and volunteer visitation and allowed for essential staff only.  In its infinite wisdom and good judgment, the staff determined it was safer to work in teams of three, never varying members or intermixing with other team members.  The likelihood of any viral transmission would be greatly reduced by doing so.

WHERE does that leave we cats, you might ask?

I am happy to report that we remain well-cared for, and we try to keep our spirits up.  You can see in the video the staff made of me after my initial big-cat meow session that minutes later, I was purring and kneading (“making biscuits”) in my quilt, getting ready for the afternoon siesta.  See my video here!  I DID miss my lunchtime treats, but I also overheard the staff say that this was actually better for my waistline.  Though I DO love to eat, I know I am better off when I am svelte.  My correspondent Kim taught me that word and would be proud of me for using it.  It means “slender and elegant.”  She reminds me every time she sees me of how “svelte” I am.

Speaking of that correspondent of mine, I heard that she checks in on me via texting and private messaging, to see how I am doing.  But I remain disappointed that I cannot see her.  Her birthday was Easter Sunday.  What a beautiful day on which to have a birthday!  I know she would have been here to see me!  I would love to have shared a bit of her special day with her, too.

Kim says what matters most right now is for all of us in the Tabby’s Place family to remain safe and protected in the current conditions.  The NJ governor has ordered “masks in place” when going out of human homes for ANY reason. Kim and I remain grateful for the expertise, dedication, and devotion of the Tabby’s Place staff members who love and adore me. They continue to provide care to EVERY cat that is blessed to call Tabby’s Place “home.”

Thank you for your most gracious gifts that help our staff to do just that.

With much love and prayers,
Shifty
(with help from your correspondent, Kim)