Hello, Dearest Sponsors!
Shifty here, putting “pen to paw” this month to share my own news. I am grateful for the chance to tell you what’s been happening here at the sanctuary I am blessed to call “home.”
Things, in general, are a little bit different. There are fewer people in and out, and that took some getting used to for me. You see, in life prior to COVID visitation restrictions, “signing in” took place for all humans in the Employee/Volunteer Lounge where I live. So I saw every single person that came in every single day.
Now with our new restrictions, the volunteers are on a very limited visitation schedule. Their sign-in process happens at the back entrance, where the first thing they must do is a temperature check to make sure their temperature is within a normal range. Paperwork is completed and documented, then they sign in and go forward into the sanctuary.
What does that mean to ME, you might ask?
It means I don’t get to see everybody like I used to!
I find this sad. I look forward to seeing visitors every day. They stop to pet and admire my beauty. My correspondent, Kim, who is one of the volunteers able to visit with me more regularly than most, notices that I am sleeping a bit more in my special boxes in which I have chosen to snuggle. However, one “love call” from her voice (or anyone else’s, for that matter) gets a “heads-up” from me! I come out, sit on the sofa, and we “converse.”
I just so wish I was able to do this again with more of the volunteers. Some of them say they are in “The Shifty Fan Club.” I miss seeing them.
I know you join me as I cross my paws in prayer for better days coming soon…
Speaking of better days, the weather here in Central New Jersey has been just gorgeous this mid-month. I can see the beautiful leaves outside turning a bright gold in the sunshine. That warm sunshine feels good on my body, as I stretch out in siesta in the big-boy bed in front of the window, or in the cat tree next to it. Like Kim, I wonder how long we will be blessed with such glorious days. We will surely look back on them longingly, once the cold weather sets in.
Tabby’s Place is in preparation-mode for that cold weather, as the solaria areas where the cats enjoy this nice weather is being winterized for their protection. If you have never visited us here, you may not know that the cats have the ability in most suites to go across the hallway via large, plexiglass tubes from the indoor area of their suites to the outdoor solarium of their suites. All “traffic” is carefully monitored, as “jams” may occur if a cat decides to hang out in the plexiglass tube and watch staff members going about their duties in the hallways below.
But all-in-all, it’s a wonderful option for the cats to pass from inside to outside as their desire to do so dictates. But the time comes each year when doing so may not be appropriate due to weather conditions. There are also those cats who might not know it’s better to be “in” than “out” that day. So preparations are made to make sure everyone is safe and protected from that winter weather.
Kim says it is hard for her to see us start to prepare for this, as she is NOT a fan of cold weather!
She just reminded me that I have not spoken of my health. I am “status-quo,” as they say here at Tabby’s Place. That is a good place to be! It means that there are no significant changes in my health condition. Always good news, especially for a senior gentleman cat like me!
I thank you so very much for your continued generosity to me. The funds help to make me the very best cat I can be. Kim keeps calling me her “svelte boy.” A French derivative, that word means handsome, sleek, and attractive.
I look down at my fine gray fur suit with matching white kid-gloves and white bib-collar.
What’s not to love here?
I guess Kim is right!
Sending much love,
Shifty
(With help from your correspondent, Kim)