Dear Sponsors of Simon,

Ten years ago, I was looking for two kittens to adopt. Karina, Director of Volunteers at Tabby’s Place, gave me a call. She had rescued four kittens from a field near a paintball activity center and she was giving me first choice. Every kitten I’d lived with up to that point had been black, brown, gray, and white or some combination of those colors. I walked in and met my first orange and white kitties. I have to admit I was a bit taken aback. My first thought was, “Why didn’t you tell me they were orange and white?”

I took Chuck and Ella home, and my life has never been the same. I learned from living with them and talking to other cat lovers that orange and white cats have big personalities—in general, they tend to be more outgoing and more loving.  Fast forward to a few days ago. I had the opportunity to choose a special needs cat for whom to be a correspondent, and as I scanned the histories of three fabulous cats, my heart called out to Simon. Yes, you guessed it— because he’s an orange and white tabby.

Simon is exactly ten years old, like my twins, Chuck and Ella. He’s handsome and charming and gentle and loving, everything you cherish in a cat. He has a touch of the mischief about him, and the rumors abound that if you leave your Cheetos lying around, well, let’s just say, cats love Cheetos, too. (At my house Ella is always defending herself when deli turkey meat disappears, and Chuck swears his salmon breath is just an illusion.)

So how did Simon end up at Tabby’s Place? Simon is diabetic and his once-upon-a-time family decided they could no longer care for him. Simon became one of Tabby’s Place’s newest residents, in the Lounge area with other diabetic cats. Some cats would have found the change in venue disconcerting, but Simon took the relocation in stride, partly because we think, he is his best self when he’s surrounded by love. The Lounge can be a bustling place. People come and go. They reach out and pet the cats. Simon loves attention. He wants someone to notice him, to pet him. So far he’s settled in nicely. And he’s got two diabetic buddies to hang with—Farrah and Reese.

Of course, Simon is a special needs cat for a reason. His diabetes needs to be closely monitored. One clue is the amount of urine in the litter box. Too much urine can indicate an imbalance in insulin levels. Simon was given a blood glucose curve check this month and the results indicated that Simon needed more insulin. Now, things are better—less urine, and the recheck showed that Simon’s insulin level was good. This brave little kitty will be rechecked in three months.

Simon has also had an issue with chronic vomiting since he showed up at Tabby’s Place. I’m happy to report that medication has improved the situation, but he still has an episode once in a while.

I have to admit, because of the virus and because volunteers are still restricted from working at Tabby’s Place, I haven’t had a chance to meet Simon. But I can guarantee that when I do, one of his biggest wishes will be that the staff eat in the Lounge and not outside or in the Community Room, which they are doing now for safety reasons. After all, how can he possibly hope to benefit from a stray Cheetos or gosh, anything cheesy, if every human is eating somewhere else?

Simon and I thank you for your continued generosity. Shelters can be difficult places to survive in when you’re “special.” We’re both so grateful Tabby’s Place was willing to become his new home.

We wish you a safe and happy June.

Your correspondent,
Kate