Dear Team Steven:

These are exciting times at Tabby’s Place, as we celebrate 21 years of rescuing cats from hopeless situations! Can you believe it? As a nonprofit organization, we have helped nearly 4,500 kittens and cats, and YOU have been an essential part of our success.

We also just wrapped up our biggest Linda Fund Matching Challenge ever, to raise funds for the cost-saving measures of kitties in dire need. Not only did our community come together to raise $320,000 for the cats, but we did so before the September 30th deadline! Steven and I are extremely grateful for all the love and generosity our extended family lavishes upon Tabby’s Place and all its residents. We simply couldn’t continue our important mission successfully without you.

After adjusting to his promotion to our medical suite, Steven is now enjoying a new perk of his elevated status. His old haunt, the Suite A Solarium, recently became available to him and the Fall weather has been perfect. Together with Lola, who also lives in the lab, he is enjoying plenty of fresh air time. Very under-socialized when it comes to human contact, the cats who currently live in Suite A tried to make the tube connecting it to the solarium their hideout. Seven piled together and refused to come out, so they lost their solarium privileges. Steven and Lola quietly smirked like Cheshire cats at their good fortune. However, at least two vet techs in the lab are certain they heard Steven mumbling, “Hooray!” under his breath.

I am happy to report that, following a visit to my own medical team, my case of poison ivy has abated. It took a little time and a tremendous exertion of willpower not to scratch. For Steven’s part, he says he’s proud of me … fully cognizant as he is that it’s hard to resist a good itch. Steven is still unsure I didn’t have ringworm or a bad case of fleas, but I do think he regretted the distance his comments put between us. After all, good PR people and personal assistants can be challenging to find!

Now that we’re communicating in a more thoughtful way, Steven and I are again finding time for a few of our philosophical conversations. I informed him that humans call a group of cats a “clowder” and a litter of kittens a “kinder.”  Steven was seriously bemused and shook his head, “Such silliness!” However, I have almost convinced him that, when using the very human idiom—“the cats’ pajamas” —we furless hominids are really being quite complimentary. I think we’re making progress: Steven tells me he is more than willing to accept the idea that, in my own way, I’m telling him that he’s “one cool cat!”

Until next month …

Your correspondent,
Tina