Happy New Year, team TNR!

I hope your 2020 is sparkling with promise, and that it only gets sweeter. It’s a joy to enter a new year serving the cats with you.

Cats, of course, have no concern for calendars, and so it’s business as usual for them…which is to say, “all unusual, all the time.” There is never a dull moment in this business of loving cats.

The year may be new, but we’re busy tending to old friends this January. Let’s check in on some of the brave babies we met through last year’s TNR work.

You’ll recall complicated Claire, the visually-impaired little raven beauty who we last left settling into our Community Room. In 2019, a sudden mystery illness left Claire partially blind and startlingly friendly after years of being fully feral. Tabby’s Place had spayed and looked after Claire, and her devoted caretakers rushed her back to us when the mystery struck.

Months later, we’re no more certain what, exactly, happened. We are ever more grateful that she came inside, however. Since joining our indoor community, Claire has struggled with a chronic cough. Our vet team diagnosed her with asthma, which we’re now treating. As she’s feeling better, she’s also feeling ever friendlier…and becoming a serious staff and volunteer favorite. Claire’s quiet charm has stolen our hearts, and those of her feline neighbors, too; it’s too cute to see Claire frisk and frolic with roomies like June and Periwinkle. We believe she has a good bit of vision back, although still clearly not 100%.

And, oh yes, one other detail: a certain kind gentleman has expressed serious interest in adopting Claire. We’re not getting too excited just yet, as he has several other worthy contenders, but it’s just one sign of our girl’s spectacular journey. No doubt the best is yet to come for Claire.

The same is true for Ronnie, the nervous sweetheart who came inside in November. Ronnie was a longtime member of one of our community cat colonies, but when he began limping this fall, it was time for a trip to Tabby’s Place. Our vet team treated the abscess on Ronnie’s leg, only to discover that he had significant kidney disease. But while his kidneys had worsened over time, his affection for our species had grown. In his old(er) age, Ronnie loved love! And so, the indoor life began for our beautiful tuxedo boy.

I’m grateful to share that Ronnie’s indoor adventures have most recently brought him to my office. Timid cats like Ron don’t always appreciate fifteen zany feline neighbors in one of our larger Suites, so we often place them in one of our staff offices. Ronnie joins “my” two wonderful senior girls, blind Denni and 19-year-old Bucca, in what I strive to make a peaceful, happy little room.

After a few days hunkered down behind my computer tower, Ronnie made a big, brave move to the top of my printer. Still apprehensive, he’d let me pet him, his happy little wriggles telling a different story from his fearful face. And now, he’s out and about regularly, claiming his own little nest on the cat tree and “talking back” to Denni when she moves in on his wet food. I’m so proud of our brave boy, and so grateful he’s “ours.”

And then there’s Tilly, the troubled little railroad cat we met in last month’s update. Age and injury had saddled Tilly with a tower of medical issues, such that we weren’t comfortable putting her back outside. But, one-eyed Tilly never seemed fully comfortable at Tabby’s Place. Happily, a holiday miracle unfolded in the form of one of Tilly’s longtime colony caretakers. This wonderful woman agreed to foster Tilly in her own home — forever. We hear Til is settling in well, too busy plumping up and healing happily to long for the old railroad.

Thank you for shepherding our cats into this fresh new year, dear sponsors. It is a comfort and an honor knowing that they have you on their side, whatever 2020 may bring. Onward together!

Your correspondent,
Angela