Happy December, community cat cherishers.

“Happy” December. Hmm. While I earnestly hope this final level of 2021 is wrapping you in warmth, delivering joy by the daily sleigh-full, I know that’s not always the way December goes.

This “most wonderful time of the year” can harrow our hearts, can’t it? The shortest month with the longest stretch of glittering holidays can call up ghosts of Christmases past, together with longings louder than the carols on the radio.

We remember the cats and people we’ve lost.
We nestle into nostalgia and have a hard time crawling back out.
The secret sighs that we keep under the covers all year have a way of leaping forth like rebellious elves in December.

All of which is to say: if your feelings are more hurly-burly than holly-jolly, that’s OK.

The cats are collectively here to purr our way to “OK,” day by December day. Cats are exquisitely good at feeling all of their feelings, with no apology and no regret.

And they’re more than a little gifted at getting us back to “merry,” too.

For the first order of merriment, I’m delighted to report that last month’s marvel, candy-colored Citrine, has unsurprisingly been adopted. Her smitten new family understands her shy streak, and they’ll give her the patience and tenderness she needs to bloom like a winter rose. We couldn’t be happier, even if we selfishly wish we’d gotten more time to snuggle her ourselves.

But before we have time to gaze wistfully out the window at Citrine, we find our stockings full yet again.

In a perfect, textbook situation, “kitten season” ends with the first cold snap of November. But “perfect situations,” unlike Santa Claus, do not exist.

And so it’s my post-season pleasure to introduce you to Rodeo and Armadillo.

As you can see, these two little fruitcakes are very much “kittens,” of the very young variety. Tragically, their mother was found deceased, leaving the tiniest tabbies in need of a Christmas miracle. Thanks to you, hearthlight and happiness were forthcoming in the form of Tabby’s Place.

As you read this update, the littlest drummer boys are ensconced in the comfort of a foster home, growing up safe, strong, and adored.

Speaking of drummers, a winter-white cat with coal black swirls was the next shivering stranger to grace our doorstep. With a pounding heart and an anxious spirit, Drummer, as we named him, was discovered by Animal Control. Even beneath his nervous exterior, we could immediately see that this handsome elf was sweeter than a sea of hot cocoa. Sure enough, Drummer is learning the lessons of love at Tabby’s Place.

But December’s deliveries didn’t end there. (Let the record show that supply chain issues have not affected the arrival of cats at Tabby’s Place.) Lo, the star of kindness shone round about a local Taco Bell, and our TNR team found a gentle mama and son in search of shelter.

We whisked these two strangers into the Tabby’s Place manger, naming them Taco Bella and Dunebug. You might say they were sore afraid. But Tabby’s Place takes pride in proving fears wrong, and this won’t be the first time love melts permafrost into comfort and joy.

Beloved sponsors, none of this would be possible without you. If I could hand-deliver twelve dozen gingerbread cookies to each of your doorsteps, that would fall far short of fully expressing all the love and gratitude in my heart — and in every single Tabby’s Place cat’s heart.

So I’ll simply close with a huge hug across the miles, and starry eyes all splendorous at your kindness. Whether this month is stacked with sorrows or gentle with joy, may you feel our affection and admiration, and may hope sparkle anew in your golden heart.

I pray you’ll take a moment in these busy days to bask in your own belovedness. The kind of goodness you bring to this world is exactly what the angels are singing about.

Happiest of holidays, dear sponsors.

With gratitude and so much love,
your correspondent,
Angela