Dear Friends of Tux,

On the whole, 2020 has been a healthy and happy year for our dear tuxedoed friend. Tux began the year setting some resolutions, and he managed to uphold most of those. In a year like no other for us humans, Tux stood by his feline principles and remained a model feline of those things that matter most.

Being a steadfast friend.

Standing up for himself and others.

Keeping and promoting peace.

When I watch Tux and Sammy snuggle together, my heart begins to warm. Even in the midst of a busy day of feline care, the magic of feline friendship is worthy of a pause. Note that the two cuddled photos of this duo were taken on two separate days by two different staff members. It is not just I (the correspondent) who is moved by their friendship, it is every one that enters the Community Room of Tabby’s Place and witnesses their warmth.

The friendship of Tux and Sammy runs deep and is a constant in the Community Room. Sammy does accept and appreciate human love, but she is comforted by the presence of other friendly felines. Sammy always accepts pets from me when she is snuggled near Tux. She is more cautious when napping alone in a cat tree. You can sample the sweetness by watching here. When I began petting Sammy this particular afternoon, she began nudging at Tux as if asking him for more love and comfort as much as asking me for more pets.

Tux has a reputation for being most welcoming of newcomers to the Community Room. He is good with the young and the old. Lately, Tux has been perplexed by a particular newbie to the room, Indiana. Indiana is a quirky kitty. He is an older guy, like Tux, but he doesn’t really welcome affection from others—human or feline. Yet Indiana has a bold and adventurous spirit and doesn’t shy away from confrontation. He is a master at staring down his roommates long enough to make them squirm. I’ve witnessed several encounters between Indiana and Tux. These moments demonstrated Tux’s more hidden qualities. He stands up for injustice but ultimately seeks peace.

During the first observed encounter, Tux was resting in a usual spot and Indiana was “exploring” nearby. Indiana decided that he wanted to rest where Tux was resting, but he didn’t want to share. He moved in on Tux, staring and positioning from the floor below. Tux actually swatted at Indiana when he did not respond to more subtle feline lingo. Unfortunately, Indiana doesn’t take subtle (or not so subtle) hints. The first photo in the series was taken after Tux swatted and Indiana decided to approach from a different angle.

The second encounter took place over several hours of a day. On this day, Indiana had found the favorite napping spot first and Tux was not pleased about being shut out. Think of this as a story in photos.

So we see that this relationship is a work in progress. Tux stood up for what he believed was just (sharing the best napping spots), but he really wants to make peace with Indiana. While I doubt that Tux and Indiana will ever be close friends, I have hope that in the New Year they will be respectful and peaceful neighbors.

Tux and I cannot begin to express our gratitude to you for staying by our side through this challenging year. While the holiday season may be a bit different in 2020, we hope that the year ahead is full of friendship, warmth, and peace for you and those you hold dear.

Your Correspondent,

Lisa