Dear Friend of Tux,

This year, our distinguished gentleman, Tux, launched our Remember the Seniors campaign.

If you subscribe to our email list, you already saw his feature hit your mailbox on the 1st of the month. If you don’t subscribe, but would like to, simply sign up here or email me, and I’ll get you all set up.

While Helen of Troy may hold the claim for the face that launched a thousand ships, Tux is well on his way to claiming that his face launched a $150,000 fundraising goal! Being the humble feline that Tux is, he would never want to steal the limelight and would kindly ask that you acknowledge all the senior cats at Tabby’s Place and in your own extended families.

Of course, you already remember our senior cats every day of the year as you think about our special senior boy, Tux, and his senior friends in the Community Room, like Atari, Sandy, and recently adopted, Ducky.

Speaking of his beloved Community Room and fellow felines, if you tried to visit our distinguished dear Tux during the preceding month, you may have faced one or two impediments to your visit.

Without a functioning HVAC system in the lobby, Community Room, and five original suites of Tabby’s Place, we have not been able to “put our best foot forward” in the eyes of the public on the warmest summer days. On 90-degree-plus predicted temperature days, we opted to close to the public for HVAC renovations.

When it comes to heat, felines like Tux have quite different standards and tolerances compared to humans . I’m certain you have witnessed a cat basking in a warm ray of sunshine or curling up in front of a fireplace or heating register. Cats love warmth, but they, too, can overheat without proper accommodations.

There is a temporary AC unit set up in the Community Room, and we use fans to help circulate that cool air into the lobby. In the suites, we set up cooling mats for the cats and make sure that water bowls are replenished often.

In addition to the HVAC replacement, the Community Room also got a bit of a facelift with the installation of a new ceiling and more energy-efficient light fixtures. This work required a full room evacuation (since we couldn’t have our cats circling inside the ceilings of the sanctuary).

Tux, Gulliver, Rori, Riley, and Brownie took a mini excursion to steamy Suite C (the smallest original suite at Tabby’s Place). The rest of the Community Room residents partied it up in our Foster Room.

In reality, there was very little in the way of partying for the three days of relocation since the Community Room crew is notoriously routine-oriented and change-averse. Even Rori, who is always up for adventure, was bored in such a small suite and desperate for human interaction. Meanwhile, Gigi tried to go on a hunger strike in protest.

But what about Tux, you ask? Well, Tux is a master of Zen and always goes with the flow. He napped and nibbled as always, but expressed concern for his human friends who found his temporary accommodations a bit too warm and confining for extended visits.

Tux is overjoyed to be back in his beloved Community Room with all the cats and people that he loves. Gigi is eating again, and Rori is back to sitting on every surface and sampling every food bowl.

While we may ask that you remember the senior kitties, Tux wants you to know that he will never forget you!

Your correspondent,
Lisa