Before adopting cats, make sure you can take of their needs
Recently, I suggested that seniors might be happier with their feline choice if they decided to adopt an older, adult feline. Temperament and activity level are by far more consistent in an adult feline. I still believe this proposition to be true.
Two days after The Buddy Beat appeared, I received a letter to the contrary, stating that seniors should not adopt adult felines because, "They are on a fixed income."
This coming from a woman who I had previously talked with on several occasions. The same woman that had adopted two felines from The Buddy Foundation five years ago, who now wanted to give them both back because one of the felines was urinating in the house and she couldn't determine which one.
Her words to me were, "Since I can't figure out who is misbehaving, I am giving them both back." She went on to tell me that "If it does not happen soon, I will put them both down."
She did not disclose a medical condition other than a possible urinary tract infection in any of our conversations. A possible urinary tract infection, that clearly was not being treated!
Imagine, my surprise and anger when I met Rudy and Scarlett and observed their medical conditions. Rudy, was overweight and diabetic. He was not receiving any insulin at all. His medical care plan was one of neglect. I would go so far as, to call this a case of animal abuse.
As I watched Rudy on the exam table, all he wanted to do was to roll around and be loved. Rudy did not even miss the woman that left him behind.
Next, I met his litter-mate Scarlet. Scarlet's condition was equally shocking. Scarlet, was all skin and bones. She appeared drastically underweight. She suffered from a hyper thyroid condition that could have been under control by merely pilling twice a day. If Scarlet had lost any more weight, she might not be with us.
I don't understand the mentality that will pay to euthanize an animal when it becomes inconvenient to care for, instead of providing the proper medical care. I am happy for Rudy and Scarlet to be back with Buddy, receiving excellent attention in foster care. Please, meet them today as two of my three featured felines.
Featured felines:
Rudy, a 10-year-old, front paw declaw, is blue and brown in color. He is diabetic and receives insulin that can be bought at any drug store with a prescription. He receives shots twice a day in 12-hour, intervals between his shoulder blades. Rudy, is very well-behaved and readily accepts these injections. To him, it's just more people time. He purrs, is friendly and likes other felines and dogs. Overall, he has a sweet personality. He expects to sleep in bed and to receive cuddles.
Scarlet, a blue, petite, 10-year-old, front paw declaw, has an over active thyroid. She requires a medicine twice a day. This is a small pill that Scarlet easily accepts. Unlike Rudy, this girl needs to add some weight, so she is encouraged to eat as much as she wants. Scarlet is also on a special food. This girl is friendly and talkative and gets along with other felines and dogs.
Rudy and Scarlet are both medically sound, now that The Buddy Foundation has taken over their care.
Candy, a 7-month-old, spayed, tortise, is happy and playful. She is just so friendly, she had to be some ones pet that was abandoned or just let out. Candy gets along with other felines and tolerates dogs.
A special thank you from The Buddy Foundation goes out to two of our youngest fundraisers, William and Westly Hoppe, who stood outside of the Jewel at Golf and Arlington Heights Road collecting donations for the animals. William is 5, Westly is 6, so they were supervised by mom. These youngsters raised $265 for Buddy.
Buddy adoption events will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 10 at PetCo, Rand and Dundee roads in Palatine and at the PetCo in the Mount Prospect Plaza.