Meet Cool Cats at shelter's celebration

This month is special for the felines at The Buddy Foundation for several reasons beyond the usual.

Yes, I know you are probably saying, "There is always something going on, so what makes this new event or events different or special?"

The truth is, we would not be doing a service for our animals if we were not creative in finding ways to place them into loving homes.

Lately, I am at a loss to understand what characteristics adopters are looking for in personality and physical appearance. This feeling is heightened when potential adopters leave the shelter without finding a special feline friend. If we have shy or difficult felines, "I get it," even if, in the big picture, those are the very felines a no-kill shelter is meant to save.

Kittens seem to be in demand always, even if they may not be the right fit for a particular household. Felines that are larger kittens are just overlooked, even when they are stunning.

An example of such oversight is two larger, torbie kittens, Taffy and Tootsie. Taffy and Tootsie are substantially under 1-year-old and are as sweet and playful as can be. On the rainy day they arrived at the shelter, they were immediately given an exam, ears cleaned, blood taken and more needles when they got their shots.

They took all our prodding with ease and constant purring. I was tempted to take them home myself to join them with my existing felines. I thought the better of that because I believed they would be instantly adopted and told myself I was being selfish.

Yet, they are still at the shelter. When I see perfection, being passed over for adoption, I totally understand why we at Buddy must celebrate all things feline by way of constant events and promotions.

That is exactly why we need your help with national Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, our anniversary as a building, (not to be confused with our anniversary as an organization, which always takes place in February) and our new program, "Cool Cats."

Besides featured felines, we will highlight one extra deserving feline that has lived at the shelter for an unusually lengthily time (more on Cool Cats at the end of this column).

If you want to embrace a no-kill shelter, and all that notion stands for, you must accept that sometimes we will have felines that may be less than perfect and slow to trust. Just like we as humans are constantly growing and improving, so are Buddy's felines. When a shy feline learns to trust, the rewards are huge for us as feline caregivers.

I would like to share with you several examples my last four felines experienced before coming to Buddy. All four of them were on "death row" at other Illinois shelters. The Buddy Foundation said. "yes" to all four on their last hour or day to save their fate. Is it not ironic that Illinois has evolved as a non-dealth penalty state for humans, but not for animals?

One feline was left under a porch after the for sale sign was taken down. The other running in a cornfield, and another crumpled up at the side of the road as if to just give up. The latest addition found himself in a horrible situation as well. He was left un-neutered to procreate until the kittens were no longer sellable.

All four of these felines came to Buddy unsure of themselves by being shy or aggressive. The turnaround has been shockingly substantial. They have all integrated with my existing felines and each other. Patience, time and love can cure most feline insecurities. You too, can feel the same satisfaction by adopting one of Buddy's Cool Cats.

Please meet Puma, our first Cool Cat. You can learn more about each Cool Cat from our web page, Facebook and other social media. The Buddy Foundation will sponsor each Cool Cat by donating our usual adoption fee. In other words, we will waive the fee to place a Cool Cat into a loving home.

Puma is deserving to be our first Cool Cat because she has lived at the shelter for more than three years. She is a friendly, classic tabby in need of lots of attention. She is great with people, but more than likely needs to be an only feline, or perhaps have her own space.

She does not like to share her food or treats. She will want all your attention, as she was abandoned at Buddy's back door.

Featured feline:

• Magoo is a female with very unusual markings. She has a very golden tortie body with a tabby marked face. Because of this, most pictures of her make it look like her head has been photo-shopped into the picture. She came to Buddy when her owner developed medical problems and could no longer look after Magoo and the dog that lived with her.

Magoo used to eat some of the dog's food and, as a result, packed on a few pounds. She is a very friendly cat. When she is loose in the cat common area she likes to crawl into the fleece cabinet.

Magoo currently resides in our cat room number two, where she can get a little more exercise and interaction with other cats. Come in and visit with Magoo. Perhaps you can be the one to take this beauty home and help her regain her figure.

Upcoming

Join from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, for the eighth anniversary celebration of our shelter building. This will be a perfect opportunity to visit us not only for the party, but to view our Featured Felines and Cool Cats and perhaps adopt a new Buddy.

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit (501c3), all volunteer, no-kill animal shelter. For information, call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.