Scooter

[packman]

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. What a sweet story.

Depending on exactly what her health issues are like, Scooter could easily have a normal cat life span, which is at least 10 - 15 years, and lots of cats live longer.

Last year in May I adopted a 17 year old cat from my local animals shelter. She had been given up because her first human (who I suspect was an older woman like me) could no longer care for her. The shelter vet was brutally honest about the health issues. Kidney and thyroid problems, needed a special diet. No problem, as I'd had elderly cast in the past. Furthermore, the vet said, she might live two years, she might live two months, but I needed to be aware her time was short. I was on board.

Sadly, the cat only lived three and a half weeks, but I'm so glad I had her for that time. And I'm glad she didn't have to live out her time in the shelter. She was sweet and affectionate. A few weeks after she left me, I adopted another, much younger cat who is gradually becoming more and more affectionate. Maybe someday this one will decide she can sit on my lap. I hope so.

[Fla Dem]

3. As my grandmother would say, you earned a star in your crown.

That was so nice of you to take that poor girl home. She lived out what was left of her long life with love and caring. You are a good person.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Someone asked me if I didn't feel cheated, having had

her for such a short time, especially after paying the fee to the shelter.

Nope, not at all. I'm so glad I had her.

Plus, her fee was going to be half of the regular fee because of her age, and I was charged half of that because I am myself a senior citizen. Although I did tell them to charge me the full amount ($70.00) and take the difference as a donation. I feel myself fortunate to be able to afford that. I know not everyone can.

Same thing when I adopted my current cat. Her fee was the full amount, although again I got a senior discount, and again told them to charge me the full amount and take the difference as a donation.

A couple of decades ago I did volunteer work at an animal shelter in a different city, and it was very eye-opening about shelters and what they can and cannot do.

I am sorry I don't have the space to have several more cats. Actually, the somewhat bigger problem is that I do a certain amount of travelling, and having one cat minded is easy. Several could be more of a problem. The reason I decided to adopt a cat last year was that with the pandemic I wasn't going anywhere, and decided to take in a feline friend. So glad I did, but it does put a constraint or two on my travel. But I will work it out.

If I live long enough that I am not ever leaving home, then I will become a crazy cat lady and have a LOT of cats. I am looking forward to that.

[Fla Dem]

2. Loved this story. Nice guy.