A Real “Crazy Cat Lady”
When I lived in California, I was a real “crazy cat lady”. It wasn’t all my fault. I was an Animal Protection Officer and when I picked up a cat, I tried to find the owners. I’d register her as found. If I couldn’t find the owners, I would take her home then re-home her. I didn’t pick up that many cats. That, and the fact that I lived across Sebastopol Hwy. from the worst pet owners in the world. Their cats roamed, had no vaccinations, and bred like rabbits. I ended up with the ones who survived. Then there were the cats that just showed up. There must have been a secret cat signal – “She’s a sucker for cats.”
I found homes for 27 cats. The guys that were left were ones nobody wanted, maimed, ugly, drab, and unfriendly. They became an amazing family and got along great. I built a catio when catios weren’t a thing. They went on walks with me in the woods, forming a line behind me. All the cats had their tails up, except the last one who had his tail down. They never wandered. They were inside cats. Most lived to 18-20 years old. Lady lived to 29. I learned so much about cats and life from them. I thought I knew everything about cats. Maybe that’s the reason I was surprised by how much more I learned at Blind Cat Rescue and Sanctuary. There was so much I didn’t know.
In my travels I have found sanctuaries are magical places. It is as though they are surrounded by a bubble of compassion. You can feel it. When you walk inside you sigh a breath of release. There is calm and contentment. Blind Cat Rescue and Sanctuary was like that.
The first thing I learned was that blind cats are just cats. They are difficult to re-home because people don’t want a “handicapped” cat. Most animal shelter immediately euthanize them. After watching the incredible kitties there bounce up plastic towers, play with toys, bask in the sun, and play on their wheel it was clear to me that they weren’t disabled at all. When I sat down in one of the rooms, I was playing with 4-5 cats at a time. They jumped on my lap, played with my shoelaces, and pretended to be neck warmers. It was awesome!
Then I learned why cats go blind. It is simply when they are exposed to the elements, they get upper respiratory infections that lead to blindness. There are many abandoned cats and kittens born in harsh and unwelcoming habitats. Blind cats don’t survive very long. I learned that many blind cats contract FIV and FeLV. Both contagious viruses. That double whammy shortens their lives.
I was inspired by the truly good people who care for these oft-forgotten companions. These folks have a passion for doing good. They have continue during the sad time. The Sanctuary has a rainbow bridge – stones painted with the names of kitties who have passed. It wraps around the building. There are no big rewards for the staff. They don’t get rich or famous. Their reward is to fully embrace compassion. They simply do the right thing. When I am feeling sad and hopeless, I remember that there are more good people than bad ones. The bad ones just talk louder.
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