“The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece”
By Edie Hubler, FOTAS Board of Directors
as seen in the "Aiken Standard" 2-23-14 issue
That’s how Leonardo da Vinci spoke of cats. They are special, just ask any other cat lover. These beautiful creatures are agile, graceful and meticulous about their grooming. While dogs live to please their humans and will do almost anything for food – sit, stay, roll over – cats by their nature are much more independent. A good cat would consider a demand to perform a trick for food beneath him, and he would never, ever deign to respond to a reprimand. A cat could care less about packs or their human’s desire to be the pack “alpha.” A cat bestows its affection on a deserving human, and once they do – that cat becomes their friend for life.
Most Saturday mornings, Becky Reindl is walking dogs at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. She frequently takes her niece, Hope Dyches, who likes to spend time with the cats. Becky also fosters cats from the County Shelter and delights in talking about the experience.
“Kittens start to play as soon as they can stand up,” says Becky, “but they fall down a lot because they have no balance. When they play, a kitten will stalk up to pounce on another unsuspecting kitten, but because they misjudge the distance they can jump, the stalking kitten misses and ends up pouncing air. Watching my foster kittens play and grow has provided me with countless hours of entertainment.”
Becky’s current foster cat, Merlyn, plays with a mamma dog & four puppies she is fostering. Merlyn jumps on the dog’s tail, then runs under the sofa to hide. The startled dog gives chase, but is too big to crawl under the sofa. In the meantime, Merlyn, who has already crawled out from under the sofa unseen, sneaks up behind the dog again and pounces. He’s a strategic hunter, that Merlyn.
Then there’s Romeo, an affectionate 6 year old Serbian red cat who was adopted by Bobbie and Ron Kastet when he was a kitten. Bobbie fell in love with the little red kitten at first sight, who greeted Bobbie with a kiss – hence the name Romeo. He models like a pro for Bobbie’s camera, and purrs like an engine. Because Romeo also retrieves balls & toys, the neighbors claim he is really a dog in a cat’s body.
Romeo’s best friend is Pinot, a bassett/golden mix adopted from the County shelter by Dave & Linda Engleman. Romeo and Pino have play dates and even sleepovers. When Pinot comes for a visit, he “calls” Romeo and the cat comes running. Pinot licks the top of Romeo’s head and Romeo kisses Pinot’s feet. They sleep and eat together, and when they are lucky enough to be given a little ice cream, Romeo puts his paw inside the dish and feeds both himself and Pinot. Don’t believe it? Well, just look at the photo of Romeo feeding Pinot!
Ellie and Bill Joos, FOTAS volunteers, walk dogs at the County Shelter several days a week. Although they love dogs too, they are particularly fond of cats and have two of their own - Sheba and Buddy. While at the Shelter, Ellie makes a point to also visit the adoptable cats (which she calls fluff balls) to help socialize them. She often posts photos on Facebook of the available cats at the County Shelter -- she calls it kitty lovin’.
Please join our other FOTAS volunteers at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. The dogs and the cats can always use a little lovin’ and we are looking for lovin’ homes for them too.
FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 411 Wire Road. For more information, contact “info@fotasaiken.org” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org.
Aiken County Animal Shelter: “By the Numbers”
Feb. 3, 2014 - Feb. 8, 2014
11 dogs and 3 cats adopted
Year to Date:
72 terrific pets adopted
THANK YOU AIKEN COUNTY COMMUNITY!
Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”
**All adoption fees include: spay/neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.
MIA FARROW American bulldog, female, 2 yrs old, 38 lbs Only $70
BEN STILLER Domestic short hair -- male -- 7 yrs. old, 10 lbs Only $35
