By: Sarah A. Neikam, Operations Manager
The water bowl is almost empty. The food dish has been empty for days. I was friendly to the people here so they would be friendly to me, but they must have moved on. It’s warming up fast and the sun is bright; time to head under the road for shade. I’ll try for a rabbit tonight.
I finish the food and fall asleep in the box. Wake up in a new place. New smells. New voices. Lots of hands and faces and “Good kitty” words over and over. One of them pulls me from the box and holds me still while another one moves a big circle back and forth over me and says, “No chip.” Eventually there is a new, bigger box, more food and clean water. I’m tired.
Daylight again. More, new voices and noises and other cats meowing. Someone opens my box, reaches in and places me on a cold table. “It’s okay, open up for me.” And she rudely pries open my mouth. Yuck! Bitter. Yuck! Again, she opens my mouth, but apologizes this time, and gives me a small pebble to swallow. “This will help with your itching,” she says. At least it didn’t taste bad.
Another person and another pair of hands. She lays me on my side and holds me still. I’m scared and just want to go back to the box. “Okay bud, just a couple of quick pinches.” Ouch! Ouch again! “Good boy, you’re okay.” Finally, back in the box. I curl up on the soft blanket and recover from that very unpleasant experience. There is more food later. More noises, then quiet and I’m tired again.
A few daylights later, I’m taken out of the box and put into a smaller one, like the one the nice lady with the tuna put me in. Will there be more tuna? They take me to a new room; it’s colder here and there are strong smells. I hear other cats howling and dogs barking. A new person pulls me out of the box and places me on another cold table. More pokes and pinches and suddenly I’m very, very sleepy.
Daylight again. I feel heavy, can’t focus my eyes. I smell food nearby and I’m thirsty. There is another soft blanket, and it’s warmer here. Later, I hear someone approach. “Hey bud! How ya feeling? You’re such a good boy!” Oh no, not another box. I don’t want to move again, but I’m too sleepy to resist. She places me in the small box and we travel to another new place, with more new smells and voices. Then I smell and hear more cats. Lots of cats!
More daylights pass. There is always more food, water, and people. Their voices and smells are familiar now. They touch me gently and talk softly to me. I miss the outside smells and chasing rabbits, but this isn’t so bad. The routine is comforting, and I feel safe.
June is “Adopt a Shelter Cat Month” and it’s also the height of Kitten Season. There are so many cats living this story, waiting for you to give them a home, and many more waiting for that chance. See our adoptable cats online or meet them in person at 199 Willow Run Road, in Aiken, SC.
Sarah Neikam has been with the SPCA Albrecht Center since 2012 serving first as Volunteer Coordinator, then Digital Media Manager, followed by Marketing Director and now Operations Manager. Sarah lives in Aiken with her husband Tom and their three adopted cats: Bastian, Luna and Grady plus three “former feral” cats: Willow, Big Boy & Phoebe.
The SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare is a private, nonprofit, no kill animal shelter in Aiken, SC. The SPCA also operates a local Thrift Store (“Where Shopping Saves Lives”), a public, affordable Veterinary Care Center & a Dog Park. It is our mission to improve the lives of companion animals by rehoming abused, abandoned, and neglected pets while fighting for their well-being through vigorous legislative efforts, humane education, and by offering affordable veterinary care for all.
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