Today I spent a few hours in the cat building at the shelter. I wasn’t planning to but was asked to oversee the folks who were doing their community service work.
As I walked up, right away I saw there was a momma just finished birthing in one of the cages, I got excited. While the guys cleaned the other cages, I hung a blanket over each side of the newborns’ cage to give them some privacy from the morning racket.
I went around and got to know more of the cats and kittens. There was a full grown Persian mix and a Siamese kitten, grey tabbys, a big orange, jet black kittens, little calicos, torties and blues. I gave a couple of playful kittens a toy each, and put little blankets in most of the cages – that’s an important cat-care thing I’ve learned. While I was doing this, the Vet Tech came in and out, taking one cat at a time, sometimes big, sometimes medium, sometimes kitten-size. And I began to realize that those cats weren’t coming back.
I’ve got to tell you, at the end of my time there today I was filled with such an overwhelming sadness.
If you’re ever sitting around with your family at home and notice an emptiness, perhaps you have too many laps and not enough cats? And if you decide to get a cat, please, please, please, go to your local county shelter and choose one from there. For less than $100, complete with all shots, you can fill your lap with one of these truly worthy creatures.
P.S. I am participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge this month – 31 days of July, a blog a day if I can. 
Followed you over from the Ultimate Blog Challenge group. 🙂
Our oldest cat was adopted from the shelter and he’s been the sweetest, most patient cat. We added a second cat to the family a while back who was headed for the shelter within days if he hadn’t found a home.
So many loving animals are waiting for homes.
I’d add, if you can’t adopt, you can still help by volunteering to help care for animals as well as donating to the shelters so they can afford to keep animals longer while they wait for their homes.
Hi Michelle – I’m enjoying another great UBC, thanks to you guys!! And yes, any help financial or otherwise is so important 🙂
What a great concept to promote having a cat in your home – it’s a wonderful feeling to sit with a warm, purring feline on your lap. I know, because I go downstairs to my daughter’s little apartment to visit her cats. (my husband is allergic) Our daughter got her two cats from her local shelter.
Thank you Lori – it’s a phrase a friend of mine shared me with me recently and I thought it was just purrfect!
I completely agree! I have two cats and that is plenty for our home but there are so many other cats and kittens out there that need homes! I like the extra lap idea! Have an extra lap? Get yourself a cat!
🙂
You have provided such a story about these beautiful cats in such an emotional connected way. And I also love the extra lap idea.
Thank you Nancy 🙂