Office full of cats in stages of recovery from abuse

17 years ago
ImageBy Norma Milton
Special to the Aroostook Republican

   I love my home office. It is full of cats of all ages and in all stages of recovery from abandonment issues. When I speak of abandonment issues, I am speaking of abuse and neglect that would shatter a human being.

ImageContributed photo    
This little male kitten, Felix, is about 7 weeks old and will be in foster care until April 15, when he will be ready for adoption.

I love that unexpected moment when an extremely shy 8-month old calico cat looks up at me while I am working at the computer. She climbs to the table by my side and slowly leans over to get a sniff of me.  Cleo is telling me, “I’ve seen you around and now I think I would like to know you.”
   The sense of smell is of great importance to a cat. Of course, right about this time, Peanut Butter wanders in and heads for a litter box.  Now I desperately need a facemask with pure oxygen. Not a big deal when I think of the other enjoyments I can treasure with my feline friends.
   Philip, a young 6-month old tiger with beautiful markings, has finally reached a milestone. I stop writing this column to watch Philip start playing with 8-week old Felix who came to us with a broken tail and a mild cold. Both cats were terrified of people.  They have fully recovered from their virus, but now they need to learn how to be a contented pet. There has been some progress the last few days. Neither cat looks nervously side-to-side anymore when they start rolling a ball around. They have accepted safety as a steady fact in this house. My heart skips with excitement as I watch Philip decide to sniff and lick little Felix. This is a home run for both cats. Now the two are lying on opposite side of a circle that has a ball to push round and round. Children should learn to play as quietly and kindly together.
   In the few days since I started writing this article, Cleo has progressed a great deal in her trust. She now sleeps with me and when I go downstairs, she will sit on the steps watching for my return. When I sit at the computer, she immediately rubs against my legs thanking me for returning. She automatically climbs on the table and watches me work. Occasionally, she will reach out to touch the screen or will try to catch the curser. Her hair is silky soft and white. She keeps herself squeaky clean and she adores being touched. What a long way she has traveled in just a few days. I pray that we can find her a quiet and very kind home. She doesn’t mind other cats at all, but she definitely wants to make her human companion feel very loved and needed.
   This time in my home office with all my cats and foster cats roaming around, playing, sleeping, reading the wallpaper gives me a feeling of joy and peace that very few people know. We have an odd situation in our home. Ev handles the downstairs with the TV blaring and the furnace roaring. I spend most of my time upstairs with the heat vents closed and my cats playing or sleeping around me. I don’t even want a radio playing.  I work on shelter items, clean and care for cats and then I turn around and clean the cats again.
   Our upstairs feels like a dormitory full of felines learning they can feel safe, get well from hurts and illness, and for many it is simply learning to relax and sleep well.
Statistics have shown that just having a pet love you can lower your blood pressure by 20 points. Giving health and safety back to these lovely animals is the least we can do in return. I can feel the difference in my body’s emotional health when I am with these animals. I like most people, but I have little patience. Put me in a small room with 11 beautiful cats and I am in my element – my concept of what heaven would be like.
   Continue to donate your returnable bottles and cans to Caribou Pet Rescue.  Call 498-3800 for information or check out our pets at   Caribou Pet Rescue at 6 Richards; and the mailing address is PO Box 488, Caribou, ME 04736.

 

ImageAroostook Republican photo/Debra Walsh
    Officers and the board of directors for the Caribou Pet Rescue Inc. were elected March 27 during the annual meeting. Leadership includes from left are Duane Walton, vice president; Mary Walton, director; Roy Woods, director; Shirley Dumas, incoming secretary; Norma Milton, president; Sheree Belanger, director; Pauline Woods, director; Leah Mazerolle, director; and Wayne Mazerolle, director. In back is John Swanberg, treasurer. Absent from the photo were Hugh Kirkpatrick and Rick Taggett, directors.