Pet Talk (week of September 20, 2017)

Cathy Davis, Special to The County
7 years ago

Cats mature rather quickly in their first two years of life and then their aging slows. At a year old, a cat is actually 15 in human years. And when the cat reaches 2 years of age, it’s 24 in human years. Upon reaching the age of two, a  cat then ages four human years for every calendar year.

Meet Players and Noble — two cats who have been at the Houlton Humane Society animal shelter for 18 months. That means in cat (compared to human) terms, they have been Shelter residents for 20 years.

Players is white and gray and Noble is a tortie.  Both are females and very timid and shy. They are what we call a “bonded pair.” That means the shelter will do everything they can to place the two of these in a home together.

It’s sometimes difficult to place kitties who don’t saunter up to the cage door and reach out a paw and look you in the eye and beg you to take them home. People walk by, take a peek, keep on walking. Kittens turn into adults, adults get depressed, they curl up and sleep, paying little attention to those who come to adopt, because they have been overlooked time and time again.  

Meet Players and Noble — two cats who have been at the Houlton Humane Society animal shelter for 18 months and are looking for the right family or person to adopt them. (Courtesy/Cathy Davis)

In the 18 months these kitties have been waiting for a home, probably 500 people have walked by, and kept walking. And yet these are extremely beautiful and healthy animals, just needing a new home to settle in and lose their fears. Because they are a bonded pair, and already spayed and up to date on all their shots, perhaps the cost to adopt two has been prohibitive. So we now have a sponsor (yes, my husband and I) who will pay the adoption fee for these two beauties.  

Obviously we still require pre-adopt applications and will adopt these animals into just the right home — not the first person who comes along because they are “free” but to that perfect home. The right family is one with patience and understanding who will let Players and Noble ease their way into the surroundings in their own way and their own good time. Perhaps not a home with 20 other animals and seven kids, but to a more quiet environment where stress level is low and peace is the norm.

If you think that now is the time to adopt, maybe you are looking for a mouser as the field critters start to make their way in from the cold, perhaps you were just waiting for the perfect opportunity to rescue a couple of kitties, or it could be you just love animals and need just “one more”, consider Players and Noble as your “one more”.   

Please stop by the Shelter and meet these two and fill out a pre-adopt application. Give these ladies a chance. Not all of us who are shy are worthless you know.

Thank you to all who adopt and please do what you can to help those animals who are in need – they might be shelter or rescue animals, or your own critters at home, reach out today and help, it is greatly appreciated.