war-torn cats

I admit that I am not the most politically aware person in the world. I try to pay attention to what’s going on in the world, but I don’t always succeed. And a good human interest story–or a good animal interest story–will sometimes help a story hit home in the way a regular news article will not.

This cat lives in Hassan al-Draimli’s pet store in Gaza. Despite the instability of the region, Hassan has kept his store alive for more than 25 years, providing companions to his customers.

“The desire to have pets grew in Gaza after the Israeli invasion, because the children were constantly afraid. So every family that could came to buy a cat or bird for their children to comfort them.”

His story is inspiring, and hopeful. I do believe that cats can change lives–even in the smallest of ways.

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new york times habitats: cats

This is Tammy Cross (and an unnamed kitten.)

Tammy lives in a tiny apartment on the upper west side, made even tinier by the fact that at any given time she might be caring for up to 21 tiny kittens, including little Prudence, found on Kitten Little Rescue’s petfinder page.

Tammy Cross may be the only person in Manhattan who I don’t begrudge her rent-controlled apartment. Kittens definitely deserve rent control.

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matthew pearl: bestselling author, best friend to cats

This is Josie and Bugsey.

This is their biography:

Hi, we’re a very loving pair looking for a home together. Even if you came in looking for a single cat, don’t stop reading! Some people think having two cats is harder than having one, but in fact it’s easier in many ways. We play together and take care of each other while you’re at work or school. We also groom each other, keep each other generally healthier and happier, and since we can share litter boxes and food there’s not much difference in supplies and materials. The hard part is introducing two cats who don’t know each other, which is why it’s very special to find kitty best friends who love one another like us!

It was written by Matthew Pearl, author of The Dante Club, who volunteers for the Animal Rescue League of Boston by writing awesome biographies for cats that are up for adoption. Every single one of these biographies elicited an “awwww” from me, and I think it’s a great example of a volunteer using his or her own strengths to help the less fortunate. I would love, LOVE to do this for a shelter myself, but I wonder if they would want someone who isn’t a super-famous author. Maybe I’ll send this article to some of my local shelters and ask. Writing cat biographies is totally my calling.

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tashi the paraplegic cat

This is Tashi.

Tashi is paralyzed. But since he arrived at Tabby’s Place, an animal sanctuary in New Jersey, in November, he’s been learning how to walk. He has hydrotherapy sessions and does Pilates-like exercises to strengthen his legs and to learn how to walk. He also hangs out with his best friends, two diabetic cats named Albert and Tony.

Of course, this is all very expensive. So if you’d like to help pay for Tashi’s Pilates (or his medicine, or Albert and Tony’s medicine), go here.

And if you’d like to see Tashi in action, check out these videos:

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cats behind bars

There are cats in jail in Indiana, but it’s not because they’re criminals. The cats are part of a program that “partners well-behaved offenders with homeless cats in an attempt to enrich the lives of both groups.” The inmates care for and socialize with the cats to prepare them for adoption, and there is a similar program for dogs as well. Depending on the success of the program, inmates may even be allowed to keep animals as pets.

This is such an amazing program, with such positive effects for the inmates and the animals. Caring for an animal does so much to build self-esteem and give a sense of responsibility, two things I can imagine would be sorely needed in prison.

As one of the inmates said, “Every one of them has a number and a name, just like we’ve got.”

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