As many of you know, I volunteer for the SPCA here in Largo, Florida. I work as a cat counselor every Thursday from 4-7. Usually there are three of us counselors but a week ago two of my fellow volunteers did not show up. When I went in this Thursday I was expecting the shelter to be closed to the public but I was pleasantly surprised that it was open and pets were being adopted, although they have adopted an appointment only policy that started Friday.
I was again alone this Thursday, and I hope the two ladies I work with are well, but it does make my work seem even more important now. During the three hours I was there I saw three cats go home with their new families. It is a good feeling.
My wife and I have been throwing around the idea of adopting a female cat. Unfortunately, we are only allowed one pet where we live and are already over our limit so it probably won’t happen but I still think about it while I am there. This last month there have been a string of female black cats that have been extremely friendly and affectionate. Three of these cats have been in isolation because they supposedly do not get along with other cats. We considered adopting one of them, Jezebel, which I wrote about here. When my wife came in to check her out she proved herself to be intolerant of others.
While I was there Thursday, I kept an eye out for the most friendly female cat at the shelter. This, of course, is impossible to determine on one visit because cats might act differently depending on how tired they are or for other reasons. However, I do think a six year old cat named Kiki would get my vote. Coincidentally, she is another female black cat and I noticed how friendly she was the previous week too.
I think the friendliest male cat at the shelter would be a one year old named Kitty, who is a very special cat with a not so special name. He is in isolation because he is on a special diet but I think that is temporary. When I opened his cage he was all over me. He would push his head into my chin and then put his paws on my shoulder and snuggle with me. As an outgoing and rather well built male, I think he would cause jealousy among our other two wannabe alpha males.
On the way out after my shift I noticed a beautiful cat that was just outside the door. He meowed at me and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was one of our cats that escaped. I took a photo of him and went back inside to ask someone.
It turns out his name is Chunks, or something like that, and he is a stray that they take care of. It seems strange that a stray cat would be a permanent resident outside a shelter but if he is feral and unadoptable, that is probably the best place to live. When I came back out I bent down and reached out my hand, hoping he would come to me, but no such luck. I think he his trusting but to a point.
How are things where you live? Do you know if shelters are still open?
Bad Cat Chris 
Our shelter is closed unless you have an appointment to come in to adopt a cat. I’m glad you are still working there but like you – wonder what happened to the other two who normally are there to help. I think people are just hesitant to do ANYTHING outside their homes but I’m glad you are still helping the shelter. The cats you “showcased” are all cuties. Hopefully they will be adopted soon…………….
Pam
I hope people continue to come in to adopt.
One area shelter is currently empty, as many people chose to adopt a pet to bond with during our state-wide stay-at-home order. Another county shelter closed with no notice about 10 days ago. We could only assume that many of the staff had or were exposed to the Coronavirus. So, it’s a mixed bag, here! Now that the stay-at-home order is in place, they are all closed.
That is mostly bad but there is a silver lining in there.
Here in Germany they are closed. The pets are taken care of, of coure, but not open to the public. Adoptions only for previously approved adopters in some of the shelters.
I hope that changes soon.
Most of our shelters are by appointment only too and from what I hear there has been a good number of adoptions.
I am glad people are still adopting.
The nearest shelter is open by appointment. It is very good shelter, they have many great ideas to collect money for the cats who need special care like surgery or tooth care.
Our shelter is closed to the public but we’re still doing adoptions by appointment. We hope your shelter kitties all find homes.
They are all adorable. Maybe Chunks will eventually become more trusting. I am glad people are still getting out and adopting.
Yes, I’m happy people are still adopting.
You have some awesome kitties there! I don’t know about our shelters – if they are open, it’s by appointment only.
Appointments are better than nothing.
You are right. You do an important job, especially at this time. All these cats sound wonderful. Black cats are particularly beautiful. Sorry to hear you cannot adopt another one!
It is hard to go to the shelter every week and not take one home. It’s like being lactose intolerant while working at an ice cream store.
Our sheltors are closed, open only when you have an appointment. Good to know that there werd three adoptions while you were there, Charles. Glad you managed until know😸Kitty looks so much like Granny’s Angel👼😸Clean Pawkisses for a Happy Wednesday. Stay Safe Healthy and Yourselfie🙏🐾😽💞
Well, I hope your shelters get lots of appointments.
The animal shelter here is on limited hours. The rescues are pre-arranged meetings, with their regular places at PetSmart and Petco closed for the time being.
Really? I’m pretty sure PetSmart is open here.
My bad … should have said their respective adoption centers were closed. The stores are open, so you can buy food and stuff.
Oh, that makes sense. I would rank them as a necessary business.
Both PetSmart and Petco lobbied heavy, at least in Colorado, to be an essential business. The governor has a multi-cat family, so he understood the need to have them to be an essential business along with the veterinary clinics/hospitals around the state.
People have to feed their pets somehow.
Indeed.
The shelter where we volunteer is now adopting only by appointment. But the heroic efforts of our cat adoption team resulted in a flurry of adoptions and fosters, so there are only a few cats at the shelter right now. This is good, because the skeleton shelter staff can give them lots of attention. People are still adopting, it seems. We hope it continues.
It seems the same here too. I also hope it continues.