Tigger finds a home

Photos by Ron Wilmot

Knocked-over cups leave pools of water on the table. The houseplants look a bit tattered. The pitter-patter of crazy feet fills the air.

We have a new cat.

The Post doesn’t normally stray into personal territory, but I figured Tigger warranted mention. Also, the Post’s kindergartner was home sick, so it seemed unlikely I could write up Palmer’s Airport Correctional Plan for today’s deadline. 

And so I found myself sitting in the kitchen, wearing a brown-construction-paper-and-pink-feather-hat, writing about a cat.

Tigger, an orange shorthair with a loving disposition balanced by a crazy streak, came from the Mat-Su Borough Animal Shelter. We adopted him last month after losing our old tabby, Max, himself a shelter rescue from Oregon.

Tigger was one of 86 cats adopted in January through the shelter, according to the borough’s animal care chief, Phil Morgan. He said the shelter relies on help from partners like Clear Creek Cat Rescue. Sadly, not everybody found a new home: the borough euthanized 11 cats last month, due to medical issues or problems with temperament, Morgan said.  

There are still plenty of cats looking for homes - 68 at the latest count. 

During our shelter visit, my 2- and 6-year-old daughters walked right over to Tigger. He was The One.  The next day and $104.50 later, we brought him home; spayed or neutered cats cost less.

Our little cat was worth every penny. 

At 7 months old, Tigger’s still got a lot of kitten in him. He’s obsessed with water. Last night he fell in the bathtub, which was pretty awesome for everybody but him.  The Best Thing in the World is half a plastic Easter egg, bouncing off a cabinet. He’ll lurk around corners, waiting to jump on our husky-heeler mix, then launch four feet in the air and miss the dog completely. 

But Tigger is also a hugger; he’ll put his paws on either side of your neck and settle in for a snuggle. Sometimes he’ll crawl up on our shoulders like a living fur stole. He fetches. He’s wonderful with the girls, who aren’t always as gentle as they should be. (“Anneka, do NOT sit on the cat.”)

Someone treated this cat right before their situation forced them to give him up. He expects only love. That’s just what he’s getting. 

Maybe there's a cat - or a dog - waiting for you, too. 

http://www.matsugov.us/animalcare/available-for-adoption

-- Zaz Hollander