May The Force Be With You

Hello May! 

It's been a busy beginning of the month since the arrival of the new rescue cats—a momma cat and two kittens. They traveled for 12 hours via pet transport service from the South to the North, which was an ordeal in itself. 

My niece originally cared for them and rescued them from the streets, but she can't continue because she has transitioned from homeschooling to attending school in person. Although it made her sad, as aunts, we had to explain to her that caring for animals is a big responsibility. It's not advisable for a child to care for a pet if they barely know how to tie their shoelaces or manage their time between homework and pet care. The responsibility includes expenses, time, and emotional investment, especially since not all rescued animals make it through the process of getting them fixed and finding a permanent home.

My sister and I had decided to stop at having two cats, so it was a surprise to adopt three more. But what could we do when the ones who were supposed to rescue bailed on them? The three new cats are the mother, a black one we named Luna; a surprisingly Siamese kitten, which is uncommon here, we named Skye; and lastly, a domestic shorthair we named Finn.

A trip to the vet is underway, so currently, they are isolated from our two resident cats. The new ones need to be dewormed, vaccinated, and tested for common viruses (FeLV, FIV, FP, etc.). Hopefully, they will get spayed/neutered once they are healthy and fortified with vitamins and healthy food. All the efforts are always worth it once you see them gain weight and look healthy; it feels like all your hard work has paid off.

To parents: Please have a heart-to-heart talk with your kids before considering owning a pet and before breaking their hearts by saying 'no.' When you take animals under your wing, whether from a shelter or picked up along the road, you have to plan ahead budget-wise. It’s not and will never be easy, and you have to think long-term unless you’re looking to foster temporarily and then put them up for adoption.

To future pet owners: Always assume lifetime responsibility for them the moment you say yes to owning new pets. Stick with them no matter how sickly they become, especially as they age. My now 12-year-old ginger senior cat came from the streets, and I’m glad to have given him a forever home. He wouldn’t have survived over a decade as a stray. Taking in a living being and then abandoning them when life gets challenging is inhumanly cruel. If you’re not ready to adopt, just don’t!

So please, adopt don’t shop, but don’t make it a hobby and then cry on social media when you can’t afford their vet bills. It's anticipated that they will get sick when you least expect it. My advice? Keep them indoors and provide for them with healthy food, supplements, and a conducive living environment because they don’t have a choice—you do as a fur parent. 💕