Humans Wanted. Must Love Cats.
On the difference between cats and dogs, it's often said that "dogs have owners" and "cats have staff." Point being that in general, dogs always want affection and will do anything to please their human companions, while cats are often emotionally aloof, reluctant to do as they're told (unless it was their idea anyway), and demanding when their needs aren't being met.
If you've only known cats that meet the description above, I'd like you to meet Reece, the cat I'll be taking on WCIA this afternoon for the weekly Pet-on-the-Set segment. Reece was surrendered to CCHS because she had stopped using her litter box after her family added a couple of new cats to the household. (It's not uncommon for cats to be stressed by such an event, and it's not uncommon for stress to lead to a litter-box problem. But that's a topic for another day.)
At the shelter, Reece wasn't doing well. Although many cats are stressed out at first, after a few days most of them come around. Reece wouldn't eat, yet we couldn't find anything medically wrong with her. We offered her every kind of cat food in the shelter, but nothing interested her. In order to determine whether the problem was extreme stress or a serious medical condition, we moved Reece into the administrative office for closer observation in a more "home like" environment.
Within a couple of days we had our answer. Reece is a cat who absolutely REQUIRES human companionship. And lots of it. Now that she has adjusted to life as the "office cat," where she has six human companions, her appetite is just fine, she has gained weight, and her adorable personality is emerging. Oh, and did I mention that her litter box habits are excellent?
Reece likes to be on your desk. She likes to lay across your arm and rest her head on your hand. Typing doesn't deter her! At first it was a little too much -- Reece was almost "clingy." But now that she isn't starving for attention, she is also content to curl up on a nearby chair and snooze. And she enjoys exploring new territory - windowsills, bookcases, and architectural recesses for lighting, to name a few.
Now that we know that Reece is a healthy cat who just can't tolerate life in a cage, we're ready to adopt her into a new 'forever home.' Probably best for Reece if she is the only cat -- but believe me, Reece has enough love for a large family of humans.
For more information about adopting Reece, contact the Champaign County Humane Society, 217-344-7297.
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Update: Reece didn't do so well on WCIA today. She was nervous and really didn't want to be there, but we made it through the segment. Many cats are nervous and uncomfortable in that strange environment. Reece really is a nice and relaxed cat when she is in a familiar place. I hope the viewers were at least able to see how pretty she is! Oh, and I was wrong about her age - she is about 5 years old. - Tief
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