When A Cat Isn’t Being Held, The Shelter Staff Gets Creative

Cats have a reputation as antisocial. Dougie, on the other hand, is not one of them. Dougie loves to hug – he does it all the time. And when it comes to asking for what he wants, it is not embarrassing.

The 15-year-old orange tabby was in terrible health when he came to Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland (ARL) in early June. Because he had feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the shelter workers had to work extra hours to get him the medical attention he required.

Dougie was finally strong and healthy enough to start seeking for a new home after months of therapy. Dougie’s endearing peculiarity had been well-known among the shelter workers by that time.

Jeana Roth, head of community engagement, tells The Dodo, “He is very sociable and highly people-motivated.” “He constantly wants to be near the people in his life and will meow until he receives affection and attention.”

Dougie’s need to be cuddled had, in fact, become something of an enjoyable nuisance to the shelter staff, who would continually have to stop the tasks they were doing to hold Dougie — or else be forced to listen to his friendly, no-nonsense meows. “Dougie is very vocal in his need for attention. If he wasn’t held, or being petted, he would let you know,” Roth says. When the time came to move Dougie to the adoption floor, the staff had come up with the perfect way to showcase the senior cat’s unique personality. They posted a photo to Facebook showing Dougie snuggled up in a BabyBjörn worn by one of his favorite pals at the shelter.

Robert is a part of our fantastic feline team. And then there’s Dougie, a 15-year-old cat that is completely uninterested in anything… Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland vào Th Sáu, 15 tháng 9, 2017 Ngi ăng:
Dougie’s meow can be heard from galaxies far away when he’s not being handled. So, after some debate, we came to the conclusion that a BabyBjörn would allow Robert to both hold Dougie and do his work effectively,” the post said. “And we believe it’s the sweetest thing we’ve ever seen,” said the group. Users couldn’t agree more, as the post immediately piled up likes and shares on social media.
Dougie continues to demand the attention he deserves from both cats and humans at his new home in Springvale, Maine. Perkins adds, “He and Jax have immediately connected, and they kiss and play regularly.” “Every morning, Dougie meows and pats my face with his paw for cuddle time and his meal. If you stop caressing him, he will meow to let you know that he isn’t finished yet.”

Dougie is gaining weight and enjoying his new mom’s love and care, despite the fact that he still needs to take medication twice daily for his stomach problem. Fortunately, the sentiments are shared. Perkins continues, “I adore spending time with my newest little son.” “He is so full of love that it is difficult not to fall head over heels in love with him!” The loving kitty has even maintained contact with his Animal Rescue League buddies, who visit him on a regular basis to see how he’s doing.

Dougie now has a house and a family to call his own, after a difficult childhood. “Whenever I get the opportunity, I try to adopt older cats. They have so much love to give and want our attention just as much as, if not more than, the younger cats,” adds Perkins. “It seems like older cats and dogs have a tougher time finding homes at times, but they… deserve to be well-cared for and cherished for the remainder of their lives.” She says, “That’s what I want for Dougie.” “He’s getting pampered, and he’s earned it!”