Midge, Mori & Macy
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The truth is I LOVE winter. Yes, you read it right: I LOVE WINTER. Not only are there no bugs and the garbage does not smell; it is also the time to sit with a blanket with a cat or 2 or 3 on your lap.
Our furry faced BENCHS cuddly companions are Midge, Mori and Macy, and they like to read. My husband Andrew will take his book and lay on the bed to read and pretty soon he has our fur balls laying on him or next to him. Always in the same spot. Midge in between the book and his body, Mori on the back of his knees and Macy beside him, without fail. Always in their assigned spots. When Andrew comes home they are waiting by the door, all lined up like friends, wondering how your day went. Who could have the winter blues with those friendly faces gazing lovingly at you. The cats want to be where we are and follow us all around the house and stay by our sides entertaining us, chasing the winter blues away with their silly antics. They can be in a dead sleep on the second floor, and with their super sonic hearing, hear the kibble bowl being filled. And then be down the steps before the last kibble is resting in the container. Or throw themselves at our feet and squirm around on the floor until we pay attention to them. They are our true companions. Showing us unconditional love and warmth. Often we are woken up in the middle of the night by loud happy purring. They are part of out family. They bring us joy. We are so happy our BENCHS cats are a part of out lives. Andrew and Kim |
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Toby
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 Toby at 8 weeks old and weighing 1 pound.
Toby came into BENCHS with his two
sisters and one brother when they were about two days old. An individual brought them in thinking their
mom had abandoned them. I had received a
text early the next day asking if I would want to foster them, knowing full
well that at their age it is very rare that they all would even make it. I took them without hesitation! I love a good challenge and they were my
biggest yet. I was feeding them around
the clock, every two hours, if not more.
I would make them do their “business” after every meal, as well. They were my life at that point and I
absolutely loved it. Between days 10 and
20 of their life, one of the boy kittens started showing symptoms of
Giardia. Working with BENCHS, we tried
all we could to help the little guy recover.
Unfortunately, he passed away not too long after. His two sisters started showing signs of what
seemed like neurological problems most likely due to parasites and they both
passed shortly after. I had one more
little boy still hanging in there, Toby, and I thank God he did. He was fortunate not to have any parasites
(or at least any parasites that could have taken his life). With his siblings gone, I felt that he was
becoming lonely so I borrowed a stuffed animal cat with a digital heartbeat
from BENCHS. I put it in Toby’s kennel
with him and he snuggled with it every chance he could. It helped immensely! As he slowly grew, he started to lose his
fur. I brought this to BENCHS attention
and they figured it was his formula, so we changed it. They were correct and after a month or so he
finally started to grow his fur back.
However, he looked like an alien rat baby until his fur did grow
back! No fur on his paws or tail but he
was still the cutest thing I have ever seen!
He also had some digestive issues while changing his formula. He hadn’t pooped in almost a week making him
extremely bloated. I gave him plenty of
laxatives until one night he finally excreted stool that was longer than the
length of his body! I know it seems like
a disgusting part of his story that I shouldn’t talk about but I was so proud
of him that night! He was equally as
proud of himself and did a little happy dance around the living room to
celebrate.
Toby and I made so many trips to BENCHS day and night. Anytime I thought something was wrong or if he needed his shots or just to do a simple check-up we went in. I did everything to make sure my sweet foster boy would grow and be healthy so he could live out his future. By the time Toby was able to be adopted out I did not have the heart to let him go and that was the day I became a foster failure! I just could not imagine my life without that little peanut so I took him home forever. I love him more than words can say and I cannot thank BENCHS enough for all their hard work and dedication! I am so grateful for the amazing staff that has helped him through everything. They are truly a Godsend. Toby appreciates and loves you all! Thank you! Hannah & Toby |
Toby and friends
Toby
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Arco
I remember the day that Arco, came to the shelter back in August of 2012. I remember it so well, because it was also the same day that I started working at BENCHS. Arco, was found running in the city of Mankato, and was found by the police department. When Arco first came to the shelter, he weighed only 3 pounds and was the cutest kitten that I had ever seen. Although he was very afraid and shy, there was something that was very special about him. I was given the opportunity to name him, and he was one of my “favorites” at the time. I remember the first night that Arco, was at the shelter, because when I came into work the next morning, his cage was wide open and I panicked thinking that he was somewhere in the shelter hiding. When I went to look for Arco, he was nowhere to be found. However, when I was looking under his cage, I heard a faint meow and I looked up to find Arco still in his kennel cowering on the corner.
As the months when on Arco slowly came out of his shell and he quickly grew from a 3 pound kitten, and into an 18 pound cat. Although Arco seemed very happy to live in his condo, it broke my heart when I thought about him growing up at the shelter. He had no idea what he was missing out on! I really wanted to adopt Arco. However my home is very busy and full of animals already and he would have been very terrified to be in that type of environment. I was very excited when a family came to the shelter to adopt Arco about a year into his stay. The family seemed like a great fit, they were a quiet family, home often and had two other cats. After 3 days, I was shocked when I came to the shelter and found that Arco had been returned because the family’s first cat was very upset about the new residents.
Another year went by before anybody came in to see Arco. He was still the happy kitty who loved his condo friends and the security of his condo. It was a busy Saturday afternoon at the shelter, when a young newlywed couple came into the shelter who had recently bought a home and they were looking for another cat for their current cat to keep company. When they saw all the cats in the shelter, they were overwhelmed and sadden looking at all of the homeless cats. They asked us who had been at the shelter, and I told them about Arco. When they went into Arco’s condo, he immediately ran away in the corner and was very shy but curious. After the couple spent 15 minutes with Arco, they came out of the condo and told me that he was purrfect and they wanted to adopt him. Tears immediately filled my eyes because I was so happy for him. I told the family about the first time that Arco was adopted, and they were very understanding. I told them it could take months for him to be comfortable in his new home but he was the sweetest boy and very near and dear to me. The adopting family said to me; “Don’t worry about Arco; he will have all the time in the world to settle in and we will never push him and love him to pieces.”
After watching Arco, leave the shelter with his forever home was one of the best moments I have had working at the shelter. Arco now has the purrfect family, a kitty friend to play with and all the time in the world to love his new family and home! This is what it’s all about!
As the months when on Arco slowly came out of his shell and he quickly grew from a 3 pound kitten, and into an 18 pound cat. Although Arco seemed very happy to live in his condo, it broke my heart when I thought about him growing up at the shelter. He had no idea what he was missing out on! I really wanted to adopt Arco. However my home is very busy and full of animals already and he would have been very terrified to be in that type of environment. I was very excited when a family came to the shelter to adopt Arco about a year into his stay. The family seemed like a great fit, they were a quiet family, home often and had two other cats. After 3 days, I was shocked when I came to the shelter and found that Arco had been returned because the family’s first cat was very upset about the new residents.
Another year went by before anybody came in to see Arco. He was still the happy kitty who loved his condo friends and the security of his condo. It was a busy Saturday afternoon at the shelter, when a young newlywed couple came into the shelter who had recently bought a home and they were looking for another cat for their current cat to keep company. When they saw all the cats in the shelter, they were overwhelmed and sadden looking at all of the homeless cats. They asked us who had been at the shelter, and I told them about Arco. When they went into Arco’s condo, he immediately ran away in the corner and was very shy but curious. After the couple spent 15 minutes with Arco, they came out of the condo and told me that he was purrfect and they wanted to adopt him. Tears immediately filled my eyes because I was so happy for him. I told the family about the first time that Arco was adopted, and they were very understanding. I told them it could take months for him to be comfortable in his new home but he was the sweetest boy and very near and dear to me. The adopting family said to me; “Don’t worry about Arco; he will have all the time in the world to settle in and we will never push him and love him to pieces.”
After watching Arco, leave the shelter with his forever home was one of the best moments I have had working at the shelter. Arco now has the purrfect family, a kitty friend to play with and all the time in the world to love his new family and home! This is what it’s all about!
Snow Ball and Pony Boy
