Forgotten Ones Cat Rescue Mewsletter Spring 2019 TIME TO PAWS AND REFLECT Happy Spring 2019! It is owner, not the cat. We have used the newsletter to hard to believe that this educate readers about litter box best-practices that year marks the 10th year we hope can help families deal with this challenging that we have been dilemma. publishing our Mews- Obesity, regular veterinary check ups, and dietary letter. We initiated the needs are also among the topics we have newsletter as a platform discussed, all important to the overall physical well- to promote pertinent, being of our pets. relevant, and important Another important issue we often feature in the cat-related issues to our Forgotten Ones communi- Mewsletter is the emotional needs of cats. Many of ty. With almost 20 years’ experience in helping the stories from adoptive families speak to how homeless cats, we have a lot of knowledge to patience and love have turned a shy and timid pet share! into a confident, affection animal and irreplaceable For example, one of the primary reasons cats are family member. We believe these tales not only surrendered to shelters is litter box avoidance. The make us feel good, but also offer insight into the truth is that, very often, the problem is with the complex world of cat behaviour. Laura Wyatt, Director, Forgotten Ones Cat Rescue FEATURED ADOPTION: Jazmyn Piper passed away two years later. Shortly after that, Tucker became my new family member. Tucker came to me with severe separation anxiety, and Jazz has helped him so much. One of the best things about my Jazmyn is her relationship with Tucker—she'll wash his face, ears, or any other area she feels needs sprucing up. However, Jazmyn is very independent with people, and does not like being handled—at all! After 10 years, she will still not allow me to cut her nails. In 2008, I was working at the Toronto Zoo when my cat passed away. My dog Piper was lonely without a In the past year, Jazz has come to occasionally lie cat companion. The zoo veterinarian Dr. Dutton on my lap and will allow much more petting than in suggested I look for a cat at Forgotten Ones, as his the past. She will come to my bed in the night and wife Dr. Musson worked with the group and knew nose around to get under the covers with me. She their cats were well cared-for. I took Piper to a is a perfect example of the adage “there is no off- Forgotten Ones adoption centre to meet some of the button on a cat that wants its breakfast.” cats. Jazmyn was the friendliest cat, as well as being Seeing my pets Tucker and Jazmyn play-wrestle or beautiful. As I had been pre-approved, I was able to cuddle makes me happy. I can't imagine life without take Jazmyn home the day we met her. them and I love them to pieces. ~ Shirley 1 Forgotten Ones Cat Rescue Living the High Life! Most cats love to be in high places. Taking height as a metaphor, some fortunate felines have lived in the most highly prestigious places in the world! Over the years, the White House, 10 Downing Street, and the Canadian Prime Minister’s residence have been the high-status home addresses for several cats The White House, Washington D.C., United States Cats have had a long history as White House residents, starting in 1861 with Tabby and Dixie and through to Socks, who took up residence in 1993. Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States was the first president known to enjoy the company of cats while he lived Lincoln’s penchant for cats in official residence of the leader of the United States. was steadfast, even Lincoln loved animals and he adored cats in particular. He through the challenging had such an affinity for felines, and spent so much time enjoying their company, that his wife Mary Todd referred to times of the American Civil cats as her husband’s hobby. War. When Lincoln was elected president, he decided to leave his dog Fido in his home in Springfield. So he wouldn't be During a winter visit to petless in his new residence, Lincoln was given the General Grant’s unexpected gift of two kittens from William Seward, then headquarters, Lincoln Secretary of State. The cats were named Tabby and Dixie, rescued three half-frozen and Lincoln became very bonded to them. According to his kittens from a Civil War friend Caleb Carman, the President would pick up Tabby or battlefield telegraph hut. He tucked them in his coat and brought them back to the safety of the White House. President Clinton’s cat Socks was popular with everyone: White House staff, Secret Service and visitors, including foreign heads of state. Socks even had his own fan club, and responded to letters with his personal, and official, postcard. 2 Spring 2019 Mewsletter Dixie and spend as much as a half-hour at a time engaged in a conversation with his cat companion. Lincoln had such respect for his feline family that he is said to have commented, “Dixie is smarter than my whole cabinet and, furthermore, she doesn’t talk back!” The President’s devotion to his family cats was not confined to domestic situations. He once fed Tabby from the table during a formal dinner at the White House. When Lincoln’s embarrassed wife later observed that the action was “shameful in front of their guests,” the president replied, “If the gold fork was good enough for former President James Buchanan, I think it is good enough for Tabby!” It was more than 50 years before the next cat was able to call the White House home. Calvin Coolidge and his family had almost an entire zoo in the White House while Coolidge served as President. His menagerie included a few cats. After taking over the One cat in particular held a special place in Coolidge’s heart presidency, Calvin Coolidge and in the White House. Tiger, a grey-striped American assembled a White House Shorthair, was often found walking along beside the menagerie that rivaled most President or wrapped around his neck. Once, when Tiger wandered away, Coolidge pleaded for his return in a radio zoos. address. Happily, Tiger was found and, upon his return, the He had six dogs, a bobcat, cat was fitted with a special collar that included his White a goose, a donkey, cats, two House address. lion cubs, an antelope, and a Other presidents who have had cats reside with them at the wallaby. The main attraction White House were Theodore Roosevelt (Tom Quartz and in his personal zoo was Billy, Slippers), Gerald Ford (Shan), Jimmy Carter (Misty Malarky a pygmy hippopotamus. and Ying Yang), Ronald Reagan (Cleo and Sara), Bill Clinton (Socks), and George W. Bush (India). 10 Downing Street, London, England Upon his arrival at 10 Downing Street in October 1989, a long-haired black-and-white stray cat named Humphrey was immediately employed as the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. He enjoyed living in the official residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1989 to 13 November 1997. Humphrey served under the premierships of Margaret Thatcher, John Major, and Tony Blair, retiring six months after the Blair family moved into Downing Street. Humphrey brought the position of resident mouser at Downing Street to the public's attention and became one of the most popular and admired cats in Great Britain. The press frequently referred to the Chief Mouser an actual employee at Number 10. 3 Forgotten Ones Cat Rescue In June 1995, Humphrey went missing. Thanks to extensive media coverage, he was located at the nearby Royal Army Medical College. He had been taken in as a presumed stray and renamed PC, short for Patrol Cat. Upon his return to Downing Street, Humphrey issued a statement through the civil service stating, "I have had a wonderful holiday at the Royal Army Medical College, but it is nice to be back and I am looking forward to the new parliamentary session.” Humphrey’s later years were marred by controversy. In the early Blair era, it was reported by tabloids that the Prime Minister’s wife Cherie Blair had decreed that she was allergic to Humphrey and that he must go. A photo of Cherie with Humphrey was later issued, but did little to assuage media rumours that he was a marked cat. In November 1997, Humphrey's primary carer Jonathan Rees, Humphrey’s retirement who worked in the Prime Minister's Policy Unit, wrote a memo was cloaked in intrigue. As stating that the cat should retire to a stable home environment proof that he had not been where he could be looked after properly. murdered by the Blairs, he The recommendation was acted upon and Humphrey was was photographed, hostage moved to his new home with an elderly couple in suburban style, in a secret location London. Humphrey’s retirement was not announced until after atop copies of daily news- the retirement and rehoming took place, in order to reduce the papers risk of kidnapping attempts. The Conservatives were quick to criticize the forced retirement of Humphrey. They pointed out that Humphrey had lived happily at Number 10 for almost eight years under a Conservative government but moved out within six months of the Labour Party taking power. Conservative MP and animal lover Alan Clark was suspicious about the way Humphrey's retirement was announced and demanded proof that the cat was still alive: "Humphrey is now a missing person.