Congratulations on the addition of Baxter to your family, Art. What a cute face!
Last December, I lost my blind kitty, Tom, after more than 20 years together. It killed me - he was my “son”, my baby. I, too, said “no more.” It is so much easier to charter without pets on board because I don’t have to be concerned with guest allergies and to where pet hair might be escaping.
Needing to have some sort of feline contact in my life, I got involved with Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary (“BCR”) in North Carolina where I now sponsor a FELV+ tabby cat named Tiffany who, ironically, is from Miami, Florida. Due to the positive FELV status, she was considered unadoptable and would have been euthanized. BCR provides these “throw-away” kitties with a [really nice] forever home and all the medical care they need without limitation. All 93 cats there want for nothing. So, while it’s not the same as actually having one, I do get the satisfaction of having helped save a life, and I get to watch Tiffany in her room on the live webcam. I also took up fostering rescues of blind and/or senior cats here and there and helping with transport to forever homes when I can. So, I sort of get to scratch my itch.