Senior kitty at SPCA gets a new home, but there’s a catch
If he responds to medication for his troubled heart and survives upcoming dental surgery, Bert the cat will get a new home.
Recent news articles describing the plight of 14-yearold Bert and other older cats waiting a long time for adoption at the Kelowna SPCA had the desired effect.
About 20 of the older cats were adopted during the past two weeks, including Bert, who’s described as a particularly fine feline for his gentle and accommodating nature.
“It wasn’t exactly a bidding war, but we did have people express interest in Bert,” shelter manager Sean Hogan said Wednesday. “We’ve done the paperwork for Bert to be adopted by a lovely couple.”
However, Bert’s move to his new home will have to wait until September. A veterinarian has determined Bert has heart trouble and must be put on medication.
Then, if things go well, he’ll have to undergo surgery for some bad teeth. As with any older cat, an operation involving anesthetic presents potentially fatal risks.
“There’s sometimes a public perception that cats and dogs are somehow ‘broken’ if they’re adopted from the SPCA,” said Hogan. “But our team work hard to keep up the animals’ health, and we get a lot of support from our donors and veterinarians who provides their services at a reduced cost.”
Meanwhile, despite the success of a promotion that offered older cats for adoption at reduced rates, the number of such animals at the shelter has edged up above 40 once again.
“I’m doing well right now in a foster home, but there’s a lot of my friends at the shelter who do need a fur-ever family,” Bert is believed to have said in cat language. “Won’t you please adopt them?”