February 2021 Due to advanced kidney disease, Sooty has crossed the Rainbow Bridge and will be missed but always remembered.
About Sooty
I’m called Sooty and don’t mind the name as I prefer it to the old standbys of Shadow or Blackie or the ever-popular Midnight. I’m a black fluffy cat and we are known for our sweet personalities. I’m a little chubby because I need a nice indoors home with people who will play with me so I can get more exercise.
As with all us guys here at the “feline hotel”, I prefer not to cry to you about my troubles before rescue but we were all “down on our luck”, to say the very least, before making our way here. One day I found myself homeless and without any food and it was very frightening. I am not one to beg at doors or rummage through garbage cans as, after all, I come from a long line of royalty (but, unfortunately, was mixed up at birth with an ally cat – or at least that’s my story).
Anyway, I found an okay place to sleep with one serious drawback – no room service! I could see a nice feral feeding station across the very wide street. Having nine good lives ahead, I decided it was worth it to risk just one and make a run for it. Since I am here to write this bio, you can see that I still have nine lives left. However, the nice woman feeding gourmet meals at the station disagreed with me about whether there was actually a factual basis for the “nine lives myth” as she called it. She then cleverly tricked me into coming with her.
I’m now inside and glad I am. No more cold rainy weather and also, believe me, the snow looks much better through a window than on my fur. I had a wispy tail from those days out in the elements and it has improved greatly – although it might not yet be luxurious as it was before my homeless period. I brag to the other male cats here about how much I miss the excitement of the gamble I took running across that busy street, but we are all really happy to have a safe comfy home every day no matter what the weather.
I didn’t trust people for awhile after rescue – I had been on my own in survival mode for quite a while. Now I see there are huge benefits as I LOVE having my back scratched just in front of the tail. I’m laid back and get along with other cats and especially like the mellow ones. I mostly ignore the bossy ones and they even seem to like me. Sometimes I let them all curl up with me if it’s a cold night, but I’m most comfortable going off to my sunny window for a nap during the day. I’m friendly but not “needy”.
UPDATE DECEMBER 2016
Sooty continues to have little cysts that need surgical removal once or twice a year. He is very comfortable here and we stay on top of his vet needs.
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2015
Sooty has a sponsor who supports his monthly food needs. Sooty is good friends with the other cats. He is pretty good with people but is hard to handle or get into a carrier unless he knows someone very well. He recently had many small cysts removed. They were not malignant but we do not know yet if they will recur.
UPDATE JULY 2013
Sooty had a recent back injury but has healed nicely. However, we don’t want to rush him. He is on a special diet to try to lose weight. It was most likely his weight that contributed to his fall. He is very bonded with the other cats here. We are going to delay seeking an adoptive home until his weight is reduced.