In response to Monica Knorr's wonderful article in the July NNV Weekly Bulletin - "Four Legged Supporting Members" - I wanted to give equal time to our NNV supporting cats.

There has always been a playful and passionate debate between "dog people" and "cat people." Dogs, domesticated from wolves, have been hunting partners, protectors, and loyal companions for thousands of years. Cats, meanwhile, began their journey alongside humans in ancient Egypt, revered for their elegance and keeping pests at bay.

Today's stereotype assumes that dog people are outgoing, energetic, trusting and sociable, while cat people are introspective, sensitive, independent and creative. This seems to echo the very nature of our pets - dogs are pack animals seeking group harmony, enjoying playing at dog parks, and pleasing their owners, while cats are solitary hunters comfortable with their own company and more subtle in their displays of affection.

A most unique cat adoption reported to NNV was by Ellen Siegel, who adopted Dartanian from Beirut Lebanon in 2006. Found in a shoebox in a trash bin during a period of conflict, Dartanian was rescued by Animals Lebanon. Best Friends, a sanctuary in Utah, flew a mission to Lebanon to rescue animals caught in conflict and flew Dartanian and his siblings to New York, then to a sanctuary, and then to his forever home with Ellen.

Ellen describes Dartanian as the "sweetest from Day One" and it was love at first sight. After the adoption, Ellen traveled to Lebanon every year trying to help the refugees (she currently sells embroidery made in the camps to raise money for them) and visited the shelter where Dartanian was rescued. Everyone remembered Dartanian!

Unfortunately, Dartanian crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2022, but he lives on in Ellen's heart. He was truly her best friend.

But Dartanian is not the only NNV supporting cat from Lebanon. NNV member and volunteer Anne Litchfield recently adopted Westie, a three-legged cat from Lebanon. Five weeks ago, Westie made it to DC through Anne's neighbors, the parents of an instructor at the American University of Beirut (AUB) who is also a volunteer coordinator for the care-taking of over 300 cats residing on the AUB campus. Westie, a six-year-old had long been a fixture on the campus and was one of the sanctuary strays most beloved by students. However, about 10 months ago, she lost her right front leg after being hit by a car. She has adapted amazingly well to the amputation and is incredibly agile and spry, easily leaping three feet or more onto beds, chairs, or tables, but with only three legs, she was too vulnerable to remain free on the AUB campus. Adoption was the solution. Anne is a zealous cat person, particularly admiring the fact that cats are so receptive and responsive to energy waves of many kinds - and Westie is exceptional in that respect.

And an interesting note: the AUB campus supports a vet clinic, and student volunteers feed and care for the cats. They have a Go Fund Me page that helps with the cost of cat care. See their web site The Pledge for Bliss Street Cats.

Every pet owner has that special pet that remains in their minds and hearts. Janet Novotny, an NNV Supporting Member and cat owner for over 35 years, adopted Chevy Chase as a rescue in 2022. Here's his story in her own words:

"Chevy Chase came to me as a rescue by my vet at Chevy Chase Vet Clinic. One week after I got him, he developed cancer in his paw and had surgery. Post op recovery required one of those awful cones for several weeks, making eating a huge challenge. I had to put my foot in front of the cone to stabilize the bowl.

Unfortunately, the cancer returned a year later--there are no margins around a paw. I had to put him down. The night before I took him to the vet he climbed up into my lap and gazed steadfastly into my eyes. "What is the matter?" I thought. THEN I realized he was telling me he loved me! A poignant moment I remember and treasure to this day."

In talking with our NNV cat owners, I have a better understanding of feral cats vs rescues. Feral cats are not socialized to humans, often hiding or fleeing when approached, and they typically are not adoptable into homes. Tell that to Peaches and his rescuer/owner Jeri, an NNV member who saw a cat that kept showing up at a community in Beltsville in 2018. He appeared to be starving and weak, so she and some friends began feeding him and as he became stronger, they were able to trap him and take him to a feral cat colony in Silver Spring, hoping he would find a home with the other feral cats. Unfortunately, Peaches escaped and disappeared through the winter.

Jeri and friends posted his photo on notices and eventually were contacted by some good Samaritans that found Peaches in a storm drain. Again, Jeri and friends began feeding him daily and finally caught him – again. When no rescue organizations were available, Jeri brought him home to NW DC. It took years, a lot of patience, and love to socialize him. Peaches has learned to trust Jeri and is now an affectionate sweet cat that loves her attention. Jeri wants everyone to know that there is a community of animal lovers that support and save many cats. She said that feral cats are not wild, they're just homeless.

Jared Cornfeld and Laura Phillips, transfers to NNV from Palisades Village when they moved two years ago, adopted a feral cat four years ago who was originally from Delaware named Mungojerrie. (Mungojerrie is a character in T.S. Elliot's "Old Possums Book of Practical Cats.") Since Laura is from Delaware and "Jerry" is a version of Jared, they thought this cat was meant to be. Like most feral cats, Mungojerrie was very shy and hid under the bed for the first 21/2 months, but he eventually bonded with Laura. Jared says he and Laura are "cat people," and this trait has passed on to their daughter Lizzy, who directed Jared to cat cafes on a college break trip throughout Europe. Lizzy now works in a cat café in NYC. Mungojerrie is not a lap cat, but he loves bird watching and long naps on fluffy comforters. Jared describes their relationship with Mungojerrie as mutually supportive.

Janean Mann, a founding member of NNV, adopted Arrow and his sister, Corbie (short for corbeau – black in French) on Bastille Day from a PetMac nine years ago. Sadly, Corbie died the following year, but Arrow is Janean's constant companion, talkative and handsome. She calls him her "sweetie pie." He loves watching PBS, but he also is a big nature lover, spending most of the daylight hours looking out the French doors at the deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and birds in the backyard.

Janean has an interesting history of taking her pets (both dogs and cats) with her on her overseas assignments. She took her dog Debit and cat Salaam with her to West Africa (Cameroon) in 1982 and then to Liberia. They survived coup attempts in both places. She also took two cats to Tunisia, returning in 1992.

Luna (aka lulu) – joined this author's family in 2018 as a three-year-old rescue, abandoned outside Belhaven Animal Clinic. She was playful and sweet and immediately made herself at home. I discovered that she enjoyed playing cat games on my ipad, but she quickly advanced to tapping on icons and opening files. Recently she sent a photo of herself to a text chain of my friends. I had to explain why a cat photo entered the discussion! My "techno cat" loves attending zoom meetings and makes an appearance at every meeting!

And last, but certainly not least, we have an "Ode to Aldo Ray," the furry feline of Heather Hill, NNV Member and Volunteer Coordinator, and Carey Smith. We are fortunate to have an interview of Aldo Ray conducted by Carey Smith:

"Upon interviewing Mr. Ray for this report, I was struck by the casual humility of the man, smiling coyly, blinking friendly eyes, even licking between his toes. After all, who of us hasn't seen his image emblazoned on t-shirts or gracing each month on our pin-up calendars? Still, he readily confessed to me his humble roots: "I was born on the streets of Twinbrook, a place you'll never hear me call Northeast Bethesda." Regarding our own first meeting at a Rockville PetSmart, Aldo recalls, "You seemed normal enough, and, obviously, I had nothing else going on, so I went home with you."

During his early years with me and Heather, he played peacemaker among the herd: "Oscar and Choodles seemed nice enough, though they hardly treated Dottie like a lady; I led by example." Questioned about Phryx, he gently but authentically proposed, "That guy was weird, and you know it." As his housemates in quick succession undertook that shady journey whence no cat returns, Aldo managed his grief with extroversion: "It was sad there for a hot minute (especially when Oscar split), so I distracted myself by hanging out with you."

On his leisure pursuits, he revealed, "I've savored collecting various monikers from you silly humans. The simplest feline gestures have provoked no less than 7 nicknames: The Ghost Toaster, Edmonston Whistler, Mr. Muppets, Chesterfield Trimgibbons, El Toastador Phantasma, Aldo Longshanks, and, regrettably, the Shiny Chef. You guys are too easy!" Such is the affable manner of the magnanimous Mr. Muppets."

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What have I learned? No cat tale is the same, each cat is truly unique and each cat has a special connection with its owner. And they, too, are valued NNV supporting members!