Fresh Step #CatLuv, Celebrating Cat Adoption!
Did you know I had a cat? Tiger, he was the love of my life, so sweet, kind, loving and the prettiest kitty you’d ever seen! I found Tiger when he was 6 weeks old on a sidewalk. I saw him dart in out of the bushes, stopped to see what he was, lol, he was so tiny and skinny, couldn’t make him out. He finally came out of the bush and ran up to me, I froze, didn’t know if mamma cat was around and I didn’t want to upset a feral cat just in case she was. So I stood there for a good while when I realized the mom wasn't coming I scooped him up and started looking through the bushes for her, up and down the street, nothing. So now what? I had just put my dog down the month prior so I was an emotional mess. Nothing else to do, went straight to my vet, which she promptly said, “don’t get your hopes up, he has scabies, fleas, underweight and needs to be bottle feed hourly.” “Well when you put it like that,” I said, “he will not only live but he will thrive!” We went in weekly for our scabies dip, it smelled so horrible, but that was the start of my love for Tiger. Fast forward 8 years later I’m moving back home and my mom is allergic to cats. I had to rehome Tiger, I knew no matter what, he would never go to a shelter, I had to find him a home. The angels were on my side, my girlfriend called and said her neighbor just put down her cat due to old age and she might take Tiger in.
I’ll never forget when I went to B’s house, I walked in and met her and all my worries went the wayside. I knew she would love my baby as her very own. I knew she was okay with an older cat and had a huge, welcoming heart. I felt all would be okay, and, I know in some cases it’s not okay for everyone. It doesn’t always work out the way we want it and cats are taken to a shelter or the vet and left behind. This is where Fresh Step, Amanda Foundation, Zach King, Aaron Benitez and James Goldcrown come in. They are the voice for the voiceless, I should say prr’less.
Digital magician Zach King and #LoveWall muralist James Goldcrown have partnered with Fresh Step litter to launch their #CatLuv campaign and share the magic of cat adoption in anticipation of National Cat Day on Oct. 29. King and Goldcrown along with a cadre of Instagram’s favorite cat-lebrities are kicking off the Fresh Step #CatLuv campaign at the Amanda Foundation animal shelter in Beverly Hills, Calif. King has released a video featuring his mind-bending magic tricks and famous feline friend, Prince Michael of Aaron’s Animals. The video showcases the fun relationship between cat and man, highlighting the magic cats bring into our lives. You can view it at FreshStep.com/our-purpose. Goldcrown unveiled a colorful mural painted onto the side and front of the Amanda Foundation shelter. The art installation includes his well-known hearts combined with adorable cats. The love between a cat and owner is truly magical and Fresh Step is thrilled to collaborate with talented artists like King and Goldcrown in support of the brand’s mission to help every shelter cat find a forever home.
Fresh Step is also offering fee-waived cat adoptions at the Amanda Foundation through Oct. 30. Those in the LA area are invited to visit the shelter at 351 Foothill Rd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 and take a photo in front of the #CatLuv mural. Anyone can participate in the campaign by posting a photo of their cat love to Instagram for a chance to win $500 and a 10,000 Fresh Step Paw Points donation to a shelter of their choice. All posts including the hashtag #CatLuv and #contest through Nov. 15 will be entered to win. On #NationalCatDay, those not in LA will be able to witness the magic of the #CatLuv mural wall through a behind-the-scenes time-lapse video found on Fresh Step’s YouTube page at www.YouTube.com/FreshStep.
This is your chance to adopt a kitty, I implore you to adopt an older cat if you would, they need a forever home also. Let me tell you about older cats, you know their personality when you meet them, no guessing game. They are sweet as can be and are grateful to have a loving home to be in. Did you know owning a cat cuts stroke risk by third', Scientists said that having a cat helped to relieve stress and anxiety, which is known to help protect against heart disease by lowering blood pressure and reducing the heart rate. The study looked at 4,435 adults aged between 30 and 75, about half of whom owned a cat. So not only will you be decreasing your stress, you’ll have a fur ball of love, win-win if you ask me.