Tennessee - ???? to 2022

Old Man Tennessee - A year in our lives, forever in our hearts.

As written by his foster parents.

As an all black street cat in rural Texas Tennessee had the world against him; luckily he also had a compassionate caregiver in his corner. For a decade he lived on the streets of Taylor, Texas as part of a managed colony. His caregiver brought him food, made sure he benefited from TNR, and introduced him to gentle hands.

In December of 2020 when it became clear that with his sight gone, and his dental health failing, Tennessee was no longer safe living on the streets and needed immediate intervention his caregiver knew something needed to change. After years of loving him where he lived, she brought him to her local shelter pleading for help. His medical needs were urgent, at the very least eye surgery and a big dental, and beyond the resources of both his caregiver and the shelter. He was only somewhat used to human handling, and he had never lived indoors as far as anyone knew. Finding help surely seemed like an insurmountable task.

The volunteers of the Taylor Texas Animal Shelter, unwilling to give up on this sweet cat, reached out online to animal welfare organizations. In Austin, Texas a Shadow Cats employee saw his post and shared it again. Which is how his plea reached us. After a quick consult with Mimi we were in agreement that this boy’s best hope was with Copper’s Cat Commune. And on December 24, 2020 a dedicated volunteer transported him to Spring for intake. 

Tennessee came into my house as a Forever Foster for the Commune, the flagship of our Forever Foster program. His first day in his new home, my husband and I promised him, “this will be your home for the rest of your days, no matter the number.” He was at the time one of the more pathetic creatures we had seen: severely underweight, his fur was dull and greasy, one eye swollen with infection, the other a clouded moon, his chin was covered in drool from his poor dental health, and frankly he smelled bad. He smelled really bad. 

Despite everything he was active, curious, and above all hungry. Everything about him said he was ready to fight. So we prepared ourselves to fight for him. While Jon and I took over providing three square meals a day and all the brushing and baby wipe baths he could stand, our wonderful veterinarians quickly formed a plan of action to address his multitude of issues.

 After checking his bloodwork for underlying conditions he was deemed ready for his first procedure, an enucleation to remove the infected eye. His surgery was successful and he came through it like a champion. He healed fast and continued to eat and eat and eat. One month later he was fully healed and it was time for the next big hurdle – the dental. The veterinarian described his mouth as a sewer, full of infected and broken teeth, and likely the source of some of his magnificent odor. When all was said and done he was left with four healthy teeth and an unstoppable appetite. 

Along the way we found and treated smaller problems like fungal and bacterial skin infections, but after the dental he was pretty well unstoppable. His weight increased, his fur took a shine, and slowly he started to smell more like a cat than like a dumpster. And his personality blossomed. A notorious food hound, he waited by the door whenever he heard meal prep and was quick to greet foodbringers with a gentle chirp. When he was not completely occupied by food he was enjoying his heated bed or playing in his water bowl. He loved to stick his arm in the water up to the elbow and splash it around before drinking whether from his bowl or fountain. 

And he taught us about how savvy a blind cat can be. He could locate dry food on top of a shelf or table, get up and down from the chair in his room, and boss his humans around easily. He was a model patient through all his medications and treatments. Despite his lack of handling and obvious apprehension about being picked up Tennessee allowed us to administer medications, clean him, and even keep his nails trimmed as long as we were as patient with him as he was with us. 

For a year Tennessee showed us how much love and life an old, gnarly, stinky, street cat had left to give. For a year he knew a full belly everyday. For a year his pain was treated and his old bones were warmed by soft heated beds. For a year Tennessee received and welcomed every ounce of love we could give him. Last week something changed, a trip to the vet revealed pancreatitis and struggling kidneys. We made a plan and began supportive care, hoping for more time with our sweet man, but it was not meant to be. 

After a long, rough road Tennessee’s kidneys were failing him, and he was ready to rest. Tuesday afternoon March 8, 2022 we said goodbye to Tennessee giving him the last gift we could, a painless passing. He passed peacefully, held by his people, knowing his life mattered and he was loved.

From the kind stranger who fed him for years and organized his care, the shelter volunteers who reached out looking for hope, the kind souls that helped amplify their plea, the vets who helped him feel his best, Tennessee’s life was touched by the love of cat advocates across Texas. And in return he touched our lives. 

At Copper’s Cat Commune’s mission is to ensure that cats in need like Tennessee can find their soft landing. We believe every cat deserves their best chance at a happy and healthy life. All the love and care Tennessee received was made possible by you incredible donors: catvocates who believe every cat matters. In loving memory of Tennessee, Please consider a donation today so that the same love and care can be paid forward to the next cat in need.