[Vision2020] Caturday (January 14, 2012)

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of Fox12 (Beaverton, Oregon) at:

(with video)
http://www.kptv.com/story/16499274/28-pound-cat-finds-home?clienttype=printable

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It didn't take long for one of the largest cats to ever stay at the Oregon Humane Society to find a new home.

The 28-pound feline named Walter arrived at the shelter last week because his former owner's new landlord doesn't allow cats. After Walter's appearance on television newscasts Wednesday, Aaron Betancourth and Colleen Sanders showed up to adopt him Thursday morning.

"He's very cute, very sweet," Sanders said. "Obviously, his previous owner loved him, although they loved him maybe in the wrong way. So it's going to be our job to kind of bring that weight problem down."

Walter is expected to get settled at his new home Thursday, where he'll start a diet.

"It's going to be a combination of low-calorie food, a lot of playtime, and eventually we're going to transition him into going outdoors," Sanders said. "We'll start with him on the leash, and as soon as we're sure he can handle himself in an outdoor environment, he'll be able to run. We have property so there's space for him."

Walter was part of the Humane Society's "Lucky 12" adoption campaign, where the adoption fee for all adult cats and rabbits was $12.

The cat's new owner, and the owners of all other overweight animals, will need to work with a vet to help him lose weight safely, said Dr. Becky Prull, a veterinarian at Northwest Neighborhood Veterinary Hospital.

"We also don't want them to lose weight too quickly, especially really chubby cats" said Dr. Prull. "If they lose weight too quickly, it can be really hard on their liver to process all of that fat.  They can get quite sick from it."

She said the plan should include exercise and low-calorie pet food.

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"A Cat Named Kalamazoo" by Hoyt Axton
http://www.tomandrodna.com/songs/A_Cat_Named_Kalamazoo.mp3

"It was Della and a dealer and a dog named Jake, 
And a cat named Kalamazoo,
Left the city in a pick-up truck.
Gonna make some dreams come true. 

Yeah, they rolled out west where the wild sun sets,
And the coyote bays at the moon.
Della and a dealer and a dog named Jake,
And a cat named Kalamazoo.

If that cat could talk, what tales he'd tell,
About Della and the Dealer and the dog as well.
But the cat was cool,
And he never said a mumblin' word.

Down Tucson way there's a small cafe,
Where they play a little cowboy tune.
And the guitar picker was a friend of mine,
By the name of Randy Boone.

Yeah, Randy played her a sweet love song,
And Della got a fire in her eye.
The Dealer had a knife and the dog had a gun,
And the cat had a shot of rye.

If that cat could talk, what tales he'd tell,
About Della and the Dealer and the dog as well.
But the cat was cool,
And he never said a mumblin' word.

Yeah, the Dealer was a killer; he was evil and mean,
And he was jealous of the fire in her eyes.
He snorted his coke through a century note,
And he swore that Boone would die.

And the stage was set when the lights went out,
There was death in Tucson town.
Two shadows ran for the bar back door, 
But one stayed on the ground.

If that cat could talk, what tales he'd tell,
About Della and the Dealer and the dog as well.
But the cat was cool,
And he never said a mumblin' word.

If that cat could talk, what tales he'd tell,
About Della and the Dealer and the dog as well.
But the cat was cool,
And he never said a mumblin' word.

Two shadows ran from the bar that night,
And a dog and a cat ran too.
And the tires got hot on the pickup truck,
As down the road they flew.

It was Della and her lover and a dog named Jake,
And a cat named Kalamazoo.
Left Tucson in a pickup truck.
Gonna make some dreams come true.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

If that cat could talk, what tales he'd tell,
About Della and the Dealer and the dog as well.
But the cat was cool,
And he never said a mumblin' word."

Seeya later, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Spokane, Washington

"If not us, who?
If not now, when?"

- Unknown