We at iHeartCats.com think all cats are beautiful and we’re not alone! ARM & HAMMER™ is honoring cats with their “Purrfectly Impurrfect” awards and they’ve selected three shelter cats who’ve proved to be pawsitively pawsome.
From October 29 – November 30, 2020, entries were made to FelineGenerousStories.com, each one telling the tale of a cat who has been overlooked because of their age, appearance, or behavior. ARM & HAMMER™ believes each and every cat deserves happiness and a forever home and with 2,000 entries, the purrfectly impurrfect are enjoying their moment in the spotlight!
“ARM & HAMMER™ is overwhelmed with the outpouring of heartfelt stories we received about ‘purrfectly impurrfect’ cats in need of good homes,” said Rebecca Blank, Group Brand Manager, ARM & HAMMER™ Pet Care. “We are thankful for all the shelters and cat lovers who participated and helped raise awareness for those cats who are often overlooked, but make wonderful pets.”
And the Winners Are…
The decision was difficult as all cats are amazing. But after much deliberation, a panel of cat experts selected three prize winners. Here are their tales:
From the Dutchess County SPCA, Hyde Park, NY, meet J.R.
“When the call came for a cat lying lifelessly on a porch, we expected the worst. We found a very strange looking cat with pus-filled eyes and mangled, painful ears. Infested with fleas, covered with dirt, skinny & starving, it was clear he’d been on his own a very long time, struggling to survive. He was so weak that he could barely get up. Over several weeks, he began to improve. He endured a complex surgery to repair his eyes. His ears, however, were damaged beyond repair. The tissue was thickened so no air gets into the ear canals, and as a result they are chronically infected and extremely painful. He has lost his hearing, and is in constant pain. JR needs a rare surgery called a bi-lateral inner ear ablation. This surgery will remove both of his ears, and although he may look a little peculiar, he will be pain-free.”
From Focus on Ferals in Kent County, MI, meet Frank.
“Do you ever look at a special cat and your heart explodes with love? And then you think about everything that kitty has been through and you burst into tears? That’s how I feel with Frank, and I think you would too if you met him. He came in as a stray with an ear infection that required antibiotics right away, and a cheek injury where a bone fragment was eventually removed. He’s FIVE and he’s clearly been through a lot, but without his physical scars, you’d never guess he had a hard past. He’s just so easy to love. He has quirky facial expressions and cries out for attention. Other cats, like his best friend Pickle, and volunteers, like me, are drawn to him. But Frank’s charm hasn’t been enough to win over a family of his own. He’s still waiting…”
From the Colonial Capital Humane Society in New Bern, NC, meet Grace.
“Grace has been in our shelter for 2,801 days. She came to us as a kitten and now she is a little over 8 years old. Grace is a volunteer favorite. if she graces you with her head butts and purring then you should feel very honored. Grace is very picky about which humans she chooses to let into her world but she is the Mama cat of the shelter. She will take the most timid, scared cats under her wing and make them feel comfortable. She shows them the ropes and mothers them until they feel safe and secure. Grace recently had to have surgery for a tumor, and she came through the surgery like the strong female feline she is. Because of Grace’s standoffish nature with most humans, she tends to get overlooked at the shelter.”
Purrfect Prizes for Purrfect Kitties
And what prizes have these fine felines won?
Each of the three cats has the distinguished honor of bringing home a $10,000 donation for their shelter courtesy of ARM & HAMMER™. Plus, when J.R., Frank, and Grace each find their forever home, their new families will have the distinct pleasure of a consultation with feline behavior expert Pam Johnson-Bennett.
As one of the judges, Johnson-Bennett saw the value in each cat entered and making the ultimate decision was tough as all cats deserve love. “We’re delighted to celebrate JR, Frank and Grace and share their touching stories to help them get adopted. I look forward to working with the three lucky families that will get to call these cats their own and help make sure they have a smooth transition into their new homes.”
As the response to the contest went above and beyond expectations, Blank shared, “ARM & HAMMER™ is excited to announce we’ll be donating an additional $50,000 to shelters and shelter cats in need each year with the establishment of our Feline Generous ‘Kitty.’ We can’t wait to meet and support more and more loving cats in need through this effort.”
Read more tales of the “Purrfectly Impurrfect” at FelineGenerousStories.com.
H/T: www.prnewswire.com
Feature Image: Dutchess County SPCA/Facebook & Focus on Ferals/Facebook