Kittens Give an Old Cat a Purpose to Live - He's Outlived Everyone's Expectations

Love Meow ^ | 20OCT18 | Amy Bojo

[vannrox]

When a group of TNR (trap-neuter-return) rescuers from British Columbia, Canada found an emaciated old cat, they knew they had to save him.

TinyKittens

Mason the cat was spotted two years ago as an injured feral cat from a cat colony. Rescuers from TinyKittens, a rescue group based in Fort Langley, British Columbia, trapped him and brought him to the vet.

They discovered that he had terminal illness but refused to give up. "A surprise diagnosis of advanced terminal kidney disease meant we couldn't return this fierce warrior to his home in the wild due to daily medical and feeding regimens with a special diet," TinyKittens wrote.

Not knowing how long he would be with them, they were surprised by what eventually gave him a reason to fight on.

TinyKittens

Manson was found covered in battle scars which indicated how hard he had fought to survive this long. "We felt Mason deserved a chance to experience comfort and freedom from pain in his sunset months."

They didn't know if he would accept life indoors, but they wanted to try. As the tabby cat healed, he adjusted to living inside a home much better than expected. "What happened next shocked us."

TinyKittens

One day, Shelly Roche of TinyKittens and her team decided to introduce Mason to some rescue kittens. "His life suddenly was complete. He had a purpose again, and every day since he met his first litter, we have seen a carefree kittenhood emerge that he clearly never had a chance to experience growing up feral."

Mason fell in love with the kittens and showered them with baths and snuggles. He taught them manners and let the orphaned kitties "comfort nurse", and chased them around the house as if he was a kitten all over again.

TinyKittens

"We've never seen anything like it, and we will try to keep him surrounded by kittens as much as possible."

Since then, Mason has fostered dozens of orphaned/rescued kittens who were in need of a mother's love. He always comes to their rescue.

TinyKittens

"He has passed down important grandpa secrets, demonstrated tremendous hunting prowess, taught manners, quashed impudence and created a multitude of fashion-forward kitten hairstyles," TinyKittens wrote.

Watch Mason's journey in this video by TinyKittens:

Two years ago (this month), they saved this feral cat who had used almost all his nine lives, and gave him the comfort and love he so deserved after a life well lived.

"As of today, Grandpa Mason has outlived his initial prognosis by an incredible 608 days. Each one of those days has been filled with joy, comfort and love… on his terms."

TinyKittens

Mason has become an inspiration to people who have been following his remarkable journey.

TinyKittens

"We work hard every day to keep him feeling good, but we can't know how many days, months or years he has left. We do know he is living his best possible life, the life he always deserved," TinyKittens said.

"If you'd like to help cats like Grandpa Mason, please support Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts in your community."

TinyKittens

Share this story with your friends. Follow Mason and his foster kittens on Facebook and Instagram.

Related story: Cat Who Lived Most His Life as a Stray, Bonds with Kitten Who Brings Him Joy

[Beowulf9]

Beautiful story.

[Gen.Blather]

My nineteen year old girl kitty was on Death’s doorstep. Then, a sickly tomcat showed up and insisted I adopt him. Suddenly, girl-kitty had a purpose; driving boy kitty away. She’d get off her death bed and chase him away from his food and eat the entire bowl. (This from a kitty who would not eat a single mouthful on her own.) She is doing fine. Still annoyed and hissing at boy kitty, who is taking it in stride. (He knows he will get another bowl delivered in the privacy of my bathroom. Actually, he’ll run there and wait.)

[Stevenc131]

If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat - Samuel Clemens.

[Deplorable American1776]

What a wonderful story, and those kittens are cute...Mason is wonderful, too.

[HangnJudge]

Awww... Kitty Stories
I was raised with dogs
My Wife was raised with cats

So we’re cat people

[MayflowerMadam]

We did TNR with five cats. A few weeks after their release we brought them indoors, as they were being threatened by a couple of raccoons. They’re the most loving kitties we’ve had. This, after the lady from the local feral cat group said, “You’ll never tame them.” they wait in line to sit on our laps and cuddle.

[Carriage Hill]

My first cat, Tiger, was a striped, abandoned kitten found under my Dad’s office steps, meowing and shivering in 10” of snow. He put the tiny one in his coat pocket and we had her 24yrs.

[Boardwalk]

Haha. I grew up only with cats. I miss them. I have one spoiled dog now!

[thoughtomator]

[barbarianbabs]

I watched his story unfold. Beautiful.

[exDemMom]

We did TNR with five cats. A few weeks after their release we brought them indoors, as they were being threatened by a couple of raccoons.

We lived in a house in a neighborhood where a feral cat kept having kittens, two litters per year. Our neighbors had tried unsuccessfully to trap the cat. Eventually, I borrowed their trap and set it up in the back yard. The feral mom was smart enough not to trip the trap, but her son bounced right on the trip plate. We took them to the vet and had them fixed and vaccinated, then released them. A few days later, we caught one of the other kittens, and I decided to keep it in the house. Every day, I would try to show her that she was safe with us. We caught the other girl and put her with her sister. Last, we recaught the boy.

Of the three, the boy became so tame that one would never guess that he was feral for his first four months. The girls never became that tame--you could pet them, but not pick them up. One of them would roll around on my feet whenever I was wearing socks. Unfortunately, that one died of lymphoma a year and a half ago.

[bgill]

A feral mama had a litter in the garage. Mr. b was non-stop with, “we’re not keeping them.” Yeah, right. The kitties would knock at the door wanting in. Of course, Mr. b loves them now. A couple years later, mama cat had another litter that one of our fixed guys decided needed to be brought home. They’re his shadows and adore him. They were hard to tame but slowly getting there. Mama will always be feral but she knows I’m ok.

[mom3boys]

Me too! I’ve been following Tiny Kittens for over 2 years. In fact, I can name all those kittens in the pictures with Grandpaw Mason. :)

Right now everyone is following the story of Aura, the cleft palate kitten. She was born with a severe cleft palate, was tube-fed for the first weeks of her life round-the-clock and just had her repair surgery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngOvGjj1dRE

[EinNYC]

Kidney failure is like the cat’s Achilles heel. I lost all but two of my past cats to it. I so wish it could be prevented or completely cured, as it separated me from beloved companions. They didn’t want to leave me, and I certainly didn’t want to be parted from them, but G-d had other plans.

[octex]

saving ...Thanks for posting this!

[LittleBillyInfidel]

I was raised with dogs My Wife was raised with cats So we’re cat people.

Ha ha ha! I, too, share your exact story; I have become indoctrinated. My own grey tabby is "Mr Crackerjacks" and he acts like a dog, probably because I forget he's a cat. He'll jump on my shoulder, everyday, to let me know that he wants to go "byes byes" on a car ride to 7-11.

[barbarianbabs]

The lady who runs Tiny Kittens must be VERY brave. She sure knows how to handle the wild ones!

I have never owned a cat (always dogs and birds) but I love this running story.