By Madison Bendistis
Elm Staff Writer
This week’s featured adoptable pet is Elise, a three-year-old cat from the Humane Society of Kent County. Elise has black and white fur and she has been at the HSKC for about a month-and-a-half. Not much is known about Elise’s history as she and her sister were left in the HSKC’s drop room together without much information. Unfortunately, this tends to be the case for many of the cats at the shelter.
Kennel Technician Mary Johnston said, “[Elise] is sweet as can be. She gets along with other cats, but she’s really declining since she’s been here. She doesn’t like to come out [of her cage]. She’s kind of depressed from being in there.”
Deterioration is a common occurrence in animal shelters. Despite efforts from staff members and volunteers to socialize with cats as much as possible, these animals are still living in cages. This confined environment inevitably affects the animals at the shelter, which has clearly been the case with Elise. This once energetic cat has become notably less social since arriving at the shelter.
Although Elise’s spirits are down, she remains as lovable as ever. Johnston said that Elise is, “laid back all the time. She’s just a chill cat.”
Despite her hesitancy to leave her cage, Elise is still sweet and eager for affection. Elise would be immensely happier and healthier if she were to be in an actual home with a devoted owner. “She’d love to be a lap cat. She’s so calm and easy going,” said Johnston.
Elise currently has no adoption restrictions. She does well with other cats, and although she has never been tested with dogs, she does not appear to become scared when dogs are brought into the shelter’s cat room.
No animal was intended to live in a shelter forever. This cool cat deserves a caring home before she deteriorates any further.
If anyone in the Chestertown community, WC faculty and staff members, or even students with families think that Elise sounds like a purr-fect pet, feel free to contact the Humane Society by calling 410-778-3648 or by emailing info@kenthumane.org.