When the young stray cat came to the APL in 2013, the streets had not been kind to him. His fur was matted, his head was injured, and he walked with a limp. The APL provided veterinary care and TLC, and soon he was ready to find his new home. His adopter renamed him Aslan, after the Great Lion in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It seemed that Aslan had found his storybook ending.
Unfortunately, five years later, his owner moved to an apartment where a Great Lion was not welcome, and this now-mature cat returned to the APL. We got a second chance to find him a forever home.
Maybe adopters would be intimidated by the idea of bringing a Great Lion into their home. So, this gorgeous orange and white cat was given a sweeter, more approachable name, Pumpkin Cheesecake. Sadly, there was a bigger chance adopters would be put off by a different label: FIV+. Pumpkin carries the feline immunodeficiency virus, which can compromise the immune system of cats. Despite its scary name, FIV+ cats like Pumpkin can live long, happy lives if their owners take care of them and address any medical issues promptly.
We were determined to help this handsome boy find the very best home. Fortunately, Rheanna had the same idea, and she came along at exactly the right time.
Rheanna and her husband, Rusty, were looking for an older cat to complete their family. Rusty saw Pumpkin Cheesecake on the APL website; he and Rheanna immediately fell for Pumpkin’s sweet face, and equally sweet name. “It broke our hearts reading that he had been brought back to the APL after five years,” Rheanna recalls. She went to the APL by herself, to meet Pumpkin. She knew he was the one the moment she saw him.
While the APL described him as reserved, and “tart but sweet,” Rheanna says he’s been nothing but love since she brought him home. “He didn’t need any time to adjust to our home.” Mr. Pumpkin Cheesecake (he kept his sweet name) loves to sit by to the window and watch the animals outside. He has a wicker basket that he likes to lay in and scratch but is a well-behaved gentleman and doesn’t scratch the furniture. He has a healthy appetite, including two items of people food: canned pumpkin (of course) and steamed broccoli. He even is musically inclined! He accompanies Rusty when Rusty plays the guitar. “He’ll play a little bit and then Pumpkin will meow and then he’ll play a little more and Pumpkin will meow again. It’s the cutest thing ever.” His family takes his medical condition in stride. “We’ll love him and take care of all his needs because that’s what you should do when you adopt.”
This once-stray cat found his sweet happily-ever-after at last. “He makes our days happier!” Rheanna exclaims. “Best decision I ever made!! We love our little Pumpkin, Punky, Angel Baby.” And we love this delicious, happy tale!
Information about the Cleveland APL
To meet the adoptable animals at the Cleveland APL, visit our adoption center in Tremont at 1729 Willey Avenue in Cleveland or our PetSmart Charities® Everyday Adoption Center in the Parma PetSmart® store at 6870 Ridge Road. To view all of the animals who are waiting for loving homes online or on your mobile device, visit
www.ClevelandAPL.org or download our free adoptions app on your iOS or Android device.
Our Facebook page is called “Cleveland Animal Protective League”. Here is the link to it for your reference:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cleveland-Animal-Protective-League/29396512928
Our Twitter handle is @Cleveland APL. Here is a link:
https://twitter.com/ClevelandAPL