A Match Made in Heaven

​By Daniela Caride

I remember when I first saw a sign at Carol’s apartment door while on my way to the elevator after visiting a longtime Phinney’s client at a low-income housing complex in Boston. It said something like “Please keep the door shut. Keep my cat safe.” I was so moved by her resolve to properly care for her cat (then Smokey) and not have him roaming the hallways unattended.

I slipped a Phinney’s card under her door with a note that maybe we could help her financially. That was the beginning of a wonderful relationship. We prolonged Smokey’s life by years, as he soon needed to have a cancerous eye removed. He was a happy, loving cat to Carol up until the very end. And when he passed away, Carol became very lonely.

We tried placing another Phinney’s cat with her, but he was terribly afraid of the wheelchair, so we moved him to another home. When Jasmine was having a hard time at home, being bullied by her kitty brother at the home of yet another Phinney’s client, we offered to rehome her with Carol.

The arrangement worked perfectly. Carol took her in with open arms, Jasmine was OK with the wheelchair and became very attached to Carol. She is so comfortable now that she even gained a few extra pounds. According to the vet, whom she visited a couple of weeks ago, she is still on the chubby side and in need of some more dieting.

You wouldn’t expect a cat with her history to be so calm, but her confidence is apparent at her vet check-ups, where she snuggles up to one of Carol’s towels, relaxed as ever. Thankfully, through Phinney‘s, Jasmine is able to keep up with her regular vet appointments and continue to keep Carol company.