The call came in to the shelter late in the afternoon, almost at closing time. There was a cat seemingly in
distress. The shelter manager was reluctant to go out so late in the day, but the caller appeared to be
somewhat in distress herself, so out he went. We do not know the name of the shelter manager, but he
faithfully performed his job and retrieved the cat from the Chicago South Side residence from whence the
call had originated.
Nearly 8 million cats enter animal shelters around the U.S. each year, and this big orange tabby was only
one. Chicago has its humane society just like nearly all metropolitan areas and municipalities around the
globe, and its task is to rescue animals and provide humane treatment for as many animals as possible.
Humane treatment takes several forms: first there is housing; food and water are certainly included;
medical attention is included where possible and affordable; and adoption. Most animal shelters make a
good-faith effort to adopt out all and any animals that meet the criteria for such. And there is one other
humane element – one, which none of us particularly likes, but one which is quite often necessary and,
quite frankly more humane that the alternative in some situations, and that element is euthanasia. Nearly
three-fourths of all animals that enter a humane shelter in any given day are euthanized.
The orange tabby, which weighed nearly 14 pounds, that was delivered to this particular Chicago animal
shelter was a strong candidate for such a fate. For one, he was an adult cat. Kittens stand a much greater
chance of adoption than do adults. For another, he was a “bruiser.” He was, after all, a Tom. He had
undoubtedly been engaged in many a combat. Both ears were scarred and torn. One eyelid was ripped and
bleeding. He was scratched and scarred from nose to tail. His personality wasn’t winning, either. There
was little or no chance that this unwanted waif would ever be adopted, so like so many of his kind he was
scheduled to be “put down.”
Most animal shelters will take in any animal that is delivered to them, and in most cases will give the animal
at least a chance to be adopted. Such was the case for our unwanted vagabond. And so it was that indeed
in this case he got lucky. Someone did stop by the shelter that day, and that person saw something in the
old and beat up wastrel that was appealing. That person saw in the funky old feline something worth saving
…, perhaps even something worth cultivating.
So it was that the orange tabby was indeed adopted, and it was his very good fortune to leave the shelter,
having escaped a certain unglamorous end. And so it was that the old orange tabby was to eventually find
worth and eventually to be found worthy of receiving some attention. And not just “some” attention. Oh
no, our abandoned and unwanted feline was destined for more than just to receive mere “attention.” Our
cat was to become famous. As a matter of fact, the emaciated and beat up old stray “Tom Cat” that entered
a Chicago animal shelter way back in 1969 would eventually become the most famous cat in the world.
Fame would be his, and not for what he had been, but for what he was to become. Whereas he had been a
back-alley brawler, replete with banged up ears and marked up nose and eyelids, this particular cat had the
good fortune to be adopted by none other than Bob Martwick, a professional animal trainer. And such a
good job Bob would do with our waif, that he would go on to become a world-wide spokes-cat for unwanted
and abandoned animals everywhere.
Among this cat’s exploits: Honorary director of Star-Kist Foods; co-signer (paw print) of the National Animal
Protection Bill, with U. S. President Richard Nixon; a national “Million Cat Rescue” movement; 9Lives Cat
Food spokes-cat; T.V. commercials; movie deals; etc.; etc; etc.
Yes, this is our stray, our abandoned, unwanted, and uncared-for bruiser. This is the cat that someone had
enough concern for to see to it that he was delivered to an animal shelter. This is the beat-up waif, which
someone did eventually adopt from the local animal shelter, and to whom was provided the proper love and
care that all animals deserve. Yes this is the cat that went on to fame and fortune, and has done more to
draw attention to the plight of abandoned animals around the world than any other.
Yes, this is Morris.
| The Cat Who Spoke Daniel Taylor |