Remember Griffin, the blind senior cat in critical condition who ended up 1,300 miles away from where he was born?
After spending most of his life bouncing between shelters and homes that rejected him, sweet Griffin finally found a safe place he could call home.
Griffin was going to need specialized treatment for the rest of his life, so the veterinarian treating him volunteered to be his long-term foster.
After months of treatment and a specialized diet, his blood tests returned promising results.
However, his health took a sudden turn for the worse when he started having unexplained seizures.
It is with great sadness that we inform everyone of Griffin’s passing in October.
Despite how hard Griffin’s vet fought hard to help him recover and stay stable, his age and condition left him vulnerable.
He crossed the rainbow bridge peacefully and from natural causes.
He spent the remainder of his life being spoiled with tasty treats and soaking up the sun in his cozy cat bed.
Though Griffin crossed the rainbow bridge, his memory lives on in everyone’s hearts.
He passed away knowing what it means to be loved and cared for unconditionally.
Unconditional love is something each and every cat deserves to experience, regardless of their age, breed, or condition.
Griffin’s rescuer, Sarah Richardson, has rescued many senior cats from being euthanized and watched them live well beyond their life expectancy.
“People give up on senior cats too quickly,” said Sarah. “They’re just as worthy of living long, meaningful lives as any young cat or kitten.”
Many of those senior cats, much like Griffin, were rescued in critical condition but still recovered and lived for several more years.
“The number of senior cats we’ve rescued that went on to live happy, lives after we were told they wouldn’t would shock you,” said Sarah. “It’s always worth advocating for them and giving them a chance.”
Thanks to you, Griffin’s final destination was one where he felt safe and secure.
We’d like to thank everyone who donated and supported Griffin throughout his journey.
“I was shocked to see how many people reached out asking about him,” said Sarah. “It gives me hope that people have more compassion for senior cats.”
If you’d like to make a donation to other senior cats in honor of Griffin, please donate to the senior cat fund through our Meow Mail program.
Sarah Richardson is the rescue coordinator for Community Cats of Central AR, a small 501(c)3 non-profit rescue organization led by two women in a rural community with high animal cruelty rates.
They’re one of the few rescues in Arkansas that rescue senior cats, many of whom have been abandoned or pulled from shelters to prevent euthanasia.
They rely on donations from kind-hearted individuals to continue saving cats & kittens that have suffered from neglect, abuse, or abandonment.
Please consider making a recurring donation to receive Meow Mail each month for future cats and kittens in critical condition.
See more of their incredible rescue cases by following Sarah Richardson on Instagram and Facebook.
The Dangers of Breeding
Griffin was a Savannah cat, a crossbreed between an African serval and domestic cat.
Savannah cats have significantly higher prey drives and energy levels compared to standard house cats, which makes them especially challenging to care for.
Many people purchase Savannah cats from breeders without being prepared for the responsibility.
In those cases, the Savannah cats become destructive, leading the owners to surrender them.
This is the reason Griffin was passed between several shelters and homes that rejected him for most of his life.
We hope that Griffin’s story opens people’s hearts to senior cat adoption and serves as a reminder not to purchase cats from breeders.
A wide variety of exotic cats are surrendered to rescues and shelters by both breeders and individuals who adopted from breeders.
Vet clinics will often reach out to rescues for help when breeders bring their “defective” cats and kittens to be euthanized.
Instead of going straight to a breeder, we urge you to consider more ethical ways to adopt an exotic cat.
Reach out to local shelters and rescues asking them to contact you if a cat of your desired breed comes through.
You might be put on a wait list, but the outcome is well worth the wait.
Alternatively, you can research breed-specific rescue organizations.
Reputable breed-specific rescues are ones that are 501(c)3 nonprofits that exclusively adopt out fully vetted spayed/neutered cats.
Trustworthy breed-specific rescues are not organized or ran by breeders.
A true rescue organization will actively discourage the practice of breeding instead of further generating the demand for pure-bred/exotic cats.
Advocate for rescue cats; adopt, don’t shop!