Gizmo, a senior cat who resides at the National Cat Protection Society (NatCat) in Spring Valley made quite a splash at the recent Cat Fanciers Association cat show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
Meet Gizmo
Gizmo is a 16-year-old cat almost completely blind from cataracts in both of her eyes. She came to NatCat last October after her owner went into hospice care and she was left alone to fend for herself.
The hospice representative that went to the owner’s home found Gizmo living outside, surviving on her own despite her blindness. The hospice representative took it upon herself to help Gizmo and brought her to NatCat.
16 years old, on constant medication, and with many special needs the people at NatCat decided that it would be best for Gizmo if she lived out her life at NatCat under their tender loving care.
How Gizmo got to Del Mar
NatCat signed up to attend the cat show so they could showcase some of their cats for adoption. The organizers of the cat show gave NatCat a free entry to the Best Household Pet Competition along with their registration to do adoptions.
They chose Gizmo to enter into the competition because she is so calm and comfortable and they felt that she was the only resident cat that could handle the spotlight with ease.
Gizmo proudly sat next to beautiful show cats not at all intimidated that they were younger with clear eyes looking into the faces of the judges.
And the judges said…
In the Best Household Pet Competition, the judges are allowed to use whatever criteria they see fit when judging.
When the judges came to Gizmo they were struck by her inner beauty that shone through and caught their attention. Coupled with her sweet and super affectionate soul Gizmo won over the judges and advanced to the finals. It didn’t hurt that her natural inclination is to greet everyone with a head bump and a kiss in the form of a nose or chin love nibble.
NatCat and show goers were shocked when Gizmo’s name was read out as a finalist and were over joyed when she earned a 14th place ribbon in the household division.
Gizmo’s reaction to her win
Gizmo’s caregivers state that she is enjoying her stardom and feels like quite the princess. She has spent the past week in the lobby greeting her fans and showing off her ribbons – when she isn’t napping on her heating pad!
She may have just a bit of diva in her, but no one minds. After all, she has the very important job of lifting the spirits of all the volunteers and staff at NatCat.
Gizmo reminds all of us that the old and broken kitties are sometimes the best ones!
P.S. Show cats watch out - Gizmo had so much fun at the cat show, she is thinking about competing at future cat shows!
About NatCat
NatCat is a non-profit, no-kill cat retirement center and shelter focused on loving quality care for their feline residents.
NatCat was the inspiration of the late C. Richard Calore, a career humane officer who founded the non-profit animal welfare organization in 1968 in Long Beach as a no-kill safe haven for cats and kittens. The original shelter moved to Newport Beach in 1993 and the Spring Valley facility where Gizmo lives opened in 1975.
You meet Gizmo at this amazing shelter Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. NatCat is located at 9031 Birch Street, Spring Valley, CA 91977. If you have any questions, you can contact them at 619-469-8771 or e-mail them at springvalley@natcat.org.
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