You may have heard me talk about our kitten Jack-Jack who joined our family in July, right?
I Instagram Story about him just about every day because I’ve turned into a crazy cat lady. But more important than my amusement with his kitten shenanigans is the joy he has brought to my daughter with sensory processing disorder.
I’ve been so moved watching their relationship bloom that I wrote an essay and applied for a Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes grant for the rescue we got him from — Paws for Life Rescue, which is based in Troy, Michigan.
I mean, look at these two…{Insert all the cat heart eye emojis}
Bedtime can be a source of anxiety for my little lady…Nighttime cuddles with Jack-Jack provide the ‘purrfect’ calming mechanism.
I feel forever indebted to this organization and the foster animals it takes in. Jack-Jack’s foster ‘mom’ is even a fellow blogger – Metro Detroit Mommy. It’s just further proof that you never know who you can reach with a simple post on social media.
As it turns out, the essay I wrote is officially a WINNER and he will be a Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes recipient! I’m ecstatic for him to be honored for all the joy he has brought us, but also excited for the chance for the rescue to get some much-needed funding. There would absolutely be no better Christmas gift than to help gift Paws For Life with their current mission, which is to build an adoption center to house even more homeless cats and dogs.
We will find out how much the little guy has earned at a check presentation for the rescue next month, but in the meantime, we are seeking votes for the People’s Choice Award, which is happening through December 20. This could earn the chance to *double* the grant and make even more of an impact.
If you are so inclined, could you please spare a vote for him? You only have to do it once, and you don’t even need to provide an email address or anything, but you do need a Facebook profile. Easy peasy!
Visit this link to vote. Scroll until you see Paws for Life — it’s in alphabetical order, just look for the image below! –> https://www.petcofoundation.org/2017-holiday-wishes/ Simply select the story and then scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to submit.
Below is the essay I wrote. Honestly, it took about a hour of time and a few tears shed because it was soooo from my heart. We love our little fur ball and can’t wait to see what’s in store for Paws for Life!
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Jack-Jack Super Cat Saves Summer
Summer can be a tough transition for any kid, but especially for a child living with sensory processing disorder. For my five-year-old daughter, Karina, transitioning to anything new is a struggle. A new routine, a new sound, a new taste, a new smell—any new sense can send her into a spiral of emotions as she struggles to regulate herself.
So our summer began, and while other families were celebrating with vacations and late nights around a fire, we were silently struggling with a thousand emotions, many of them negative. I was on behavior management duty 24/7, and I was worn out and desperate for change. Weighted blankets, a solid routine, and weekly trips to the occupational therapist just weren’t reaching my little lady, and I felt helpless.
For the sake of my other children, I needed Karina to have a coping mechanism other than me. Someone who could be there as she cried, react with a loving heart, and provide a calming technique when the world became, in her words, “too much.”
Enter Jack-Jack. A friend of mine was fostering him for Paws for Life Rescue and posted a photo of him. We had been looking at adoptable kittens for months but hadn’t seen one that struck our interest. Knowing he was being raised in a home with young children put my heart at ease, and it truly was love at first sight. All three of my children have beautiful blue eyes, and this kitty did too! Something in his face said he was meant for us, and we had to meet him.
From the moment Jack-Jack was delivered to us, he knew just what my Karina needed. Despite having zero training as a therapy animal, he distracted her with playful kitten shenanigans when her mind started to spiral, and provided a loyal companionship when she needed a friend. She found calm to her chaos with slow pets to his chin and would instantly relax when the soothing sound of his purrs began. After they were acquainted, he would seek her out when she began to have a meltdown. In the thick of the summer’s heat, she became his preferred human, and I rested easier knowing we were going to make it through this tough season with his superpowers in my arsenal.
I’ve always known pets can reach the human heart on a level we can’t comprehend, but I wasn’t fully prepared for their special relationship. Now, when Karina is upset, she calls for him. He’s the first thing she looks for each morning, and the last thing she wants to see before going to bed. I’m grateful for their love of each other. It’s amazing how a sweet kitten can bring out so many emotions. Thankfully, for our family, it’s all love.
Even though our family was the one to rescue Jack-Jack, I’d be remiss not to thank Paws for Life for rescuing us, too.
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Thank you all in advance for any time you can spare to vote and remember to think about animals too this holiday season!
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