Schubert
Last August, a young boy carrying a box approached Heraclia, a board member of the Philozoike, who was talking to Paola, AZI’s founder. The boy told them he and a friend found a kitten and took it home in order to play with it. Two weeks later, the novelty wore off and the family no longer wanted it. They decided to bring the cat to the Philozoike.
Inside the box was a magnificent orange tabby, looking just like a little tiger. He must have been exhausted, as he fell asleep right away and slept for a good long time. He turned out to be a sweet and thankful little friend, moving with such lyricism and grace that his name, Schubert, came on its own.
Schubert and a friend
Clearly, this was a special cat, and we were determined not to leave him behind. Our shelter was already full with cats waiting for adoption, so we made up our mind to find him a home in New York. He was given a full exam with all shots and received a passport, and soon we began our long journey from Amorgos to New York. He was an excellent and joyful traveler, approaching everything with curiosity.
In New York, Schubert was eagerly adopted by a loving family. His adoptive father is a musician and he now spends lots of time at the piano. A week after his arrival, Schubert was joined by a new American companion, Pablo, who is also a rescue. Today they are inseparable.
Despite the very happy ending, this story demonstrates the need for more education and awareness on the island. Taking a kitten away from its mother and then being unprepared for its care for the long-term results in the countless stray and abandoned cats on the island. Also, removing young too soon from its mother exposes the kitten to illness, often spreading diseases between the cat communities across the island. We have much more work to do! Help us if you can with a donation of any amount; thank you for your support.