Tubby Miss Tessa Has Lots of Love to Give!: Tuesday's Tails

Tessa is currently a fixture at the HSNI; ever since I first visited, she roamed the lobby, a "free-range" cat.  You see, Tessa - if you couldn't tell from the above photo - is a little overweight and has been since she came in as a stray.  The poor girl had a tough time fitting through the path leading to her litter box, so the staff decided to make her an office cat.  During her time snoozing on top of the employee counter and begging for treats from amused customers, Tessa has managed to lose a few pounds...though she is still quite a "well-taken-care-of" kitty.  :)  In case you were wondering, her arrival date off the streets was September 2012.  Yes, I said 2012.  

Tessa can most often be found in one of her many cat beds, curled up in a lobby chair, stretching on the entryway mats as a "greeter" for guests, or serving as an oversize paperweight on one of the employees' desks.  She also enjoys sitting at the foot of the various lobby cages - which can contain birds, ferrets, mice, rats, rabbits, etc. - and staring up at the small animals thinking what I'm sure are wicked thoughts.  Though 6-year-old Tessa is not declawed, she is spayed, and she gets along with humans of all ages.  She is quite a tolerant kitty, as she is often used as a "test cat" to see if shelter dogs are cat-friendly - Tessa will allow the dogs to sniff at her, but she is much too much of a diva to let them play with her - typical cat! :)  

"Look, there's Tessa!  Man, that's a big cat."  These were words I heard daily during my time working at the HSNI.  Customers love her and ask after her if she is not in the lobby.  They scratch her ears and give her furry kisses, but they are careful to avoid rubbing her belly because they have learned she doesn't like that!  Tessa is an adored part of most customers' visits to the shelter.  So why hasn't she been adopted yet?  Of course she enjoys her life of luxury as the office cat - who wouldn't?!  But she doesn't realize - it's nothing compared to a home and a lap to call her own.  If you are interested in giving this big lovable gal a forever home, contact the HSNI.  In the meantime, share Tessa so that she has a better chance of finding her human!  :)

(All photos thanks to HSNI)

Thank you so much for reading and sharing <3

xoxochelsea