Meet Max, the sassy senior cat who knows how to get his point across.
At the Oromocto and Area SPCA, Max has become quite the celebrity amongst the staff members.
As a senior cat looking for his forever home, Max loves the attention he gets from his caregivers, but he’s not afraid to let anyone know when they’ve crossed the line.
“He’s sort of a cranky old man,” says Tracy Marcotullio, shelter manager at Oromocto and Area SPCA. “If you don’t read his cues properly, then you’re getting smacked.”
But don’t worry, Max doesn’t use his claws to communicate, he just likes to give a good old-fashioned smack.
In response to Max’s tendency to dish out smacks, the shelter came up with a brilliant idea to keep track of his no-smacking streaks.
They made a sign for his cage that adds a day every time Max goes a full day without smacking anyone.
Now, Max may be a bit of a diva, but his caregivers know exactly what he likes and dislikes.
For example, he gets overwhelmed easily when it’s time to clean his cage, so they let him run around the shelter with the other cats during the cleaning process. And when they need to get back in his good graces, they make sure to have his favorite snacks at the ready.
“He’s a treat monster,” says Marcotullio. “The way to his heart is with canned food or Temptations treats.”
Despite his spicy tendencies, Max means well, and the staff at Oromocto and Area SPCA are having fun getting to know his quirks and sharing his story with their social media followers.
And it seems like Max is not just helping his buddies at the shelter get adopted, he’s also become quite the star himself.
Since posting about Max and his smacking habits, the shelter has received an influx of calls inquiring not only about Max but about his other friends at the shelter too.
“He’s helped to bring attention to other cats in the shelter too,” says Marcotullio. “He’s helping his buddies get adopted. It’s a win-win.”
But at the end of the day, what Max really wants is to find his forever home.
As much as his caregivers are having fun with his antics, they’re hoping that someone will come and take Max home with them soon.
“He deserves to get out of here and find his people,” says Marcotullio.
So, if you’re looking for a spicy senior cat who knows how to dish out a good smack but also has a heart of gold, Max might just be the perfect addition to your family.
And if you’re lucky enough to break his no-smacks streak, you get to keep a commemorative pin of the experience. How cool is that?
