We've just added a new member to our family

[Siwsan]

Meet Dude. He was just rescued from a shelter. My mother is suffering from dementia, is pretty disconnected from so much, but when ever she is at my house and sees my little cat, Sophie, she perks right up. So, my brother started visiting our local shelter, spending time with lots of cats, waiting for the right vibe to hit. And, it hit with Dude. I haven't met him yet, but I'm already in love with him. Such a beauty. I've read that an animal companion can make such a difference with dementia sufferers. Fingers crossed Dude strikes a cord with Mom.

[hlthe2b]

1. Gorgeous--blue eyes and butterscotch coat..

Lucky Guy!

[Odin2005]

2. Awwwww!

[CurtEastPoint]

3. I do so hope Dude and Mom hit it off. Blessings to you... and them!

[Arugula Latte]

4. What a gorgeous Dude!

So glad he's been rescued!

[kydo]

5. What A Cool Name, Dude.

He looks like my cat Kydo, pronounced Kid-o. My daughter loved Kill Bill. I like the name and use it.

We had a black lab, rightfully named Mr. Black. Great dog. Our current dog is a Great Pyrenees, Corporal Hicks. My daughter and her movies again.

Of course when my daughter moved out she took the other cat, who's name we all had a hand in, The Most Precious Mystic, she goes by Precious.

[snpsmom]

36. We had a Pyr

Named Hermosa. Best dog ever.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. may Dude become a loving companion for ur mom

[Siwsan]

8. The funny thing is, until she developed dementia, she really disliked cats!

Now she thinks they are the bomb. Odd thing, the old brain.

[livetohike]

7. He's beautiful! May your Mom and Dude spend many precious

moments .

[oldandhappy]

9. Awwww Nice family to do this.

Lucky Dude. Hope he is the perfect companion, therapist, friend, snuggle buddy! My dad had dementia and he always perked up when he saw a dog and I would ask if he could pet the dog. Made him happy. We had always had dogs in our family so it was a familiar event to pet a dog. I hope to have a cat drop by my long term care room! Not there yet. My cat at home is a pal.

[brer cat]

10. A beautiful cat

and a beautiful family to bring him home for your mom! I hope they become great companions.

[mountain grammy]

11. Hoping for the best for your Mom and Dude!

[Freddie]

12. Orange kitties are the best

Extra friendly, or so the legend goes. Certainly true for my orange boys Freddie and Riley, both purr machines. Orange with blue eyes is rare, usually they have copper eyes or yellow-green like my Freddie.
Dude is quite the handsome fellow!

[Siwsan]

13. A friend of mine had a big orange cat named Tsavo

Yea, named after the infamous Killer Lions of Tsavo. Every time I walked past this cat, when he was on his perch, he'd swat me on the butt. Perhaps he took his name too seriously, but I loved that cat.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

39. My Tater would agree.

Total lover-boy.

[matt819]

14. What a cutie

Dude is the (larger) spitting image of our recent shelter acquisition, Olaf, a flamepoint Siamese kitten who will undoubtedly have the same coloring as your Dude. I hope Dude doesn't have Olaf's tendency to climb up your pants and shirt to gain access to the kitchen counters.

[Siwsan]

16. Dude is about 15 pounds of very mellow cat

He's still exploring his new surroundings but the latest report says he's settling in, just fine.

[CrispyQ]

15. He's a beauty!

Hope Dude & your mom hit it off and positive vibes to the whole family.

[Triana]

17. Awwww. He's a beauty!

Hope your Mom takes to him too!

[Gidney N Cloyd]

18. I used to bring my yellow lab on visits to my dad in the nursing home and a lot of the other...

...Alzheimers patients used to light up when they saw the dog and want to interact.

[Le Taz Hot]

19. I've had so many cats over the last 35 years

I've lost count. Dude is smart and patient. You can see it in his eyes. Thank you for giving him a forever home and kiss him on the head for me from his Auntie Taz.

[Siwsan]

20. I absolutely will

I hope to meet Dude, next weekend.

[gwheezie]

21. He's so handsome

My father in law had dementia and lived with us. He always loved cats but was scared of dogs. We had a rescued doggy who latched on to him and he'd sit and pet her and say "what a nice cat".

[backwoodsbob]

22. dude is about a dark stripe from Morris the cat

Hoping for good results for you.Went through Alzheimer's with my stepdad a few years ago.ANYTHING that helps with connecting to reality is good.
Hugs to you.Been there.

[Siwsan]

24. Thanks

We have an appointment with a neurologist, next week, to go over some tests so we can make sure that dementia is all we are dealing with.

[hifiguy]

23. He looks like one cool cat.

Dude abides.

[Scruffy Rumbler]

25. Way to go!

My mother had Alzheimer's also. My sisters cats kept mom entertained! She loved it when they would lay on her chest when she was in bed. What ever reality Mom was experiencing, the cats could enter when we couldn't.

[roguevalley]

26. tell us what happens. Cats are glorious and reach any dark corner out there. Blessings to you and

all of yours.

[awoke_in_2003]

27. Really ties the room together...

Seemed appropriate, given the name.

[liberal_at_heart]

28. adorable. Reminds me of a cat we use to have. Started out snow white as a kitten, so we

named him Ivory, but over the years he started to get this light orange tinge around his face, on his back and on his tail.

[MerryBlooms]

29. Beautiful cat. Wishing your mother, Dude, you and your family the very best.

[Beaverhausen]

30. Every orange kitty I've had was sweet and calm

He is a beauty. Hope he works out for mom.

[japple]

31. Orange male tabbies are the best!!! Well, except for Garfield. I hope he will

be a great companion for your mom. Dogs always need a job and generally understand their assignments. Sometimes it takes cats a bit longer to agree to the terms of their employment. Tell him that he will get union wages and he will probably take the job.

Seriously, I hope that your mom and Dude become the best of friends.

[pansypoo53219]

32. i think my grandma went downhill faster when they let their foster kitten(my dad found him)

be adopted. seeing her w/ my mom's new kitten + passing around a 8 week old kitten at her nursing home. ALL the elderly perked up. animal shelters need to be IN NURSING homes.

[Skittles]

33. that face!

[classof56]

34. Beautiful kitty!

If no one here has read it, I'd recommend the book Making Rounds with Oscar by David Dosa. It's an excellent read about a doctor who works with Alzheimer and dementia patients, and an assisted living facility cat who is quite amazing.

Blessings.

[Rhiannon12866]

35. Awwww! What a beautiful cat, such a sweet face...

Hoping he's able to connect with your mother, know that animals often do when nothing else works. My grandmother lived in a retirement community and in the nursing home part they started a program called "Noah's Oasis," dogs on one hall and cats on another, and it was also possible to "rent" a bird. For a small fee, someone came in daily to feed the birds and clean the cages, while the patient could just enjoy the company. The program was a great success, residents loved the connection, and the whole place became much more homelike. Hope to hear more about Dude...

[WinkyDink]

37. He is a stunningly beautiful animal. God bless your mother and you.

[47of74]

38. Pretty kitty.

[peace13]

40. What a beauty!

I hope your mom enjoys him! My best to you and yours.

[raccoon]

41. What a lovely cat! nt

[demigoddess]

42. I'd fall in love with him!

He's a beautiful cat!

[Logical]

43. Wow, lounge! nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

44. no

[Siwsan]

46. Appreciated

I am happy to say that Mom seems very pleased with her new companion. Sometimes she seems more connected to him, than to us. But, that's ok.

[Siwsan]

45. With a name like Dude - lounge is pretty much a favorite thing to do