Ginger, 'Great Mom': Huntington Adoptable Pet Of The Week

HUNTINGTON, NY — Ginger, a 1-year-old orange/ginger tabby, is the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter's Huntington Pet of the Week. She is named after Ginger Rodgers.

"Just look at that beautiful face and mesmerizing eyes!" said Debbi Larkin, president of the shelter. "Add that to the unusual fact that she is female..most orange cats are male so she is definitely one of
kind."

Ginger came to the shelter from Westchester County…along with her three tiny babies back in March.

"We don’t have much background info, but apparently there was a family that had this beautiful baby, let her out of the house, and you know the rest of the story," Larkin said. "We are not sure if the family realized that she was pregnant until she actually had the babies and they didn’t know what to do. They reached out to many rescues who said they were not in the position to help, so this family reached out to one of the local rescuers here, and he drove all the way to their house to pick up mom and her three tiny babies."

The babies were not even 4 weeks old at the time, according to Larkin.

The rescue got the call for help, and it immediately took Ginger in to be checked by its in-house veterinarian.

Ginger and her family were examined and went straight into foster care, because Ginger was still nursing the little ones — two girls and a boy.

"She was a good mom and fit in very well with the foster home residents and eagerly urged her babies to explore the private room they were in during the day," Larkin said. "Not sure if it was mom or the babies who decided about the nursing, because they were voraciously eating any and all food by the time they were 5 weeks old."

Ginger was not really interested in playing with any of the toys, Larkin said.

"After all, she had three furry ones of her own! She was content to just relax and climb up on the foster mom’s lap to get some attention. She loves being pet and brushed and her purring is nonstop."

Ginger was content to watch her babies from afar while she was getting the human interaction that she wanted, Larkin said. Her little girls were a "bit on the sassy side," and the little brother made a connection with one of the other older kittens in the home.

"When we took Ginger away from the babies so we could get her ready for spaying, she started showing signs of depression," Larkin said. "Even though it was a relief at times for her to have some 'mommy time,' she was very attached to them, which is not always the case with such a young mother. She stopped eating for a day or two but we found a specific flavor food that she loves and now she is eating like she hasn’t been fed in about two months!"

Female ginger cats are usually friendlier and more affectionate with their humans — as seen between Ginger and her foster mom, Larkin said.

They are sometimes known as "Velcro cats."

"They are not as crazy and chaotic as the male ginger cats, who are constantly in motion," Larkin said. "We saw a glimpse of her calmer personality when we placed her in the kitten room with six other younger kittens. She made the rounds introducing herself (while some of them were hissing and spitting at her) and proceeded to find a cubby to make herself comfortable in. She was watching the door probably hoping that a human would come in to give her some love."

If you are interested in meeting Ginger, you may call the shelter at 631-757-4517, email cats@laphuntington.org, visit the Facebook page or visit at the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter.

The rescue is at 3 Verleye Ave., East Northport, and visiting hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

The shelter is also open from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday nights only for those who cannot make it during the daytime hours.

"Ginger would make a great addition to your family," Larkin said. "She has no issues with other animals and would welcome any and all attention that you might shower on her. Spring is here and
that means new beginnings and she certainly deserves one. And Mother’s Day is not far behind and we saw what a great mom she was. Let’s give this new mom her forever home as a reward for the beautiful babies she so lovingly took care of (they will be joining us at the shelter at the end of May)."