Bob, featured at a York cat show, began life with a broken pelvis on the Baltimore streets
Paul Kuehnel
A brown mackerel tabby that began life with a broken pelvis on the street in Baltimore was judged with other cats Sunday in the Household Pet division of the Greater Lancaster Feline Fanciers & Siamese Alliance of America's CFA Allbreed Cat Show at the York Expo Center.
About four and-a-half years ago, Mike Janiszewski said that after coming to work at a Baltimore city garage after a long holiday weekend, he noticed a cat "laboring around" outside, so he took him home.
Helping cats is nothing new for Janiszewski and his partner Rennie Hoffer, as they have fostered 25 cats at their home in Middle River, Md. Janiszewski said that one of his veterinarians gives him the "cat shelter rate" and told him that he is not a cat hoarder because he takes good care of all of them.
Janiszewski took the struggling cat to a veterinarian, who determined that the cat's pelvis was broken in three places, possibly from getting hit by a car or abuse, he said.
He was presented with three choices: Surgery that would cost $3,000 or the possibility of recovery after four months of bed rest and care in a cage. Janiszewski knew that $3,000 was a lot of money and if that was the only option, it would have probably meant the end of the road for this wobbly street cat.
Janiszewski said that after three to four months of "bedrest inside a cage with good care," the cat healed and was getting around.
During the cat show Sunday, Bob, whom Janiszewski said got his name because he looked like a Bobcat, stood tall, study and stoic in his judging cage waiting for the ribbons to be called while keeping a constant eye on the man who saved his life.
The Greater Lancaster Feline show has offered Household Pet division judging for years according to Debbie Kusy, vice president of the show. Originally, the Household Pet division was designed to get people who loved their cats to learn more about breeds and showing, Kusy said.
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She went on to say about the Household Pet division, "They put [in] a lot of money and love them just like us," referring to cat professionals.
The Greater Lancaster Feline Fanciers & Siamese Alliance of America CFA Allbreed Cat Show has taken place in York for 25 years, with two shows a year. The next show is in October. More information can be found at their website at pacatshow.com.