I just keep expecting Tiger to come out of the bushes meowing like she always did as if to say "HEY YOU GUYS...you haven't fed me in at least an hour and no one has given me attention in at least 15 minutes...what is wrong with you people!!!"…..Regina, Volunteer Keeper
For the volunteers who feed the big cats, many hours are spent in our food prep building, a/k/a Tiger’s house. Whenever I open the food prep door, I still see Tiger fast asleep, upside down on the bench in food prep. You were lucky to be able to sit down yourself since Tiger claimed most available seats as her own. If she did let you sit, there was a price to pay. That meant your lap was hers. She would lie in your lap purring so loudly and kneading you with those long, dagger-like claws. It was painful, but worth it to make this little kitty so happy with your attention. You’d end up wet with her drip, drip drooling as she cuddled up and begged you not to get back to work. I was always torn when I had to go, but I knew that she would have dozens of others throughout the day that would lavish attention on her.
Such funny memories I have of Tiger hidden and sleeping soundly in our empty produce boxes, or cuddled up in the sun in the tiger transport cage when it was wheeled up front - and vacant! Maybe she was trying to live up to her name?? It was those times and the laughs she gave me that I’ll always remember.
The last day I saw Tiger, I was hot and exhausted and came into food prep to rest a minute. Right away, she came over and gave me that look that she was about to jump into my lap. I wasn’t in the mood for the pain, but how could I turn her down? Up she jumped, purring, kneading, drooling. Thank goodness I took that moment that day to share with her. I never knew it would be our last together…..Julie, Senior Volunteer Keeper
1997-2007