Everyone’s Valentine’s Day nightmare is a blind date.
But Tabby’s Place, a cage-free cat sanctuary in the Ringoes section of East Amwell, is unveiling a mystery Valentine anyone can fall in love with at its Sat., Feb. 15 Valentine’s Day event.
At the 1-4 p.m. free event, “Your Feline Valentine,” visitors will be invited to meet Tabby’s Place sponsorable (and adoptable) cats – including a secret sweetheart making his debut.
The black-and-white cat came from Missouri due to significant medical needs. Many shelters are reluctant to accept cats with significant medical needs and it’s difficult to find homes for them.
Tabby’s Place embraces the neediest cats regardless of age, medical issues or temperament, making it a harbor of hope for the most desperate cases and cats with advanced needs.
“Your Feline Valentine” visitors will be the first to meet the Missouri “mystery cat.”
“They are one of the most exuberantly snuggly residents in Tabby’s Place history,” said Angela Townsend, Tabby’s Place development director.
Prescott, a cat available for sponsorship at Tabby’s Place.
How to help: Tabby’s Place in Hunterdon just rescued 130 hoarded cats
Visitors will also meet and greet the sanctuary’s 20 other sponsorable cats, which are available to sponsor on-the-spot for as little as $14 per month or to adopt.
Those cats include Tux, a tuxedo cat who, at 21, is Tabby’s Place’s oldest resident; Prescott, the “love bug of the lobby,” Townsend said, who after barely surviving severe injuries is now incontinent; and Hips, “a one-cat dance party,” according to Tabby’s Place’s website, who was rescued from Beirut after a devastating ordeal.
Monthly sponsors are the heartbeat of hope for these cats, providing for their medical care and other needs. All sponsors will receive ongoing monthly updates and photos of their chosen cat.
Hips, a cat available for sponsorship at Tabby’s Place.
Loves hugs, falls asleep in arms: Here’s what this NJ farm says turkeys are like
The event will also include tours where they can meet all of Tabby’s Place’s 110 cats (who are almost all available for adoption), handmade cat merchandise for sale, and free refreshments.
Since 2003, Tabby’s Place has been a savior for cats in hopeless situations. At any given time, 30-40 percent of Tabby’s Place residents have chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and paraplegia, while the rest are healthy cats who ran out of time in desperate circumstances.
A uniquely nurturing environment, it has been designed to meet cats’ needs and help them heal and learn to trust people, as well as delight their senses with bright and open suites, continuous fresh air and safe access to outdoor solaria.
Go: 1-4 p.m. Feb. 15 at 1100 Route 202, Ringoes section of East Amwell; 908-237-5300, tabbysplace.org.
Jenna Intersimone.
Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, although she’s a lifetime Jersey girl who considers herself an expert in everything from the Jersey Shore to the Garden State’s buzzing downtowns. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Tabby’s Place in Hunterdon to unveil ‘mystery cat’ at Feb. 15 event