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Community Corner

The Journey of Jimmy Gee

Jimmy Gee has survived life as a kitten on the streets, being dumped by an adoptive parent, and almost being euthanized at animal control

If there were a reality show for felines along the line of  "Survivor," cool cat Jimmy Gee would be a paws-down winner.

He’s a handsome light-colored tabby with a confident stride and an odd orange undercoat, the result of some exotic relative in his family tree. At about 2 years-old he’s curious, adventurous and friendly. 

He’s also very lucky.

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Twice homeless through no fault of his own, the last foray onto the streets landed him at Animal Control. Due to overcrowding he was scheduled to be euthanized when someone thought to scan him for a microchip.  The info on that chip revealed that he had once been rescued by and he was promptly returned to the nonprofit.

As a kitten, Jimmy Gee was abandoned by his owners and wandered into an open apartment door searching for a meal and perhaps a home. Turns out that apartment belonged to a Catlanta volunteer at LifeLine, who promptly took the kitten to the no-kill rescue in Avondale Estates where he was cared for and put up for adoption. 

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Jimmy Gee was then adopted by a man who kept him for many months before abruptly moving to N.C. and unceremoniously dumping him back onto the streets.

Adoptive pet parents sign a contract at most shelters, and at many, including LifeLine, they have an option of returning an animal if something doesn’t go right or if the owners encounter unforeseen life difficulties.

To abandon a domestic animal or leave it on its own to fend for itself, “you are basically condemning it to death,” says Mickie Blair, LifeLine’s field coordinator and resident cat expert.

Many people think of cats as an independent creatures and very able to take care of themselves “out there” in the world. In fact, it’s a hard-knock life for stray and feral cats because of lack of food, diseases, coyotes, stray dogs and even some humans who mean them harm.

It’s not unusual to find cases of people shooting stray cats or even setting them on fire.

This was the case in DeKalb County earlier this year when a kitten who had been doused in lighter fluid and set aflame was found in a storm drain. That kitten, now named , was also rescued by LifeLine and is thriving after receiving months of intense medical care.

Jimmy Gee came back to LifeLine a little on the skinny side but he’s healthy. He got beat up on a bit while homeless, as neutered cats will if they happen upon a feral colony where there are intact (un-fixed) males and there's competition for food. Yet he’s bounced back nicely.

He’s now waiting to see if the third time will be the charm, and if someone will finally provide him with a safe and secure forever home.

Despite all he’s been through, this dashing gentleman cat has lost none of his affection for  humans. He also likes other cats.

“He’s got personality plus,” says Blair.

If you want to help lady luck smile on Jimmy Gee, you can foster (in your home or virtually) or adopt him by contacting mblair@atlantapets.org

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