The Rescued Interviews: Wu Kitty

Meows from Mudpie!

Back in 2015 Angel Truffles started interviewing the cats featured in Rescued: The Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes, an anthology of rescue cat stories compiled by Janiss Garza, who writes the Sparkle Cat blog. She was unable to see it to completion but I was more than honored to continue the series once I settled into my forever home and took full reins of our blog. Now Rescued Volume 2 is on store shelves and it's my goal to interview as many of the kitties as possible once again! (If you missed our review, it can be found here.)

Each author featured in the book has nominated a cat rescue and was assigned a month to promote the book, with a third of the profits from that month going to their rescue. August's spotlight is Wu Kitty, a cat facing certain death at New York City's Animal Care and Control until a woman facing serious struggles of her own took a chance on this damaged soul.

Welcome Wu! Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Could you start by introducing yourself to us and telling us what made your story such a good fit for the Rescued anthology? 

First off I just want to say how awesome it is to be on your blog and thank you for asking me to participate. As you know my name is Wu Kitty and I’m a 5 year old, female, orange kitty rescued off of Death Row at the Manhattan NYC, ACC. 

I was honored to be chosen in this anthology amongst so many talented feline authors. My human and I share a very special bond. We both understood labels, health issues and what it meant to keep pressing forward towards your purpose when facing difficult circumstances. I believe our healing story is powerful and was an excellent fit for Rescued Volume 2. 

I am so proud to represent the feline street warriors who were lucky enough to have survived their journey after the streets and ACC. I also feel it serves as a tribute to those who did not. 

The title of your story in Rescued is "Rescued from the Row" because you landed in New York City's dreaded Animal Care and Control and your assessment didn't leave much hope for rescue. What do you remember about that scary time? 

I was what they call “New Hope” or as the rest of us call it “No Hope”. I could only be pulled by a rescue group and was not available for public adoption. This was because of my behavior and health rating along with being labeled semi feral. 

I struggled to remain centered and in the moment while in the ACC. I will admit I was at times full of anger, then fear and at times sadness for those animals surrounding me. The main thing I refused to do was give up. I would not allow despair to take over. I kept reminding myself the lessons I had been taught by my She-Fe and those lessons are what got me through. I like to call it “Wisdom in the Meow”, staying in the moment, focusing on your breath, staying centered and remembering that you have a greater purpose.

You and your human share an extra special bond because of her own struggles. Tell us about your relationship and why she chose you. 

My human has had a long and at times very scary health journey. She is all to familiar with plastic bracelets with numbers like the one the ACC tightly wrapped around my neck. She too had been in a situation that meant life or death. At the time she had an orange rescue fella named TC who she had adopted at 6 months of age when he was rescued from a feral colony. Sadly TC passed away at 8 years young from lymphoma not long after the human returned home from a 2 month hospital stay. TC had been a behavior challenge his entire life and my human adored him. TC no doubt played a major role from afar as he looked over us from the Rainbow Bridge and ultimately had a paw in bringing me and the human together. 

The other reason I love the human so much is because she understands my unique needs and respects me for who I am, just like she did with TC. She does not try to change me. That respect and unconditional love is the glue to our bond. 

What's the story behind your unusual name? 

The human has what I call a She-Fe too. His name is Dr. Ming Wu and he has been a large part of her health journey. Dr. Wu is my human’s healer, teacher and friend. My human left a 15 year teaching career and reinvented herself as a social media strategist during her health journey. Dr. Wu was her first client and she runs his social platforms to this day. Not long after she adopted me, they decided I would make the best mascot. I reminded them of Tigress in Kung Fu Panda, a favorite movie for all of us. She had already decided on the name Wu and I liked it too. I love being the Wu Healing Center’s online mascot. I am very proud about that.

What is life like for you today? 

Life today is beyond my wildest dreams. I have a Facebook and Instagram page of my own. I work for the Wu Healing Center as their online mascot and spread the “Wisdom of the Meow”. I am loved and spoiled by my human. I absolutely adore our new home in New Britain, CT where I enjoy running up and down the stairs and meditating in our yoga room. I am blessed to be with my two rescue dog brothers Petey and Finnegan and all my rescue cat brothers and sisters. Life is amazing! I am very grateful for all I have especially my human. 

What shelter have you chosen to receive your proceeds from the book this month and why? 

I chose Boston’s Forgotten Felines for many reasons. The main reason is the lead feral cat warrior Joni Nelson. Joni is one of the most amazing rescue people I have ever met and the human agrees. (Finnegan does too). She has worked tirelessly 365 days a year for countless years saving and caring for the feral and community cats of Boston. Her friend Fred, who sadly passed away not long ago; worked alongside her to try to change the lives of these forgotten animals. I wanted to honor her and Fred and the cats who journey on in-spite of the odds. 

As a semi feral myself I knew they could sure use the help in trying to educate the public, bring humane solutions to the problem and make the lives of these cats better. Joni now has some amazing feral cat warriors who help feed and fundraise but they always need more people to donate, sponsor a community cat, foster and feed. Reach out to them if you can, you can make a big difference even if only in one cat’s life; my human made the difference of life and death in mine and you can too.

What do you hope people learn from your story and what would you like your lasting legacy to be? 

I want to bring hope to others and share stories about healing and compassion. I understand the difficulties of balance and staying centered when dealing with the good and bad in the world. Today I focus on the good, on the now (meow), on the wisdom inside me and to the voice that tells me I am here for a reason. I want others to feel that power in themselves too. 

I would also like people to learn that labels can be harmful. A number should not define an animal, or a human it is a barcode for a nonliving product. It is not something that should determine your outcome in the world. We must begin to be more careful about placing animals and humans in little boxes identified by numbers, labels and words used to stifle who they are and make it difficult for them to grow and be themselves. They said I was dangerous, feral, sick, unruly and not even worthy of having a chance to be adopted by society. Good thing my human didn’t believe in it, and instead believed in me. For me, teaching the wisdom of the meow, telling healing stories and lifting people and animals up by allowing them to be themselves, both the great qualities and the challenging ones..that is my legacy. 

Like I always say “In the Meow”..that’s where it’s at my friends. Stay there and all will be well. 

Much Love, Wu Kitty