Remembering Grandpa Mason on National Feral Cat Day

We wanted to devote our National Feral Cat Day post this year to Grandpa Mason, a cat who stole the hearts of everyone who knew him and made a difference in the lives of so many kittens in need.

Photo: Grandpa Mason and his kittens on Facebook

For anyone not familiar with his story...

Grandpa Mason’s Story (by Tiny Kittens Rescue in British Columbia, Canada)

In October 2016 we trapped an injured feral cat named Mason. 

A surprise diagnosis of advanced terminal kidney disease meant we couldn’t return this fierce warrior to his home in the wild due to daily medical and feeding regimens with a special diet.

Mason’s many scars told us how hard he had fought to survive this long. So, instead of euthanasia, we felt Mason deserved a chance to experience comfort and freedom from pain in his sunset months. We didn’t know if he could accept life in captivity, but we needed to try. 

Mason adjusted better than we were expecting, although he doesn’t want Humans to touch him. That was the best we thought it could get for him, and he seemed quite content. 

What happened next shocked us.

He met some rescue kittens one day, and his life suddenly was complete. He had a purpose again, and every day since he met his first litter, we have seen a carefree kittenhood emerge that he clearly never had a chance to experience growing up feral. 

He adores his kittens, and teaches them manners, lets them “comfort nurse”, and chases them around the house with great glee. We’ve never seen anything like it, and we will try to keep him surrounded by kittens as much as possible. 

What he taught us in the last year has been shocking and remarkable. This “lost cause” “worthless” old feral cat has enriched our lives in ways we could never have imagined. Follow his adventures at Grandpa Mason and his kittens.

We don’t know how many days he has left, but we know each one will be filled with happiness, comfort, adventure, love -- on his terms -- and the dignity every living creature deserves after a life well lived.

Grandpa Mason ended up spending 1,069 days with the organization's founder doing the work he was surely put on this earth to do before being called home to the Rainbow Bridge last month. He was an angel even before he left for the Bridge, and I'd be willing to bet that even now he's caring for those who were let down by humans and never knew a loving touch or a kind word.

In Grandpa Mason's memory let's help raise awareness about feral cats, debunk common myths about them, support TNR efforts in our communities, and spread the word about the importance of spaying and neutering our pets. We humans have caused this problem, so it’s our obligation to do the best we can to protect these innocent creatures.

Tiny Kittens just posted this beautiful tribute yesterday on Grandpa Mason's Gotcha Day...

"Three years ago today, we trapped a dying feral cat named Mason. With just a few months left to live, I brought him home to give him the comfort and dignity every living creature deserves after a life well lived.

What happened next blew us away.

Mason found a new purpose in life: being a foster grandpa to rescue kittens. For 1069 magical days, Grandpa Mason shaped dozens of young minds, passed down important grandpa secrets, demonstrated tremendous hunting prowess, taught manners, quashed impudence and created a multitude of fashion-forward kitten hairstyles.

On September 19, 2019, we had to say goodbye to Mason. He crossed the Bridge peacefully and painlessly, with great dignity, at home on his tiny sofa, surrounded by the Auracuda, the TinyTuxies and his kittens.

For 1069 days, we got to love this glorious ancient "lost cause" feral cat. We got to give him 1069 days surrounded by love, free from pain and smothered in slobbery kitten kisses.

Each of those days was a gift to us, and to him. Given his feral upbringing and his medical condition when he arrived, it would have been easy to write him off as a lost cause. I’m so grateful we didn’t.

Grandpa Mason showed the world that even if you’re old, sick, feral, broken or different… you have value. You have something to offer. You are worthy of compassion. You matter."