Menominee retirement home takes in stray cat, raises money for local rescue group

MENOMINEE — Curiosity brought the cat into the retirement home.

And that’s why Harbors Retirement Community is hosting a drive-thru fundraiser for The Colony on Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1110 10th Ave., Menominee. For $5, community members can enjoy a baked potato with toppings, along with water and a cookie.

The Colony is a local volunteer group that cares for feral cats through Trap-Neuter-Return, or TNR.

In the case of “Stevie,” a 15-year-old Siberian Balinese cat, she was a stray cat, which meant she had lived indoors and was socialized at some point but lost her home or was abandoned and no longer had regular human contact.

“She had been roaming around the street for over six months,” said Kathy Scoggins, executive director of the Harbors Retirement Community. “We just cried thinking she was out in the cold.”

Scoggins said she learned about Stevie’s story on the Facebook Group “The Colony — Marinette Menominee Peshtigo Cats.” Before that, she was unaware there was a group helping care for cats in the area.

“She could’ve died out there in the elements. It was because they were running her pictures on Facebook, and that’s how you find out,” Scoggins said.

Tami Hasse, concierge coordinator and community liaison at Harbors Retirement Community, said she got a bowl of water for the cat, who was outside.

“She was just crying and walking back and forth, looking in the door,” Hasse said. “Then she walked right in.”

Hasse wrapped her in a blanket — all 7 pounds — and called the vet. The cat had ear mites that collapsed her ear and caused her to go deaf.

After the vet visit, she settled in at the Harbors for three weeks. For the first few days, she slept and ate nonstop.

“All of the employees were crazy for her,” Scoggins said.

“And the FedEx guy,” Hasse said. “But eventually, we felt that she absolutely needed to be in a home.”

Hasse adopted Stevie, named after someone who used to work at Harbors but had passed away.

“We knew he wouldn’t really want her around,” Scoggins said, laughing. “We could see him rolling his eyes. He lives on through Stevie.”

The long-haired blackish, brownish cat now spends time cuddling with Hasse’s 15-year-old son.

“They’re a match made in heaven,” Hasse said.

Hasse said the cat wasn’t afraid when initially walking into Harbors. She didn’t run. She purred.

“She came to the safe ‘Harbors.’ It’s just the cutest thing,” Scoggins said.