Spencer Needs a Companion

Spencer, the nursing home cat whose adventures have appeared in The Voice [March 15], has developed a knowledge of the Geer Memorial elevator, which can whisk him to the first floor from "his" third floor. The attraction on the first floor is a lady cat named Lucky. I hasten to add that both Spencer and Lucky have been neutered, so there is no chance of any Spencer/ Lucky offspring. But—and this is a big but—Spencer would like to play with another cat, and Lucky is too old and staid for that kind of "nonsense."

Spencer says, "The folks here are great and lovely for lap-sitting and bed cuddling, but I would like to have some romping fun. I wonder whatever happened to my littermates, whom I scarcely remember. We did have fun pushing and patting one another. There is a lovely dog living on the second floor, and I am on the third. Dog Cinnamon and I have met, but she is too big for playing and not my type anyway. I wonder if there will ever be a playmate for me? Handsome tuxedo cat that I am!"

The lonely-for-another-puss Spencer presents a big problem. His prospective companion must be a sophisticated cat and get along with Spencer, always acknowledging him as senior "chief honcho" of the third floor in the nursing home, yet be willing to play cat games. While there are "companion columns" seeking friends and pals or mates in newspapers, I somehow don't think an ad like this would get run:

"Handsome, young (about four years old), but well-built male feline with long black coat except for face and chest (making him a tuxedo-style cat) seeking playful (spayed) female cat who would appreciate an exceptionally bushy tale which is brushed twice a day. Object: friendship and fun."

Such an ad might tempt a possible companion for Spencer and not only help him play, but also take some of the responsibility Spencer carries for loving and amusing his nursing home friends. If one could find such a puss, the third floor of Geer Memorial would then be perfect for Spencer. In fact, another altered male puss might be the answer, and the elevator would no longer be such a temptation for him! Another male puss could be called Winston and yet another cat (#3) could be named Churchill, so there would be three distinguished cats: Winston, Spencer and Churchill. Doesn't that trio have a nice ring to their names?

Come to think of it, maybe we should run this kind of ad:

"Help Wanted: Playful, under 5 years old, neutered cat to play, be a companion and work with handsome long-haired famous feline in nursing home. All cats considered; color and length of fur not an issue."

Do you think it would work to find the perfect companion for Spencer? We all hope so.