Cat of the Month: July 2016

Rainier Veterinary Hospital’s new program, Cat of the Month, is in full swing. Each staff member provides a nomination for the distinguished honor, and then we vote. The highest vote wins! Any kitty patients who visit us during the prior month are eligible. For July 2016, brace yourself …

Extreme Danger

With a name like Extreme Danger, you might expect the fiercest tomcat in the neighborhood. But as it turns out, this 12-year-old domestic shorthair is about as sweet as they come, says owner Ryan Weadon, who named Extreme before he got to know the kitty’s personality. “I wanted him to have a unique name that sounded cool and would make him feel cool if he ever [understood] that he had a name,” Ryan says. In fact, Extreme is such a softy that he makes friends with wildlife. “I used to let him out in the back yard,” Ryan explains. “I once saw him stalk a squirrel up to the point where he could’ve pounced on it. Instead, it turned around, they touched noses, and the squirrel ran away, completely unscathed.”

Ryan and Extreme—who also answers to Cuddlepuff as well as many other nicknames—have been together since November 2006, when Ryan adopted the kitty from Meow Cat Rescue in Kirkland. Although some might say that Extreme adopted Ryan.

“He was in a common room, where cats run around free,” Ryan says. “He was on a shelf by the door, and he immediately jumped from the shelf onto my shoulders as soon as I walked in. I pet him for a while and then put him down so I could look at other cats. He followed me around the room and got on my shoulders again! I think that’s when I knew he was the cat for me.”

Favorite toys? Nah. Extreme prefers a rubber band that’s been dropped on the floor, old strings, and plastic bags. In fact, a string and a bag are an irresistible combination for this sweet kitty.

“A few years ago, I borrowed a reusable grocery bag from a friend, and Extreme immediately claimed it for his own by climbing inside it,” Ryan explains. “I tried to get him interested in a different bag, but for some reason, he only likes that particular bag.” Luckily for both Ryan and Extreme, the friend let them keep the bag.

In June, Extreme visited Rainier Veterinary Hospital—where’s he’s been a patient for about eight years—for a dental cleaning with one extraction. One of the side effects of anesthesia is drooling, and we think he went for a World Record in the “longest drool” category—pretty extreme!

This happy, outgoing cat greets Ryan at the front door 90% of the time. And that makes sense, since Extreme’s favorite spot is cuddling in Ryan’s lap. “He’s a huge source of joy in my life, and he’s been a great comfort in my moments of grief,” Ryan says. “I love him very much and couldn’t ask for a better cat. He’s the best!”

We absolutely agree, Ryan, and love visits from this sweet kitty, who is anything but a danger!