West Side Mews: Slider, An UWS Kitty With Special Needs, Who’s Actually Just Plain Special!  

By Victoria Cumings

For Slider and his pet mom, it was love at first sight. Upon their introduction at his foster home, he slid right into her heart and that was that — he had a new name, new home, and all the love in the world.

Handsome and dressed for action in his dinner suit, Slider is a real charmer and loves to be the center of attention. With his beautifully symmetrical markings and bubble-gum-pink nose, he announces his entry into a room with a hearty “meow,” immediately capturing everyone’s attention. And no wonder…who can take their eyes off him with his stately demeanor, soft-as-velvet fur, and perfect kitty-cat features?

There’s more to the story of this special boy, however. Slider, a senior cat, is bravely facing a cancer diagnosis he received two years ago. After surgery on his leg, Slider faced possible amputation, though given his age his pet mom chose to let him keep his limb. And so Slider kicks on, defying the odds every day. What’s more, Slider’s resilience in tackling his illness has, in turn, served as inspiration for his pet mom to fight her own cancer battle, which she began less than a year after Slider.

A younger brother Benson (named for Bensonhurst) and two little “nephews’ Bushy (from Bushwick) and Stowy (found as a stowaway kitten in a sofa bed in the Poconos) round out the crew. Given their shared condition, however, Slider and his pet mom are particularly close, drawing strength and encouragement from each other every day.

But don’t think any of this gets Slider down. Together with his kitty companions he enjoys life to the fullest. The fur babies get along exceptionally well and relish being around each other, a close-knit family of friends christened the “happy crew” by their cat-sitter. Slider, the eldest of the four, has the manner of a wise, nurturing uncle. He keeps a watchful eye on the bunch and if he catches any play-fighting will immediately spring into action as referee. He’s also great with dogs, enjoying visits from a family member’s sweet little Coton de Tulear, Delphine.

Easygoing and playful, Slider’s daily activities include partaking in some laser chase, clawing at dangly fabric strips, and nesting in his favorite spots on the sofa and between pillows on the bed, all the while making adorable purring sounds. Slider also enjoys excursions into his apartment building hallway. He’ll amble along seeking out tickles and scratches, feeling the nice prickly texture of the carpet. Food-wise, whilst Slider’s digestive issues with irritable bowel syndrome force him to be a carnivore, he’s happy to oblige.  Once a week, he enjoys a special treat of a freshly cooked chicken breast, responding immediately to his pet mom’s dinner call, “Chick chick!”