Written by Julie Karl
BG independent news
If Leanne Frankfather's cat wins America's Favorite Pet Cat category, she won't have to dress up for a photo shoot. Bowie Bowtie is not a tuxedo cat, but the handsome Blue Russian mix is gray with a white bowtie.
Bowie, for short, is vying to be the top meow in the cat version of America's Favorite Pet contest. He passed seven of the nine categories and is seeking votes from the local community to rise to the top spot. With this victory, Frankfather will be featured on the cover of Modern Cat magazine and will receive a prize of $10,000. Frankfather plans to donate her half to the Toledo Humane Society, where she fell in love with the cuddle cat.
The 3-year-old bluish-gray cat joined the Bowling Green family about nine months ago to fill the void left by the unexpected death of beloved fur baby, 7-year-old Buddha. .
Buddha's death from a rapidly progressive autoimmune disease left a huge hole in her and her husband's hearts. “We were devastated,” she said. On one particularly sad day, she visited the Toledo Humane Society to be surrounded by cats. For about two hours, she petted, played with, and talked to the cats that crowded around her, searching for the perfect cat to snuggle with.
In the last cat room she visited, she found a sleeping cat. She went over there and started petting her and checking out her pussy information. The name of his shelter was Haba Buba. The name of Buddha's shelter was Baba, so she quickly realized that was a sign that he was her cat.
“I started crying in that room and realized, 'This is my cat.' This was not supposed to happen,” Frankfather said. “He was purring and there was this kind, gentle look in his eyes. It felt so right.”
He arrived as a stray about a month ago and was amazing, she said. She put down her deposit and went to her home to pick up her husband to introduce him to Hubba Buba of the Toledo Humane Society. They made the final decision and brought the gray cat home who underwent dental work to remove a cracked tooth.
With the help of friends and family, Hubba Buba was given a new name, a nod to his formal appearance with a white bow tie on his chest. He found his forever home in Frankfather's house.
Although he is definitely Leanne's cat and sleeps wrapped around her head or neck at night or is never more than an arm's length away from her, her husband is his 'backup human'. She said there was. And Bowie loves everyone he meets.
He's not your typical aloof, temperamental cat. He is gentle, kind-hearted, and very loving. Bowie even dotes on crocheted old man Maverick, a 13-year-old tuxedo tabby who is perfectly happy on his own. But when best friends cuddle together, they look like yin and yang.
In addition to loving cuddling, Bowie also loves to play. His favorite toy is a laser. When he hears the click of the laser turning on, he's ready to play all day long. He also loves hearing the sound of treat packages shaking. He doesn't care if the treats are soft, chewy, crunchy, or whatever they taste like. He gladly accepts whatever is offered to him.
In the morning, he had a half cup of dry food, and his evening meal was a quarter cup of dry food and a quarter cup of wet food, “warmed, of course,” Frankfather said.
Now that the weather is getting nicer, he loves sitting at the open window and watching the birds. “He was scary the first time I heard him because he makes a meowing sound,” she said. But now she loves hearing his special little happy sounds.
Bowie needs to be in first place to advance to eight of the nine rounds. “A community of friends and family really rallied around this contest. They obviously love cats,” Frankfather said. “I never thought I'd be in this position right now. I'm two rounds away from winning $10,000.”
The Frankfathers have pledged to donate half of their prize money to the Toledo Humane Society, where Bowie was discovered. He is also considering building a climbing wall for him to enjoy.
One vote per day is free, but voters can also pay to have more votes counted. This contest is a fundraiser for PAWS, whose mission is to help cats, dogs, and wildlife thrive in happy, healthy homes and natural habitats. Frankfather estimates that Bowie has helped raise about $3,000 for the fundraiser so far. She said not only her friends and family, but also “incredibly generous strangers” have supported his candidacy.
They are now asking for further community support to help Bowie reach the top of the Grand Prix and be featured in Modern Cat magazine.
“He's the cat everyone would want to own. He's sweet, affectionate and adorable. And he knows how to do the right thing at the right time,” she said.
She added that they'll cuddle with you when you're sad, and squeal and bump your head when you're happy. If you are full of energy, he is ready to play.
To vote for Bowie's bow tie, visit his page at America's Favorite Pet.
