One really happy cat

Ronald is one lucky feline. This big marmalade cat, who weighs 18 pounds, was saved from an untimely end by a kind man who brought him to Sisters and released him.

Photo provided

Ronald the Cat went from hard times to the good life when he was rescued and adopted by Harmony Farm Animal Sanctuary.

As though guided by his guardian angel, the cat made his way over two miles to the front porch of Sisters resident, Jill Eidsmoe, an inveterate cat lover. He received instant care and food and lots of love.

When Eidsmoe posted a photo on Facebook to see if she could locate the kitty's owner, the man who had saved him called and told her the story. Jill already had a 19-year-old cat so she called her friend Robine Bots, who runs Harmony Farm Animal Sanctuary, to see if she might need a mouser. And there begins the happy new life of Ronald, the subject of a book written and self-published by Jill – "Saving Ronald: One Cat's Tale of Hope." It is available on Amazon for $14.99. The money from the sale of the book is donated by Jill to assist a houseless woman who she has befriended.

Jill makes regular visits to see Ronald and he snuggles in her lap.

"I love this cat more than any other cat," she said.

Jill and Robine say Ronald has two moms, and he loves them both.

Photo by Sue Stafford

Ronald the Cat and his "two moms," Jill Eidsmoe and Robine Bots.

He has been at the sanctuary for three years now and Robine said he is the CEO at their board meetings, and the farm greeter and ambassador who accompanies visitors when they come to the farm by walking along the top of the fence next to them. When the Sisters Life Skills class bus arrives at the farm, he runs out to greet the students. He also often sits in therapy sessions when Robine sees clients at the farm.

He has been invited to be a house cat, but he prefers his very own apartment in the barn. Volunteers dote on him and when they were giving him too many treats, Robine instituted a sign-in sheet where the treats were recorded so he didn't gain too much weight.

His best friends at the farm are Lilly the turkey and Banana the chicken. He is really well behaved with the chickens and bunnies. Robine said Ron is the "most social outgoing cat ever." Within a couple of days of arriving at the farm, he was out and about exploring and meeting the animals. He and the young alpacas have fun together and he likes to sit on the fence post in the goats' pen. If you talk to Ron, he meows back.

Two of Ron's messages to the readers of his book are "Put one foot (or like me, paw) forward and seek a way out. There are truly some wonderful people out there! Keep going like I did until you find them....Don't let opportunities, no matter how small they may seem, stop you from showing others some kindness."