Vernon cat looking for new home after owner's care facility won't accept him

Photo: Kim Becker

Kobi the cat liked being pushed around on his owners walker before she was forced to give him up

A Vernon cat is in need of a new home after its senior owners were moved to a care facility that doesn’t accept pets.

Kim Becker owns the healthcare company Kimberlee Care, in Vernon, and is hoping to find a good home for the 10-year-old cat, Kobi.

A senior she helps fell and broke his hip and after two months in the hospital a bed opened up in a care home for him. Becker says the man's wife of nearly 60 years, who has dementia, was recently able to transition there as well, but the new facility doesn't allow pets.

This has left Kobi in limbo as he’s not allowed to move with his owners of eight years.

“They won't allow her to take the cat, which I feel is really sad,” said Becker. “People who have to make a choice between getting more care and not being able to take their pet, it’s pretty sad.”

The couple's daughter is unable to take Kobi herself as her rental doesn’t allow pets either.

Becker says Kobi is a pure-bred siamese cat and a “love bug.”

“He likes to cuddle, he doesn't scratch. He's just been adored by all the seniors,” said Becker.

She’s hoping another senior will take the Kobi in – it’s what the cat is used to and she’s unsure how he’d do with other animals.

Kobi is currently living in an empty suite at his owners previous retirement home, but come Nov. 1 he’ll be relinquished to the pound.

“They’ve got to pay out the rest of October, and my staff are there full time caring for the different residents. So I said to the daughter, we'll go in, we'll walk Kobi, we'll make sure he's got food and water – everything we can do until we can find him at home,” said Becker.

Becker says anyone interesting in adopting Kobi can send her a Facebook message.