Greg Strang initially brought JoJo into his home as a foster cat after the passing of his previous cat, Mr. Bumble.
Although no cat can ever replace another, JoJo — at 34 pounds — did his best to replace two cats, Strang wrote as part of Pima Animal Care Center’s efforts to highlight remarkable adoptions.
Back on June 25, JoJo weighed 34 pounds and appeared ill when PACC officers rescued him from a sweltering apartment complex parking lot in northwest Tucson.
Panting heavily, the cat was given IV fluids at the shelter, along with a cooling coat shave, and very watchful care in PACC’s ICU, said Karen Hollish, the shelter’s development director.
JoJo eventually finished his recovery with Strang, who adopted him and took him home. JoJo tried to crawl into bed — huffing and puffing and only jumping about a foot off the ground, Strang recalled.
He finally made it when Strang made some makeshift steps out of a cooler and a storage box.
Jojo has since lost 10 pounds, started growing his coat back, and no longer needs steps to make it to his favorite places, Strang said, noting that he still needs to shed a couple more pounds.
“Jojo is incredibly social, greeting everyone who comes to the door, and will often smother himself over anyone who sits in a place he jumps onto.
“With the weight loss, Jojo went from hobbling around the house to now having a tremendous appetite for playtime,” he said.
Jojo also enjoys an occasional walk on the leash.
“It became apparent to the people around me that JoJo had found his furrever home long before I accepted it, as the number of Instagram posts featuring him grew and I became attached to the giant furball,” Strang wrote.
“Over the months he has trained me well to turn on the electric blanket for him on cold days and to keep his favorite sunning spot free to lounge on.”
