An Austin, Texas animal shelter and the proud adoptive mom of a heroic feline have two big reasons to be thankful.
Reeka Carnine of central Texas suffers from Type 1 Diabetes. She has an alarm that goes off when her blood sugar falls dangerously low, but she sometimes sleeps through it. During such instances, her amazing cat, Merrick, comes to the rescue – but Carnine also sometimes sleeps through his attempts to wake her by meowing and licking her face.
Recently, when her blood sugar monitor started beeping and Merrick couldn’t wake her up, he then tried alerting her husband.
Carnine described the cat’s heroic actions: “A couple of times, like the third or fourth time it happened, he couldn’t wake me, he actually went over to my husband and he pawed at him, meowed in his ear and he actually bit him. And my husband got up and heard the alarms going off.”
Merrick’s grateful mom relayed news of the cat’s heroic deeds to Austin Pets Alive, the organization through which she adopted him. Austin Pets Alive submitted the special story to the Petco Foundation’s Holiday Wishes campaign and received a $5,000 grant.
In her story, Carnine describes how Merrick’s diligence is more than just life-saving. When she’s recovering from a bad experience with high or low blood sugar, Merrick comforts and cuddles her, staying by her side as long as she needs.
When Carnine had first learned about a litter of adoptable kittens in late 2017, she already had cats and wasn’t planning on getting another one. But there was something special about one of the kittens, Merrick, whom Carnine knew she was meant to provide with a forever home.
Merrick is a lovable cat who would have made a great companion to just about anyone, but with the way he keeps a watchful eye on Carnine and even saved her life, it truly seems like they’re meant for each other.
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WE know dogs do this, but a real Service Kitty is a rare and wonderful gift!!!
What a wonderful story. Animals are so giving and loving…..everyone should have a few to share their lives and their hearts. I guarantee that they will not ever regret it.
The perfect pair.
What a beautiful cat and story. Thank you.
Merrick is wonderful to Reeka. Lovely cat ! She certainly saves her life. They both need each other. Thanks for the story. Prayers !
I know this is very possible – we have a Diabetic Alert Cat in our home, too.
We rescued a expectant momcat during a sleet storm, and she thanked us with six kittens.
We kept Kewpie, the mother (our MC’s sweetheart) Buddy and Gracie. The others went to good friends’ loving homes (in pairs)
Gracie in now known as Amazing Gracie after she saved my life one morning. I was having trouble regulating my sugars and had low lows and high highs. One morning I was awakened by Gracie biting my nose and lips. She persisted until I got up, very sick, with a BS of 38. She did it again several months later when my BS was 52.
Silly me – I finally realized what she was doing. She was never trained – she just KNOWS to do this.
Now, every morning she comes up on my chest and puts her nose right by my mouth. If she starts biting my nose, I know to get up and finger-stick right away. She’s NEVER been wrong. My spouse has seen her checking me every morning and thinks it’s hilarious. She looks so serious.
Gracie also follows me from room to room, and is always on my lap. I adore my kitties <3
What a wonderful story! I hope that Merrick is duly awarded with the best cat food they can afford.
Make no mistake…cats AND dogs have a special sense NOT to be written off or ignored as foolish! They comfort not only each OTHER in times of need but humans, as WELL! This is not SCIENCE but the work of angels…and Our Lord who provides in MANY ways!
What a beautiful boy!!! Wonderful example of KARMA!!! Reeka saved him and he’s saving her!! A true guardian angel!! Wishing MANY years of living memories!!