Proud Alumni X
VELVET
When Velvet was new at Katie's Place, she was scared and preferred to stay
inside her safe cubby hole (see inset photo below). But she turned out
to be a sweetheart whose loving, gentle nature won her a home. After her
first week in her new home, we were delighted to receive the note below
from her.
"Dear Katie's Place,
On my first night, away from my friends at Katie's Place, I was
crying out to find my Katie's Place friends in the middle of the night.
My mom got up and came to console me. She took me back to bed and held
me close to her chest. It wasn't long before I felt better and fell asleep.
This only lasted a few nights and now I've gotten used to my new home.
My big sister, Cino, didn't like me at first and I couldn't figure
out why she would always hiss at me. Cino doesn't hit or beat me up. Mom
and dad are amazed how non-aggressive and patient I've been with Cino.
Cino comes running now when she hears mom and dad call me because she thinks
I must be getting something she isn't. Because of this, I got her to eat
her tartar control treats that she didn't like before. She's getting used
to having me around and I'm going to make her love me like mom and dad
do.
Mom's teaching me manners -- not to scratch the furniture, not
to be pushy while Cino's eating her dinner and not to eat her plants on
the balcony. She says I don't like the word "no", mom said I would storm
off and wouldn't be sociable for a while, I think she's exaggerating. I
was just trying to make her feel guilty.
I already have some favorite things I like to do. I really love
to snuggle with mom when she has the blanket out. I like to sit out on
the balcony in the sunshine. I like hogging one half of the couch, Dad
gets the other side, and I get to sleep at my dad's feet when he goes to
bed (and apparently, I'm the first cat who's ever been allowed to do this).
Oh yah, I like to greet mom when she gets home and I get a treat out of
her and then I greet dad when he gets home and when mom's not looking,
I get a treat out of him.
Last week, I met one of my veterinarians. She gave me a full
checkup because my cold wasn't getting better. I'm feeling much better
now. All the staff thought I was sweetheart because I didn't put up a fight
during the exam especially when they had to take my temperature and blood
samples. The vet says I need to go on a diet and I sure hope they don't
listen to her. I love my food!"
The inset photo at top is when Velvet was new at the
shelter and was feeling scared and lonely.
The larger photo, sent from her home, shows how happy
she is to have a home now.
RISHKA
Rishka is a sweet cat but she came into shelter care when she was already
about 14 or 15 years old. The chance of finding a home for cats that age
are slim indeed. People don't see past their age to the loving, eternal
kitten inside. But Rishka was a very lucky girl and found a home soon.
Her new family recognizes the treasure they found in this old girl and
sent us this note: "Rishka has adjusted well and we love her to bits. She
is just sweet as pie -- gets along with Clay -- and she makes us laugh
everyday with her "roaring" purr, saucer plate eyes and her scampy scurry.
She did have the sniffles for a few days after arriving so I put her back
on antibiotics for a few days after which she was right as rain -- eating
and drinking well."
This photo from Rishka's new home shows a lively,
curious Rishka sitting on a railing in front of her new pal, Clay.
ESMEE and FONDA
Esmee and Fonda went to the same home. They both waited a long time at
the shelter for someone to adopt them. Fonda never asked for attention
although she enjoyed it. So she was always overlooked. Esmee was a drama
queen with a low threshold for stimulation. She never won anybody over
because she was temperamental with strangers. They both went to a cat-savvy
home with someone who is willing to just let them be themselves. We recently
received an update on them and their new mom said, "Esmee mellowed but
still prefers to be left alone by the other cats. So she has her own room
to sleep. Fonda is so nice. She loves to go out (I have fenced my whole
back yard to keep the cats safe). She socializes with the other cats, no
problem."
It sounds like they found a happy home at last!
Esmee is the tortoiseshell on the left. The smaller
photo at left was taken at the shelter and she had a typical 'Esmee' expression
on her face.
Fonda is the medium-haired dilute tortioseshell on
the right. It looks like both Esme and Fonda enjoy their yard in their
new home.
DIANA
Diana was a very timid cat and that made it hard to
find a home for her. She was devastated to lose the home she'd come to
trust and she kept to herself at the shelter. One day somebody came specifically
to meet the "timid dark brown/black tabby". Diana was adopted! She gave
her new family a scare at first when they were unable to find her for a
while after getting her home. Then we received the update below.
"Well, our lil Holly~Berry has just been a joy and
she is beginning to come out of her shell. Each day seems to bring new
experiences for her, as well as for us. It turned out that Holly had actually
been hiding in a void space in our bathroom vanity - she is very smart
since neither us nor the other cats can fit in there, so she felt very
secure.
She sleeps on our dining room chairs at the moment
even though she has 60% run of our home. We have noticed that when she
feels nervous she runs to 'her chair'. Our other cats seem to respect this
and don't bother her when she is there. We were concerned about how the
others would accept her - that is until my hubby came home yesterday and
found her sleeping with our Puddin' on 'her chair'! Puddin' is our 11 year
old bi-color long hair that DESPERATELY wants a playmate. The other cats,
Max & Caeleigh are extremely close to each other and neither really
wants to play with our 11-year-old 'kitten' Puddin'. So, Pud has been EXTREMELY
interested in Holly as a potential playmate. Last night I awoke to catch
Holly and Pud playing in our bedroom! So, yes, I think things are going
very well. :) Max and Caeleigh have their bond with each other, Puddin'
now has the friend he has craved for so long, Holly has the home and love
she so wants - and we have all 4 of them.
This morning I awoke early and got up to see how
everyone was doing. Even though Holly could have hidden under our bed throughout
the night she chose to stay out and play with everyone. When I went to
feed her her breakfast she poked her head around the kitchen corner and
mewed a little mew to say 'Im hungry, do I get some?'
Thank you everyone at Katies Place for all the help
and support you've shown us. Some angels have no wings....and they volunteer
at Katies Place. :)"
The two left photos were taken at the shelter, the
top one when Diana was new and terrified, the bottom one when she had settled
but barely trusted us.
The three photos at right are from her new home and
show how relaxed, happy and confident she is after just a week at home.
BIANCA
Bianca was a youngster whose family never returned for her after leaving
her at the vet's for spaying. So she came to Katie's Place. She was such
a sweet little cat that she didn't have much trouble finding a home. Now
she delights her family and she is delighted to have a family that loves
her. They proudly shared photos of her with us.
"Black and white Bianca knows how to choose a flattering
background for posing."
HEMMY
Hemmy was just another little black and white cat among
many black and white cats needing homes. But her lucky day came and she
was adopted.
Her family sent us an update, saying, "I adopted
Annie (formerly Hemmy) from Katie's Place in December '05. She was sitting
on top of a cat condo and when I walked past she reached out and pulled
my shirt. She was mine! She loves people and dogs. When someone comes to
visit, she greets them at the door and is on their lap or in their face
from the time they sit down. She sleeps with me at night and on the bed
for her naps during the day but prefers to be covered with the comforter
during nap time. She's a delight and spoiled rotten."
Maybe she took matters into her own paws at the
shelter and chose her adopter. A cat sometimes has to work at getting a
home! Clearly it paid off.
DINAH
Dinah was a gorgeous, affectionate, gentle Siamese. But her chances of
getting a home of her own were slim because she had FIV.
She didn't understand this. She only knew that she desperately missed having
a home and family. She gradually grew quiet and depressed at the shelter.
We worried about her and tried to promote her on the web. By a rare stroke
of luck, her chance came when we were contacted by someone who wanted to
adopt a cat that most needed a home. We thought Dinah's case was the most
urgent of our urgent cases and the lucky girl went home. She took a bit
of time to settle but soon she and her new person were very happy together.
We got a short update and photos. "She's being a good girl and getting
a bit chunky. She follows me around every night and morning almost begging
for food. She's a funny little one."
In the left photo, taken before she left the shelter,
Dinah's face seems sad and without hope.
Now, though she blinks at the flash, Dinah is content
again as the photo at right, from her new home, shows.
GLITTER
Glitter was originally found alone in a park with a painful abscess that
needed treatment. After a long wait in her first shelter for a home that
never came, she was brought to Katie's Place. Glitter was never really
happy with shelter life. She eventually seemed to grow depressed and we
asked all the volunteers to give her a bit of extra attention. One couple
of volunteers did more than that; they adopted her. So Glitter has a home
at last and she calls herself Gypsy now. One look at the photo below from
her home and you know she's a happy cat.
The inset photo at top right was taken when Glitter
arrived at the shelter. She was curled up in a tight, defensive ball and
was wearing her guarded 'shelter face'.
Now, it's clear from the way she's sprawled comfortably
that Glitter feels like she's home at last.
SNOOPY
Snoopy arrived at Katie's Place before he was born! His mom was found with
a badly shattered leg and delivered her kittens the same night she arrived.
Snoopy grew up in a foster home and was one of the youngsters chosen to
attend the grand opening day for our new shelter. We set up a few cats
in a new communal room who could tolerate excitement and crowds. Snoopy
has the distinction of being the very first cat to be adopted from our
new shelter, and he's a joy to his new family. (The others returned to
their foster homes or to our old shelter until the new place is ready to
receive them.)
Snoopy's life (so far) in photos: when he was a tiny
baby, a youngster in a foster home,
and finally with his little person in his own new
home.
XEROX
Xerox earned his name when he darted inside a copy machine to hide at his
new-admission vet check. He was turned over to us from another shelter
as an unadoptable semi-feral cat. He settled in at the shelter and was
curious about us although he didn't want us picking him up. He was lucky
enough to find a home with someone who was willing to give him time to
bond with them. The surprise was that it only took a week. We got a report
from his new home: "He has turned into a total social butterfly, greeting
all the T'ai Chi students only one week after coming home with us. He has
decided that the laser pointer is his favourite toy, especially at night
when he can race back and forth in the darkened living room, catching that
little red spot." and "Last night while we were watching a movie, Xerox
jumped up on the couch and cuddled up between us. He tucked himself right
under John's arm with the biggest smile on his face, purring loudly, and
watched the whole movie like that." Two years later we heard from them
again and received photos. They said, "He has never met anyone – adult
or child – that he doesn’t like. He climbs into people’s laps and wraps
his paws around their necks, purrs like crazy and kisses them."
So don't write-off that feral youngster cowering in the back. You never
know his potential until you've given him a chance! :)
Inset in the center is a photo of Xerox huddled in
the back of a carrier when he arrived at the shelter.
He had no intention of socializing with anyone then.
But his photos from home show a different story now!
MEOW
Meow arrived at the shelter at the age of 14 when allergies in the family
meant she had to go. She was a friendly, placid old girl from the start.
But few people want to adopt a senior pet. Meow's future was bleak. So
Meow went home with one of our volunteers who saw the treasure that she
is. Two years and eight months later, our volunteer sent us photos of Meow
who is still a robust, faithful and loving presence in her home. She's
living proof that nobody should ever underestimate an older pet!
Meow looks fit and hearty for her age.
HANDSOME and SIMON
Simon was only with us for five or six weeks before he was adopted. He
was a lucky fellow because he has FIV
and these cats are hard-to-place. Most FIV+ cats have had to fight for
survival and it's fighting that passes the virus on. They usually come
in as homeless street cats and they are so grateful to have someone who
cares about them again. Simon went home with Handsome, another FIV+ cat.
Handsome was with us for three years before this lucky chance came. He
had a history which is typical of such cats. He arrived covered in fleas
and with an abscess in his jaw. When he was fed at first, he ate until
he was sick. He had learned that you never know when you might see food
again. Now these two fellows who had known starvation and cold have a home
where they are adored. It's easy to love these cats. They are exceptionally
affectionate and they're happy with anything they're offered and anything
you do. Their doting new people gave us photos of them at home. Through
tear-filled eyes, they told us how much they love these boys.
Simon is the tabby and white fellow. Handsome is a
black, fluffy teddy bear of a cat.
Don't they look like happy cats now!
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