We had just recently had to put our elderly cat Bear to sleep. He was over 19 and had a good long life, but the will to live had gone out of him. So we grieved and then our search began.
There was a small no kill shelter near us that has a room set up for the cats so they do not need to be caged. There are still some cages for those that requires them but the cats are mostly free. The benefit to us as perspective adopters was that the cats could interact with us. (Not just look at us).
So we are talking and looking and I had my eye on this gray and white long haired male. He had a bit of an attitude, but I was determined to break through. I'd kneel down and call to him and reach out for him, and he barely gave me the time of day. In the mean time, there was this plain white short hair pawing at my back. Well I turned to pet him and thinking he had enough, returned to my prize, the grey and white long hair.
When I stood up to move around, there was the white short hair laying in the coat that I took off and layed aside. So I went to pet him some more while I scanned the room for other candidates. I wanted to check eveyone out to be fair, but I also wanted to go back to my LH.
The next time I turned around, my husband was crouching down and who was on his lap. You guessed it, the white short hair. My husband said to me "you really should hold this cat". So I said, "OK give me the cat!". As soon as he was in my arms he settled in like he's been with me my whole life. Looked at me with eyes that said "you KNOW I'm the one!". And how could I say no to the cat that picked me.
So Monte came home and has not left my side since. His two favorite places are in my arms and on my lap. I could not have made a better choice..... But I guess I didn't make that choice, he did.
Thanks for listening.
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I have only had one opportunity to observe the kitties at a shelter where they are free to roam and mingle with their potential adopters. It is down by my mom's (fortunately very far away or I would probably have a houseful of kitties! HA!) I remember a few cuties that day coming up to introduce themselves and give me the "welcoming rub!" The shelters close by me may have one or two 'roamers', but I think it would be beneficial to let several of these sweeties free to roam and explore and get acquainted with their potential humans. Monte sounds just precious and I am so happy your hubby was there that day to help you realize who you were meant to take into your home and heart.
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