BitsyNaceyDog
07-26-2008, 07:34 AM
I know I don't post much, but I wanted to introduce our newest addition to you all.
My ex-boss/friend, Anne, is retiring and selling the "Inn" (pet boarding facility) I used to work at. She's selling it to a great vet tech we've both known for years!
Back in 2001 the inn got a resident cat, quite by accident. Sophia was a cat that Anne's friend had adopted from the local pound. Sophia had been a "trouble" cat and been adopted and returned to the pound a few times. The woman who adopted her has the biggest heart and thought she could help Sophia, but Sophia gave her trouble too. She freaks inside houses, I mean freaks. She pees everywhere and goes completely bonkers. At first the woman assumed Sophia would settle in, but months later everything was the same. She was either hiding (and peeing) under the bed or she was freaking out and going bonkers. The woman didn't know what to do so she called Anne. Anne offered to keep Sophia at the Inn for a little while until we could come up with an idea for her. Sophia was estimated to be about 6 years old at that point, where she spent her first few years is beyond me. Sophia was really mellow at the Inn. We saw no sign of this "crazy" cat that had been returned to the pound multiple times. We started letting her walk around our office area and she was the sweetest cat. We eventually let her walk around the bird room, she loved it and never once bothered the birds! We eventually moved her bed, food, and litter into the bird room and that became her home.
Now, 7 years later, Anne is retiring and selling the Inn. I've been gone from the Inn for 2 years, but I stay in close contact with Anne. The question of what to do with Sophia came up with great concern. Do we "sell" her with the Inn? Do we rehome her? Anne felt she should take Sophia home to her house as she is her cat and she loves her. We were concerned Sophia would return to her old habits though. We were also worried because Anne has a very active house (a border collie, chow mix, a whippet, multiple cats, and birds). We then decided that bringing her to live with us would probably work best. Sophia knows me well, though she hasn't seen me much in the past 2 years since I left the Inn, it's always obvious that she remembers me. We have a bird room, not too unlike the one she's used to. It's a big spacious room with a big window. We spend a lot of time in there and our other cats and dogs aren't allowed in there.
We Picked her up Thursday evening. Thursday night and Friday morning she wanted to stay in her crate, but by Friday afternoon she had ventured out a little. She hasn't walked around and investigated the whole room yet, but she's getting there. She hasn't eaten much yet, but she has eaten! She's also used the litter box!
My hopes are that she'll eventually transition into the main part of the house, but for now I think she's going to do well in the bird room. Nathan (my 15 month old son) loves watching her, but we've not let him touch her yet. He'll want to hug her and I know Sophia isn't near ready for that.
Here's Sophia- (The picture was taken yesterday morning before she ventured out of the crate)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2701372365_d9dafccf20_o.jpg
My ex-boss/friend, Anne, is retiring and selling the "Inn" (pet boarding facility) I used to work at. She's selling it to a great vet tech we've both known for years!
Back in 2001 the inn got a resident cat, quite by accident. Sophia was a cat that Anne's friend had adopted from the local pound. Sophia had been a "trouble" cat and been adopted and returned to the pound a few times. The woman who adopted her has the biggest heart and thought she could help Sophia, but Sophia gave her trouble too. She freaks inside houses, I mean freaks. She pees everywhere and goes completely bonkers. At first the woman assumed Sophia would settle in, but months later everything was the same. She was either hiding (and peeing) under the bed or she was freaking out and going bonkers. The woman didn't know what to do so she called Anne. Anne offered to keep Sophia at the Inn for a little while until we could come up with an idea for her. Sophia was estimated to be about 6 years old at that point, where she spent her first few years is beyond me. Sophia was really mellow at the Inn. We saw no sign of this "crazy" cat that had been returned to the pound multiple times. We started letting her walk around our office area and she was the sweetest cat. We eventually let her walk around the bird room, she loved it and never once bothered the birds! We eventually moved her bed, food, and litter into the bird room and that became her home.
Now, 7 years later, Anne is retiring and selling the Inn. I've been gone from the Inn for 2 years, but I stay in close contact with Anne. The question of what to do with Sophia came up with great concern. Do we "sell" her with the Inn? Do we rehome her? Anne felt she should take Sophia home to her house as she is her cat and she loves her. We were concerned Sophia would return to her old habits though. We were also worried because Anne has a very active house (a border collie, chow mix, a whippet, multiple cats, and birds). We then decided that bringing her to live with us would probably work best. Sophia knows me well, though she hasn't seen me much in the past 2 years since I left the Inn, it's always obvious that she remembers me. We have a bird room, not too unlike the one she's used to. It's a big spacious room with a big window. We spend a lot of time in there and our other cats and dogs aren't allowed in there.
We Picked her up Thursday evening. Thursday night and Friday morning she wanted to stay in her crate, but by Friday afternoon she had ventured out a little. She hasn't walked around and investigated the whole room yet, but she's getting there. She hasn't eaten much yet, but she has eaten! She's also used the litter box!
My hopes are that she'll eventually transition into the main part of the house, but for now I think she's going to do well in the bird room. Nathan (my 15 month old son) loves watching her, but we've not let him touch her yet. He'll want to hug her and I know Sophia isn't near ready for that.
Here's Sophia- (The picture was taken yesterday morning before she ventured out of the crate)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2701372365_d9dafccf20_o.jpg