All those heartwarming stories...

We lost our 18 year old tabby the month that we finally bought a house with garden for her so that she could go out. We burried her under the tree in our new garden and the week after we moved in, we thought it was time for new cats to live with us. We went to the animal shelter, who didn't want to give cats to people who had no other cats in their home (ridiculous of course; the shelter has a new management now). I contacted a woman who has a private animal rescue organisation and she asked me over to see the cats she had. There were about 12 of them, all friendly cats that anyone would take and normally the cats didn't stay long with her because she always finds a new home within a few weeks.
But... there was one huge cat sitting in box somewhere in a corner. Two big green scared eyes looking at us as if we were there to hurt him. It was a male cat, found on the streets as a kitten, living in several animal shelters ever since and nobody who wanted him because he was so big and so shy, scared afraid of people. He didn't like other cats either, and was about to loose his lust for life by refusing to eat. The woman and I talked for many hours, and she said she wanted me to adopt Rudie. After I agreed to give him a chance, she said he had one little friend. A petite female tabby that an old woman brought to her the week before, who was fearless and somehow became friends with him. I thought it was better to get both of them so that he wouldn't be so lonely.
At home, the female cat Eddy simply took over the house the minute she came out of the cat carrier. Rudie didn't. He lived under the guestbed for many months until he finally accepted me (not his daddy).

Now he's a happy cat, running around the house, playing with the butterflies outside, coming when I call him, cuddling when we both need it, and simply being a great cat. Eddy's still the same, bossy and fearless. Rudie still adores her.

We're so happy to live with them!