I went completely mad & adopted 4 in one day

[moosmom]

Lizzie,

Ya got my eyes leaking here. What wonderful news!! I know those sweet babies will love being in a furrrever home.

[gini]

God love you! What a wonderful Sunday morning story to read.

Please keep us posted and tell us how they all are doing.

[jazzcat]

That is wonderful!! You deserve many gold stars! Congrats to all!

I have to say, just from the picture I am in love with Thumper. What a gorgeous boy!!!!

I hope everything goes smoothly and these fortunate kitties are all settled in quickly.

BRAVO!

[shais_mom]

wow
beautiful kitties!!
Looking forward to uppiedates!

[Uabassoon]

They are all so lucky to have found a wonderful home with you!

[Lizzie]

They all had a good night and are eating well. One thing I did find out this morning was that they are not used to people trying to drink a cup of tea while sitting with them. My "regulars" are used to keeping their heads, paws and tails away from my cup. Dallas and Thumper bumped it, smacked it and tried to stick their heads in it.

Blackberry continues to hide under the chair but he will look at me as I sit near him and talk to him.

I've decided to keep Thumper upstairs since he's a very loving cat and no match for manic Los downstairs. I'm about to move litter boxes out of the litter room into the shower room, and convert the litter room to one for Thumper and Dallas so leaving Faline and Blackberry in the original room. Thumper needs room to race around and I might keep them in isolation for two weeks to make sure they aren't carrying colds.

Faline has a chronic URI and I'll be taking her to my vet tomorrow since I noticed when I slipped my finger across her nose to see if there was discharge that I'm getting a slighly brownish discharge from one nostril. This may be from sneezing although she hasn't sneezed since she's been here. She's a very noisy breather and often keeps her tongue stuck out so I want a thorough check by my vet.

I am totally confused by some of the records from the shelter, especially on Blackberry and would really appreciate some input from those of you who work with rescue shelters. Blackberry's front page record states that he has been at the shelter for 5 years but it is Thumper who has been there for 5 years, he was neutered in 2001. According to Blackberry's record, he's 13 or 15, a long time/5 years resident, but it also states that he arrived in March 2005 and was neutered then. He does not look like a tom cat who wasn't neutered until he was 12. When I asked questions about their history at the shelter, they appeared to think I was being too fussy. So, was I being too fussy? I would like a complete medical history for the time they've been at the shelter, do you think this is reasonable or possible? Is the fact that they are FIV+ the reason the records were not particularly well kept, because they are less likely to be adopted? Thank you for your input, in advance.

[jenluckenbach]

My personal thoughts are that records should be WELL kept.

My personal experience is that it is impossible to keep up with ALL the kitties coming and going.

In my own rescue group many different people initially bring cats into the shelter, which means each cat would go to that person's local vet. And then later, the cats may move to a different foster home and end up going to a different vet. And sometimes more than once.

So while it is nice to know, it is sometimes "lost in the shuffle." All you can do is ask for the best account of their records as possible, and leave the rest to chance (just like if you attained an older cat directly off the street.......you would know nothing)

[orangemm]

Somehow Blackberry tugs at my heartstrings. I'm so happy he has a furrever home!

[Lizzie]

Jen - I know what you mean about "just as if I'd picked him up off the street", and I've done that, but I'm frustrated that they have the information but it might be lost.

orangemm - There was something about the way Blackberry came over for attention while I sat on the floor, leaning into me and really enjoying it in a quiet way, needing but not demanding, that made me turn to him and say "You're coming home with me". I was there for another hour after that moment, torn between one cat and another, but I didn't change my mind about Blackberry. I feel as though I want to saturate him with love and attention.

I know I can say this here and no-one will think I'm silly. When Thumper was walking around the back of the love-seat last night head-bumping me, he started getting hold of my hair and washing it. This is something Ted had done from the time he was a kitten to the day before he died; I even cut off a lock of my hair and put it between his paws before I wrapped him in a blanket and took him back to the emergency vet. When Thumper started washing my hair, tears started rolling down my face and I understood that Ted had "sent" me to the shelter that day. I hadn't planned on going so soon, hadn't planned on getting more cats, most certainly hadn't considered replacing Ted, and even that morning I kept thinking the trip could wait. But something kept saying to me "now, now", and so I went. And I didn't think of adopting Thumper until the last minute, it was a very spur-of the last-moment decision. Ted was an all-grey cat too.

[momcat]

Four special needs cats at one time!! You have certainly earned yourself a place of honor in the Cat Lover's Hall of Fame!!! After seeing their pictures, it's easy to see how you fell in love with each of them so quickly. They are beauties!!! You have done a beautiful thing. My prayers and best wishes that they each enjoy a long, healthy, happy life with you. The love you're giving them will make a tremendous difference in their lives and general health.....

[catcrazylady]

Lizzie you and I have not had the pleasure to meet. I have belonged to PT for some time but due to major computer problems I have been out of commission for a while.
I too work at an animal shelter and I know I would fall over backwards if someone came in and adopted not one or two but FOUR special needs cats!!! I can't thank you enough for what you did! You are a wonderful and very special person and I have no doubt that those babies will reward you ten times over for giving them a chance to have a loving home.


!GOD BLESS YOU!

[Lizzie]

Lizzie you and I have not had the pleasure to meet. I have belonged to PT for some time but due to major computer problems I have been out of commission for a while.
I too work at an animal shelter and I know I would fall over backwards if someone came in and adopted not one or two but FOUR special needs cats!!! I can't thank you enough for what you did! You are a wonderful and very special person and I have no doubt that those babies will reward you ten times over for giving them a chance to have a loving home.

I admire you for working at an animal shelter, something I don't have the emotional ability to do, I know.

I am already becoming attached to them all in their individual ways, and they are starting to show their own personalities. Thumper is a litter box tipper, something I've never had to deal with before though I've dealt with many other litter box issues. I don't know how I'm going to deal with this since I have about 15 litter boxes for the upstairs cats and when they are all in together, he could cause absolute chaos.

Thumper is the only one who isn't hand-shy in some way, so I'm wondering if they were at least partly feral when rescued. I've figured out from the records and having Thumper's age assessed at about 4-5 years old that he's been at the shelter since he was a kitten. I decided to reach under the chair today to fuss Blackberry and, to my relief, he pushed into my hand and purred. When I went back into his room an hour later, he was in the chair for the first time and, although nervous about me being in the room, stayed on the chair as I shuffled forward on my knees to fuss him. I'm looking forward to cuddling with this cat when he's ready.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

WOW, 4 cats in 1 go
I wish you all the luck with your newbies

[orangemm]

Please give Blackberry extra scritches for me. I know that boy thinks he is in heaven.......and he is, thanks to you.

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

This whole thread makes me want to cry!!!!

You are truly sent from heaven.. You are such an ANGEL to adopt those four precious babies. I CAN'T WAIT to see more pictures of them.

The story about them interested in your cup of tea made me smile. Those babies are so lucky to have you!!!