Adoption Stories

“Less Adoptable” Adoption Story | Ansel

Sometimes, it’s not a medical condition, or a physical condition, or a behavior issue in a cat that keeps adopters at bay.  Sometimes it’s…well, we’re not quite sure.  Furkids currently has, and has had, many cats in our care that for some reason or another just don’t get adopted.   Everyone who works or volunteers at the shelter looks at these cats and roots for them — knowing how wonderful and sweet they are.  We are often stumped as to why no one picks them.

But when they do, it’s a whole different level of happiness!  To wit…

Meet Ansel.  This ambassador from the planet Adorable had never had a home when he came to Furkids.  He had been a stray.  He remained under the care of Furkids for…get ready for it…eight years.  Just this past March (2011), the stars aligned in Ansel’s favor and directed a very nice couple to find his picture on our website.  They adopted him so that their other cat, Snookums (aka Snookies), could have a companion.

His wonderful adopters send regular updates:

At first: Ansel is starting to let his guard down. He did not trust us after we had to give him medicine. But now he sleeps with us and even lets Edward pet him. His nickname is “Squeaky Rat Tail” because he squeaks instead of meows and he’s got a skinny long black tail. Ansel has so many different squeaky sounds when he walks around exploring. He is enjoying having a home very much!

Later: Ansel is making himself right at home. He certainly loves his red and white blanket. And he and Snookums are getting along great. The other day they spent a while zooming back and forth the apartment together. Ansel is very playful. Snookums snuggles with Ansel. Actually, he practically sits on Ansel.  Ansel is very affectionate with Snookums, always rubbing against him. They are really nice to each other. Yay!

Ansel is funny. He will be asleep in another room, but then starts meowing, walks across the living room to Snookies and starts biting at Snookies’ neck or romps on him.  It is strange.  Sometimes I have to intervene, but generally Snookies will swat at Ansel or jump up and walk away.  Snookies does not like it at all. Snookies is infinitely patient, but sometimes leans his weight into Ansel. That usually puts an end to Ansel’s antics. They aren’t aggressive with each other at all. They seem to like each other.  They groom each other and generally stick together when they are awake.  Ansel’s energy makes Snookies more playful.  Ansel is a very nice little kitty. He has a lot of personality. He is starting to get used to kisses. I think he is happy. He sleeps all day and plays all evening and at night goes to bed with his family. It is a happy home.

Most recent update: Ansel loves the sunshine. We have a strip of direct sunlight in our kitchen that’s a favorite of the cats. He also likes to sleep underneath blankets. He has qualities that are similar to our kitty that recently passed away. Last night Ansel came to snuggle against Snookums on the bed. It was so cute.

Ok, everyone.  Tag, you’re it!  Time to find a “less adoptable” cat and get over here and adopt them.  Our Open House is September 24 & 25.  A perfect time to come find your Ansel, or Scooter, or Moses, or Snoop…!

“Less Adoptable” Adoption Story | Scooter

Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week is September 17-25.  This “less adoptable” adoption story comes to us from Paige J.

I adopted my handicapped cat Scooter from Furkids 5½ years ago. I was a volunteer there, and I saw this new little intake kitten that was appropriately named Scooter. She was born with a hip and knee on her back left leg but no ankle or foot. On her back right leg she has a hip, knee, and ankle, but no foot or toes. Even her tail isn’t fully formed.

She has always been able to get around like a “normal” cat.  She jumps off of furniture and can even jump up onto low surfaces. She needs a low-opening cat box and low scratching surfaces and has to be put on the bed at night, but other than that she is the most loving of the 3 cats I have. She licks my nose and wags her tail like a dog.  She even will reach up with both front paws and put them on my face and licks my chin.

I love my Scooter and am so glad that I adopted her.  Even though I have to do a little extra for her, she returns the favor with lots of extra love for me.

Thank you, Paige, for adopting a special needs kitty from Furkids and for sharing your story leading up to Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Week.  We appreciate it!  Your little Scooter is a very beautiful girl.

“Less Adoptable” Adoption Story | Buddy, Snoop, Moses

Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week is September 17-25.  This “less adoptable” adoption story comes to us from Susie G.

FIV???? Are you kidding me?

I had already picked out my adorable, healthy kitty that I wanted to adopt.  I’m not sure when it was that Barbara (my Furkids volunteer) and I started talking about FIV cats. I didn’t know much about it but being a nurse, it didn’t scare me. I learned that it is the Feline equivalent of HIV. These cats need a little extra attention if they get sick, but otherwise they are just like all other cats – ready to give and receive love. So, I picked out a cat with FIV off the website who had a good history with dogs (a must for my two-dog family) and off I went to meet her.

Little did I know that Furkids runs a whole houseful of beautiful kitties with FIV just waiting patiently for a home. There was Butter Bean who rolled on his back like a dog for attention. And there was Moses – a four year old solid white beauty with soulful green eyes who desperately wanted a home! But it was Snoop Doggy that caught my eye that day. There he was, sitting in the sink looking at the faucet – then us – then the faucet – then us – until we finally got the message that he wanted to play in the water. I fell in love – with his crooked little smile (ok, he is missing some teeth), his sad little ear (ok, clearly he has had a few significant ear infections) and his funny little walk (ok, he has a little arthritis) – but most of all I fell in love with Snoop’s love of life. He has character to spare. He is 10-years-old and has a lot of living to do yet. All he wants is love and lap time from me. That – I can do!

And then there was Moses. He wanted a home so badly. I just couldn’t leave him. So one by one my kitties came home to meet my two unsuspecting dogs. And now I am the mom of five loving animals. All rescues, all unique, and all loved for rest of their lives.

So I got what I wanted and more. I got my adorable healthy kitty, Buddy. He is great and I sure do love him. But I got so much more – I got Snoop Doggy and Moses…two kitties with FIV who also deserved a good warm lap and their own home. And I am grateful for them, each and every day.

And we are grateful for people like Susie who adopt special needs cats!  Check-in tomorrow for another “less adoptable” adoption story…

A Good Good Day at Furkids

Ladies and gentlemen, this is just what we needed.  On Saturday, September 10, nearly everyone at Furkids was crying…tears of happiness.

I (your humble blog post volunteer Ida) once overheard Carol Purdy (Furkids’ Medical Records & Surgery Manager), say something like, “Our dream is to have someone come in and ask to see cats that have been here the longest — and then adopt them.”  Well, something very close happened.  A very nice gentleman, Richard B., came into the shelter and asked specifically for a cat that had never had a home.  Our adoption counselor Julia introduced him to Linus.

Indeed, Linus has never had a home.  He was rescued from a feral colony in Buckhead.  He was in very poor condition and Samantha Shelton, our Executive Director, nursed him back to health.  Linus has waited patiently for five years for this moment.  We, on the other hand, have waited anxiously.

Now, anyone and everyone who has been to Furkids KNOWS LINUS.  He is (was!) our resident fitness feline.  Linus LOVED the cat wheel in his room (Room 11).  He was in and out of that cat wheel every few minutes while he was awake.  While he entertained the crowds with his physical prowess, he also kept himself lean and healthy and happy.  Alas, everyone would ooh and ahh, but he never got adopted.

Until this weekend!  We cannot express how incredibly happy/overjoyed/thrilled/excited/comforted  we are knowing that he is getting his first chance at exploring a house with exciting things like sofas, and beds, and closets, and countertops, and sinks, and windowsills, and curtains, and all those other household treasures that just FASCINATE kitties.  You go, Linus!  We love you.

But, wait, the story does not end there.  Richard had to get a companion for Linus.  So, he also adopted another white beauty — Victor from Room 6!  Victor, as well, came to us as a feral.  He has never had a home, either.  I think this is where all the waterworks in the place really turned on full-force.  Linus adopted…along with another Furkid buddy…and a very nice owner/human.  A trifecta of happiness!

And how sweet is this…the shelter staff felt it necessary that Linus not be deprived of his favorite activity, so they sent a cat wheel home with Richard!  Ok, if you’re not crying by now, you’re made of stone. 

An Adoption Story | Shep

We love to hear about how our furkids are doing after they get adopted into their forever homes.  One of our cats, Shep, was a regular “greeter” to everyone at the main shelter.  Since he was in the front suite of rooms (Rooms 1, 2, and 3), he would scratch at the glass doors demanding attention from everyone who came into the lobby.  Shep had been adopted once for a short while but was returned.  There have been a lot of Shep fans at the shelter.  We were all rooting for him to find his forever home.  Well, he found it!  His wonderful adopter, Jason, sends this recent update on his bonding adventures with Shep:

Shep is doing great!  He has adapted very well to his new home and lifestyle.  He has got to be the sweetest cat ever.  When I come home from work he greets me with kitty flavored kisses, lol.  He’s a licker, but it’s cute.  He follows me around from room to room always trying to put his paws up on my shoulder, then gets cozy with me everywhere I sit. 

He’s a very smart cat.  He started to claw on the couch and I politely told him no, brought the cat scratcher in the room, and told him “this is where you scratch” and he did and has not scratched the couch any more…he is awesome.

He goes wild over the laser pointer.  It’s his favorite toy.  He even realizes that it’s coming from my hand and knows it’s playtime when he hears the click from the button being pressed. Feathers are his next favorite.  I brought home one of those sticks with feathers at the end and he just went crazy over it — tore half the feathers off in just a few minutes, leaving remnants to be cleaned off his claws.

He also enjoys waking me up in the morning right before my alarm goes off by laying right on my chest and licking my face, and if I am sleeping on my stomach he gets on my back to make biscuits until I awake. It’s a good thing I have a thick blanket.

I am so happy to have him as a part of my family.  Thanks Furkids for bringing happiness into my life and everything you all do for these animals and the people that adopt them!

 - Jason

Thank YOU, Jason!  We are always happy to see our cats off to good homes and into the hands of great adopters like you.

If you would like to read more nice adoption stories, see our web page, Happy Beginnings.  If you have adopted one of our cats and would like to share your adoption story please send it to info@furkids.org.  Include pictures and we’ll put the story and pictures up on the website for everyone to see!