A fourth cat showed up in January. It was unplanned but most are. She came to us after two major surgeries. One to remove a badly infected eye and the other to terminate a late-term pregnancy and spay at the same time. She weighed barely over six pounds and was weak. She had difficulty jumping. We were worried.
She had urinary crystals and a few bad teeth that needed to be extracted. When she recovered, she was a new cat. She put on two pounds and has a nice Buddha belly! Feeling so much better, she blossomed into her fun and demanding self.
Gracie is very much a people cat. She is like Velcro. I can’t go anywhere without her checking on me, laying on me or pestering me.
Although she came from a home with too many cats and no vet care, she was very socialized and fearless. We had a repairman come to the house. She sat on a chair and watched him. When he was putting his tools back in his toolbox she rolled on his feet for a rub.
She brought much energy and work to this home. She gets along with everyone (miracle!). Loves people (but prefers me!) It was a good decision. She is the second cat that fit the category of “older and harder to adopt” and both were blessings.
The other two cats fit in the harder to adopt category too but in different ways. I would encourage anyone to consider older or shy animals when they adopt. Not all of them look good in a shelter but they blossom in a loving home.
Kudos to all animal shelters that are willing to rescue and invest in the vet care needed to rehab animals. Please donate to them. They all operate on a shoestring.
All of our pets are loved and each one has a different back story. All happy endings!
Our animal house sends a happy holiday greeting to all of you. I would provide a video but the song of their people is not a pretty song. (They don’t like the song of my people either!)
Kudos to the animal shelters, indeed! And thank you to people (like you) who adopt harder to adopt cats.
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Thanks!
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So glad you have rewarded with such wonderful cats! You are so right about the shy ones blossoming. When we got our two boys at the shelter they were very skittish. Even after we got them home, it was a few weeks until we saw anything other than blurs running from one under-furniture hiding spot to another. But eventually they calmed down. It has been several years now, and they own the place!
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It just takes patience. Our Hazel will never be a lap cat but once in a while she comes for scratches and some loving. Most of the time she makes sure she can get away if you look like you might smooch her head.
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Looks like everyone was a winner in the decision to add Gracie to your family. Such a love bug ❤
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And sometimes a PITA!
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It is sooo true. People want kittens because they have all the adorable fluffiness. But adopting full grown cats are in all ways both easier and more rewarding.
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Kittens are adorable but you are right about the work part. They shouldn’t be left alone all day either. Most of our local shelters hold kittens until 12 weeks when they aren’t quite so fragile and require adopting in pairs. Both good ideas. Some older cats are returned to the shelter because their owners move into assisted living or some other life event. There are no behavior problems and those cats make excellent pets.
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There is so much to love about this post. It’s testament to what love and care can do for anyone or anything. Gracie went through a lot of suffering to eventually find her forever home 💕 It sounds like you have both been blessed!
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Yes we have. We have our quarrels (she always wins! mostly about playing time!) but it’s been fun.
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This is such a great reminder that the animals in our local shelters (and those in need of these shelters but not there yet) need our support. Every small action for our shelters helps, whether it be volunteering a bit of your time, making any size of a cash donation, dropping off old blankets/sheets/towels, helping to create awareness (as you just did), and/or adopting a pet of your own. Thanks for sharing this, Kate. I have retweeted this post.
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Thank you! We have several local no-kill shelters and they do fabulous jobs. Thirty years ago both Morgan and Gracie would have been put down because of their eye infections. Probably Mollie and Hazel too as they had “unadoptable” features — older and shy.
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Reminding us of Gracie’s entry into your life this year was a sweet story to read. What a wonderful little pal she is, your Velcro pet! 🙂 I return the wishes that your Christmas be joyful, and as you take us with you into 2018, I look forward to more of your delightful stories. ox
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Thanks!
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Oh, the marvels of adopted gray cats! They are so lucky to have you.
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The way they say it is that I am lucky to have them! They are cats!
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Well done, Kate and well done Gracie.
It’s so true, those older rescues are hard to place, but thoroughly gratifying. Everyone goes for the kittens and puppies. The older animals, though, are marvelous — their personalities are formed, so there’s no surprises.
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I haven’t been disappointed yet. Sometimes they take a little training but you don’t have the destructive stage. No shoes chewed and no drapes climbed.
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I love this post with great pictures of Gracie and I want to just smooch her! I want to boop her nose. And my heart is happy that she enjoys all the love that is your home. Z Cat was a velcro cat and I loved it. I couldn’t get a dang thing done in the house, she was always stuck to me like glue.
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I know but you have to love it! Can’t even go to the bathroom by myself.
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I know!!! I am a bath gal and I couldn’t take a bath without her curled up on the toilet lid. And no way could I shut the door on her… it would have broke my heart more than hers ♥
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Yep, we’re suckers!
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Yes, kittens and puppies are cuter, but they all look the same in about 6 months. The older pets are usually spayed and neutered in advance and their personalities are already formed. So lovely that you adopted Gracie. She and you are blessed!!
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You are so right. Sometimes I think it would be fun to foster a litter that lost their mom but I would be a foster fail for sure!
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Great story and pictures of Gracie. I wonder if she knows how lucky she is. 🙂
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Gracie would tell you that the humans are the lucky ones. Without her they’d lead a very boring life!
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That does sound like a cats comment. 🙂
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My Karma died in January. Dagan and Leah’s one cat Sammy died a couple months before that. Their one lone super shy not very friendly cat, Annie, about eight years old and had been a street cat rescue and who was terrified of the grandson came to live with me before the second grandson arrived. We prayed she would at least be happier here where it was quieter and no kids around. She has been turning into my personal velcro cat. Karma did not die in vain. 🙂
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What a wonderful story! Not all cats like commotion and chaos. Gracie would be in the thick of things but my very shy Hazel would not be a happy camper in a house full of children. So glad that the change worked for Annie.
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I can tell yours is a truly happy home and Gracie knew it. What a joy it must be for all of you in the animal house.
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Some days it is truly a zoo, especially at dinner time.
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Gracie rocks! So glad she found you.
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Thanks. She does rock!
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I agree. That is why we adopted 11 year old Dax. Kittens are cute, but the older they are the harder to adopt they are. Your babies are very lucky they found you!
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Sometimes kittens just end up in your yard and you have to rescue them! All good!
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Good for you, and good for Gracie too! I’m so glad it all worked out well. Merry Christmas to you and yours – 2 and 4 footed!
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Thanks and same to your house!
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Bless them each and every one – and those who stepped up for them.
What a difference – such a charmer.
Nothing is more loyal, faithful, and true than a rescue animal. They’ve seen the hard life. (We seem to gather the against all odds ones, too. – all the more joy and love they return from saving it up)
Merry on
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It’s true. Some of us are magnets for the less fortunate. Or are they? Sometimes I think I’ve been hoodwinked! 🙂
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She looks like a great companion.
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She is. They all are.
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We are currently soooo busy with the kids activities (rep hockey, ringette) that there is neither time nor money to add in cats. Or dogs. Which is why we dog-sit. It helps, having part-time dogs (and no incurred costs) and our friends are so appreciative. Bonus: the kids get to grow up with dogs even though we don’t own one anymore (he died at age 11 when my second was a tot).
For now this is how it has to be. But one day, the kids will be gone, and since I follow the local humane societies on social media, I have plans. Plans to adopt those cats that need me most. Like your Gracie 🙂
Lovely to read your story. ❤
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Part-time pets are a great way to introduce kids to animals. I didn’t have 4 until after I retired although that was never the plan. I am a pushover for cats.
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Love this post and how Gracie blossomed in the right environment – yours!
We’d have a cat already if we could but Hubbs is deathly (ER visit) allergic. When the day comes to get another dog, I’ve already decided it will be an older one just looking for a cozy home to rest in. Cheers and Merry Christmas, too!
MJ
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Sorry you can’t have a cat. They are easier in some ways. There is a dog waiting for you! Merry Christmas!
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Lovely post Kate. Gracie has certainly blossomed in your care.
Happy Holidays, festivities and all the trimmings to you and yours.
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All pets blossom when they feel healthy and get love. Have a great holiday! They are teasing us with the possibility of a white Christmas although it may end up as rain.
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Jury’s out over here, but you never know. It’s grey and foggy today.
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Dark and dreary here. We already have the Christmas lights on and it’s 10:30 in the morning!
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Hubby puts the tree lights on as soon as he gets up. He wants to put some outside next year when we’ve got a bit of spare money.
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It does something to give you the spirit!
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Hey Kate, they’re so adorable and brave little ones xoxo
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And resilient. I’m always surprised at how resilient animals are.
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Your house wouldn’t be the same without Gracie!
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You’re right. It would be peaceful and quiet. Sigh!
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I’m so glad Gracie found a home with you. We adopted a large dog from the animal shelter. The worker there said large dogs were not very adoptable. So the contrarian streak in me went straight for the large dogs. Maybe people are worried about how much food they eat. Anyway, he’s wonderful!
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I thought labs were popular but maybe just puppies. I’m just like you. Give me the one no one wants and I’ll give it the best life ever!
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Thanks for your heart-warming tale of Gracie’s entry into your family, Kate. She is very, very lucky to have found your family. A true tale of Christmas!
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She seemed like the birthday gift. We picked her up on my birthday. For a while she was the gift from hell but everything worked out.
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