Sox is one of the first cats to get adopted from the amazingly friendly group of 27 cats that were all living in a small apartment. His son and brother are currently at the Cambridge PetSmart shelter and the rest are going to be spayed/neutered later this week. According to his new family, he is fitting in nicely:
"Sox has a new name: Houston (I name all my cats after places in Texas) because he's got a big personality and is also a touch oversized, goofy, sweet, attention-getting, quick to defend what he thinks is his (namely me), and not afraid to just sprawl in every direction (seriously, at times, he's basically a living puddle of velvet)."
We went to a house today in Worcester where a family has 27 cats. They realize that's way too many in a small apartment and want help finding new homes. To my surprise, the cats were all healthier and much more friendly than I anticipated. In about two hours we cataloged, photographed and put collars on all the cats. We also tested three adult neutered males and two kittens for feline leukemia and FIV. Fortunately, they were negative so the three males - a gray cat named Duke, his father who is a black cat named Sox, and an orange tabby named Tikky - came to our adoption center in Cambridge while the kittens went to a foster home so they can be cared for until they are spayed/neutered.
Next week we will start getting some of the other cats neutered. We can't take all the cats ourselves, so we will also be looking for partner organizations to help place these lovely cats.
I braved the snow storm today to meet a woman at the Cambridge PetSmart who surrendered her 3 year old Bengal cat named Azuma to us. It was important to get him today because all new cats must be isolated for the first 48 hours and I wanted him to be available to find a new home during adoption hours this weekend.
He is stunningly beautiful and he's very affectionate and curious. He gave me a good scare this morning. I left him exploring the room and went to get something and when I came back I couldn't find him. I thought he had escaped but he was just curled up in his cat carrier with his toys. Unlike most cats, Bengals tend to really like water, so he spent lots of time in the sink too.
He's "mom" gave him up because she wanted him to have a better life. She has a small apartment and travels frequently. We'll find him a home where he has lots of room to roam and lots of attention.
Today I saw something I thought I’d never see.Bennie, the white and black kitten, was not only being combed by our volunteer Annie, but she was loving every minute of it and asking for more.Then her sister Jerrie, the black and white kitten, actually sat still and let her self be combed as well.
Bennie and Jerrie did not have an easy start.They came to us as small kittens and spent longer than usual in foster care as they passed conjunctivitis back and forth.When they finally came to the shelter in the Cambridge PetSmart, they were terrified.When we cleaned their cage, they would scatter to find the best hiding place they could.The foster home where they had lived for weeks said they never warmed up.They are gorgeous cats, but they need to be adopted together.It’s hard enough to find a home that will take two kitties at a time, but adopting ones this shy would be a big challenge.
In the weeks that followed Bennie and Jerrie have actually blossomed at the shelter.I’ve never seen anything like it.All the time they’ve spent in forced proximity to their caregivers has made them less afraid.Bennie now regularly asks for affection and once when I sat down she came and climbed in my lap.Jerrie still hides but she’ll come out to play.(See the video below for evidence of them playing.)
Last week I thought we’d finally found a great home for them with a patient, loving couple.But, their landlord objected.So, the sisters are still looking for their forever home and I’m more hopeful than ever that they will find it soon.
Karen Feline Adoption & Rescue Society Shelter Manager
