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Karen and Chispa (GA)

Karen and Chispa (GA)

Very Active Member
Hi all! Taking advantage of a slow day at work to stop by and say hello.

I'm doing well overall and feel at peace most of the time, in large part because it feels very much like Chispa is still around. I didn't feel that way at all with my other kitty -- he disappeared into the universe until it came time for Chispa to pass, and then he showed up to comfort both of us and help her cross, as if he'd been watching the whole time. That alone brought a sense of peace that I hadn't felt since he died three years ago. It figures that he would wander off to satisfy his feline curiosity and spirit of adventure, whereas Chispa was a true homebody. I knew before she left that she would never really leave.

Tomorrow is my dad's birthday, and we've hatched a plan to take him to a cat cafe. He's always been a magnet for furry critters, and I think it will be fun for all of us. All of the cats are adoptable. I don't feel ready for a new kitty, but I have thought about it and will wait until the time is right. But how do you choose, out of all the cats that need homes? Do you take the one that comes right up to you says 'please bring me home,' or do you pick one that is too shy to ask, hoping that in time they'll come out of their shell? Or do you take the oldest one, knowing their story is probably sad and that their chances of being adopted are limited, but also knowing they might not be with you for long and you'll have to go through the pain of loss (and to be realistic, the vet bills that come with a senior kitty) so soon again? How does anyone go to a shelter and not come home with a dozen cats or more??? Would love to hear advice from those who have been there.

Best wishes as always, and happy Friday to all! :bighug::cat:
 
Hi Karen! Good to see you back on here again. I have five (indoor) cats. Four of them came to me. One was a feral that I took in to get fixed and had intended to release, but she stayed and is now tame. I thought she would be good company for Jude. Three of the cats were brought to my backyard by their feral mama, and I trapped them, fixed them, and tried to find homes for them, but I never could. Jude is the only one I got from the Humane Society, and I got him before the other four. His human had died, and he was clearly unhappy at the rescue, hiding under a chair. The staff had placed a bowl of kibble close to him, and he just sat there eating (I called it "comfort eating"). I couldn't bear to see him so unhappy. I was ready to bring a new cat into the house, so he was the one my heart chose from the rescue. I think when you're ready, the right one (or ones) somehow show up in your life, and you know. Good luck! I know when the right one shows up, he or she will be very lucky to have you.
 
Can’t wait to read the responses here. I haven’t been to a pet adoption place in a long time, but it must be so hard to choose. I do think somehow, someway, they will communicate with you or give you a sign.

When Pookey showed up, he would constantly wink at me and nobody else. Realistically, he probably just had something in his eye, but my heart was open at that time and we connected that way.
 
Marielle said:
Hi Karen! Good to see you back on here again. I have five (indoor) cats. Four of them came to me. One was a feral that I took in to get fixed and had intended to release, but she stayed and is now tame. I thought she would be good company for Jude. Three of the cats were brought to my backyard by their feral mama, and I trapped them, fixed them, and tried to find homes for them, but I never could. Jude is the only one I got from the Humane Society, and I got him before the other four. His human had died, and he was clearly unhappy at the rescue, hiding under a chair. The staff had placed a bowl of kibble close to him, and he just sat there eating (I called it "comfort eating"). I couldn't bear to see him so unhappy. I was ready to bring a new cat into the house, so he was the one my heart chose from the rescue. I think when you're ready, the right one (or ones) somehow show up in your life, and you know. Good luck! I know when the right one shows up, he or she will be very lucky to have you.
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Hi Marielle, and thank you for your kind words. Your story reminds me of a good friend who used to say there must be a sign in front of her house visible to only cats, because somehow they seemed to know it was a place where they could show up and be taken care of. Looking at Jude's picture, it seems clear that you both made a great choice!
Happy weekend and hugs to both of you :bighug::cat:
 
Tim & Pookey said:
Can’t wait to read the responses here. I haven’t been to a pet adoption place in a long time, but it must be so hard to choose. I do think somehow, someway, they will communicate with you or give you a sign.

When Pookey showed up, he would constantly wink at me and nobody else. Realistically, he probably just had something in his eye, but my heart was open at that time and we connected that way.
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Hi Tim -- I love that story! Even if he did have something in his eye, those winks were clearly directed at you. I think they know somehow ... :bighug::cat:
 
Diane Tyler's Mom GA said:
Hi Karen First of all Happy Birthday to your Dad , I'm sure he will enjoy going to the cat cafe. I also think when you are ready to get another kitty they will give you a sign and you will know. Wouldn't it be great if we could adopt all of them :cat:
Have a wonderful day tomorrow :bighug::bighug::bighug::cat:
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Hi Diane! Thanks so much for your good wishes and encouragement. I would adopt every homeless cat if I could, and probably a bunch of dogs and horses too. I used to say that one day I would have a giant farm with hundreds of acres, and it would be a combination animal rescue and artists' colony for my friends, who would have a converted barn to work in, live music for entertainment, and scrumptious vegetarian meals prepared by a chef. I would have a gigantic bedroom with dozens of king-sized beds so that there would be room for every animal that wanted to sleep on the bed. It would be called Fur Haven, and now that I think of it, I should probably go and buy a lottery ticket today. Thanks for the reminder! :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Have fun with the visit to the cat cafe, what a great way to celebrate a birthday!

My favourite breed has always been "rescue". Neko was the youngest - she was 11 months when we got her from the SPCA, it was her second time there so we figure we were her 3rd or 4th home. Our shopping list said "must love laps" and she showed that in spades when we met her. All our other cats have either been from someone at work who could no longer keep a cat, or from rescue organizations and aged 4 and above. The oldest around 10. When a cat is an adult, you can tell what their purrsonality is.

One semi feral had been at the shelter for 7 years with 3 failed adoptions, and another from the same shelter was the 10 year old, who had been there a couple years. I set myself up for both of those - I was volunteering/working part time there so got to know them well. I felt really good taking them home and giving them a life away from the shelter. My semi feral (Neko's buddy Theo) blossomed into the most affectionate cat I've ever had when all he had done was hide during his failed adoptions. It just took time and patience and not giving him a place to hide.

When you adopt, make sure you are comfortable with the rescue organization doing the adoptions too. Give some thought to what personality/traits you are looking for. The rescue might be able to guide you to some cats that will fit. And maybe point you to some cats that aren't the best at marketing themselves in a crowd of other cats. Think about whether you'd want a companion at some point for the cat, and if so, get one that likes other cats.
Karen and Chispa (GA) said:
I used to say that one day I would have a giant farm with hundreds of acres, and it would be a combination animal rescue and artists' colony for my friends, who would have a converted barn to work in, live music for entertainment, and scrumptious vegetarian meals prepared by a chef. I would have a gigantic bedroom with dozens of king-sized beds so that there would be room for every animal that wanted to sleep on the bed. It would be called Fur Haven
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When Neko passed, I donated a bunch of her supplies to an organization near me that specializes in taking in senior animals, or animals with special needs that would otherwise be put down. The person who started the organization now has a team. Her house is full of dogs and cats, and even a pot bellied pig sharing a room with some cats! There were horses, cows, sheep, goats, llamas, pigs, turkey, ducks, chickens too on just several acres. I love a quote from their blog "love, even when brief, is never wasted". I know you still have lots of love to give - when you are ready. :bighug:
 
The cat cafe sounds like so much fun!

I had no intentions of going to the shelter but the universe had other plans. I had just lost my kitty of sooo many years, 22+. She was the absolute hardest loss for me, I had not expected the grief I had felt.

A friend had just adopted her second kitty and told me about this big fluffy cat that was there. I was on vacation at the time but said I would go meet him if he was still there when I got back. Whelp he was there, and had been for several months. He was said to be 12 or 14 years old, his owner had died and the daughter could no longer care for him and his brother. The brother was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism but had been adopted.

Petey was supposed to be healthy but didn't like being handled, at all. I met him and fell in love with his fluff! I don't think I was really ready but I wasn't ready to stop caring for my Emma either. So I committed to giving Petey the best senior years that I could. He helped me grieve Emma and he also helped me grieve another fluffy stray love story that I had lost to coyotes and never really got over that shocking loss.

I can tell you that until Petey was diagnosed, all three of my cat spirits would not let him upstairs haha. Petey would sit on the landing and just look up, rarely going upstairs and never sleeping with me. Now he cuddles up most nights with me.

My heart will break again, much too soon, but in the meantime I think we've both made one another whole again. ❤️

The universe will give you and them what they need and it'll likely be unexpected. :bighug:
 
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Tim & Pookey said:
Can’t wait to read the responses here. I haven’t been to a pet adoption place in a long time, but it must be so hard to choose. I do think somehow, someway, they will communicate with you or give you a sign.

When Pookey showed up, he would constantly wink at me and nobody else. Realistically, he probably just had something in his eye, but my heart was open at that time and we connected that way.
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That made me laugh! :bighug:
 
Hi Karen!

I'm so glad to hear you're feeling so at peace. ❤️

Going to a cat cafe is a great idea and sounds like such a nice birthday outing!

It really is hard to choose! Those are all good reasons to pick a kitty. When I got Xander I was looking for a kitten. He was a little older than I'd been hoping for and he was just hiding in the very back of a cage behind his brother. He had been feral and was very afraid. It actually took several years before we were close. For the first couple of years I worried that I'd made the wrong choice. He always hid in a closet, wasn't very interested in socializing, was kind of a bully to our other kitty and we couldn't hold him or anything like that. We still can't pick him up and hold him and he's still incredibly nervous and sensitive, but he's glued to my side now in a way that I could never have imagined at first. He really is my best friend. If there's such a thing as cat soulmates, he's certainly mine.❤️
 
Well I can't stop by the shelter to "look" without leaving without a rat :p I didn't bring any home last weekend because there were only boys available.

Civvie Emma came from a rescue. I went to a meet and greet to find someone to keep crazy Leroy occupied. I almost passed on Emma. I wasn't interested in the hairballs and dingleberries that come with long fur. I was more interested in a brown short haired tabby. I took Emma out of her cage to interact with her. She gave me stink eye and grabbed my coat and would not let go when I tried to put her back. A rescue worker said I could try Emma out for a few weeks and return her if it didn't work out. Long story short, Emma put Leroy in his place and wasn't going anywhere.

Leroy's backstory is long lost with a previous version of FDMB. He came from a breeder suggested to me by a FDMB member.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Have fun with the visit to the cat cafe, what a great way to celebrate a birthday!

My favourite breed has always been "rescue". Neko was the youngest - she was 11 months when we got her from the SPCA, it was her second time there so we figure we were her 3rd or 4th home. Our shopping list said "must love laps" and she showed that in spades when we met her. All our other cats have either been from someone at work who could no longer keep a cat, or from rescue organizations and aged 4 and above. The oldest around 10. When a cat is an adult, you can tell what their purrsonality is.

One semi feral had been at the shelter for 7 years with 3 failed adoptions, and another from the same shelter was the 10 year old, who had been there a couple years. I set myself up for both of those - I was volunteering/working part time there so got to know them well. I felt really good taking them home and giving them a life away from the shelter. My semi feral (Neko's buddy Theo) blossomed into the most affectionate cat I've ever had when all he had done was hide during his failed adoptions. It just took time and patience and not giving him a place to hide.

When you adopt, make sure you are comfortable with the rescue organization doing the adoptions too. Give some thought to what personality/traits you are looking for. The rescue might be able to guide you to some cats that will fit. And maybe point you to some cats that aren't the best at marketing themselves in a crowd of other cats. Think about whether you'd want a companion at some point for the cat, and if so, get one that likes other cats.

When Neko passed, I donated a bunch of her supplies to an organization near me that specializes in taking in senior animals, or animals with special needs that would otherwise be put down. The person who started the organization now has a team. Her house is full of dogs and cats, and even a pot bellied pig sharing a room with some cats! There were horses, cows, sheep, goats, llamas, pigs, turkey, ducks, chickens too on just several acres. I love a quote from their blog "love, even when brief, is never wasted". I know you still have lots of love to give - when you are ready. :bighug:
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Hi Wendy! I love hearing these stories. I've always felt that rescue pets understood and were grateful for a second (or third, or fourth) chance, and there are so many out there waiting that I can't imagine going any other route. You're right about being able to see an older cat's purrsonality. I've been looking through old photos of Chispa, remembering how much I loved her from day one -- and it's so funny to think that I didn't even know who she was back then!

The story of Theo is wonderful. Maybe all he needed was someone who wouldn't give up on him. It took a few tries, but he found you at last. Lucky guy.:cat:

Thank you for the quote from the rescue blog. I am going to keep that in mind.
:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Laurie&Petey said:
The cat cafe sounds like so much fun!

I had no intentions of going to the shelter but the universe had other plans. I had just lost my kitty of sooo many years, 22+. She was the absolute hardest loss for me, I had not expected the grief I had felt.

A friend had just adopted her second kitty and told me about this big fluffy cat that was there. I was on vacation at the time but said I would go meet him if he was still there when I got back. Whelp he was there, and had been for several months. He was said to be 12 or 14 years old, his owner had died and the daughter could no longer care for him and his brother. The brother was diagnosed with hypothyroidism but had been adopted.

Petey was supposed to be healthy but didn't like being handled, at all. I met him and fell in love with his fluff! I don't think I was really ready but I wasn't ready to stop caring for my Emma either. So I committed to giving Petey the best senior years that I could. He helped me grieve Emma and he also helped me grieve another fluffy stray love story that I had lost to coyotes and never really got over that shocking loss.

I can tell you that until Petey was diagnosed, all three of my cat spirits would not let him upstairs haha. Petey would sit on the landing and just look up, rarely going upstairs and never sleeping with me. Now he cuddles up most nights with me.

My heart will break again, much too soon, but in the meantime I think we've both made one another whole again. ❤️

The universe will give you and them what they need and it'll likely be unexpected. :bighug:
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Hi Laurie -- That is a great story about you and Petey finding each other at the least expected yet most needed time. And who could resist such fluff? I am so glad that your cat spirits finally decided to give him a break and let him venture upstairs, for there is nothing better than kitty cuddles. We never can know how long they will stay, but I hope you'll be blessed with many happy years together :bighug::cat:
 
Karen and Chispa (GA) said:
Hi Diane! Thanks so much for your good wishes and encouragement. I would adopt every homeless cat if I could, and probably a bunch of dogs and horses too. I used to say that one day I would have a giant farm with hundreds of acres, and it would be a combination animal rescue and artists' colony for my friends, who would have a converted barn to work in, live music for entertainment, and scrumptious vegetarian meals prepared by a chef. I would have a gigantic bedroom with dozens of king-sized beds so that there would be room for every animal that wanted to sleep on the bed. It would be called Fur Haven, and now that I think of it, I should probably go and buy a lottery ticket today. Thanks for the reminder! :bighug::bighug::bighug:
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I love this dream!
 
Brianna & Xander said:
Hi Karen!

I'm so glad to hear you're feeling so at peace. ❤️

Going to a cat cafe is a great idea and sounds like such a nice birthday outing!

It really is hard to choose! Those are all good reasons to pick a kitty. When I got Xander I was looking for a kitten. He was a little older than I'd been hoping for and he was just hiding in the very back of a cage behind his brother. He had been feral and was very afraid. It actually took several years before we were close. For the first couple of years I worried that I'd made the wrong choice. He always hid in a closet, wasn't very interested in socializing, was kind of a bully to our other kitty and we couldn't hold him or anything like that. We still can't pick him up and hold him and he's still incredibly nervous and sensitive, but he's glued to my side now in a way that I could never have imagined at first. He really is my best friend. If there's such a thing as cat soulmates, he's certainly mine.❤️
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Brianna, I am counting your story as another vote for the underdog (er .. undercat?). Hats off to you for having the patience to wait it out until Xander was good and ready to show you his true loving nature. He is one lucky guy to have chosen you! :bighug::cat:
 
squeem3 said:
I almost passed on Emma. I wasn't interested in the hairballs and dingleberries that come with long fur. I was more interested in a brown short haired tabby. I took Emma out of her cage to interact with her. She gave me stink eye and grabbed my coat and would not let go when I tried to put her back. A rescue worker said I could try Emma out for a few weeks and return her if it didn't work out. Long story short, Emma put Leroy in his place and wasn't going anywhere.
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Oh, that is too funny -- grabbing your coat and giving you the stink eye. I guess that's one way to make an impression! :smuggrin::joyful:

I love hearing all these stories. Keep them coming! :bighug::cat:
 
I went to the shelter to check out this shy girl cat. She was at the back of the cage and just stayed there during my visit. There was one more room to see, cause of course I gotta go into every single room. That's where Nestle was. This big cat in the small cage. As soon as I came up and petted him he started licking my fingers. It was love at first lick :pWhen i stopped petting him he reached out and grabbed my hair. That was it. He picked me that day and I couldn't have been happier. He came home with me the next day.
Peanut was my covid cat. I got him in the summer of 2021 when you still couldn't go inside shelters. I always wanted a companion for Nestle so I was actively searching different shelters in the area. One day I saw a picture of Peanut and I knew. I applied for him, we did a video chat with the lady that was fostering him and I only saw him over the camera. I didn't realized how small he was in comparison to Nestle until I brought him home. At first I was worried whether Nestle will accept him but after few days in separation and slow intro they became instant buddies.
I'm very happy with my choices and it's clear these two boys were meant to be together :cat:❤️ :cat:
 
A cat cafe sounds like a great idea! We had that planned with my daughter but the week went too fast, I should go for my birthday in a few weeks!
We adopted Bella from the Humane Society, she was 5 years old. The kids and I went with the idea to adopt a kitten, and when we walked by her room, she came and sat behind the glass door, talked to us and stayed there. We came in and it was decided very fast, it was obvious that it was going to be her and not one of the many kittens that were there! I tried to carry her but she did not like it, she never did, she let us do it eventually but she was never a lap cat of a cat who loved to be carried. But she kissed me that first night, I was on the ground in front of her telling her that she would be OK and she was home now, and she licked my forehead :bighug:
When I was in high school, I lost my cat, the one I grew up with. I had her when I was 4 and she died when I was 16. It was very hard. A few weeks later we found a kitten under our car, the car was parked in front of the house, not on the street. We kept him until he died a year later, he was one of the sweetest cats I ever met. Not my soul cat (but he was my dog's, for sure: they were always glued together, huge dog and tiny cat!) but he came in my life at a time when I really needed help. I am sure Caline sent him, and Bella will send one when I am ready. And Chulo and Chispa will, too, Karen :bighug:
 
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I hope your dad's birthday went really well today.
Happy Birthday!!!
I love that you chose to go to cat cafe. I absolutely love that idea.
When i travel i always check if the city I'm visiting has a cat safe and if it does then of course it goes on the list of things to do and see.
Last summer when I was visiting Budapest I was lucky enough to visit their cat cafe ❤️ :cat:❤️ :cat:
 
Karolina KJ & Nestle said:
I went to the shelter to check out this shy girl cat. She was at the back of the cage and just stayed there during my visit. There was one more room to see, cause of course I gotta go into every single room. That's where Nestle was. This big cat in the small cage. As soon as I came up and petted him he started licking my fingers. It was love at first lick :pWhen i stopped petting him he reached out and grabbed my hair. That was it. He picked me that day and I couldn't have been happier. He came home with me the next day.
Peanut was my covid cat. I got him in the summer of 2021 when you still couldn't go inside shelters. I always wanted a companion for Nestle so I was actively searching different shelters in the area. One day I saw a picture of Peanut and I knew. I applied for him, we did a video chat with the lady that was fostering him and I only saw him over the camera. I didn't realized how small he was in comparison to Nestle until I brought him home. At first I was worried whether Nestle will accept him but after few days in separation and slow intro they became instant buddies.
I'm very happy with my choices and it's clear these two boys were meant to be together :cat:❤️ :cat:
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Karolina, that is a wonderful story! Nestle knew he was your cat, and he wasn't going to let you go without saying so. I'm so happy that Peanut found you too. Some things are just meant to be. :cat:❤️:cat:

I love your idea of visiting a cat cafe in every city. When I met a friend in Rome the year before covid, she got there first and identified a cat shelter that was open for visitors -- no cages, just two or three dozen cats in a building with lots of cat furniture and a little outside area where they were free to lounge in the sunshine. What a happy surprise for me! Some people visit the great museums of the world, others seek the majesty of nature, and then there are those of us who want to see cats. God bless us all ❤️❤️❤️
 
cecile & bella said:
The kids and I went with the idea to adopt a kitten, and when we walked by her room, she came and sat behind the glass door, talked to us and stayed there. We came in and it was decided very fast, it was obvious that it was going to be her and not one of the many kittens that were there! I tried to carry her but she did not like it, she never did, she let us do it eventually but she was never a lap cat of a cat who loved to be carried. But she kissed me that first night, I was on the ground in front of her telling her that she would be OK and she was home now, and she licked my forehead :bighug:
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Another vote for letting the cat choose you. I love hearing this. It's as if Bella saw you and said to herself, just loud enough for your hearts to hear, "Those kittens are cute, but I am BELLA!" ❤️:cat:

Chispa was a forehead licker too, all throughout her life. Her other special expression of love and happiness was what I called "the dolphin hop," usually seen when I would come through the door at the end of the day. She would hop up in a little arc and brush her shoulder against the nearest vertical surface -- it was the cutest thing.

I am sure Caline sent him, and Bella will send one when I am ready. And Chulo and Chispa will, too, Karen :bighug:
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This brought tears to my eyes. I've heard of other situations where a new cat showed up out of nowhere to comfort a grieving heart after the loss of another. I used to wonder if my horse Eddie had sent Chulo -- their sassy-sweet personalities and (believe it or not) sense of humor were almost eerily similar. I hope Chulo and Chispa will team up to send new kitties my way when the time is right.
:cat::bighug::cat:
 
The "Meow Lounge" visit yesterday turned out to be a huge hit. Twenty-three adoptable cats all in one room with every kind of comfortable furniture and entertainment a cat or visitor could hope for. Some of the cats were snoozing in cozy nooks and sunny windows, while others roamed around, ready to chase a plastic spring or fishing pole toy. An orange striped kitten (4 months old) with a white belly and legs stole my Dad's heart. She was of course totally adorable and could not get enough of chasing a wiggly strip of polarfleece attached to a pole. It was so funny to see her hiding and strategizing to spring out at just the right moment to capture the prize. Such a little cutie pie! Part of me wanted so much to take her home, but mostly for Dad. The other part of me didn't feel ready at all.

The place was clean and welcoming, and most of the cats were under 3 years old. It was nice to feel certain that they would all find good homes. Maybe we will go back again.

Happy "Spring-ahead" Sunday to all :bighug::coffee::bighug:
 
This sounds like paradise!
It's funny you said Bella was shouting her name, because there was a lot of that in that room. My kids were jumping up and down and kept asking, "can we adopt her, mom, please?" and then several members of the staff were very happy and kept telling everybody "they are adopting Bella" :-)
This kitten who showed up in our house was a very playful and fun cat, very gentle, and very loving. He was sadly hit by a car when he was barely one year old. I lived in Provence, in the middle of wineyards (Côtes du Rhône, if you are into wine!), and cats there live outside. I love the story of your horse! And the idea that all our pets past, present and future, communicate, too.
 
cecile & bella said:
This sounds like paradise!
It's funny you said Bella was shouting her name, because there was a lot of that in that room. My kids were jumping up and down and kept asking, "can we adopt her, mom, please?" and then several members of the staff were very happy and kept telling everybody "they are adopting Bella" :)
This kitten who showed up in our house was a very playful and fun cat, very gentle, and very loving. He was sadly hit by a car when he was barely one year old. I lived in Provence, in the middle of wineyards (Côtes du Rhône, if you are into wine!), and cats there live outside. I love the story of your horse! And the idea that all our pets past, present and future, communicate, too.
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Growing up in Provence sounds like paradise to me! My sister spent a year as an art student in Lacoste through an exchange program with the Cleveland Institute. I went to visit her there and ended up staying for a month. Among the town's many charms were two (and only two) small cafes, each of which had a resident cat that would spend the evenings curled up on any available lap. Talk about a warm welcome to a new place!:cat: Both of us continue to see Lacoste in our dreams, and though we haven't been back, I am sure we will someday.
 
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