- Joined
- Jul 28, 2012
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Hi there my name is Kindra. I just adopted my first cat 3 weeks ago. Before I go any further I should say that, first and foremost, I would consider myself an "animal person" having forced my long suffering mother to endure all manner of creepy crawly (for instance: one summer I raised praying mantises) and furry things during my childhood. However, if pressed I would have to admit that I tend to be more of a "dog person" than anything else. Cats are lovely little creatures that I find fun and fascinating, but for the most part they just don't make sense to me. Dogs I get. From the time I was an itty bitty thing I could always interact with dogs...even the ones that others were afraid of. Cats are different and wonderful in so many ways, but I just never felt really drawn to them as a group. I'll play with my friends' cats, but that was enough for me. My mother is a "cat person". They make perfect sense to her and she tolerated my scaly furry menagerie, but she always had a cat by her side. Jack was with her (us) for 18 and half years. So I grew up with cats and have a general understanding of basic husbandry and care. However, the day in, day out nitty-gritty is not as familiar to me as it would be for other animals. As such, I'll probably have lots of stupid questions. Given all this, you're probably asking "Why did she adopt a cat, then?" Simply put, I fell in love!
Jack was PTS 3 years ago (renal failure). My mom took it very hard and vowed never to have another animal. I predicted that this resolve would crumble eventually and about two months ago she expressed interest in perhaps giving an older shelter kitty a home. She asked if I might go with her for support. I learned a long time ago that I CANNOT go to dog shelters. I tried to volunteer at one and quickly realized that my bleeding heart just could not take it, even the no-kill ones, so I donate supplies and money but no longer step a foot into those facilities unless I am intending to adopt a dog. However, I felt that I would be fairly safe in the cattery. I was so wrong!
Needless to say I was in love. Immediately, I rooted out the adoption counselor to find out any and all information that I could. Everything I learned about her told me that she would fit in just fine with my situation. Most importantly that she would tolerate my year old Shepherd mix, Otis, incessantly snuffling her and running around like a 70 lb chicken with its head cut off. She came home later that week and has fit in absolutely perfectly. She is quite fearless of Otis, not to mention everything else, and last night I even discovered Otis and her curled up on the bed next to each other. Otis was even licking her back leg and she was purring and stretching it out to make sure that he got to all the spots she wanted him to get! I have to admit that I was a little worried about the integration process. I knew it would work, they both have really lovely temperaments, but I was so concerned about the length of time it would take. I know I got exceptionally lucky and I am so thankful for that! Both dog and cat are "older" rescues (Adele being two and Otis coming to me at 7 months) from really BAD situations and yet they both have about the best temperaments of any cat/dog I have ever met. I must have done something really good in a former life to wind up with these two.
Anyway, about me, I am 28 years old. About 9 months ago I quit my job, sold my car, canceled my lease and moved across state lines to help my 78 year old grandfather live independently. Last year he was involved in a major motorcycle accident that left him with a very serious TBI (traumatic brain injury). At the time we were told that he wouldn't survive, then that he wouldn't walk or talk, then that he would never be able to come home. Eventually the doctors conceded that his recovery was literally one in a million and that with some ongoing support he could live independently of the facility. Unfortunately, he lives in a rural area where access to resources and just basic necessities is more difficult than in the city or suburbs. He would not have been able to live in his own home. The family talked and there is no way in heck that he would have been happy in an apartment or anywhere but the house he built himself and raised three children in. So, everybody took stock and I jumped at the chance to free myself from the daily grind! Currently, I am helping him with his daily life and working on a children's series of books. Maybe it's a pipe dream, but I really think it could go somewhere someday!
Anyway, I've droned on enough for now. I spend the vast majority of my day writing, so long winded is kind of my specialty.
I'm so glad to met all you guys and I, of course, have more pictures that I will share eventually. At some point I will also post Adele's story...or at least what I know of it.
Kindra
Jack was PTS 3 years ago (renal failure). My mom took it very hard and vowed never to have another animal. I predicted that this resolve would crumble eventually and about two months ago she expressed interest in perhaps giving an older shelter kitty a home. She asked if I might go with her for support. I learned a long time ago that I CANNOT go to dog shelters. I tried to volunteer at one and quickly realized that my bleeding heart just could not take it, even the no-kill ones, so I donate supplies and money but no longer step a foot into those facilities unless I am intending to adopt a dog. However, I felt that I would be fairly safe in the cattery. I was so wrong!
Needless to say I was in love. Immediately, I rooted out the adoption counselor to find out any and all information that I could. Everything I learned about her told me that she would fit in just fine with my situation. Most importantly that she would tolerate my year old Shepherd mix, Otis, incessantly snuffling her and running around like a 70 lb chicken with its head cut off. She came home later that week and has fit in absolutely perfectly. She is quite fearless of Otis, not to mention everything else, and last night I even discovered Otis and her curled up on the bed next to each other. Otis was even licking her back leg and she was purring and stretching it out to make sure that he got to all the spots she wanted him to get! I have to admit that I was a little worried about the integration process. I knew it would work, they both have really lovely temperaments, but I was so concerned about the length of time it would take. I know I got exceptionally lucky and I am so thankful for that! Both dog and cat are "older" rescues (Adele being two and Otis coming to me at 7 months) from really BAD situations and yet they both have about the best temperaments of any cat/dog I have ever met. I must have done something really good in a former life to wind up with these two.
Anyway, about me, I am 28 years old. About 9 months ago I quit my job, sold my car, canceled my lease and moved across state lines to help my 78 year old grandfather live independently. Last year he was involved in a major motorcycle accident that left him with a very serious TBI (traumatic brain injury). At the time we were told that he wouldn't survive, then that he wouldn't walk or talk, then that he would never be able to come home. Eventually the doctors conceded that his recovery was literally one in a million and that with some ongoing support he could live independently of the facility. Unfortunately, he lives in a rural area where access to resources and just basic necessities is more difficult than in the city or suburbs. He would not have been able to live in his own home. The family talked and there is no way in heck that he would have been happy in an apartment or anywhere but the house he built himself and raised three children in. So, everybody took stock and I jumped at the chance to free myself from the daily grind! Currently, I am helping him with his daily life and working on a children's series of books. Maybe it's a pipe dream, but I really think it could go somewhere someday!
Anyway, I've droned on enough for now. I spend the vast majority of my day writing, so long winded is kind of my specialty.
I'm so glad to met all you guys and I, of course, have more pictures that I will share eventually. At some point I will also post Adele's story...or at least what I know of it.
Kindra
