Haunted eyes are haunting me

I went to my local shelter last night, scouting for an orange boy to add to my household, and there was a beautiful gold & brown tabby there that had the most haunted eyes I've ever, ever seen on an animal.

Her name is Boots, she's so pretty, and she seems like she was once a friendly kitty, but she has a very sad story and is looking for a new forever home.

When I looked into her cage and started to talk to her softly, she gave me a creaky, broken, pathetic little meow that just broke my heart! I asked the staff what was her backstory, and why is she so haunted looking, and they told me that her previous owner had committed suicide, and that Boots had been stuck in the apartment for 10 days with the body before anyone came!

The poor, poor little furbaby! The person she loved most killed herself, leaving this poor kitty on her own, no ideas about the food and water situation, and I didn't ask any more questions, but I can't help but wonder if boots was forced to revert and tried to - I can't even go there!!!!!

I wish I had a picture of her - she looks like she was once a very sweet girl. Please, please TCS people, send some vibes her way so that just the right person will come along and give Boots a loving, caring haven from her trauma and a wonderful forever home with lots and lots of love and very special care!!!

My heart is breaking - I wish I was that person, but I'm not equipped to take in such a needy kitty. Those eyes...I just can't get them out of my head...

I will send many prayers for her home to be found.
Is there any way you could foster her for a bit?

Originally Posted by crittermom

Is there any way you could foster her for a bit?

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I really, REALLY wish that I could, but I just don't have the room in my apartment that I would need to keep her separated from my Ginger. (Please see my other post explaining my curent situation: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93988) Plus, I work a minimum of 45 hours a week (when I'm not slacking and hanging out here, that is!), my roomie works 50-60 hours a week, so unfortunately, fostering just isn't an option at all.

I have a lease clause that allows me a maximum of two cats in my apartment, and my landlord lives upstairs from me, so hiding cats isn't an option. Nor have I been a cat owner long enough to feel comfortable taking on such a needy little kitty - I think she needs specialized care from someone that has taken care of traumatized animals before and can give her the attention she needs.

I'm sorry that I didn't know your situation before I posted the post.
Many prayers and vibes that she will find her furever home soon.
Do you know anyone who is looking for a fur baby?

Originally Posted by crittermom

I'm sorry that I didn't know your situation before I posted the post.

Many prayers and vibes that she will find her furever home soon.
Do you know anyone who is looking for a fur baby?

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Thank you for your prayers and thoughts - I hope others will keep her in theirs as well.

Most people I am friends with are dog people who hate cats - can you imagine! Right now I'm the only one I know that's looking - hopefully I'll find the right boy soon, but more importantly, I really hope that Boots gets a new forever home with just the right person!!

I hope that poor girl finds her new family soon.

Most people I am friends with are dog people who hate cats - can you imagine!

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Yes, I can imagine My family ALL dislike cats.
I USE to be more of a dog lover too, until our incident with our 1 1/2 year old Cocker Spaniel biting my son on his face.Don't get me wrong, I still love dogs, but now I'm more of a cat lover.Hence me having Blaze,Neela,Corwin and now my 5 orphan babies..one of which I am keeping (Malana)

I want her.

I will send her good vibes. I wish I could go get her.

Aw, poor little baby girl... A good person will find her, take her in, haunted eyes and all, and she'll be playing and having fun again, with not even a memory of the sad experience.

I make my prayers in the form of a statement, always have.

I was at the shelter again on Friday evening, and Boots was still there, but some kind soul had given her a cozy, faux-sheepskin lined cat bed, and she was curled up in it sleeping when I got there.

I spoke to her softly for a few minutes, telling her that she'd be okay and that it would get better, and that some nice person would take her home soon and give her a nice safe place with lots of love.

She didn't look quite as bad as the first time I saw her; I'm sure she appreciated the comfy bed to snooze in, but her eyes still looked so very, very sad...

Awww...poor little lamb. There must be SOMEONE who will take this girl.

Any other Massachussets folk willing to adopt this kitty???

I'm truly heartbroken for her...I've seen the "haunted eyes" before in other shelter kitties. I am glad she has a cozy blankie to cuddle. That could indicate that she would do even better curled up in a nice fur-ever lap.

Here is Boots's Petfinder ad.
She is truly a lovely old lady.

http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/...?petid=6750148

Please take a peek...she's listed as a senior, and has been previously adopted, and then returned, as the person who adopted her felt there were too many differences in personality. She really has been through a lot, you can see that in her eyes, as Gingersmom has pointed out.

There has got to be another member of TCS who lives in Massachussets, and lives within driving distance of this shelter...if so, check out Boots. She has some war stories to share with us, and deserves to spend the remainder of her days in a loving home...not in a shelter. Can anyone give her a chance?

Bless her.

i'm sending lots of {{{prayers and vibes}}} out to Boots. You are so right - those eyes have such a tragic expression And Lord knows what she endured as her former owner sank deeper & deeper into the pit of depression...

Yup, that's her, in her new bed, so that pic is very recent. You can see her eyes in the pic, but the pic doesn't even begin to show the depth of her emotional pain - seeing her up close really gives you the sense of tragedy that she's experienced. Poor Boots!!!

At the shelter they show her as 5-7 years old. Don't know how "senior" that is, but she should have quite a few good years ahead of her in the right home.

I really hope that she's no longer there next time I visit the shelter!!!

Originally Posted by GingersMom

Yup, that's her, in her new bed, so that pic is very recent. You can see her eyes in the pic, but the pic doesn't even begin to show the depth of her emotional pain - seeing her up close really gives you the sense of tragedy that she's experienced. Poor Boots!!!

At the shelter they show her as 5-7 years old. Don't know how "senior" that is, but she should have quite a few good years ahead of her in the right home.

I really hope that she's no longer there next time I visit the shelter!!!

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I've emailed them prelimary questions about adoption, but they haven't gotten back to me. How long is their normal turn around time?

Originally Posted by Satai

I've emailed them prelimary questions about adoption, but they haven't gotten back to me. How long is their normal turn around time?

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Honestly, as I've never emailed them (I live quite close to the shelter) I have no idea how long it can take for them to respond to an email.

When I adopted Ginger from them last August, I was surprised by how easy it was - no major questionnaire, just here's my credit card, they made a call to my landlord to be sure it was okay, and I went home with my kitten an hour later.

Obviously, they are interested in placing as many animals as possible - their turnover is very high - and they are always understaffed, so I guess they feel it's ok to slack on pre-screening potential adoptees.

Please keep me posted...

I will. I just really feel for her.

Oh...I too hope this lovely lady finds a fur-ever home. She looks absolutely grief-stricken.

Satai, are you thinking about adopting her? If so, bless you! I know you live very far away, but you never know!

She looks so sad. I hope she finds a good home soon.