5/2 Alska AMPS=262

[RobinCot]

Alska actually went out into the yard yesterday evening. I had to stick my head out of the second floor window to call him up to his testing table (by shaking the snack container). He has come a long way since a year ago when he first arrived. This is his 365th day in my home and he has seen Nuzzles come and go, a mother and her kittens come and go and come back again for short visits and now an old cranky mommacat has moved in and is dominating the upstairs. He has come a long way in getting comfortable. A year ago, sitting in my lap was very foreign to him. He would only venture to sit beside me on a chair. Now, he is the lap-hog of the household. He also didn't understand the bed and why we were in it. Now he is the squatter of the entire left side of it every night. When he first arrived he would only go outside to pee. Guess he must have been an outdoor cat. Other than that he was not interested in going out. It almost seemed like he was afraid if he went out he would not get back in. A year later, he has a tepid relationship with the boy civvies (they leave him alone) and he is not afraid of the doggy door. It did look like he was searching for some Virginia Creeper to chew on but that hasn't come in yet. I do like seeing him in the yard with us in the evenings and I love that he has earned his freedom to wander around the house and not get chased or cornered. He has settled in for life now. I guess he has finally figured out that this really is his forever home. I love having him and thank God everyday for that Saturday in May - one year ago that Ronda brought him through my door.

 

[MommaOfMuse]

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY ALSKA!!!

You picked a winner in your new mommy!!

@Robin

I so echo that sentiment I thank my lucky stars that I have all 3 sugarcats. I love all my babies but my sugarcats are just soooooo special and 3 of the sweetest cats in the world.

We were out with friends the other night and had to excuse ourselves so I could leave to run home to test and feed the cats evening snack. When we got back the conversation turned to our furry family and someone remarked that it will be nice once our sugars pass so we could have our lives back. Before I could say a word Jon chimes in that when these sugars are at the Bridge there will be others to take there place. (In fact there are plans in the works for when Cali goes home to take in someone else...shhhh) and even when so of our civies go ahead their spots will be given to other special needs furries. And he wonders why I married him lol

Mel and The Fur Gang

 

[LindaMS]

I read a poem somewhere that was the departed pet telling his humans to honor him by filling the place he had in their lives with another pet to love. Wish I could find it again.

 

[MommaOfMuse]

I have it...I'll post it.

Mel and The Fur Gang

 

[RobinCot]

Wally was an orange and white boy who was left behind when his family left the apartment building. I found him with face and stomach fearfully planted against a brick wall. I took him in to my one-bedroom apartment with my three elder cats. When my elder cats all passed in the same year - I was so happy to have him and the distraction he caused and the comfort he so unconditionally gave. He, by far, was my favorite cat ever (as well as my catsitter's). His legacy is that he taught me not to wait for my heart to heal but to fill that spot in my house ASAP and let it be a distraction from all the crying and longing and let it be a relief to some kitty somewhere who is desperate for a home and may not have any time left. When I found Bing on Craigslist, the rescuer wanted to bring him to me right away but I wanted to wait until finals were over so I asked her why the hurry (I didn't know she was in the rescue business). She said that the sooner she could get him out, she could get another one in from death row at the shelter. I don't leave a spot vacant for long in my house.

I think that we are all secretly in love with Jon. Don't tell him though... it might go to his head.

 

[hollyall]

Yay... Alska! What a wonderful day to celebrate and reflect on so much progress. He probably knows he's lucky but maybe not realize quite how lucky he is to have Robin for his mama and taking such extra good care of him.

Jon and Mel are kitty cat angels, rescuing kitties in need! I love that Jon knows exactly what happens when a spot becomes available.

I was heart broken almost 8 years ago when I lost one of my "had them since I was a kid" kitties. I lost the other the year before and didn't know then I was about to lose my last to cancer a few months later. In the middle of that, I got Max and cried all the way home when I picked him up from the rescue, mainly cause I was missing my recently departed fur baby so much. Like others mentioned, I rescued Max as a little tribute to the one I lost so that somehow one good thing could come from his loss, a life saved. My mom asked me why I wasn't looking for a kitten (she was wanting a kitten), but I wanted it to be a kitty really in need of a home. Of course, Max quickly turned into a dearly loved fur baby in his own right and has everyone in the house wrapped around his paw.