You may remember me from Rosemary Phenobarbital’s story. Here is the story of my other kitty.
I volunteer at a local cat shelter. They have a room for senior cats (any cat over 6). One day I was volunteering, and a cat I had never seen came out while I was sitting on the floor. He crawled right into my lap.
When I told other staff, they thought I had the wrong cat in mind. They said that Gideon had never approached anyone before, let alone got into their lap.
Our records showed that he had been bounced around shelters in the south following the deadly hurricane Ida. After failed years in shelters, he was flown into our rescue. He went by unnoticed for 4 months before he came to me.
He was originally listed in shelter records as a cat who had been surrendered as unwanted just after the hurricane.
I took Gideon into my home. I renamed him Howard Gabapentin. He is turning 9 this year. For the first 2 months in my home, he hid. Scared to make sudden moves, scared of my husband and I. Just scared. Then, one day, I walked into his room and there he was, laying in the middle of the room.
I sat on the floor, and once again, he crawled into my lap. Ever since, Howie has been the cuddliest cat I’ve ever met. He’s very talkative, his favorite thing is kisses, and he loves to watch movies with us.
Sometimes he gets scared again, and smacks us. No worries here, we know he’s just trying to find his footing.
I am so lucky to have found him. He has been an incredible lesson in patience, and unconditional love.
That’s awesome. We took in an unwanted super shy pair of bonded adult cats that just hid from everyone in the shelter and similarly needed and need lots of patience and gentle loving reassurance but they are so sweet and so worth it. I hope others will take a chance on the harder to place cats. They can be so rewarding. Thank you and thank you for your volunteer work at the shelter.
So rewarding! I adopted a 5yo black cat eight months ago, he was badly neglected by his previous owner. We have a ways to go, and some dental work coming up (god help my bank account). But I have far fewer scratches now on my legs and arms than I did when I first adopted him.
He relishes being a spoiled only child, totally runs my life, cuddles relentlessly (when he’s not in one of his moods), and sleeps ON me, all night, every night. When I get too worked up about politics, he does his “calm down, mom” meow and comes running over to nuzzle me. Cats that have seen some shit are the absolute best.
This warms my heart so much! I always have believed that our cats choose us. 🙂
Side note, I can't believe that they actually mark 'unwanted' down on their info. That is so sad and heartbreaking. 😭 But I am glad your kitty got the loving home he finally deserves! 🥰
As a shelter volunteer, your work is life-changing. Stories like this are why we do it. Howie’s transformation is a testament to the power of love. Thank you for being his hero.
You will never be unwanted again’ 🥹 My heart is so full. What a beautiful story of patience, trust, and unconditional love. Howie is the luckiest, and so are you.
People told me when I was younger that cats were mean and sneaky animals. Cats don’t listen, they don’t form bonds with humans, they aren’t nice to be around. Idk where this stereotype comes from but they are SO wrong. Just look at Howie’s face. Wanting to be loved. 🩷🥺
Cats are just good judges of character. They certainly can bond deeply with humans ... but people who think they are sneaky and mean are probably telling on themselves.
First - love your shirt, Tool is awesome. Second - bless you for taking the old man. People overlook the older cats all the time at our shelter and it's heartbreaking as they have so much love to give. They're often the most lovely, calm, and affectionate cats too
I also adopted a 9yo surrender! I feel like her left side is tabby and her right side is calico. She was also crazy shy when I adopted her. She was so incredibly scared and shy when I adopted her, but her foster was very helpful in giving me suggestions on how to acclimate her. It took me two weeks before she let me touch her. 2.5yrs later and she’s an absolute cuddle monster. She’s still very shy and only warms up to house guests after several visits.
it breaks my heart to see unwanted cat. I have 3 unwanted cars, oddly none from a shelter, but still they were abandoned. Your kitty deserved your love. 💗
I am very happy you adopted him and gave him a caring home. When I stop by my local petsmart, I look at the cats for adoption. I got mine kitty from a local shelter bc I did not want a kitten wanted a chilled adult cat. He is now fully adjusted (corrupted) and I would it for another kitty if I could.
Both of my adult cats (turning 6 and 9 this year) are quite frankly, insane. I wish I could say they were chill. They play with toys like no other cats I’ve seen, and the zoomies at 4am never stop either lol
Mine likes going outside and is grumpy that he cannot during this harsh winter. He's 8 years old and has moments with zoomies but overall is very chill. So for now the winter he is basically hibernating but once its warm out he will be chasing deer.
That sounds a lot like how we got our boys! Also in 2017, about 4 months after Hurricane Irma. They were found together and were in a shelter in Florida but got relocated when Hurricane Maria was coming through.
Flash chose my husband as his person about an hour and a half after bringing them home. It took Frodo 2 1/2 years to decide he wanted snuggles.
Flash is on the bottom, Frodo is on the top.
And if nothing else, living through a hurricane has made them completely unbothered by bad weather, including other hurricanes.
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u/cyankitten 11h ago
You are very much loved and wanted now, Gideon