The Nature of Cats - Mago

Can I compare the animal shelter to a zoo yet? It’s getting there. People are lined up again as the doors open at Maddie’s, and it stays pretty busy.

I help an older couple who’ve come in with a younger woman and her bright eyed little girl. They’re looking for an outgoing male cat who likes kids. And while I can think of a few who might be suitable, they promptly decide to adopt the first fellow they meet, a playful tabby. The young woman wonders if they shouldn’t look around a bit more, and I nod in agreement, but the guy seems like he just wants the deed done.

At least they want an adult cat. Lots of people are here for the kittens. Hallway 1 gets pretty overrun with people lining up 2 and 3 deep for a look at the little cuties. It’s a challenge to get groups of people into the rooms and keep frisky kittens from escaping, but for now, it’s controlled chaos.

I squeeze in a little time to sit with some shy adult kitties, who aren’t loving the crowds. Pretty 3 year old gray tabby Mago mostly hides till someone comes to visit. He’s surprisingly big emerging from his box, adorable and sweet. He slinks around, belly low and ears alert, then crouches next to me while I stroke him. I’m hoping someone will see him out like this, someone quiet and looking for a quiet companion.

Instead a group of oversized teens wander by. Their loud voices scare Mago, but they’re polite and interested in the cats. We visit Nigel and Boots, and they pepper me with questions. One feels bad that the cats are mostly alone in their rooms and wonders why they can’t all be put together in one big room. (Talk about chaos!) But I try to give a respectful answer, explaining the solitary nature of cats.

Pretty soon it’s back to the kittens. Some people have quite specific colors and ages in mind, and I have to explain that they’re coming and going fast and they may just have to keep checking in. Others want to take them all. It’s sweet and rewarding to see one woman lose her heart to a tiny fellow named Fum (siblings Fee, Fi and Foe already having been adopted).

Another couple peeks in at him afterward from the hallway. Why is he so cute, I want him, the woman moans to her companion. Also the nature of cats.

Welcome Home – Briscoe and Kelsey

Cats sure like their routines. This point was made several times last week, as we disrupted the households of two different hosts back east. Two petite and nervous older girls mostly hid during the proceedings, utterly horrified at a wedding party taking over their domain. Another friskier and friendlier boy pretty much went about his business as usual despite having company, amusing us with his habit of trotting along after the dogs on their daily walks.

Of course it was nice to get home to our own cats and routines. (Unlike my former kitty, who would follow me from room to room singing her displeasure and sometimes pointedly turning her back on me, my boy forgave my absence immediately and completely. His only wish was that I commence all the cuddling and brushing we had missed right away. He’s stuck by me, like a 19 pound squawking shadow, since I returned.)

Over at Maddie’s, paperwork indicates there have been lots of adoptions, mostly youngsters. My first customer is a woman who recently lost the cat she adopted from the SPCA more than a decade ago. She’s looking for a young, friendly boy, and seems pretty taken with the first one we meet. I suggest that she at least go around and meet a few other cats, and she agrees that this is a big enough commitment to take the time to be sure of her choice.

A group of young people wander by, followed by two fast moving couples. Then it slows down, and I go sit with Kelsey and Briscoe, a bonded pair who are 9 and 11. Both are lanky, long legged, mostly black, and sweet and cuddly. Briscoe has longer hair, and a massive fluffy tail. They both rub around and purr, but neither quite settle down with me. Surely they’re both missing the comfort of a secure home.

I spend some quality lap time with Oreo Cookie, and another big black and white girl, Buffy, who resides directly across the hall. They warily observe each other as I visit, and Buffy stays planted at her door, looking all big eyed and sad, as I make my way down the corridor.

Chaka, Champ, Leta, Nigel and Boots are all still here. But there’s a Walter update, via the grapevine – his prior owner decided she was well enough to take care of him, and came back to retrieve him and bring him home. Talk about happy homecomings!

Cycle of Life - Oreo Cookie

Everybody’s gearing up for kitten season. This early, things seem calm and manageable – a steady stream of kittens are moving through the process, with a reasonable balance of hopeful adopters and adorable adoptees.

There’s been a big push to get our wonderful older cats into good homes too. I won’t try to dissuade anybody who’s heart is set on bringing up a kitten. But for anyone who asks, I’ll honestly state my own preference for adopting cats who are fully grown, and settled into their personalities.

Ten year old Oreo Cookie is one of my current favorite mature kitties. She’s black and white, of course, sweet and friendly, with a perky attitude and strong head butt. Her cute face has an off center stripe, and she makes good eye contact. She jumps down to rub and purr as soon as I arrive, and does well at trotting to her door to check out people in the hall.

Someone looking for a younger adult couldn’t go wrong with newly arrived MacKenzie, a 3 year old tabby Scottish Fold. Her bent little ears give her an expression of permanent concern, but she seems sweet, hopping on and off my lap and even reaching up to give little kisses. I can see she hasn’t been eating much, but she’s willing to have a couple bites if I lean over the dish with her, petting her gently.

A hippie-ish mom and high school age daughter ask to meet Mambo, a super friendly young "personal assistant." They’re having a cat break before shopping for a prom dress. The daughter has a good time interacting with the cat, but the mom waits in the hall. She’s afraid she’ll get attached, and isn’t ready for a new cat quite yet. Both of them seem to like cat shopping better than dress shopping, but what can you do, prom’s a big deal.

An older couple is taking their time, really studying the cats and write ups. They’ve lost two older cats, and are almost ready to take someone new. They like big two tone males, so we have lots of possibilities. I show them Achilles, Tank and Cedrick, all of whom are awesome and show well. The couple aren’t in any hurry to choose though. They’re probably retired, and don’t mind spending lots of time here.

Next, a mom and adolescent son want to check out little Millicent, a super soft young cutie. They’ve also recently lost an elderly cat. The loss is clearly weighing on the woman, and as we sit and chat, I can see that the boy misses his cat terribly too. We talk about how long is enough time to wait, and I give my usual spiel about how any new cat just won’t feel right immediately, that you have to give the new relationship time to grow.

And it hits me again – as it did earlier talking to friends who lost a wonderful former Maddie’s resident quite suddenly and far too soon – that a nice aspect of my volunteer job is that I’m here for the happy first dates. I get to introduce the precious kitties, and see the joy of the family’s homecoming, but miss the heartbreaking end of their journey together.

It’s all part of the life cycle though. Pet people take it all on, from the homecoming to the final farewell. I think any one of us would tell you it’s worth it.

(heading back east for a family wedding… back in a couple weeks)

You’re Never Too Old to Lose Your Dignity – Thomas

It starts out slow at Maddie’s – not surprising on a sunny spring day. But I don’t mind being inside. I managed to get sunburned at the afternoon Giant’s game a couple days ago. (It was raining when I left my office; I was better prepared for cold and damp. But the day turned nice. And the game was awesome, at least for the first 8 and 1/3 innings, till they took Lincecum out.)

Anyway, I’m pinker and itchier than an adult woman should be. (But how charming to realize that I’m still capable of spontaneous dumb behavior.) Speaking of loss of dignity, I pay a visit to our resident Himalayan cat, precious 5 year old Thomas. He’s got a classic square face, smoky blue eyes, long whiskers, low little ears, a wonderful personality… oh, and he’s growing out of a full body shave. His legs, paws, tail and sweet expressive face are luxuriously furry, but the rest of him resembles a shorn sheep.

Still, Thomas wears it well. He’s a friendly cat who knows what he wants. He hops down, purrs, steps up onto my lap for a bit, then back up to his climbing structure to wash. After I leave, he issues a couple plaintive meows, kind of drawn out squawks. He’s a handsome kitty, never mind his coat, and I’m hopeful he’ll find someone (someone who’s handy with a brush) soon.

Moving on, I sit with a great bonded pair, Boots and Nigel. They’re both affectionate and lanky black and white fellows, ages 10 and 6. They get along well, although they wander around independent of each other. Boots has a slight limp, but it doesn’t seem to slow him down as the pair of them scoot after their toys, and bump heads and noses.

A few singles and couples stroll by, most in the just looking phase. After awhile the volume of visitors picks up, but there are also several more volunteers on hand. I help a young couple who have just raced over after having spotted their dream kitten on the SFSPCA website.

We bump the photographer, and the young woman pretty much dissolves over her adorable sleepy kitten. He’s one of a trio of newly arrived kittens, just a month old. More people line up outside, waiting to get in as the couple head out to complete the adoption.

The feistiest kitten, a tiny tabby, dances on his hind legs before tumbling over, to a chorus of oohs and ahs. No dignity needed here. These kittens will probably be gone before their photos can be uploaded.