Pick of the Litter – Big Mac

Just a hint of sunshine seems to have driven people out – sidewalks are crowded, and a steady stream of cat admirers wander the halls at Maddie’s. A young man and his mom ask me about a sweet young cat who’s already got an adoption pending sign on her condo. I explain that she’s not available, but that there are plenty of other great cats here. They keep looking in at the pretty calico, seeming unconvinced.

A young couple are interested in a darling 4 month old former feral tabby. They bring a friend in to meet her, and show me a picture of their super cute little cat-friendly dog, whose best pal they hope she’ll become.

They head off to the front, excited about their new kitten, and I visit Big Mac, a friendly 8 year old all black cat. I’m not usually a fan of corporate fast food names for animals, but his name suits him. He’s inquisitive and sweet, big of course, with a good solid head butt and near constant purr. He’s FIV positive, but in good health. I sit and pet him, and he gently paws my hand to keep the pets coming when my attention wanders.

It’s understandable, but a little frustrating, that some cats find homes so much faster than others. Some wonderful animals (just like people!) are on the mature side, or have health issues or personality quirks. But they can still make great companions.

I chat with a woman who’s showing her friend around. Both have cats already, but we enjoy the flirtatious behavior of Topaz, a cutie who’s newly arrived from Yolo County. She’s in a shared condo, and soon an adorable tabby roomie is hand delivered from upstairs.

I check in on Sissy and Zac, who reside next door. They seem a little down; Zac utters his plaintive high pitched meow and I’m not sure what he wants. His old home back, probably.

Not long later, a nice older woman asks to see Punn Punn, the new tabby boy next door. She’s got an opinionated 13 year old kitty at home, and recently lost her second cat. She wants someone young, playful and friendly, who won’t be intimidated by other cats. It doesn’t take long for her to decide that he’s the one.

I’m glad for him, and for pretty playmate Topaz, whom I expect will find a home this weekend. I mean Punn Punn got adopted within a couple hours of arriving on the main floor, and that’s great and not at all surprising. Just wish for good homes for the harder to place kitties too.

Hard Rain – Alicia

It’s a gray day, with intermittent dumping rain. And I’m remembering April of 25 years ago: I was living in London, and stood outside, tipping up my umbrella to watch the first rainfall after Chernobyl. Horrified, knowing just the bare bones of what had happened, but aware of what could be falling from the sky.

Now, I’m not off stockpiling iodine or anything, but just feel sad about the situation in Japan, and frustrated that simple, serious conservation is so rarely in the mix of energy discussions. (As I walk and take transit to my volunteer gig.)

Sweet girl Alicia makes a nice rainy day companion. She’s an 8 year old "sidekick," just your basic cat – soft, small, all gray, cuddly with a touch of goofy. She hops onto my lap, and eases a paw and her little chin up toward my chest, purring happily. I whisper to her the good news that the funny cat and dog pair from last week went home Sunday.

Several volunteers have braved the rain to come in, but there aren’t many potential adopters. So I spend some awhile with a friendly young nanny and her two charges. She’s considering signing up as a volunteer and the older kid is interested in the summer camp, so it doesn’t feel like a total waste of time, even if the kids are admittedly just looking for a cat to play with (their senior kitty at home apparently sleeps rather than plays).

We find several friendly kitties who enjoy the interactions. One pair of feisty guys go leaping after the toys, startling the small boy who got them riled up. Both kids are bright, careful with the animals, and listen respectfully to the adults.

They head off, and I settle in to socialize my sweet boy Stallone. He’s made good progress – his nose is healing and he curls almost immediately in my lap. In the hall, I hear a couple people talking about that video from the tsunami aftermath, of the dog who led rescuers back to his wounded dog buddy.

This was the first animal story I’d seen from the devastation. I know there’s been terrible, tragic loss of life, and no doubt countless beloved pets lost. Somewhere out there, though, hoping for another glimmer of hope.

Not Quite What We Were Expecting – A.J. & Danny Boy

Isn’t it fun to wake up and flip on the radio in the middle of a breaking story and try to figure out what’s going on? That huge earthquake and tsunami sounds just awful for Japan. But morning TV coverage of the tsunami surge at Ocean Beach’s low tide didn’t look much different from normal tide.

It feels funny to go about one’s business despite crises underway to the north and south, but that’s what I do. Good news at Maddie’s – sweet girls Maggie and Jill found homes.

I help a man who, with his adult daughter, is seeking a companion for his lonely current cat. She does most of the talking as we visit a couple friendly tabby girls. The man seems more focused on the prices – why it’s cheaper for cats 7 and older, and why the prices have gone up from last year. I try to explain about the glut of strays we’d had, but none of us want an economics discussion. And cats aren’t exactly market commodities anyway.

But here’s a real bargain: there’s a bonded pair of a cat and dog available for $150. I can’t resist peaking in on them, though they’ve had a steady stream of visitors. The cat is 3 year old Action Jackson, a fine, solid, super mellow mostly white dude. His devoted companion is a tiny tan 1 year old Chihuahua named Danny Boy, who’s not even half the cat’s size. He’s got big mismatched ears and an eager expression, and he skitters around in a frenzy at the site of me.

I don’t know much about dogs, but when Danny hops in my lap to cuddle while AJ wanders coolly for a head rub next to me, I’m thinking this isn’t quite a normal dog. Seriously cute though. He fetches a fuzzy toy bone and zips back to my lap while the cat lounges. They curl up together once I’ve left the room, and I admire a series of photos of cat/dog lovin’. Apparently there was some concern about just where to house these two, as the cat and dog areas of the shelter are purposely kept apart.

I move on to assist some more people before my head explodes from the sheer adorableness. Two different young adults check out a cat then snap a photo to show absent partners. In each case, I urge bringing them by in person. There’s only so much you can tell even during a face to face meeting here, but much less just from a snapshot.

I spend some time with Itchy, a small 7 year old black and white girl who’s cuter than her name and photo. She’s got kind of odd markings, pretty green eyes and chewed looking ears. She’s super shy and hisses at first, so I figure it’ll take awhile to lure her out. But she quickly makes friends, and soon she’s a little love bug, rolling around next to me, purring, kneading and rubbing. Didn’t see that coming either, but I’m glad for both of us – hope she warms up as quickly with everyone she meets.

Animal Cam – Stallone

Saw a cool news story earlier this week about this amazing footage of wild animals captured via web-cam. Basically the cameras blended in with the scenery and the animals went about their business, unaware of human eyes on them.

We know people in the picture changes things. I wonder what I’d learn about my boy via secret taping. He’s always happy to see me when I pop in at unexpected times on my day off, but often appears to be just waking from his nap.

As for the poor kitties at the shelter – it’s a life of constant nap interruptions and vigilance to strange sounds. No wonder so many of them are nervous and shy. Like my sweet boy Stallone. He’s a slender 3 year old, mostly white with Siamese splotches and pale blue eyes. He’s got scratches on his nose, and the chubby cheeks of a cat who wasn’t neutered young. But he’s happy to be inside now.

He’s cautious at first, and there a notation on his chart about not liking to be petted below his head. But after some gentle talk, he surrenders himself to my lap and curls there, head buried in his tail, purring while I stroke the length of his spine. He gets so snuggly and trusting that I feel bad having to tip him off my lap to see other kitties.

Darling Bella, a young super soft tabby and white medium hair girl in a condo down the hall, is scared of the shelter world too. She reacts to her situation by barely eating. She’s wide awake and happy to be petted at least. (Stallone, I notice, has gobbled up all his food in former fighter style.) When I walk by his door again, he mouths a silent and adorable meow.

It’s pretty slow at first, with just a few people wandering around for entertainment. After awhile, a group of wildly dressed young people come by, exclaiming over several of the cats. A pair of them want a second cat to go with their youngster at home. We check out all white Ivory, a charmer who shows well. But they want to look around some more.

Standing there chatting, we’re all quickly mesmerized by the antics of a new pair from Yolo, Lickety and Friend. They’re handsome, cheerful, rough and tumble tabby fellows. Lickety is burrowing under his throw rug, darting out a paw or his nose and waiting for Friend to pounce down on him. It looks like a routine they’ve had since kittenhood, and it’s hugely entertaining to them and us. These guys need their own show.