Roomies – Smartie

Like everyone, I was fascinated and cheered by the rescue of the Chilean miners earlier this week. What a thrilling end to the brutal ordeal. Thinking about it, I tend to get stuck on the less talked about aspects, like suddenly living with 32 other dudes and no shower, and whether they’ll be buddies for life or never want to see each other again…

Anyway, off to Maddie’s, where everybody has a fresh litter box and a window on the world. It’s busy at first. I help a pair of women with an active household who are looking for a kitten. They have another cat at home, but recently lost a beloved old fellow raised since kittenhood.

They pretty much fall for the whole first batch we meet, three darling gray tabbies and an all white girl, exclaiming how much the tabbies look like their departed cat as a kitten. I delicately suggest that it’s hard to really replace a cat based on looks, but they assure me they get it, that these are totally new beings. All the kittens are "all stars," meaning well adjusted and adaptable, a good match for a busy household. Hopefully the older cat will like the new girl as much as she likes everything around her.

I meet a new bonded pair of 4 year olds, Wade and Evan. Wade is a pretty, wide eyed tabby, more assertive and the first to approach me. Evan is black and white, super soft, and he endears himself by standing next to my head and shyly nuzzling. You don’t need to read the write up to know these guys have been together forever – they’re completely relaxed in each others' company.

Across the hall, a sweet little black kitty named Chai is getting acquainted with a new addition named Smartie, just brought downstairs. Smartie, a cute and friendly black and white 2 year old, had two roomies who just got adopted, so they’re trying her out with a new potential pal.

Neither cat seems much bothered by the other. They both check out the room, then when fresh wet food is set down, they settle side by side, eating enthusiastically. I sit with them for a bit, petting one with each hand. Smartie’s already comfortable enough for a quick play session, and when I leave, she perches by the window to look out, with a precious take-me-home-please gleam in her eye.

I move on to talk to some more people about kittens. But not long later, I notice another volunteer showing Chai and Smartie to an interested couple. Checking back, I see an adoption pending note on Chai’s name card. Looks like Smartie will need another new roomie. Good thing she’s so adaptable and clever.

Peace & Quiet – Sophie & Sarge

It’s pretty quiet at the start of my Maddie’s shift – a relief given all noise elsewhere, from pounding downstairs at home to tearing up nearby streets to the Blue Angels (here for their annual waste of fuel and frazzling of sensitive creatures small and large).

I enjoy some stereo cuddling with Sophie and Sarge, an all black 2 year old pair. He’s a bit bigger and she has a tiny white spot, but otherwise they are near identical, both lanky, friendly and sweet. They stand at shoulder level, each purring and nuzzling. They’re playful too; Sarge is particularly adept at scouting out toys.

A mom and teen daughter are looking for a new kitty to go with their cat at home, whom they describe as standoffish. Sounds like a normal cat, in other words, but we discuss which of several half grown kittens might alienate her the least.

I spot a young woman with no paperwork but a palpable longing interacting with several kitties in the hall. I ask if she wants to help me socialize a frisky kitten who’s gone several days without a volunteer visit, and she happily agrees. She’s recently moved here and misses the cat she left with her parents, but can’t have a cat in her apartment.

Several noisy families and talkative groups converge, most not serious adopters. It’s a little challenging for our shy kitties, like sweet Daisy and Durga. But the general enthusiasm in contagious. This is just my regular volunteer gig – but for the young couple here to take home their first kitten together, it’s a red letter day.

I chat with some adults and kids about favorite cats before getting ready to go. I came for the peace and quiet, but leave the place buzzing with activity as I head out for the evening’s hopefully noisy-in-a-good-way Giant’s game.

Decisions, Decisions – Lester

If you heard someone yelling thank you, thank you out the window when the fog finally rolled in, it might have been me. Me and my boy have not been digging the heat wave.

Now the weather’s cool, the Giants are in throwing distance of clinching the West, dozens of amazing acts are coming to play at our local amazing free show, LitQuake’s getting underway… it’s a wealth of entertainment options for the weekend.

Over at Maddie’s, I’m happy to see that big Buffy has finally been adopted. The first person I see asks if we have any tabbies. So I take her in to see my new favorite, 8 year old Lester. He’s a lovely, sweet, soft, green-eyed tabby, with a white bib and toes, a crooked little tail and a near constant purr. He’s a bit shy, but mostly a loving lap kitty. The woman thanks me and moves on, but I settle in with Lester, who curls happily on my lap. When my attention wanders, he gently mouths my arm to ask for more petting.

I get more lap time with gorgeous long red haired Kiyoshi. He’s cuddly and sweet. A new guy, 10 year old Spike, watches from across the hall. He’s also an orange tabby, but otherwise quite different – an outgoing "leader of the band" with loads of personality, who zips to the door when anyone walks by. I like each of them, but would be hard pressed to choose between them – they both have good cat qualities.

A woman comes looking specifically for a friendly long haired kitten. We visit with a cute set who have Star Trek names. She’s initially interested in Sulu, but decides Chekov is the best of the bunch. (Kirk and Spock are apparently out on a mission, or hopefully have already beamed up home.) In chatting, the woman reveals that she has a fiancé who’s away for the long weekend but who should probably be consulted about this decision. (Um, yes indeed.)

Meantime, an older gentleman has been going in and out of several condos with a staffer. He seems to have a long list of characteristics he’s looking for, and lots of questions. I’m not surprised when he eventually settles on little Melody, who’s such an ideal cat.

Sometimes it’s hard to know when the time is right, whether an even more perfect (cat/fill in the blank) is still out there somewhere. Sometimes you’ve just got to take the plunge.

FAQ – Melody

We’re low on volunteers at the start of my shift, so I aim my initial kitty visits for the easy-to-see condos. Good opportunity to check in on my buddies Cheddar and Nugget, who are lounging in the big showy room at the very front. Nugget seems especially glad to have human company.

Then I see Melody, a precious and teensy 6 year old girl who’s white with tan and gray calico markings. She’s kneading on her blanket when I approach, but quickly comes to greet me. She’s super soft and sweet. Her ears are big with the cutest floppy tips. And in case that’s not all cute enough, she hops up to her perch by my head rubs the side of my head and cheek.

In answer to the frequently asked question to volunteers of "don’t you want to take them all home" – not all of them, but this one, yeah pretty much.

I answer some basic questions about kittens for a young couple. They’re just looking around though. There’s another frisky calico, Cannonball, farther down in hallway 5. She’s a cutie with a funny gray nose, wide-eyed expression, and an endearing combo of shy and goofy. She sniffs all around before settling down for some petting and play time, as JoJo next door watches from her perch above us.

A couple with a little boy ask to visit a cat. They strike me more as looking for a diversion for their kid than as serious adopters, but it’s still pretty slow. And the little boy is staring longingly at the cats. The mom stays outside, so just me and the boy interact with a friendly young cat.

The kid has dozens of questions, needing to know what’s this and why about every object in the room. But he listens to my answers, and it’s easy to slip in some info about how to act around animals (which his parents seem to have not taught him or not know themselves). He’s pretty psyched when the cat lets him stroke down the length of her back, and they both like playing with the cat toys.

The family takes off, satisfied, and I turn my attention to some young people who want to take home a kitten. I give my usual spiel about the extra needs, challenges, and rewards of raising kittens. But, as usual, the kittens answer a lot of questions about themselves too.

The Cutest Age – Sneakers

For once it’s a slow start at Maddie’s – time to hang with some quiet kitties. Daisy and MacKenzie are both coming out of their shells. They reside across from each other, and both gaze out wistfully from their doorways. MacKenzie utters her frantic little meows just for a moment before settling down for our visit.

I spent some time with Sneakers, a 12 year old "love bug" sweetheart. She’s black and white, with pretty green eyes, and a funny little half sized tail. She’s a bit shy but anxious for attention, and approaches with a squawky meow. Her notes say she has a treatable thyroid condition, and that she has to be coaxed to eat. It looks like she’s lost some weight, but she’s in good shape. She rubs, cuddles, and lolls next to me, thoroughly enjoying a head massage. And she plays vigorously for an older gal, though soon gets distracted by washing. A busy girl.

Soon a mom with a couple kids come by, then another woman with an adorable little girl. Precocious too – she’s tiny but articulate. All three kids want to know about the cat toys, and I demonstrate their use with an eager pair of kittens. The little girl is very interested in the cats, but also in the doors and windows and other details of the world that grown ups no longer notice.

A couple come looking for a kitten who’ll be a good match for their frisky year old cat at home. We meet several. The first is a teensy and completely adorable 6 week old who stands on his haunches then tumbles over as we come in the room. He’s pretty shy though, in addition to being so young.

We check out a couple more confident 5 month olds. These kitties seem more appropriate, personality wise. But the tiny kitten was just so cute, the woman says. I’m glad when the guy points out that he’ll get bigger fast, so I don’t have to be the one to say it. They debate for a bit, before agreeing on a friendly and cheerful half grown kitten.

It makes me think of the child from earlier. I mean she was cuter than cute at the just past toddler stage. But also curious and smart and outgoing and active – in other words, all set to become an interesting older kid and adult too.

Kittenhood passes quickly. Seeing the older cats find homes is what keeps me coming back week after week.

The Days After - Yang

It feels odd to do my regular errands on a lovely day, just miles from the scene of the terrible explosion and fire in San Bruno. So huge and frightening and unexpected. The gas lines that powers the stove and hot water – I mean, that’s pretty personal.

As with any such crisis, there’s a pet angle, and I uneasily await news of missing animals. I was impressed with one woman interviewed, who calmly described getting out with her three dogs and a cat (the cat, of course, tried to run back inside) plus a supply of kibble and litter. If there’s any tiny thing to be pulled from this tragedy, it’s the pair of reminders to all of us: how precious our families – including out pets – are, and the importance of having an emergency plan and supplies lined up. Before the next earthquake or fire. And not to live in fear, but in relative calm, having simply thought through the grim possibilities.

There’s the normal flurry of activity at the start of Maddie’s public hours. A couple different lone adults with resident dogs, cats, and/or neighbor children are looking around. Not so good for our shyer kitties.

However, another lady specifically asks to meet Sweet Leaf, who’s adorable though quite timid. She makes up her mind to adopt her very quickly, which makes me a little nervous. But she just says she knows, and heads firmly toward the adoption desk.

I check in on Yang, a handsome, lanky, all black 12 year old "personal assistant." He’s friendly and rubs around eagerly, gazing lovingly into my eyes. He’s playful too, and seems smart. Here’s a cat who would do pretty well in an emergency. But he was surrendered in July, and I can only think his former people’s circumstances must have been dire.

There’s another solid black fellow I like, 7 year old Akiro. He’s more cautious, but affectionate and cuddly in a sweet, drooly way. He has striking green eyes and battle scarred ears, and clearly longs for a quiet home with plenty of lap time. It takes awhile for him to relax; sudden noises make him nervous.

Which brings me back to worrying about the poor shell shocked people left with just what they could grab running out the door. Talk about nerve wracking. I can only hope that they – and their animals – have good support from friends and strangers alike as they try to rebuild.

Nothing Like 37,000 People Watching Your Video Clip - Daisy

Picture this: the roar of the crowd, the crack of the bat… a perfect sunny day at the ballpark, an exciting game – and more than 800 dogs in attendance! Sunday was Dog Days at the Giant’s game, with adorable canine antics up on the jumbo screen between innings, plus clips of adoptable dogs from Maddie's. And my entire section heard me hooting and pointing when my boy Lukey was featured as the representative SPCA cat.

And guess what – he got adopted. (I think the adoption actually occurred sometime during the game; not sure if his new mom is a baseball person. But still, the publicity couldn’t hurt.) Darling boys Mel and Laurel also found homes since last week.

My shift starts out slow, and I settle in with Daisy, a timid and pretty tortie and white 9 year old I’m fond of, who’s been here for several months. She loves laps, but is wary of hands by her head. I pet her gently while she gets used to my presence. Soon she curls onto my lap. She likes to rub her chin around the edges of my apron and t-shirt – a little strange, but not unpleasant. She's a sweet girl, but easily overlooked, I'm afraid.

A couple come looking for a kitten to join their active household with little kids and an older cat. They find a good match, but worry about being to hasty or impulsive in their decision-making. I’m a reluctant witness to a bit of family dynamics and negotiations, as they decide to at least bring the kids in to meet the kitten.

Soon a steady stream of people are touring the place, some just checking out the cats for entertainment, others ready to take one home today. Most want kittens. I answer a lot of the same sorts of questions about whether they’re litter box trained and spayed or neutered (yes and yes). Plus a lot of other queries for which the answer is, um, hard to tell, or depends on the cat.

I’m nearly out the door when I spot a middle aged couple admiring shy little MacKenzie. They’re wonderfully patient with her, and seem to like the challenge of drawing her out and trying to win her over. They’ve just started their search and aren’t ready to commit yet, but I check out feeling hopeful that we’ll soon have another successful hard-to-place kitty adoption.