Be Mine! – Spider Monkey

Maddie’s, as usual, is seasonally decorated; today it’s red hearts and faux candy with messages like Hug Me and Cutie Pie for Valentine’s Day. I’ve got a hum bug attitude toward this particular holiday, especially since it’s become such a restaurant zoo thing. But I do fondly recall that it was this time of year, three years ago now, that I brought home my boy Montana Bear.

My first visit is to Spider Monkey, a lithe mostly brownish black 12 year old fellow with an appropriately long graceful tail. He’s got pretty green eyes, a cute little white spot on his chest, and a friendly, inquisitive manner. He’s chatty and affectionate, rubbing around and leaning into my hand as I pet him. His condo has an outside window, and he likes to interact with passersby. But the precious fellow seems a little listless and sad too. He really needs a Valentine sweetheart.

There’s a new kitty, Manicure, who’s similar both in looks and demeanor. This guy is much younger though, and bigger and sleeker. He meows in greeting, and again as he weaves around, hopping on and off my lap. He’s physically affectionate, with a strong head butt. But his cry is a bit forlorn, and he keeps looking and sniffing around, clearly missing somebody from his former life, poor guy.

It’s pretty slow for most of my shift. I chat with a woman who’s interested in volunteering, and a couple with a cute little kid. Sweet girl Maggie gets some extra lap time, and I’m amused by Stella’s playful antics. (For reasons unknown, she likes to paw around in her water dish.)

I’m close to leaving when a woman asks to see Carolina, a gorgeous and playful young gray kitty. She’s already met her and made up her mind, but just wants to check in to be sure. And I find myself reminiscing again about my boy’s homecoming. What an exciting and special day that was for both of us. We’re so used to each other now, but I well remember those first days of learning each others' little quirks. Gaudy red hearts notwithstanding, can’t argue with love.

this blog brought to you by https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/36248

Adventures in Aging - Natasha

I’ve had the end of that lingering cold all week (if you ride transit, you know the one I mean). Capable of going to work, but coughing and feeling a bit run down. Makes me think of how life might be a decade or two ahead, if I regularly felt like this.

There’s already a small crowd gathered when Maddie’s opens. It’s good to see all the people, because it means more animals finding homes, though busy days are hard on the shy kitties. I check in on 6 year old Natasha, a tender-hearted tortie who tends to hide. She enjoys being petted, but I’m drawn away before I can coax her out.

A woman with two young girls wants to find a pair of kittens. They need to be able to handle lots of commotion, she says, which is crystal clear in interacting with the high energy kids. The older one listens carefully when I discuss quiet voices and gentle play before meeting a pair of feisty kittens. The other kid is just a toddler, and does more screeching than talking. The mom is at least attentive, and decides to depart before a full meltdown occurs. She says she’ll need to come back with a third kid before making a decision.

I help another group looking for kittens, three young adults who are gushing about all the cute cats. The one who’s doing the adopting spots darling cream tabby Clementine, and it’s a near instant match. The half grown kitten is completely adorable, nuzzling and purring and happy to be held, and the woman who wants to adopt her can hardly bear to leave her long enough to finish the paperwork out front. This will be her first cat in her new adult life.

I go to visit a cute tabby boy named Jake who reminds me of an older, braver Inch Worm. Or how that kitten could become when he’s older and better adjusted: still cautious but more warm and cuddly and quicker to feel at ease. It’s a funny thing about our pets – with their shorter life spans, we get to see them at more phases of their lives. Where our own (at least when we’re not dragging around sick) seem to transition so slowly.

I’m thinking about that dynamic as I meet a middle aged woman who’s accompanying her senior mom. This lady has got a lot of criteria, mostly unspoken, and wants to move slowly, cat by cat, around the shelter. The daughter mentions to me that this is not their first time here. The pair clearly have a warm bond, but they’re driving each other a little nuts too.

They have similar outlooks, similar degrees of impatience, but I imagine it’s hard for the mom to remember that time in her life when she was too busy to do something thoroughly and carefully, never mind it stretches over days or weeks. And the daughter must be telling herself, I won’t be like that when I’m older. But it sneaks up on all of us, doesn’t it.

Kids Are All Right – Inch Worm

There have been lots of cat adoptions recently, so space has opened up at Maddie’s. They’ve brought down a van full of adoptable cats from Yolo County.

Country Boy is a gorgeous young orange tabby, an ideal cat as far as I’m concerned. He’s cautious then cuddly, soft and sweet, a champion muffin maker. He crawls into my lap, kneading and purring, then plays a bit, using my crossed legs as a base. I whisper to him that he’s lucky, he’ll be going home any day now.

I also spend some quality time with another Yolo group, a pair of frisky boys housed with Lula, a more sedate black and white girl. The guys play, energetic Sam gripping a toy in his mouth and dragging it for them both to chase, while I reach up to sooth pretty Lula.

A woman comes by with two little kids. Hopefully she’s the nanny, from her limited discipline: the girl smacks the windows and jiggles the door handles while the little boy is sniffling and whining noisily. I’m actually a bit relieved that they’re not here to adopt.

Not long later, a man and a little boy arrive, the adult much more attentive and the child calm and well behaved. What a difference paying attention to and reasonably interacting with a youngster can make.

We’re again flush with volunteers, so I spend extra time with a troubled little brown tabby named Inch Worm. He’s only 10 months old, but has been through some tough times judging by his behavior. He tries to stay hidden and growls fiercely at anyone who approaches him. But with some patience and encouraging baby talk, he’s soon ready to sniff my hand.

From there, I pet gently around his head. Quickly convinced I’m no threat he gets all wiggly and cute, purring and butting my hand. He’s still not ready to leave his safe space, but at least lets me feed him some kibble, continuing to rub and purr even while people talk out in the hallway. He’s so cute when he starts to relax – he’s got a sweet interior, but he’ll need someone dedicated to make up for what’s already happened to so frighten him. I’m sure whoever takes up the challenge will be rewarded with a very loyal boy.

Fictional Accounts – Cycloff & Karma

First the KQED pledge drive, now this… this blog brought to you by https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/36248 (it’s fiction, by the way, and not about cats).

Anyway, my first customer at Maddie’s is a nice young woman who’s looking for two youngish females. We don’t have many bonded pairs just now, although I put in a good word for Cycloff and Karma.

She looks around, and comes up with a short list, all shy and cuddly types. She’s quiet and easy with cats, and they in turn seem drawn to her. She just melts over one calico sweetie, and then debates about which other adorable kitty will be best to round out the set. She heads out to the front to consult further; I’m pleased for whoever she picks.

I pop in for a visit with Cycloff and Karma, who didn’t make the cut. They’re 5 and 4, both FIV positive but healthy, and both a little cautious. Karma greets me with a squeak. She’s all gray with round yellow eyes. Cycloff’s a gray tabby, the bolder of the pair. He the first to hop down, but after they’re comfortable he tends to follow Karma around, butting his head into wherever hers is. He’s easily distracted by toys though.

A somewhat older woman asks to see Thistle, an energetic "party animal" gray tabby girl. She’s got her paperwork all filled out, and mentions specific features of her house that a cat would like. Thistle shows well, rubbing between us, purring, even rolling on her back and wriggling around with her cute striped belly visible.

The woman tells me she reminds her of the cat her family had when she was little. She pets her lovingly. Thistle does this neck nuzzling thing that’s super cute, though a little challenging if you’re ticklish. The woman is delighted, and it sets us both laughing.

But after awhile, when I outline the next steps for adopting, her eyes shift downward. She keeps petting the cat, but mumbles about needing to consult her husband, previously unmentioned. I had the impression of someone who lived alone in a big sunny place. She stands suddenly, and thanks me, but then hurries from the condo and away down the hall.

She looked teary eyed, and it makes me wonder if everything she told me was made up. Not the part about her childhood cat, I’ll bet.

Comforting Each Other – Maggie

Like everyone, my spirits are low this week, trying to comprehend the shooting of a precious brown eyed child in Tuscon. My one sentence take on the thing is that a person banned from community college for mental instability should not have access to a weapon like that. Ever.

I head off to Maddie’s, glad at least for a regular routine. Never mind I’m supposed to be comforting them, the gentle feline affection does me good. Eight year old Maggie, a chunky orange long hair with emerald eyes, makes a beeline for my lap as soon as I join her. She’s gone from shy to cuddly since arriving at the shelter, and she sprawls across my crossed legs, giving little kisses to my hands and arms.

There are a bunch of new volunteers around, so we can spend extra time with the cats. Plus, potential adopters can get individualized attention. I help a young woman who wants a kitten companion to go with her young mellow cat. She quickly selects the cutest little tabby in the place, and heads off happily.

A couple with an older dog are looking for a mature cat or possibly pair. They’re quiet and respectful, and several of us vie to assist them as they spend awhile waiting for the right match.

I give some extra attention to 13 year old Sneakers, who likes to just loll around and get gently petted. Also sweet youngster Maebe, a soft all black girl with a kinked tail and an adorable squeak. She’s cautious and alert, rubbing her head down the length of my leg then turning to gaze back at me as if asking if she’s doing it right. (You’re fine, I assure her.)

There is a new bonded pair of young Siamese cats, Chloe and Murphy, very soft and pretty with those striking blue eyes. She’s small and assertive, eager to make friends and play. He’s still a bit scared of all the strange noises and smells, but he ventures out for a little petting at least. Voices in the hall send him scooting back to hide. Little Chloe watches, then pokes a friendly nose in. What we’re all doing these days – comforting each other.

Resolutions – Bubbles & Imposter

It’s a new year, and I’m looking forward to seeing a new crop of volunteers at Maddie’s. Not to mention new feline faces replacing all the kitties who went home over the holidays, and hopefully many people who’ve made a commitment to give a shelter animal a home.

My shift starts slow. I’m immediately drawn, beckoned in by insistent window pawing, by Bubbles and Imposter, a pair newly arrived from Yolo County. Bubbles is a frisky young orange tabby, brimming with personality. All black Imposter is a bit smaller and more skittish, but also clearly eager for attention. Both purr and rub, with one then the other curling up in my lap. They bat at each others' heads as if it’s part of their routine. Bubbles (who has a note about how he chews through tube toys) is eager to chase anything that moves. He’s also pretty sure the TV birds are right there in the room with us.

Across the hall, pretty all black green-eyed Cyprus watches carefully. He’s a cuddly Love Bug who also rubs eagerly and purrs. He circles, steering his head toward my hand and raising his rear for some good solid rump pats. All three cats are new to the shelter though, and jumpy about hallway noises.

A young couple approach, thoughtful quiet cat people, also mesmerized by Bubbles. They’re really looking for a mellower kitty, and we check out a few others. One is a sweet scared little girl who’s entirely hidden out of sight. We sit quietly and slowly coax her out. The guy just melts when she allows him to pick her up and then leans into his chest. They go to look at some more cats, but I’m happy – and not surprised – when they return to choose this precious girl.

Meantime I’m busy with a mom and three kids. They’re well behaved and good with cats, but have lots of questions. We spend awhile in a room with three good natured and playful youngsters – three kids, three toys, three kittens, lots of fun. The mom was more taken with the first kitten we saw. She texts her husband, laughing at how he’s about to be ambushed. We did talk about it, she tells me. I nod, neutral, not sure if this meant a brief exchange or a laying out of New Year’s resolutions for the family.

I’m not big on those resolutions, per se. I did promise myself to post some old pictures on Facebook before the year was out, and did so with the result of amusing exchanges amongst nearly forgotten kids who are now somehow middle aged.

And I’ve told myself it’s time to e-publish my novel. Even the older folks back east had brand new Kindles, and every other person on BART is toting an e-reader of some sort. So if you’ve enjoyed this blog, you might like to try my fiction. I’d really appreciate any clicks to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/36248. It’s only $1.99 to download (yup, a two buck book), and you can check out sample pages for free. Thanks!! Okay, back to the cats…

Other People's Pets - JoJo

Hear about that big blizzard back east? I sure would rather have been petting cats at the shelter than driving in it – but these are the trade offs we make for family time. Winter travel (and just plain winter where it’s freezing and snowy) is really not so fun. I missed my boy terribly. But did get the chance to keep company with a great diversity of other people’s pets.

There was Izzy, the teensy elderly Persian, who mostly sleeps, and pokes out her tiny pink tongue when she’s happy. She tolerates Suki, a lovely Siamese, who enjoys being carried draped over her human mom’s shoulder. Both these girls required a bit of wooing before I was allowed to stroke them.

On the other side of the personality scale is Igor, a black and white bruiser with a busy schedule of patrolling his whole neighborhood even in sub-freezing weather. Inside he’s a baby doll, who likes to eat his food out of the sink, a habit from when he was tiny and the two resident dogs would nudge him out of the way.

I helped walk the dogs, carefully bagging the poo (here the cold came in handy). The smaller one is getting deaf, so she barks quite shrilly – sometimes at other dogs, sometimes just at random. Quiet, she’s a sweetie. This household also has a pair of rescued tortie girls – one plump and the other elderly, and both of them shy but needy, just starting to feel comfortable moving around the house.

We met five rabbits at a pair of households. My favorite, Bunbun, was a soft, white, red-eyed energetic little thing who would nuzzle your hand if you put it anywhere near him. That family also has three shy cats, and a senior citizen black lab. Once super feisty, now he just likes to sit next to people and gradually lean his full weight upon them.

Oh, and they had some sort of fancy fish in an aquarium. We duly went to admire them: Uncle Mike and Uncle Steve. Uncle Mike was swimming happily, but Uncle Steve – well, he was floating at the top. Discussion ensured as to how to break this news to the 10 year old who had named them.

All in all, these beloved pets (and their eclectic personalities; except maybe for Uncle Steve) made being away from home easier. One night we had dinner out with a couple who were described to us as very successful. You’d love their house, it’s amazing, I was told. But the man was allergic to cats, the woman afraid of dogs. I wouldn’t love that house, I thought. Give me a place with animals.

(just checked the SFSPCA website... lots of cats got adopted in December, yay! but sweet tabby JoJo is still there, in need of a quiet place to call home)