Shelter from the Storm – Chavo

Maddie’s feels welcoming and warm, and I start out my shift with Pooky, who’s all about lap cuddling. It’s clear he longs for someone to spend whole days with, but he’ll take what attention he can get these days.

A trio of people come into the hallway, and at my inquiry, one of them explains that he’s an architect getting ideas for shelter design. As we stand and discuss the place’s layout and features, little Precious Pie paws at her door, a fine advertisement of a well adjusted resident.

It’s not easy contentment for a lot of cats, though. Pretty orange and white boy Chavo is still nervous about his surroundings. He’s a big 4 year old, a gentle giant who needs a slow approach. He stays at the top of his climbing structure, but sniffs my hand and allows himself to be petted. He rolls to his side, blinking and purring loudly. But he makes me stand on tip toe to reach him, not quite ready to try out my lap.

Chavo is rooming with a cheerful and sweet black and white stubby tailed girl named Francine. Presumably her perky and outgoing nature will make him feel comfortable or be a good role model, but they act more like co-workers than pals. She’s making the best of things anyway, happy to bat at a toy while I stretch up to reach him. Even the best design doesn’t tackle the sad circumstances that lead to homelessness (the cats’ and otherwise).

I show Spirit, a lovely calico with a super-sized personality, to a friendly young woman. Spirit almost dances between us, purring and moving from lap to lap. Soon the woman confesses that she’s about to move back in with her parents, so actually her mom will have the final say about any new pets.

It’s not exactly good news, but at least I can tell her that we’ll have plenty more cats available to adopt when she finally gets a place of her own.

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Cat Fix – Cricket

Hello winter. The dreary drippy day is ideal for curling up with a good book, a warm kitty, or both. I’m glad to see a few people there as Maddie’s opens. Although the first guy I talk to, a burly tattooed dude on his knees flirting with a pair of kittens, tells me he’s actually thinking of adopting a dog. Another group of people is cooing at almost every window, but when I ask if they have a cat in mind to meet, a woman exclaims, "all of them." We agree that they’ll try to narrow it down.

My attention is drawn to Cricket, an adorable 3 year old calico. She’s super chatty, hence the name, sweet and alert and anxious for my full attention. She rubs, purrs, chirps, and winds her way all around. After awhile leans next to me, more subdued but still purring.

Across the hall, gentle Carmelita eyes us both. She’s a mellower, quieter, older girl, of the same physical type, a tortie with white feet. She can be quite shy but does like to cuddle, and she settles contentedly next to my legs. I’m not sure which of these pretty kitties I’d choose if I had to, but I can certainly recommend them both.

I find a young woman sitting and interacting with a cute little tabby. In a charming accent, she explains that she can’t get a cat but misses hers back home, who looks like this one. I ask if she’d like to come in and help socialize this friendly threesome of cats – it’s nice to have a second person with more than two cats in a room, and she clearly loves cats and wants to pet little Simone.

Glad she does, as it turns out we have friends in common. Which seem odd and yet isn’t; after awhile SF really does feel like a big small town. We sit and talk and pet the two bolder young male cats. And slowly, she’s able to draw out the little tabby, who is hesitant at first but then leans into the gentle hand petting her, blinking in satisfaction.

We stand to leave, and she thanks me. And I tell her the obvious, that the cats enjoyed her company as much as she did theirs. But I can remember being in a foreign place, needing my cat fix. It’s a simple thing, nice to be able to help someone else with it.

Occupy 16th Street! – Willhard

My office costume party had two 1%s, a Mayor Quan, and just one of the 99% (me, any excuse to wear tattered clothes downtown). Our modest nonprofit happens to rent space near the Wells HQ, so we’ve been reluctantly hearing a lot of chanting.

Friends’ and colleagues’ reactions to the movement have run the gamut from 100% support to querying how camping in city parks helps the poor. I’m all for drawing attention to the inequities and hypocrisy; like to back it up with less mindless consumerism (credit card purchased Starbucks drinks on the way to the protest, just for example).

My volunteer day takes me away from the political debates, and the robo calls. Nice to quietly commune with some affectionate felines. Willhard is a sweet 2 year old black and white dude with a cute splotchy face and the shelter’s loudest purr. He greets me with an eager squeak then revs up the motor, rubbing around in every direction and tilting his head to make sure I keep petting him.

A guy in the hall pauses to look in. Willhard leans toward the door, purring like an engine. The guy continues along, but I tell him he’s a good boy to catch people’s attention. Joseph, a lovely snowshoe mix who shares a window, perches there to watch us too.

A woman asks to meet Lulu, who’s bestirred herself and is practically prancing at her door. She says she has a mellow older dog already. I’m not sure that would be Lulu’s first choice in pet siblings, but I’d love to see her find a home. We pet her for a bit, then the woman wanders off, seeming not fully committed to going through with any adoptions just yet.

I’m in with a set of shy youngsters at the end of the hall, just coaxing a scared tabby out, when a super excited little girl comes in, accompanied by her mom and grandma. They gently shush her, but the girl is delighted and squeals at the sight of each cat. Some cower, others march boldly to their doors to interact. Can’t deny that it’s a way to get their attention.

Not Forgotten - Lulu

My so called day off has gotten cluttered with errands, obligations and work stuff. While I'm seated for a minute to catch up on the news, my boy climbs lap to shoulder, purring and trying by sheer force of will to make me stay and relax with him. At least I can promise him to be home eventually.

There are a number of people wandering around Maddie’s when I first arrive, but I find time to meet a pretty 4 year old named Chill. She’s a big long hair tabby and white, fluffy and wide eyed, a Maine Coon mix. Her eyes look scared, but she quickly hops down with a confident and friendly squawk, and claims my lap.

She purrs and appreciates some petting, but stays alert. I get the distinct impression that she’s missing her people, and waiting for them to show up here and take her back home. As my boy did earlier, I try to get her to just relax with me and enjoy our time together.

Next up, a socializing visit with Lulu, a pretty calico senior lady who’s been here for awhile. Lulu takes her time to establish one’s credentials. She likes to sniff everything, and she’ll allow herself to be petted all in good time, at her pace, of course. (She came from the Sido program, and whoever adopts her will get 2 free years of medical care.)

Midway through our visit, a staffer appears with an elderly couple. The lady turns out to be Lulu’s former guardian, who had to give her up due to failing eyesight. It’s wonderful to meet her, and for them to get reacquainted. Once the lady, who’s a bit frail, is seated, Lulu cautiously approaches for some gentle petting. They’ve brought a bag of her old toys, and she’s clearly familiar with these scents, sniffing eagerly. I describe how Lulu’s adjusted to Maddie’s, and how lots of volunteers see her regularly and appreciate her quirks.

The couple tell me about adopting her here, many years back, and we exchange calico cat stories. The lady seems happy and sad both, glad to be with the cat and relieved that she’s doing well, but missing her terribly. Heartrending to have let her go, but obviously it was in everyone’s best interest.

Lulu herself is kind of overwhelmed. I stay in the room with her after the couple make their way back out and toward the exit. It’s not till a few minutes after they’ve left that she climbs onto my lap, more cuddly than I’ve ever seen her, and lovingly burrows her head by my arm.
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Cancel Red Alert – Amelie

That little quake Thursday night? Got to see my boy leap up almost vertically from a prone position, no small feat for a 20 pounder. He stayed a bit edgy for a good hour, though settled down for bed as usual.

All quiet at Maddie’s, at least as far as earthquake jitters. After making sure no one needs help, I seek out my new favorite, Amelie, for a socializing visit. She’s a 4 year old tabby/torbie, a delicate, sweet and lovely green eyed girl. Her approach is at first tentative, then trusting, as she steps carefully onto my lap. There’s something about her – maybe she reminds me of the cat I briefly co-companioned in my 20s, maybe it’s just an intangible – but I particularly enjoy our time together.

I help an eager young woman who’s here to adopt her first adulthood cat. We start with a feisty young tabby, who seems like a good match for an active household. But she doesn’t want to rush things, and I applaud her for that. We check out a kitten and a few more outgoing youngish cats. Part of her falls in love with every kitty in the place. But soon she decides that first one really was it, and, grinning ear to ear, heads to the adoption desk.

I chill with another young calico sweetie. We’re just getting comfortable when a medical technician makes a house call down the hall (not sure who's facing the doc, but I think it's chubby cheeked former feral Spenser). The ensuing snarling and yowls set the whole hall on edge, with worried feline faces framed in every doorway. Marguritte retreats to her perch, momentarily hissy at the sight of my hand.

I ease down to sit below, talking in a soothing voice and assuring her everything’s okay now. She stays wary, but soon hops down for another round of petting. Her ears remain alert though; she’s not quite ready to fully relax.

Hot Dogs, Cool Cats – Pooky

I see two different Dachshunds being walked on my way to Maddie’s, both looking cute and frisky despite the heat.

The cat folks are buzzing with the news that Tina Marie, who had been here for a year, finally got adopted, apparently by someone who noticed her at her window while walking by.

I start out with Pooky, a soft, sweet, lanky 12 year old black and white fellow. He’s a senior and bony compared to my young chunky boy, but they are alike in their gentle and affectionate natures. He climbs onto my lap, burrows his head in my arm, and purrs lovingly.

A woman comes to ask about a particular cat she saw online, only she can’t remember his name. I suggest she check the listing out front, but ask if any other cats have caught her eye. Sounding disappointed, she says that only one seemed interested and meowed at her.

It’s a challenge for all the staff, volunteers, and cats, to help the cats here show their best selves even during nap time or if they’re scared of shelter noises. Unlike dogs, your average cat won’t just come wiggling forward with its personality full on display.

A young couple are not quite sure what sort of cat they want. I show them a group of adorable kittens, describing the challenges and rewards of bringing up a youngster. They enjoy playing with the little ones, but seem not quite ready to make a commitment. Happily, I learn later that they’ve chosen a lovely and friendly FIV+ adult fellow – it’s wonderful to see him getting boxed up and sent off to his new home.

I chat with a woman who’s admiring a cute, needy half grown tabby who’s pawing at her window. She says it reminds her of a dog, and I have to agree that most cats are a bit more cagey with their raw emotions. She feels bad for the kitten, but I can at least assure her that this little one – with her in-your-face approach – will have no trouble finding a home.

Powers of Persuasion – Lars

The first person I see at Maddie’s is a familiar looking man who’s admiring a pair of half grown kittens. He says he already has two former shelter cats at home and just likes to see who’s around. He doesn’t want to meet these cuties – as if afraid they’re that persuasive.

Speaking of which, I move on to see my sweet buddy Lars, the 3 year old FIV+ tabby and white lover boy. He’s skinny with the puffy cheeks of a former street cat. He’s got a kind of goofy snaggle tooth expression, but makes up for it with his big loving heart. He cuddles on my lap, rubbing and purring, then lolling like a doll baby, belly exposed.

We play for a little, as his frisky neighbor stares in, but Lars really wants more lap time. He starts a full body bath from the comfort of my crossed legs, and it’s all I can do to extract myself.

I chat with a couple. The guy says they’re just looking, but the cute and noticeably younger gal coos over the kittens, exclaiming how much she wants one in a squeaky voice. He pleads that they have to at least wait until after they move apartments. Not clear for how long she’ll settle for just taking pictures of the kittens.

Anyway, it’s not the best weekend for animals in the city, with the noisy military planes shooting by, we can all agree. I assure them we’ll have plenty more cats available after a couple weeks.

I find someone else staring in at the little orange tabby who had mesmerized the earlier guy. The woman promises to fill out her paper work, saying the kitty reminds her of one she used to have. She wants a cat who will keep her company and be okay with visiting grandchildren. The little guy is pretty mellow for a youngster. And when she picks him up, he just melts into her arms, eyes blinking shut and paws dangling.

I say my bit about taking a look at different cats and taking time to make an informed decision, but she’s completely smitten. She can barely stand to put him down long enough to head to the front lobby.