A couple ask to see Sooty, a charming 4 year old long hair, all black with a soft wavy undercoat. They strike me as typical San Franciscans of a type – straight liberal anglo baby boomers. Both are tall, the man with white streaks in his longish hair, the woman angular, slim, unmade up. It’s clear they’ve been together for awhile, they have a physical ease with each other as well as comfortable communication. They seem like people I’d be friends with, and I think they would be good pet people.
Sooty started out kind shy, but he’s gotten pretty needy. He’s been at the shelter for over 2 months. He lolls between us, accepting pets all around, moving between the three of us happily. Good "show" behavior; some of the kitties get a little freaked out when several people crowd into their condos.
The man and woman both pet him gently, and he rolls onto his back, paws out, allowing his soft belly to be stroked. They like him. They say they’ve looked at several other cats too, and like them all. I ask my standard questions, have you had cats before, are you looking to adopt. The woman explains that they have a cat a home, and recently lost their second one.
Not an uncommon story. (One of the boxes on the SPCA’s form for why you want to adopt is to get a companion for my cat.) I tell them their cat at home will most likely have a harder adjustment time with getting a new cat. Sooty will be pleased to go home even if there’s already a resident cat.
They exchange a look and a laugh, and explain that their current cat is very friendly and accepting of other animals. But the cat who died was so hostile that they had to keep the two separated. For three years.
I’m trying to even imagine that.
The visit goes well. We chat and Sooty loves every minute of the attention. I catch up with them later in the lobby. They’ve decided to take home Red.
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