Safe and Warm - Powder

Maddie’s feels nice compared to the blustery day outside. (I know, it’s nothing like the ice storms or three feet of snow elsewhere, but it’s no California Dreamin’ out there either.)

For whatever else is going on in the economy, things are ok here: donations were arriving up to the last minute New Year’s Eve and cats are coming and going at a pretty good clip, between the Macy’s windows and holiday shoppers.

There are a bunch of new kitties, but I have little time for socializing visits even with several other volunteers around. I help a woman and her teenage son, who are looking for a kitten to join a bossy four year old cat at home. The boy is all slouchy in his baggy pants, but quite sensitive and articulate about cats, and the mom and son are nicely comfortable with each other.

Next I spend awhile with a nice quiet middle aged woman who’s just venturing out after having lost her 18 year old kitty a couple months back. She seems like a fine cat companion, with a quiet house, a host of cat accouterment, and a preference for organic wet cat food. We visit three young guys each for awhile, and she has a hard time choosing. She says she feels funny about getting the same kind of cat, an orange marmalade, but she is very much drawn to one named Leon, who’s newly arrived. And she seems a bit guilty about adopting a young cutie when there are needier cats – but he’s a real winner, spunky, affectionate and adorable, and I encourage the match.

Then a fellow asks for help locating a friendly three to five year old female. It takes a minute to place his accent – then I realize it reminds me of Inspector Clouseau of Pink Panther fame. So when he says, "Is she cuddly," well, I don’t laugh outwardly but in my head admonish myself to stop being juvenile. It turns out he’s picking the cat for himself and his wife, who didn’t think she could handle seeing all the homeless kitties. He decides he’ll take Sarah, a big friendly tortie, though only the second cat he meets. It’s more like he’s gone out to shop for a scarf than a pet, but he seems satisfied and heads for the front.

Hallway 5 is loaded with people. Three little girls are pressed up against the door of the back condo, and the two cats are right there rubbing toward them. I ask the nearest adult if they’re interested in adopting. She says they were actually just dropping off some donations, but maybe her little girl could pet the cats?

The cats, Buster and Powder, are big friendly guys who don’t seem at all bothered by kids, so I usher them in. The other two girls immediately want to come too; the mom’s confer and then in we all go. The girls need to shed their rain boots, and one of them is really more interested in the cats’ toys. But the other two pat the cats as best they can. One of them even hugs Powder, who politely ducks away but then spins around to rub around some more.

Soon the kids have to put their rain gear back on and head out, and I’ve got other cats and customers to attend to. But it’s a sweet little visit for all of us.