Finding A Friend – Parker

I’m glad to see that my girl Daisy has pawed her way into someone’s heart – her adoption paper is posted for all the volunteers to see. It’s just too bad that there are still enough cats to fill the place to overflowing.

But I start off visiting a friendly foursome that includes two of those I-really-wish-I-could-take-

them-home fellows, Parker and Whiskey. Parker is a handsome green-eyed tabby, sweet, affectionate and eager to please. Whiskey is a lanky light orange tabby, also friendly and intelligent. All four cats are amiable, get along well, and like human company – it’s four noses bumping my arm and many happy head butts amongst them. Even as they all play, precious Parker just slumps against my side, purring and gazing upwards.

Maddie’s is hopping with people – there’s a special camp with dozens of talkative kids running around, and a good number of adults and kids just checking out the shelter cats and dogs for entertainment. Plus quite a few people actually here to take home a new pet.

Between casual chats with people, I go in to meet a cool new 4 year old fellow named Timmy. He’s big sweet cream colored fluff ball, long haired and super soft. He’d declawed in front, so must be an indoor cat, although his notes say he lived with a dog and a cat and likes chasing birds. I don’t think he realizes that he’s missing his claws – he plays and kneads with abandon.

The corridors with kittens stay crowded, and I help a woman who’s interested in getting a pair of kittens. She’s waited a whole year since her beloved 19 year old passed away, and she’s purposely branching out as far as looks and personality. I offer support for this decision. Many cats are utterly irreplaceable. She and her companion just melt over a tiny, sleepy, cuddly pair. She sings their praises as they gently strokes them, and can barely tear herself away to go complete the adoption out front.

There’s another whole family who’ve come to approve the selection of a bright little sweetie across the hall. Between the five of us in the room and a group of campers pressing up against the window to watch, you’d think the kitten might be intimidated. But she preens adorably, as if expecting no less. Their cat at home will like her, they assure me, and she’s just the sort of confident playful friend he needs.

The kids in the hallway are oohing and aahing, no doubt planning how to convince their folks that they too need a new friend.