When we were looking for a new cat companion in Seattle I went through over 400 online pet descriptions before we made our choice. We went to the shelter and found out that the cat we wanted (after sitting in the shelter for 6 months) was adopted 15 minutes before we got there. My wife cried. I nearly cried. It was very stressful. I decided that I wanted to minimize shelter stress in the future, so after going through all the photos again, we made our second choice (which turned out to be Benjamin Black at MEOW). This time I did my homework – I downloaded the forms, had the exact cost of the adoption in my pocket, made arrangements to get to MEOW exactly at opening time, and called the night before just prior to the shelter closing to make sure that Benjamin Black was still available. I also memorized what the cat looked like (it was pretty easy, he had a distinctive bent ear).

The next morning I arrived in the shelter parking lot right as the doors opened. I marched in and laid my adoption papers on the counter.”

May I help you?” said the very nice, but still somewhat groggy volunteer behind the counter.
“Yes,” I said, trying to ignore all the piteous “take me home” meows seemingly coming from everywhere, “I would like to adopt a cat.” I slid the paperwork across the counter.”
OK, good” said the volunteer, eyeing the paperwork a bit blearily. “We have lots of wonderful….”
“I want to adopt Benjamin Black,” I said, tapping the name of the cat on the paperwork. I had my courage up now, and glanced around, locating Benjamin in one of the nearby cages.”
All right,” said the volunteer, “let me see if he is still avail….”
“He’s right there,” I said, pointing, “in that cage.”
“Oh.” Said the volunteer. There was a pause. The volunteer looked from me to the cat and back again. “Don’t you even want to take him into the visitation room?” the volunteer finally asked.

At this point I realized that I was probably coming off as some sort of mad vivisectionist.

“Oh.” I said. “OK. Sure.”

I went into the visitation room and sat down. The volunteer brought in Benjamin. Now Benjamin had been abused and neglected and dumped and rescued and had sat in a shelter for a long time and then been adopted and terrorized by dogs and brought back. Benjamin was an emotional wreck. Consequently Benjamin immediately ran to the corner furthest away from me and huddled there, making cat screamy noises. Benjamin had a very loud voice when he tried. But at least it drowned out all the other cats. I sat there with Benjamin for five minutes. Occasionally I noticed the volunteer looking concerned in my direction. After five minutes I figured I had done my duty, exited the visitation room, walked up to the counter and said “I’ll take him.”

The volunteer looked at me as though he were now SURE I was a mad vivisectionist. But another staff member had now arrived, and we got through the paperwork, got Benjamin in a cat carrier, and I took him out to the car. I tried to call my wife to let her know that I was on the way home with the cat, but she couldn’t hear me over the sound of the cat screamy noises Benjamin was making.

Benjamin lived with us for many years. He eventually got over his fear of people and would sleep curled up on the bed with us. He loved to be petted and brushed. We nursed him through a year’s worth of illness and he died comfortably in his forever home.

But I think that volunteer must still have terrible memories of me.

Hello,
I adopted RayJay back in July, he now goes by his new name Spencer T. Schwartzenegger. He’s a rock! Spence is a great guy, very lovable and playful. He’s got a huge selection of toys scattered around the house. He’s an indoor cat now. I think he spent the first part of his life living outside, he seems to be adapting to it fine.

When I lay on the couch, he likes to lay right on my legs, and look at me. His favorite spots in the house are near the gas stove, and looking out the kitchen window at birds. He has a nice outdoor enclosure, which he DID NOT like being in..so we put that away for the winter. We’ve started practicing walking on a leash, in a harness, so he can go out on the patio with me. It’s still a work in process..but he’s doing well! It has been quite an adjustment going from a 22 year old best friend to a 2 year old youngster, but I don’t regret bringing him home. He does his best to win my heart, and has succeeded! It’s a definite de-stresser after work to spend time playing with him..he hilarious!

Thanks again everyone at Meow for rescuing Spence, and for helping me to find him. Keep up the fantastic work you do!  -Patty

Greetings MEOW —

I met Latte on my first volunteer shift at the shelter: she was in a cubby in the front free-roaming room and had just woken up but couldn’t open one eye, so I had this shy coffee-coloured cat winking a blue-grey eye at me all morning! It was a memorable first-impression.

I have a soft spot for all the senior cats in MEOW’s front free-roaming room but we kept a tab on Latte in particular, and she joined our little family a couple of months ago. She’s not so shy any more but still very polite — she’s a bit of a chatterbox and meows back when she’s called, she doesn’t jump up onto furniture or people unless invited, she has excellent scratching and litter box manners, and she loves being brushed. Latte is a champion snuggler and she’d rather be on someone’s lap or nestled tightly next to someone than playing with toys. Needless to say, we’re smitten with Latte…. look at that little face! Can you tell she’s 9 years young? We love Latte’s senior cat friends at MEOW and keep our fingers crossed that people will come in, fall in love with them and take them home!

Thanks MEOW for matching us up with the sweetest cat! We wake up earlier these days so that we can enjoy a little Latte with our morning coffee. 🙂

I just wanted to let everyone know that Horatio is settling in very well and I’m very happy that I adopted him. He has the run of the house but wants to be with me and seems to understand that he’s finally fallen into clover. Heck, he even has his own bathroom (box is in the tub). Horatio has all the play habits of the typical male cat, which as warned does include a little mouthy/biting but he’s very gentle and has never broken the skin. He’s still a little spooky when anyone comes into the house – including me – but once he finds out who it is he’ll reappear. He’s easily startled by loud noises or male voices, but has made friends with my cat-babysitter neighbor and my trainer.

My purring lap blanket and I are very happy together.

Thank you! -Val & Horatio

Hi to everyone and every feline at MEOW Cat Rescue!

SiAm is my name now, but you may remember me as Footloose. My family named me SiAm after both Siamese cats in the Lady and the Tramp movie because they think I have enough personality and energy for two cats! I have explored every nook and cranny in my new home – even found a couple of hiding places my family didn’t know existed. My new feline housemate is Myki – he’s 5 and, though were slowly introduced over several weeks, when we finally got together, he still screamed and snarled and wanted to fight. Such a fuss – even the neighbors could hear him! But my family stayed calm and gave us both a lot of attention. Now, five weeks later, we get along much better and even sleep close together sometimes. I think I am helping him lose some weight by chasing him around. I love eating and playing almost as much as I love getting attention and being petted. I like to talk A LOT and follow my family around all the time – just in case they need my help. Well, I think they ALWAYS need my help, though sometimes they don’t seem to realize it. I also like to look down on what is happening, so I climb to the top of EVERYTHING. Sometimes pictures or plants get in my way, and then my family gets exercise by cleaning up after me. But, they learn and move things so I won’t knock them down again. I am very good at understanding and minding my family when they say “no”. But my rule – and Myki’s — is that “no” only applies when someone is looking. I think all cats use that rule, don’t you? My favorite bed is on top of the tallest bookcase, so my family put a soft bed up there for me. My family makes quite a fuss over me! They take pictures, tell me how cute I am (I agree with that!). They tell me they want me to stay here forever – so I’m sending you these pictures so you can see how big I’m growing. My family and I THANK YOU SO MUCH for all you did for me!

Love and meows,

SiAm

Dear MEOW,

Back in April of 2012, almost a year now, we adopted a little grey kitten named Sable. He was shy, but inquisitive, and my fiance knew as soon as he held him that this kitty was the one. He now goes by Parker (Parkour) because he’s so playful. Even after day one, I thought he couldn’t possibly get more loving, but he did! Every day when I come home he sits himself in my lap and takes a nap. Whenever I walk around he’s there talking to me. Our other cat Chiyuu has warmed up to him, she’s a sweetie but very sassy. Occasionally I will catch them sleeping together, and they never seem to be far apart. What I love most is his soft fur and funny personality. I tried to put up the Christmas tree last weekend and a crazed cat face kept attacking my hands through the branches as I fluffed it up. Then he’d run down the hall, come back, and sit in the chair as if he were not interested, but that didn’t last for long! After that it was lap time. I’m thankful to have such a great little kitty. MEOW was so helpful, and seem to really know what they are doing when they adopt cats out. Thanks guys!
-Ally

Hello,

I just wanted to give you a little update on the two kittens I adopted from Meow Rescue on August 24, 2012, 5 days shy of their 4 month birthday. Hunter and Greyson are doing great. Hunter decided he didn’t want to be an all black cat, so he has developed faint gray hair on the back of his hind legs, a dot on his chest and his tummy. He is the lovey one of the two and will come and lay on you, purring and fall sound asleep, whether you want him to be on your chest or stomach or not. Greyson is still gray with white socks and they are both still just so adorable. Greyson is a little more stand off-ish and not so lovey, but can purr up a storm and snuggle when it’s his idea. They wrestle around together like 2 brothers would and Hunter is the big brother and sometimes isn’t always kind to his little brother. Greyson can hold his own though. They will be celebrating their 6 month birthday tomorrow and Hunter already weighs about 9 lbs. Greyson is about 6 lbs. He will always be smaller as Hunter has some very large paws to grow into. At times , they do get into their bed together, one on top of the other even though it is way too small for them now. They are very happy and contented kitties and I love them dearly. I want to thank MEOW Cat Rescue for being there when I needed the companionship at home and I feel so bad every morning when I leave for work. But they are right there at the front door when they hear my key in the lock. They have been such a joy. 
-Bev

Hi,

I adopted Tongo approximately two months ago.  I am overjoyed and pleased with my new roommate.  Just for laughs, I call him “Tongo Bongo.”  He has adapted to his new home very well and has already gained six ounces.  He is very expressive and loves to talk to me constantly.  He loves to be groomed.  He is extremely social and is not bashful at all when I have company.  Tongo has just recently decided to sit on my lap, which makes me very happy.  Since I am retired, I am able to spend a lot of time with him.  He is a wonderful companion and  he loves to sit at my patio window and be entertained by the daily visits of the neighborhood squirrel and stellar jays who come to eat the peanuts we have left out, not to mention the humming birds and finches and chickadees who also come to visit.  He enjoys playing with his toy mice and, occasionally, I smother a ball made of yarn with catnip.  Tongo first licks all of the goodies off the ball and then playfully bats the ball throughout the house.  There is never a dull moment with Tongo.  He is a joy and I am so happy that I stopped by Meow Rescue that day and discovered him.  Thank you, Meow Rescue, for the wonderful work that you do.  I have recommended your shelter to all of my friends.

Alice

Hello.  In Fall of 2003, my husband and I adopted 3 kittens from your Mercer Island location. They were Timmy, Teddy, and Tommy – littermates. They were brought to MEOW by the people who found the pregnant mother cat in Tacoma.  They kept the mother and 2 of the 5 kittens, and brought the remaining 3 to MEOW for adoption. The kittens lived at your shelter for part of the time, but were fostered by a wonderful couple. A couple times after we had adopted them, I sent letters to their fosters updating them on the cats’ happy lives and letting them know how they were doing. They sent us wonderful kitten pictures that we never would have otherwise had. I have been meaning to send another update.

Timmy, the black and white tuxedo, used to be a man of few words and was not all that talkative. He deferred to others for attention. He has turned into a more confident (but still always polite) cat, and is quite the chatterbox. When really excited, he emits a lot of gravelly-mows and churrs and chirps. He loves to “deliver” things, and frequently brings us socks and other items during the night. He starts in the basement, and carries items all the way upstairs and deposits them on our bed. He sleeps with us or nearby us almost every night. When in the RV, he is the navigator cat, and likes to ride on the console between us and provide direction and guidance.

Teddy (solid grey) is the smallest of the 3 boys. He and Tim are still very close. Ted has had a few health problems over the years but is doing fine at present. He has a high-pitched voice and chirps and churrs a lot. He is the only one that is not as comfortable riding in the RV. He is a cat that cannot get enough heat, and loves to sleep in heated baskets or bask in the sun. Teddy has a beautiful coat that is multiple shades of grey, but his tummy and paws are silvery.

Tommy is solid black. He remains a complicated cat and has a delightful personality. He shadows my husband everywhere and doesn’t really let him out of his sight.  Tom continues to have a howly, Siamese-type voice.  He likes to carry objects around in his mouth almost as much as Timmy does. In recent years, he has become obsessed with playing in and with water. We leave the water in the bathtub permanently dripping so that he can drink out of it and play in it. He is wet much of the time.  Over the years, he has also developed quite an affinity for all things vanilla flavored or scented.

Pico, the small white cat, is their adopted sister. We took her in a year after the boys, after our irresponsible neighbors abandoned her as a kitten. She was not properly socialized by the time we got her, so is quasi-feral.  She just doesn’t trust people. My husband has made tremendous progress with her. Timmy treats her well and Tommy treats her very well. Unfortunately, Teddy is not so sweet to her.

To our boys foster parents: Thank you again for giving our boys such a wonderful start in their lives. They are trusting of people and affectionate, and I’m sure that has much to do with the love you showed them early on.

Be well.

Vicki and Brent

Hello Meow Cat Rescue!

I wanted to give you an update on the kitten my husband and I adopted a little over a month ago.

I work for Trupanion, and we have an amazing company that lets us bring our pets to work.  After I had Archer (formally known as Thomas) for a month, got him his last booster vaccines, etc. I was able to start bringing him to work with me.  When I first got him, I knew I wanted to be able to bring him into work with me, so we got him started on a harness as soon as possible.  After the first hour, he didn’t even care that he was wearing it.  We did our work introduction with coworkers and the dogs that are in the cubicles near by.  The first day he made himself right at home with me at work and in the office.  Attached is a copy of him taking a cat nap after a very full morning of introductions on the first day at work with me.  As you can tell, he feels right at home coming into work with me.

When he gets home we play, and he he wrestles with our other cat Chew Toy.  Sometimes he feels fearless and he’ll jump on a high spot to bonsai jump on the dogs to get them excited and want to play.  We’ve very happy to have him as our newest addition to our furry children and part of our family.  Thank you Meow!

~ Melissa