When I adopted Hayden from Meow Cat Rescue about a month ago, he was a shy, timid kitty. He spent his first week in his new home watching the world from his chosen safe space, though even then he couldn’t quite hide his flashes of playfulness or his unwavering devotion to treats.
Once he realized he was truly home, he came out of his shell. Now he’s a full‑fledged cuddler, dozing at my side, sharing birdwatching shifts with his new sister, and pouncing on his toys with growing confidence.
Last November, my husband John and I welcomed Cinnamon (now Cinder) and Gourd (now Poe) into our family. They joined our previous MEOW alum, Nimbus (formerly Cloudy), whom we adopted back in November 2010.
Cinder and Poe have settled in beautifully, and their personalities continue to blossom. Cinder is bright, snuggly, and full of affection. Poe, who was more reserved at first, is still a bit skittish but has become much more confident, especially when it comes to asking for cuddles. He’s discovered a love for lap time. Together, they’re playful and incredibly loving, often grooming each other before curling up to sleep.
Sadly, last week we had to say goodbye to Nimbus after nearly 16 wonderful years. He was diagnosed with late-stage kidney and liver disease, and his health declined quickly. He was the sweetest, smartest boy, and we will miss him deeply for the rest of our lives. While we are heartbroken, Cinder and Poe have been a bright spot, helping us smile in the midst of our grief.
I know that Cinder and Poe’s siblings, Cider and Cashmere, were also adopted the same day we brought them home (November 9, 2025). We’ve always wondered—was their remaining sibling, Soot, ever adopted? We felt for him being the last of the litter.
We’re so grateful to MEOW for bringing these incredible cats into our lives and for the joy they bring us every day. I’ve attached a few photos so you can see how Cinder and Poe are doing now.
Update on Vienna (shelter name Loretta). Believe it or not, this is the same cat! She has had quite the glow up and seriously fluffed out from her first day home until now!
She is the sweetest girl and has so much personality. She loves to play and snuggle, as well as take many naps in her various bowls, perches, and any sunny spot.
We are so grateful to MEOW for pairing us up with this darling girl, she could not be a better fit for our family!
Here’s some pictures! She was also very cooperative posing in her costume for Halloween, going as a “Vienna Sausage” of course.
I adopted Magpie and her brother Stellar’s Jay (aka Stelly Jelly) from MEOW a year and a week ago and they have been the sweetest babies since then.
The volunteers at MEOW wanted to set realistic expectations and told me that it may take several weeks or even months before they warm up to me, and, well, it took Magpie about two hours after getting home before getting on my lap and using me as a staircase to explore the bookshelves, and SJ followed her lead a few days later.
Fast toward to a year later, we just moved to the back of a bookstore and at night they have get to come out to the store to explore their new domain full of shelves and passageway and places to dart and hide, before getting tired and curling up in their beds (or mine, which is also theirs now I guess). We couldn’t be happier. 🙂
In 2022, our precious Milo entered our lives and hearts, and in no time became the fair ruler of this city castle.
With a tap of his magic paw, he demands his “crunchies” and warm blankies. When he talks, we are his enamored followers. He greets each day with a little song, as if announcing that his kingdom is once again open for business.
Milo has a way of making everything feel softer, sweeter, and perfectly his. Thank you to MEOW for helping Milo find his way to us.
I will always be grateful to MEOW and Janis Newman for trapping the small feral colony developing in the Bellevue office park where I worked, many years ago.
I had fallen in love with one of the kittens, a Turkish Van beauty, and promised him if he ever let me pick him up he was going home with me. I contacted MEOW’s spay and release program, and Janis captured the moms and kittens. MEOW spayed and returned the moms, and put the kittens up for adoption.
Since I already had 2 cats, 2 rabbits, and a dog, I really only wanted the white kitten I had fallen for, but Janis said he had bonded with one of his siblings. When Janis couldn’t find someone to take them both, she said I could come and get just the white kitten.
When I arrived, she said she had paperwork to complete while I visited with the kittens. By the time she returned I was in tears, because I knew I could not separate the two brothers who were clinging to each other (and I’m certain that’s what Janis was hoping for).
So, I brought home both kittens, who I named Randy and Ringo. They blessed my life for 16 years, and I was always grateful that I had not separated these two brothers, who were inseparable. They passed on within six weeks of each other.
Me and my partner were looking to make a big leap in our lives fresh out of college back in 2021, and we knew the very first thing we wanted to do with that newfound desire, to find some feline friends to share it with!
We both had our preferences for what we wanted in a cat so we were absolutely shocked to find the perfect posting of 2 adorable bonded kittens that fit both of our criteria so well. We, probably a little impulsively, picked them up right on the spot since we saw it as a sign – a decision we haven’t regretted for a single moment! Callie and Marie have been absolute joy to experience life with, even if they get up to mischief sometimes.
Callie is very energetic and occasionally skittish – she loves to stare out window sills, leap high into the air for a feather, and zip about the room at 2am. She doesn’t purr very loudly but she will lick your hand down to the bone if you let her (affectionately, of course)! Her comfort zones are behind the shower curtain or under a stool.
Marie is much more cool-headed and spends much more time lounging about, but when she wants something she won’t let you hear the end of it. The number of important work meetings blocked by Marie leaping in front of the screen to tell me “it’s time to play toys now” is unfathomable. Her favorite pastime is pretending not to be that interested in the wand toy, until you run into the other room with it, then she will chase you to the ends of the earth to get that feather.
We couldn’t be happier to have found these lovely girls and we can’t wait to see the places we’ll go together next!
My name is Sierra, and a year ago today I adopted my sweet baby Ace from your shelter. I simultaneously can’t believe it’s been a full year, and that I’ve only had Ace in my life for a year.
Like a truly insufferable pet parent, I made a little collage commemorating the last year together and wanted to share his progress and cuteness with you all.
It’s been just over a year since we adopted Mr. David Bowie from MEOW. While we kept his name (we’re big fans!) he has acquired a number of nicknames around the house (Bowseph, Bowie Bear, Mr. Bear, Bowst, Toast, etc).
There were so many happy tears when we adopted this little gentleman, and while he was expectedly a little slow to warm up, he is a treasured presence in our home. Now he walks around like he owns the place (until he hears an unexpected sound and zooms under the chair).
Bowie loves to watch TV with us and was riveted by last season’s Love is Blind. He’s currently working his way through Gilmore Girls. He gets all the attention and brushings and tummy rubs he can handle. He is spoiled with a constant stream of new toys from his grandpa.
He gets to chase our other cat, Chalupa around and she chases him too (when she’s not being jealous of him). We love our Bowie boy and are grateful we are able to be his forever home. It feels like he’s always been here.
Attached are some pictures of Bowie being the best.
Love, Angela, Jocelyn, Christine, Chalupa and of course Bowie
