I could not have picked a better way to end the year than with the speedy and excited adoption of Lewiston. On Christmas Eve, no less!
The day I trapped Lewiston, I learned of the death of Rufus, a kitty I rescued almost 5 years ago. Rufus, also a Maine coon, was already an adult cat when we plucked him out of parking lot. He was sweet and shy – clearly a house cat who had been abandoned or gotten lost. And when he died just a few weeks ago, he left his parents devastated.
Enter Lewiston. Our mutual friend told Pam and her husband about Lewiston, and within days, an arrangement was forged. He was scared at first and hid, but in keeping with his speedy nature, within two days Pam was reporting a Christmas miracle. “Today, he jumped on my lap,” she said.
And a second Christmas miracle: finding places to re-home all six kittens trapped at Higgins farm. These are reminders that, despite the huge challenges of this year, wonderful things do happen.
Other things I’m grateful for, as the year turns:
- Ginger’s easy cancer. After almost a year, she is still comfortable, happy and loving.
- Claude’s swift cancer. I know that sounds weird, but the utter horribleness of his illness was three months from start to finish, and he only seemed to be suffering in his last few days. I miss him so badly still, but am happy to know he’s out of pain.
- Having the courage to let Dorian Gray find his own path, by returning him to the wild. I was so convinced that this beautiful boy could be tamed into house cat status; his complete misery was a reminder that not all rescues are meant to be lap-kitties.
- The continued growth of Big Mike, who has blossomed from a desperately wounded (physically and psychically) stray, to a loving sweet house cat – albeit one who is so low on the totem pole he won’t come down to the living room for fear of harassment.
- The socialization of Skeeter, and the return to health of this beautiful little jet-black girl. Next step: finding her forever home.
- The collaboration of rescue friends on the coast. Because we are now talking to each other and sharing resources, our rescue efforts have picked up steam.
- And of course, the approval of the non-profit status of our little organization, Coastside Feral Care. Now we get to raise money! (If you can donate, we’d be sooooo very grateful. And thanks, as always, to Sandy for getting us started.)
Working with cats this year continues to teach me lessons about life, and about myself. As someone who used to not only sweat the small stuff, but get seriously rankled when something went wrong on the work front, now nothing feels as wrong as animal suffering. Right, I didn’t sell a book proposal I worked on for six months, but I’ve seen kittens living under a pile of pipes, eating leftover beans for food. No contest.
My hopes for 2016: expand our efforts after expanding our budget accordingly. (There are many kitties on the coast needing help – especially those being neglected on ranches and farms.) Make new friends so I can adopt out more cats; I’ve been teased that every friend I have now has a cat from me. 😉 Continue to work on my inner strength, so I don’t get so implode so easily. The best animal advocates have hugely open hearts, but aren’t always gripped by anger or sadness. It’s something I’m working on.
I’m also grateful to you, dear readers, for your patronage and kind words throughout this tough year. It’s for my fellow cat-lovers that I continue to do the work, and write the words to illuminate the process.
Happy New Year and love from Chez Chat!
xxx