The expression “all good things come to those who wait” seems particularly relevant to me at this time. Although my husband Marty and I were longing to adopt an Oriental Shorthair kitten, when we met Edgar Allen Poe, a mixed breed domestic shorthair, we were smitten. Several months ago I introduced him to PoC readers in my blog “We Adopted a Moggie After all“.
While Marty and I adore our miniature black panther; a kitten who constantly entertains with his antics and who amazes us with his incredible intelligence, we hadn’t given up on finding an Oriental Shorthair kitten who needed a furever loving home. But where in the world would we find that kitten in the area in Florida where we live? It seemed like an impossible task.
I have a few Oriental Shorthair breeder friends on Facebook. I thought it would be easy to find just the right kitten – even if it required having the kitty shipped. Unfortunately no one I contacted had any available kittens. I checked out breed rescues and came up with a goose-egg. It felt like we were living out “Mission Impossible”. That was until I happened to mention my quest to another friend; a Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) All Breed Judge.
However, it seems that Bastet was truly smiling on us! How lucky could we be? With a local CFA show coming up in a few weeks where my friend would be judging – where I would have the opportunity to actually meet her in person – things were looking up! My friend suggested that we attend the show and chat with some of the Oriental Shorthair breeders. So off to the show we went with a carrier on the backseat of our car, just in case that special kitten was available. Sadly, no such luck. To say that we were “bummed” would be a huge understatement.
Before we left the show hall, we paged the show manager to find out if she knew anyone at the show who might have available kittens. Fortunately she knew someone in Central Florida who likely would have kittens. She introduced us to Barbara Fraizer, a Siamese and Oriental Shorthair breeder who did have kittens. But they wouldn’t be ready for new homes for at least a couple of months. Happily she had a little blue ticked tabby male. He was just what we wanted!
It was really a good thing that the kitten wasn’t old enough to go to a new home. As things turned out we also needed extra time. Edgar Allen Poe wanted a playmate so badly – and was driving our senior Oriental Shorthair nuts. Sir Hubble Pinkerton was definitely not up for roughhouse play. So to try to make everyone happy, in desperation I turned to a dear friend – an expert on feline behavior– for advice.
She was adamant that we needed to get another kitten for Poe. But to be absolutely sure we were making the right decision, I contacted Ellen Kohn of Enlightened Animals.
Ellen is an extraordinarily gifted animal communicator. She chatted extensively with Poe, Sir Hubble and Aki. They all told her it was a good thing! All the signals were pointing in the right direction!
Aki came to live with us on Monday, January 4. When we let him out of the carrier into his “safe” room, he was so scared he immediately found a place in which to hide. But within a few hours he was licking baby food off my fingers – and over the next few days he started getting braver.
We have been playing with him and he is slowly starting to trust us. It’s hard for me to be so patient but Aki is a great teacher in that department. I just can’t wait for the time that he is curled up in my lap purring his little heart out.
Have you adopted a shy kitten? How did you gain their trust? Tell us in a comment.
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Annie thanks for your story. It gives me hope that little Aki will soon overcome his shyness and decide that being in my lap is a good thing. He is getting a little bolder- sniffs my toes and has checked out my hair. But the minute I move even an inch he is back into his hiding place- but not for long:) He is showing himself in the room more and more. He also knows his name by now! Smart kitty! I call him by name when I feed him and use the name when I am talking to him even if he isn’t sitting next to me! We just adore him.
teddy, tina and lena [in that order] ‘found’ me over 13 years ago. teddy came up through the heater duct – where he had been for almost a week. tina was hiding with another brother behind the dog-a-loo. lena was so tiny that from end to end he fit in the palm of my hand – such a feisty little guy he was – he did not want to be caught – which was why he ended up being found last.
they were so shy that it was quite difficult to teach them to eat and use the potty box, but somehow i managed. before their mother got killed by a raccoon [she was within a day or two of being re-domesticated when that happened] she came into the house a few times to feed them.
one night, when they were about 3 – 1/2 months old, i saw them hanging from the cardboard half wall we had put up to block them from coming into the other part of the house. i looked at them and said – ‘do you want to come into the room with us?’ it was like they all nodded their heads in unison to say yes. so my husband took out the cardboard. all three ran to sit in front of my computer chair. i looked down and said ‘do you want to sit in my lap?’ the next thing i knew all 3 of them were sitting in my lap and purring. and that’s the way they’ve been for over 13 years now.
ConCATulations are in order, Jo and family! I am very glad Poe will have a little brofur close to his own age to play with.
Yes, kittens — and cats — have just about always found me/us; as “rescued” is the favorite “breed” here, and as we have lived in some communities where neighborhood cats were (unfortunately) common, we were always assured that any feline who found us would benefit from spaying/neutering, veterinary care, good food and fresh water, and the hospitality we offered. Happily, our current city is very cat-friendly; TNR is municipal policy, and the city allows a fairly generous 6 cats per household. Free-roaming cats have seldom been sighted. So our city’s no-kill Humane Society or the shelter in the community next to ours are the sources for adoptions.
Happy Mew Year, all — and may Aki enjoy a long, happy, healthy and LOVED life with his new family!
I had no idea you where about to adopt another Oriental SH. Nice story Jo as it gives an insight into finding and adopting a purebred cat.