It takes time to feel at home.

Ian with his toys

Dear Folks at CRARL,

This donation is in memory of our beloved cat baby “cakey” who died last month at 21 years old.  I still miss her so sadly and deeply.

But I wanted to tell you about “Ian”.  We adopted him last January so I don’t know if you would remember him, but I was told he was at the shelter for 3 years.  He was very standoff-ish and skittish, but that was the main reason I chose him, because noone else probably would have.  And there was something about his eyes and the way he looked at me. 

He was terrified of course when we brought him home.  I put him in a quiet room as I know you should when they first come home.  He hid under a bookshelf for a week.  For the first 36 hours he wouldn’t even touch his food.  After that he would cautiously come out but when I opened the door I saw a tail darting back under the bookcase.  I would get down on the floor and talk softly to him under there.  Sometimes I would get discouraged and wonder if he would ever come out.  But I know I must be patient.  The first week went by and it was time to finalize the adoption, so I came in and signed the papers.  That evening, he came out from under the bookcase, flopped down when I reached to pet him, and just started purring and rolling around.  He would put his head down and roll like a somersault.  Since then, there’s been nothing but progress.  He is so loving.  It took a long while for him to even get used to all the strange sounds of a household, like the furnace, even t.v. or music.  He still tends to have a skittish side if he feels like he’s cornered or something, and he still won’t let me pick him up, but I couldn’t ask for a swweter boy.  He likes to push his face against me and into my long hair, and he follows me into bed every night.

It breaks my heart when I hear of people who adopt cats then bring them back because they “won’t come out”.  They don’t even give them a chance.

I have enclosed two pictures of Ian, one is him with his buddy Gizmo.

Thank you for everything you do,

Genevieve Flanders

Buddies.

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My Friend Liam

Hello:

Liam graciously accepted my invitation to come home with me around Christimas time 2008. I had been volunteering at the shelter for a few months and fell in love with this senior kitty that had so much grace. He was 16 at the time I adopted him. He had been at the shelter for 2 years, losing his brother during that time. He had come from a sad situation (by the records). Liam was such a gentleman from the time he set foot in my door. My other kitties, Whisper, Winner (Whisper’s daughter) and Mickey were not too sure but he settled right in after going from room to room twice and then settling on the sofa to live his days in the sun coming in the window and insisting on my sitting down if I was too busy with his Siamese howl. He was in the early stages of kidney failure then and I was hoping he would make it to another Christimas with me but he was too ill and he went peacefully on Friday, September 18. My goal was to give him the best in his last few years and I believe I accomplished that. Everyone that met Liam thought he was such a gentleman, almost regal. I will miss him. Here’s to Liam, my graceful kitty that touched my heart.

Liam and Mikey

Nadine Micoleau

Collin has found his place!

Hi CRARL Staff,

 So far I am doing fine.   My new parents like me a lot, and I have decided that I like sitting on the couch with them while they watch the Patriots and the Red Sox.  NASCAR seems to be fun, but I can’t catch any of the cars.   Do you remember how much I like to climb?  Well, you should see this house, I can get on top of the kitchen cabinets, and the entertainment center, and I really want to get into the back yard and catch some of the chipmunks and birds and squirrels……but they keep catching me before I get up enough nerve to leave the deck out back.

Chance and I are getting along really well, we don’t fight, and we take turns sleeping in the small bed.

I made a boo boo in the cage soon after we left the shelter, and I had to have a bath (not real fun) as soon as I got home, but that was my last mistake.

I have a wellness exam in 20 minutes, so I can get new prescriptions. 

I miss you all, and I’ll send some pictures soon I promise.

Me, at the shelter, waiting for my family.

Love,

Collin.