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February 7, 2015

The Arrival of Reese (February, 2015)



because, no Clowder is complete without its own special Calico Cat .....



We were all so sad when we lost our beautiful Farah [Calico] Bear …. Who was certainly the most eccentric girl any of us has ever known.

Farah

But that didn’t mean we wanted to welcome a new cat into our home.

Pat said she agreed with all of us that ten resident felines were quite enough.

And then one day . . .

Pat read on Facebook about a little calico girl in need of fostering. 

Here is the picture that was posted on Facebook:




And here is the background story:   

In early January, during heavy snowfalls and intensely cold weather, this tame, sweet girl found her way to a home where a kind family took her in.

The kind family assumed the little calico girl was lost, so they advertised and advertised, hoping the little cat’s people would step forward to re-claim her.

But that did not happen.

And the little calico, although happy to be warm and well-fed, was afraid of the dog who lived in the house. 

Pat looked and looked at her picture on Facebook.

And Pat remembered how, in 2006, at a time when she and Henry intended only to foster kitties and not adopt anyone permanently, Pat met Farah, who was in very big trouble: 
 
Already a mature girl, suffering the painful side effects of having been declawed as a kitten, and terrified at having been dropped off to live in a kennel at the Prince Edward Island Humane Society, Farah screamed whenever anyone so much as looked at her.

No wonder, then, that Farah was thought to be un-adoptable.



Farah had run out of options.

So Pat, who was volunteering at the Humane Society, brought Farah home, and told her that she was welcome to be as cranky and unfriendly as she wished. 

For a long time Farah remained easily frightened, especially of all other cats. And when Farah was frightened, she SHRIEKED so loudly that we all ran for cover! 

But Pat and Henry loved her anyway, and Farah became the first of us to be permanently adopted.  

In time we all became accustomed to her funny ways, and now that she is gone, we miss our bright-eyed, cantankerous Fair-Bear.



To return to the story of the homeless little calico: 

Pat didn’t even tell Henry that a new cat would be arriving at our house on January 13.

Because no new cat joins us without being tested for contagious diseases, Pat had already made an appointment for her to go to the Charlottetown Veterinary Clinic that very afternoon.

Which turned out to be even more necessary than Pat realized, because when the little calico arrived at our house, Pat could see that she was limping badly.

When she was examined, it was clear that during her time outdoors, she had been attacked by a much larger animal, probably a coyote: there were deep bite marks on her right hind leg. 

And when she was x-rayed, the veterinarian saw something that he says he has never seen before: 

Although there were deep indentations where big teeth had penetrated into the bone, the leg did not break, nor did the wound become infected.  

We will always wonder:  how did this little girl manage to escape with her life?

She was immediately put on antibiotics and pain medicine and in a few days she was feeling much better.



Henry was at first unhappy to find a new cat living in the house, but soon he realized that he loved this sweet little calico who had been through so much.

In fact, it was Henry who decided that she should be called "Reese Cup-Cake."

The bigger problem was, whether Reese would get along with all of us other Pat’s Cats.

For over a week Reese lived inside a walk-in closet, with her own food and water and scratching post and blankets and litter box.

But for the past couple of weeks she has been free to roam the house with the rest of us. And although there have been a few stand-offs, and a few warning yelps, we are working things out.






28 comments:

Brian's Home Blog said...

Reese is adorable and that is quite the story. Welcome home Reese!

meowmeowmans said...

Welcome home, Reese. You certainly did find a great forever family.

Anonymous said...

Reese is gorgeous and looks SO happy to be living with the rest of your gang. Bless you for taking her in - I hope all of you live "happily ever after" !!

Hugs, Sammy

Mickey's Musings said...

Welcome Reese.
You are a lucky kitty to be taken into such a wonderful home.
It was pretty scary reading about the leg issue :o
Good to know you are safe now :)
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ

Maggie May said...

Hello new furiends! So great to meet you all!!
XOXO
Maggie May and The Creek Cats

pilch92 said...

Congratulations on your newest addition. Reese looks like a sweetie. I am so glad she has a forever home full of love after all she has been through.

Donna said...

That is so awesome!
O hai, kitteh! :)

ZOOLATRY said...

What a pretty little girl you are!
Welcome!

Maggie@shelter-cats said...

I saw Ann's email about Reese and came to visit. Love a good story of rescue with a happy ending. It sounds like Farrah will live on in your hearts and in beautiful Reese.

John Bellen said...

Reese looks like she's made herself at home. I'm sure she'll fit in perfectly. And as was eventually plain with Farah, there are no unadoptable cats. There are just cats waiting for people with the right amount of patience and care.

Connie - Tails from the Foster Kittens said...

Welcome to the interwebs beautiful girl. Seems you are lucky in more ways than one

JC said...

Oh my, thank you for taking her in. Just reading the two stories, my heart sank but knowing there are kind people like you, makes it ok.

I have five rescues and tell myself no more but if someone really needed a home, I'd probably take them in.

In my early years, I'm an old lady now, I had nine. So, five is a normal number for me.

May she have a wonderful life with you.

XO,
JC and The Purr and Fur Gang

Karen Jo said...

Welcome to Reese! She's beautiful. I'm sorry she had such a bad time, but she's in a great home now.

Andrea and the Celestial Kitties said...

Oh poor girl! So glad she is one of you now! What a sweet looking kitty she is!

Timmy Tomcat said...

Welcome Reese! I think you will be fitting in purrfectly in no time. Thanks so much fur and uplifting story!

LP said...

What a beautiful girl Reese is! Her colours and face are lovely. We hope she adapts quickly to your gang!

the critters in the cottage xo

P.S. We are in Vancouver, Canada :)

My Mind's Eye said...

Welcome Reese! UOU are a very pretty girl and your furs look very plush and soft!
Hugs mad

Just Ducky said...

Hello Reese. You are quite the beauty.

Honey P. Sunshine said...

Reese, yoo r so beyootiful!

Everycat said...

Hello Reese, you are such a pretty girl and you have certainly landed on all four paws now you have a home with Pat and Henry. Thank you for sharing the story of Farah, Reese is going to fly the calico colours for you all

Luff
Mungo
& The Ape xx

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

We are so pleased that Reese has been welcomed into your family, and that she got the medical care she needed.

We had to MOL about Farah's screaming Scylla does the same thing when she is scared or when she is hungry.

Katiez Furry Mewz said...

Welcome Home Dear Reese. Glad you found a way to come out of the cold... Katie.

AngelSmokey, Butterfly, Peekaboo! said...

Oh it's so lovely to be able to write a welcome note !! Reese, you sure won the lottery big time by having a Gotcha Day to call your own!! Hugs and purrs!

Jans Funny Farm said...

Reese, you are so cute. Welcome.

Team Tabby said...

We are so glad to hear you have a safe and loving home, Reese. We are all rescues too.

Mindy
Moe
Mike
Cookie

Tommy and Teaghan said...

Now that's a happy story! There is something about her eyes that remind me of our departed Beau Beau. She is just beautiful! She has found her Angels with you all. Looking forward to hearing more stories :-)
~Angie

Anonymous said...

If only all cats in the world could have such a loving and caring home.

Sir Blogsalot said...

Reese is a super friendly greeter when you visit and does have plush fur as others have mentioned. All Pat's Cats are awesome and so distinct from each other personality-wise. It is a great home for cats with incredible catios and stimuli for them all.