Those of you who thought Nance was adopting Gus and Mike? Wroooooooong. Are you crazy? You think she needs TWO more cats? Felina would NOT put up with two new cats, I’ll tell you that.
Here’s the story:
A few months ago, a woman who lives in St. Louis emailed and asked if it was possible she could adopt Gus. She had fallen in love with him from my site (I mean, really, how could you NOT?), and so I passed her the information to contact the shelter manager. At that point, the Wonkas hadn’t been retested, so it was still a possibility that Gus could be FIV positive. She said that she was still wanted him whether he was positive or negative.
Time went by, then the Wonkas were retested and came up negative, but unfortunately it turned out that the lady in St. Louis wasn’t going to be able to adopt Gus, so I was disappointed, but not worried. Because seriously – you’ve SEEN Gus, I half expected there’d be fistfights in the parking lot once his floofiness was released to the public.
And THEN, I got an email from a woman in Portland, Oregon, who had fallen in love with Gus from my site and wondered if it would be possible that she and her husband could adopt him. I told her that I was pretty sure Challenger’s House wouldn’t ship kittens, but I’d pass her email along to the shelter manager anyway.
As it turned out, the shelter manager had a friend whose daughter LIVES in Portland, Oregon. AND she was going to be here visiting for the holidays. AND she was not only willing to take Gus home with her, she was excited at the idea!
The paperwork was filled out, the shelter manager made calls, and voila! They were deemed suitable adopters! I was thrilled not only that Gus had a home, but that I knew his new mommy’s email address and could ask for the occasional update. I was a little worried about him being alone, but Gus is really a people lover, so I figured if any of the Wonkas would be okay as an only cat, it would be Gus.
AND! THEN! The shelter manager told me that they wanted to adopt Mike, too! I just about hyperventilated when I heard that, I was so excited, believe me.
And really, that’s the story. Mike and Gus are now in Portland, Oregon, no doubt being spoiled rotten, and happy as can be. Yesterday, I spent most of the morning snuggling with them and loving on them. About an hour before we needed to leave the house, I put harnesses on them.
(We’d been putting the harnesses on them for a few hours every night so they’d get used to having them on. Every time we put them on, their reaction was exactly the same – first, they’d roll around on their backs. Then they’d slink around, low to the ground. Then, after about ten minutes, they’d completely forget they were wearing them. The harnesses were necessary so that they could wear their ID chip tags and rabies tags, and so that if they needed to be removed from their carrier, they could each have a leash attached to them so they wouldn’t go rogue and hop on a random plane and end up in India or Australia.)
When it was time to leave, I picked each of them up, told them it had been a pleasure knowing them for the past three months and some days, told them I loved them, kissed them a million times, and put them into the carrier.
They were pretty calm on the drive to the airport, although Mike would occasionally say “HI EXCUSE ME THERE SEEMS TO BE A MISTAKE I AM IN A CARRIER, OUT NOW PLEASE.” We parked and went inside to wait for the kind woman who was taking them to Oregon with her, and after a few minutes, Gus and Mike settled down and just sat there and watched the people go by.
She showed up, and we moved Gus and Mike from my carrier into hers (she’s used to traveling with animals, so already had a carrier that would fit under the seat, travel dishes, a small box to use as a litter box during (I assume) their layover – she had everything she needed!), I waited while she checked in, and then I said goodbye (to her, and the boys), made sure she had my cell phone number, and left the airport.
I’ll admit, I got a little teary-eyed when we were putting Gus and Mike into her carrier, and then when I left the airport, I was a great big bawling baby. I would say I got a TEENY bit attached to those guys. I know you’re shocked!
And here’s a confession that will probably surprise NONE of you – if they hadn’t told decided to adopt Mike along with Gus, Mike would have become our next cat. THANK GOD they decided they wanted Mike, because (1) Gus and Mike, brothers, togther forevah!, and (2) We DO NOT need any more cats! (Now that I’ve said that, we’ll probably have, like, six more before the end of the year!)
Of course I took more pictures of them yesterday, but let’s take a quick peek at what they looked like back toward the end of September when we first met them, shall we?
I had an email from their new mom this morning – they made it just fine, and were busy exploring their new home!
And guess what? GUESS WHAT? Veruca got adopted last night! All my sweet Wonkas have homes!
She’s going to a home with a cat-friendly dog, and I’ve gotta say, I wish I could be a fly on the wall when Veruca gets a look at that dog (actually, now that I think about it, when I took them for their 2nd vaccinations, a great big cat-loving dog came over to investigate, and none of the Wonkas were in the slightest bit fazed). She is going to rule that roost!
“You sure are purty, Mister.” (When Spanky woke up and realized what was going on, there was some HISSING on his part. )
Previously
2009: Squirrels in the side yard drive Suggie CRAYZEE!
2008: Cumin smells exactly like stinky armpit to me.
2007: No entry.
2006: “Oh. Were you gone?”
2005: No entry.
2004: No entry.
2003: “Ohhhhh,” I finally said, the light dawning. “It’s a comedy.”
2002: No entry.
2001: No entry.
2000: No entry.
Glad all the kittens are finding good homes, but now you need to get a new litter ASAP so we can have some new cuteness to look at!
Hey, don’t forget that I still have the Cookies!! (Who have been woefully neglected, blog-wise, for the past few days!)
Probably I won’t have a new litter ’til after I recover from surgery, though.
As much as I will miss kitten pictures, I miss seeing the older cats on a regular basis. I gotta say reading that all of them were adopted made me teary eyed. You a good mama Robyn!
Congrats to Gus and Mike on their new home (Veruca, too)! I know how hard it is to give up a kitty you are fostering, but it helps when you know they are going to be living with a good family.
I got a bit teary, too, but I’m glad Gus & Mike are going to be together! WTG Veruca, it’s a great start to 2010!
OK So I was wrong(sorry Nance!) Sounds like they went to a good home. Can’t wait to hear updates.
I have to admit, I was surprised that several of you guys thought Nance was taking them – it never occurred to me that anyone would think that! 🙂 (But, hey – maybe we can convince her to take a Cookie or two!)
You also have to admit that in the past every time you got “mysterious” it involved Nance so really, can you blame me?
That’s true! 🙂
I swear, I wasn’t trying to be mysterious, I was just afraid to talk about it ’cause I didn’t want to jinx it!
It’s OK that Mike got adopted too, because now you can keep Hydrox. Right?
I am SO HAPPY that the 2 brudders will stay together. Those Wonkas are so adorable, I had no doubt that they would be adopted quickly.
I second Lo’s comment about keeping Hydrox……………….and that last picture of the cookie snuggling with Spanky made me laugh out loud!!
🙂
Yay! When I click on the photos in this post I get the option for “all sizes.” Thank you! 🙂
So glad to hear that Mike and Gus got adopted together. But I sure am going to miss photos of Gus’s floofiness and your creative comments about his floofiness!
P.S. I had to type this comment twice, so if this one shows up in addition to the first one, you can delete this one. :-p
Now why wait for a new litter until after recovery? My Simon was just a few months old when I had my hysterectomy and his snuggles were just what the doctor ordered!! Imagine a whole litter of snugglers!!
You’re probably thinking of the bending to feed, scoop les poops, kiss the kitties, etc., but my recovery time was next to nothing. You will feel better right away, I promise!
You must be thrilled and so sad all at the same time. I hope new momma will continue to send pictures so that we can see them as they grow up. Do you think she is keeping their same names?
They’re renaming them – Gus is going to become “Dorian” and Mike will be “Topher.”
I’m especially thrilled that they’re just really nice people and that they were so excited to get Gus and Mike – and that they’re willing to send me pictures! 🙂
GREATEST. ENDING. EVER. I am SO SO thrilled for those sweet sweet boys. I am also glad that someone recognized the gorgeous perfection that was Ms Veruca and acted accordingly.
Now, Robyn, click your heels three times and say “Enough cats at home. Enough cats at home. Enough cats at home.”
EH MAH GAH Robyn!!!! You are the Kitten Whisperer, lady. I looove seeing siblings get adopted together. As I’m sure you can attest, with Sugarbutt and Tommy, Sibling cats have this awesome lifelong bond. It’s… special. And cute. And a little gross, from all the cuddling.
Okay,a now I’m pissed! I would have had that woman bring me a cookie! I’m only two hours up the road from Portland. I could have done that. Shit.
I actually don’t think she could have – I’m pretty sure there’s a limit on how many cats you can carry on a plane (the only reason she was able to take both kittens is because they’re still young and fairly small).
I didn’t think it was Nance but suspected one of your family members-your parents or sister. I had my first bitchypoo dream Wednesday night. There was a Dumbversation contest and two readers got to hang out with you and Nance. Arizona Ribin and I won (I NEVER win ANYTHING in real life). We met you at Nance’s house which was a huge Victorian haunted Mansion in Pittsburgh. Nance was showing us around and she had adopted one of the cookies-a Meezer. She had a gorgeous refurbished giant kitchen w/gleaming stainless steel appliances and there were appetizers and mini desserts baking in her Gemini double oven. Fun dream!
Awwww! I’m so happy for the kitty brothers and their new family.
Reading about the Wonkas and Cookies has made me want a cat SO MUCH!! and reading about your fostering has made me try and talk the hub into siblings or bonded pairs (not going as well, but he is, how you say? a sucker.) Especially Mike. Love you Mike. Miss you. I mean Topher.
I have some sadness to share, though, I contacted a local shelter and me and my family spent most of a Saturday hanging with sweet kittehs, but my allergies made me have to take to bed after I left. My two children were both fibbing saying, “I don’t (cough!) have allergies (sneeze! sniiiifffff!)” Waaaahhhh! The foster mom who reviewed my application actually brought two of her foster babies to tempt us with their cuteness.
You are so great for those kitties!!
Awww, that sucks! Stupid allergies. 🙁