Living at Meadow Lake, a senior living community, there are many residents who have pets as companions. Even though the majority seem to have dogs, cats are close up alongside them in numbers.
A resident was asking me about my cats one day and I came to find out she also had them. In fact they were two beautiful big and fluffy orange tabbies! She told me about them and I asked her if she could send me their story. She did, and here it is:
Tessie
I brought my 12 year old rescue cat Tessie with me when I moved to Texas in 2015. Daddy wasn’t excited about her – he’s not a cat person – but I told him we came as a set and if he wanted me, he got her as well. Fortunately she was not one to run around like crazy and I was careful to pick up toys so he wouldn’t trip over her or them. Unfortunately for me, I had to let her go in 2017 and bawled like a baby, which Daddy didn’t get at all.
I knew I couldn’t get another cat while he was still alive because I was so afraid he would fall and it would be my fault – he had enough trouble with balance as it was. I was lonely after he died in May 2018 but hadn’t quite turned my thoughts to getting another cat, or cats actually. After having just one, I wanted to have a bonded pair who would keep each other company.
In July, I had The Dream that changed it all. In the dream, Tessie came out from under my covers with two golden kittens. My first thought was, “Where have you been pooping?” and my second was,” Kittens? Really?” Naturally I posted about the dream on Facebook and found myself bombarded by suggestions of cats I should adopt. Except I didn’t want ONE, I wanted TWO, and I was looking for an older pair who wouldn’t be as much trouble as kittens.
My friend Anne asked me if I had seen Cindy’s cats which, of course, I hadn’t since I didn’t know her. But when I looked at her Facebook page and saw their picture, I fell in love. Cindy and I talked that night and I learned that the girls were 4.5 month old littermates, that all their siblings had been adopted, but these two had had FOUR adoptions that fell through for different reasons. So they could be Mine.
Cindy and I discovered all of the overlaps between our parents, who both lived in Emerald Bay at the same time, and decided we must be “sisters”.
On Gotcha Day, Cindy arrived with her sister and a small cat carrier that held both little girls. Emma made a mad dash for my bedroom and went under the bed, while Ellie started smelling everything. I had the hardest time telling them apart for weeks but they were almost always together everywhere they went.
Emma loved climbing on my lap and snuggling up on my arm to nap with her head against my shoulder, while Ellie insisted on climbing on the laptop and adding her deft touch to whatever I was trying to type. She really just wanted the lap – she still does, but will sit on whatever else is on my lap if I don’t move it fast enough. Emma won’t lap sit and doesn’t want to be held, but she snuggles close at night so they do both get equal time.
I give thanks for Tessie letting me know it was time and for Cindy for raising these beautiful fluffy girls and trusting me with them. And of course for the girls themselves who light up my life. ~ Ann Myers
Love this!
Such a heartwarming story. I will be passing it on to my friend in CA who has and loves ‘Orange’ kitties and who adopted two sisters. I believe she too will enjoy this story.
Thanks!! 🙂