So, I finally worked up the nerve to visit a pet place. \u00a0They had a section dedicated to arranging adoptions from the local shelter, including quite a few cats on display. \u00a0I was pretty much there before anyone else, so, I had the chance to prod at every cat without interruption.<\/p>\n
I have this thing I do, it’s a good quick check to see if a cat is going to like me. \u00a0I poke them in the nose. \u00a0… Well, not really poke them, but, I put my finger close enough for them to give it a quick inspection. \u00a0Depending on the reaction I get, I have enough of an idea if this cat is okay with me or not.<\/p>\n
2 cats in particular responded rather positively. \u00a0Socrates, a black&white cat with tons of energy and an odd penchant of sweeping the floor. \u00a0And, Shortie; a little calm one with a mix of tabby stripes and tortoise shell, seafoam green eyes, and (being a manx) no tail.<\/p>\n
She quite calmly started rubbing on her cage bars, receptive to every scritch and scratch I had to offer. \u00a0Rolled around a bit. \u00a0Swatted at me a bit. \u00a0Really, all that little cat stuff that says “Hey! I like you.”<\/p>\n
When the people from the shelter came in to bring more cats, I gave them a bit of space so that I wasn’t an obstacle. \u00a0While I was away, Shortie was making a bit of a racket. \u00a0I come back to poke at her some more and she slips right back into full on cuddles mode.<\/p>\n
This is the cat I want. \u00a0A cat that likes me.<\/p>\n
Enough time passed that the place was crowded and the staffers asked us all inside the room to come out so that some adopters can see if they get along with the cat the plan to adopt. \u00a0When the staffer got to me, she first poked at Shortie and told her she’s getting adopted.<\/p>\n
Chills.<\/p>\n
I whined with as much voice I generally use in public, “But ~I~ want Shortie~e~e…”<\/p>\n
“Oh? \u00a0Well, there’s still a chance. \u00a0Who knows?”<\/p>\n
So, I step out while a hyper little boy and his mom step in… The boy chanting “Shortie! Shortie! Shortie!” on his way in. \u00a0Obviously quite excited.<\/p>\n
I watched from the other side of the large window as they played with her. \u00a0Mom showing her son how to be gentle. \u00a0The run her around a bit using a laser pointer. \u00a0She seemed reluctant to do things now that she was out of her cage.<\/p>\n
I’d spend the near half-hour poking at the pets outside the cat room. \u00a0One particular cat being extremely reclusive. \u00a0A Chihuahua which… Pretty much did what those little ankle biters do.<\/p>\n
I didn’t have a good idea who was on staff, who worked for the store, or who was shopping for a pet. \u00a0It was pretty much chaos. \u00a0The boy and his mother finally come out and they work on their adoption paperwork. \u00a0Finally they go outside for whatever, maybe an ATM or something. \u00a0I ask the lady who was handling the papers if they really were going to get Shortie.<\/p>\n
They were.<\/p>\n
Best I could do by then was just go.<\/p>\n
That’s all.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
So, I finally worked up the nerve to visit a pet place. \u00a0They had a section dedicated to arranging adoptions from the local shelter, including quite a few cats on display. \u00a0I was pretty much there before anyone else, so, … Continue reading