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Sifting through History
Ahead of a visit to see if there is a click between a cat and their potential ‘parent’, many animal shelters provide descriptions of their cats, complete with noted personal characteristics and their background stories.
I came across some print-outs of these descriptions of several cats we’d considered adopting, and I (re)read a few of them. I recognised immediately why these cats were in our short list; not just thanks to my highlighting and colour-coding keywords and characteristics (I have a background in data analysis during my oceanography days! 😉 ) but because of the empathy I felt when I read about their past.
Once upon a Time
Their stories vary considerably. Loving owners passing away, disgusting cretins dumping them, wild stray kittens in need of care, unwanted cats with health issues, a house move that didn’t go well, arrival of a baby or another pet…
Nearly all of the stories have a sad background, and if not, a sad present in that these cats are in shelters throughout the Netherlands now – and not (yet) in a loving home.
Happy ever After?
I can’t help wondering how they (and other cats in the shelters) are doing now. I’m sure most of them have happier lives now in a new and loving environment.
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The Sequel
Of course, the story isn’t over. More cats (and other animals) are continually brought into shelters, and admittedly it pains me to think some of these might be ‘returns’ from previous bad fits. Indeed, one of the cats we nearly brought home with us had been returned because he liked hunting and the then adopters hadn’t expected this behaviour from a cat.
These thoughts make me feel I’ve been selfish in adopting a single cat, or at least guilty for leaving the others behind. Or is it sharing the love that other’s get to have such gorgeous creatures living and loving amongst them and making their lives better?!
