Freddie

In January 2008, having lost my 19 year old cat to cancer a couple of months before, I ventured into the shelter just to see what animals they had.  My remaining 12 year old cat seemed lost without her life-long companion.  I became a shelter volunteer in short order, all the while waiting for one special cat to catch my eye.   

In June that year, I noticed a young, thin orange tabby with a very long tail.  He was a bit timid toward strangers but had the most gorgeous, expressive orange eyes that perfectly matched his fur in colour.  After a short cuddle I knew this shy boy had to be mine. 

The adventure began shortly after I brought him home.  After investigating every corner of my trailer he found the one heating vent that had no cover and disappeared into the duct work under the house.  I was hearing strange noises coming from under the kitchen floor and the cat was nowhere to be found.  After lots of coaxing with catnip he finally emerged, much dirtier than he started – guess that’s a new way to clean your furnace ducts!   

This shy boy has blossomed into a real character: opening cupboards, opening the bathroom door, helping himself to unguarded pizza, shredding rolls of paper towel and toilet paper, playing with anything that happens to land on the floor, expertly killing bugs and chasing his “older sister” around (whether she likes it or not).  He loves to be picked up and cuddled in my arms, responding with a purr that would rival Harley motor.   I find him cuddled up beside me every morning and never have to worry about sleeping through my alarm – he knows that means breakfast! 

He is exactly the cat I wanted – I couldn’t image life without him