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Finding Karma at the SPCA

Getting a cat is a greater commitment than getting married.- Seymour and Paula Chwast

This story is taken from Jasmine Kinnear’s Feline Forum on her Confessions of a Cat Breeder web site:

www.confessionsofacatbreeder.com

Catherine writes…

Okay, this is my story…

Yesterday after work I went out for a drive in the country with Maggie, my adopted Greyhound. However I got caught in traffic at the tunnel on my way back home. Rather than sit in line, I got off the main road and decided to follow the river hoping I would come across another route back.

As I was driving, I saw an SPCA sign. I followed it and ended up at the SPCA’s door. I got out and went in to see the cats. There was this beautiful Chocolate Point Siamese; she was a rescue from a “cat mill” breeder with 39 others. They divided them up between shelters and she was the last one to go at this one. She hadn’t been handled much and was very shy. I asked if I could hold her but was warned that she did not like to cuddle. Yet she took to me like a fish to water. The woman at the shelter who was with me said that she was going to find out more information. Then another person appeared and a moment later yet another person appeared. They all commented on how much this cat was “taking” to me. It was instant karma; I knew I wasn’t leaving without her.

The second lady told me that she had been adopted out, but that woman brought her back because of “allergies” two days ago, after only having the cat for about a week. The woman told them that she didn’t like being held, nor did she cuddle, yet insisted it was because of her “allergies” that she was being brought back. Apparently I was the first person who “the cat” had let touch and hold her like this. I knew the second I held her it was meant to be.

So now I have a new cat. Maggie has been great but she had never really heard a cat cry before, and was quite thrown aback and became excited about it. “The cat” has been great with Maggie and hasn’t hissed or anything. They have been really quite cute together.

We went to see our vet today; she is about two years old and is 5.5 lbs. She won’t get much bigger, she might fill out a little more, but that’s it. She is very shy and likes to either sleep on my chest or hide under the covers in a box. The vet said this will change. Look at what she has been through. She has lived in a cage for most of her life, has never had a name, and within the last little while she has been either at the SPCA, the vet’s office or that first adoptee’s house.

The problem is, as I’m sure you have noticed, that I haven’t come up with a name for her yet. This is where you come in. Please help! I need names, I need ideas. What do you think? I’m really having a tough time coming up with one.

She has already changed my life but I really need a great name for her, and any other suggestions to help her in this transition. I’m hoping to get a photo soon, but until then she looks like a Siamese with chocolate and cafe au lait markings/colours, and her eyes are very deep blue.

You can e-mail me for a further response if you want to make it brief here in this forum.

Thanks in advance for your advice,

Catherine

Jasmine’s Reply…

Dear Catherine,

Thank you for submitting your question. I appreciate the opportunity to address several important issues that your situation presents.

I believe that few are fortunate in finding their Feline Soul Mate during their lives. Even professional breeders encountering many cats are not subject to the fortune of discovering their own Feline Soul Mate despite having an extended breeding career.

By trusting your instincts I believe that you and your Chocolate Point Siamese were reunited. A sure indication of this is the great joy that she displayed during your initial meeting. She simply recognized you, and with astute intuition you realized that she was meant to be in your life.

Often a shy or reserved cat will become quite anxious to be held, with the chosen individual experiencing a ‘karmic’ feeling that this chance meeting was simply meant to be. This appears to have been your experience as well. The SPCA staff member was shocked at the female’s reaction to your presence as she had previously shown little desire to be held by anyone else.

Shortly after posting your inquiry on the Feline Forum I received an e-mail indicating your selection of a name for your little girl. Your chosen name of ‘Mia’ for your queen is quite ideal. I will therefore use Mia’s new name as I continue your consultation.

I believe that Mia is a soul whom you have loved before. Often these special felines are more sensitive to past life connections and are the first to recognize us. I truly envy the years ahead for your relationship to develop and mature. I believe you will find this relationship to be an especially close and rewarding one. Mia will understand you on a level that you may never have encountered before. There will be times when you may wonder if she could be telepathically reading your thoughts. Should you return home stressed from a difficult day she may become quite demanding, insisting that you relax and take time to pet her. When you are depressed or not feeling well she may shadow your movements and stay close by to provide her comfort and support. Her love will be constant, unconditional, and she will become a living blessing working within your life.

Despite my great affinity for cats, I have experienced my own Feline Soul Mate but once during my life. As was the Universal plan, it was a matter of chance that I found her and precisely at a time when her presence was essential for my well-being. After 13 years of sharing our lives she crossed to the Rainbow Bridge on October 1st, 1998. Despite the number of felines I presently treasure and love, my relationship with my Feline Soul Mate could never be duplicated. I will always carry an emptiness within me that only she could fill.

Years ago as a novice breeder, not following my inherited good senses, I purchased three felines sick with ringworm. One was a ten-month-old white Persian female. She had lived a totally caged existence and never experienced freedom. She attempted to show her desire for affection however became fearful whenever I interacted with her. I sensed her desire to respond and knew only too well the depth of her loneliness and sense of abandonment. I was totally drawn to her and slowly attempted to regain her trust. I began with changing her name from Danaluk to Dana. By working within her emotional restrictions she eventually trusted enough to leave the confinements of her self-imposed caged life. I was finally able to bond with her and she became one of the foundation queens in my cattery.

Dana

I owned her for several years but always believed she deserved to become a beloved pet. It was during those years that my dear friend Judy was also passing through a difficult period in her own life. Instinctively, I knew that Judy was the right person for this lovely Persian queen. Now, years later, I believe my instincts were correct and Dana has brought Judy great contentment. With Judy’s loving care this little female is extremely affectionate and totally devoted to her mistress. She loves her mother’s lap and at times is demanding when she believes her dinner should be served. There is no greater reward than to watch a once fearful cat blossom and flourish within the right environment. You will also notice this gradual change in Mia’s personality with the passing of time. I am sure you are already sensing a natural rhythm and flow to your relationship.

Maggie did not sense Mia to be just another cat as you both projected the same familiar flow of energy. As you and Maggie have an established and loving relationship, Mia was also not fearful in Maggie’s presence. The relationship between both your dog and cat was a comfortable transition as each accepted the other as a loving projection of their mistress.

The importance of a feline’s name should never be underestimated. You were wise to provide Mia with some time in assisting you to select a comfortable name for her. My advice to owners is to never capitalize on a negative aspect of their cat’s personality when deciding on a name. A cat given a skittish name will surely remain skittish. A troublesome cat with a rambunctious name will likewise live up to the energy that name implies.

A cat with a troubled past such as Mia’s will eventually rename themselves after living within a new environment. Many felines will completely accept a loving owner, thereby leaving the negative energy of their old life behind. The name Mia is a soft, endearing name indicating “Beloved cat of mine” and “My cat, a part of myself.” How appropriate, as now she is loved by you.

Perhaps Mia’s first adoption was unsuccessful due to her inability to socialize. However I prefer to believe that it was Universal intervention. The “allergies” were simply a part of the Universal plan for Mia to be in the right place to claim you as her rightful owner at exactly the right time.

I would be interested in learning how you selected her lovely name because it is most appropriate. I have a theory about such situations and I am curious as to whether it proves correct in your case. Will you please let me know?

Once again, thank you Catherine for your wonderful story. It always warms my heart when an owner and cat are reunited as you have been with Mia.

Best wishes,

Jasmine

Another cat? Perhaps. For love there is also a season; its seeds must be re-sown. But a family cat is not replaceable like a worn out coat or a set of tires. Each new kitten becomes its own cat, and none is repeated. I am four cats old, measuring out my life in friends that have succeeded but not replaced one another.- Irving Townsend

Catherine’s story continues…

It’s now September 25th, and on October 8th it will be two months that Mia and I have been together.

She is my fourth cat since I became an adult and the seventh cat in my life since I was 7 years old. What I didn’t tell you was that a couple of weeks before I found Mia, my beloved boy Dave passed away in my arms at 1:30 am on July 27th. He had just turned twenty. I found him at the Vancouver SPCA in November 1981, while looking for a lost dog that belonged to my boss.

Mia is still very shy; however she has started to come out of the bedroom within the last week. I share my home with a friend, and Mia only comes out when no one is around. She still doesn’t like being picked up but after a game of hide and seek under the bed she will give in. She continues to like hiding under a blanket on my lap when we are in the living room. But mostly she takes off like a bat out of hell and wants to explore and not be touched.

She plays a lot with her toys and Maggie’s too. At first she would only play with them when we were out but now she plays with them in front of both me and the dog. I lost my cell phone last week, only to find it under the bed up near the headboard surrounded by her toys.

When I first brought her home it took her days to purr, and now she’s so loud it wakes me up. She wouldn’t sleep with me at all but after a week or so, she now gets on the bed; only when I’m almost asleep does she get as close as she can to my neck and shoulder. She also gives me kisses on my face regularly. Last week was the first time she did the kneading thing against my neck. A couple of days later she climbed into bed, curled up against me and started to lick my ear. Dave and Cleo used to do that to each other all the time; Cleo passed away in 1996 when she was 15 years old.

Last Friday night I was up rather late when Mia started running around the house like crazy, just because she could. She even started doing that wiggle, the hind legs thing, before she took off. Now if I’m home and don’t open the door to my room right away, she cries. Whenever Maggie and I leave she sits in the bedroom window and watches us get into the car. When I get home she starts as I’m walking up the stairs.

She also rubs herself against the dog’s face, back and forth every morning, and sometimes before bed. Mia has even tripped me from under the bed and she plays with Maggie from under there too, batting her legs and face. Once in a while if Maggie gets too rambunctious with her, she will hiss.

All in all things are coming along fine, slowly but surely. She only acts like a cat when no one other than myself is around. She is still taking it very slow with my roommate and her boyfriend, as well as anyone else who visits.

As for her name, I was going to call her Tess, but I wasn’t sure, and I got negative feedback. So I started to look up different web sites. I was drawn to the letter “M” then I saw Mia. I’m still not sure if it’s her. I’ve called her Tess, Muffin, Tasha, Mika… I still don’t know.

Well that’s it for now. Thank you for writing back to me.

Regards,

Catherine

I am going to identify Mia's response to Catherine's loving and devoted care from the perspective of a Feline Behaviour Consultant.

Catherine describes, “She continues to like hiding under a blanket on my lap when we are in the living room.”

Mia’s prior life was a lonely confined caged existence. Although such a life is emotionally harmful for a breeding queen, the space restriction also provides alternate levels of frustration and a sense of security. Mia’s preference for lying on Catherine’s lap with the protection of a blanket mirrors the intimacy she shared with her mother as a kitten.

In Catherine’s words, “Last Friday night I was up rather late when Mia started running around the house like crazy, just because she could. She even started doing that wiggle, the hind legs thing, before she took off. Now if I’m home and don’t open the door to my room right away, she cries.”

Catherine has permitted Mia the freedom of choice. Felines who explore their home with such energy, exhibiting the hind leg bunny jumping reflex are reflecting their love and the great joy they are experiencing in their environment.

“When I first brought her home it took her days to purr, and now she’s so loud it wakes me up. She wouldn’t sleep with me at all but after a week or so, she now gets on the bed; only when I’m almost asleep does she get as close as she can to my neck and shoulder. She also gives me kisses on my face regularly. Last week was the first time she did the kneading thing against my neck. A couple of days later she climbed into bed, curled up against me and started to lick my ear. Dave and Cleo used to do that to each other all the time; Cleo passed away in 1996 when she was 15 years old.”

Mia has accepted Catherine as her Mom; the gradual purr, the cuddling next to her mistress’ neck and shoulders are familiar to this feline since the last loving contact she experienced was sleeping with her mother and littermates in this fashion. The ‘kneading thing’ against Catherine’s neck is called “Milk-treading” and was associated with Mia nursing as a kitten from her mother. A cat will perform this act at a very slow pace of approximately one stroke every two seconds. As Catherine has mentioned, Mia will always accompany this procedure with loud purring.

“She also rubs herself against the dog’s face, back and forth every morning, and sometimes before bed. Mia has even tripped me from under the bed and she plays with Maggie from under there too, batting her legs and face. Once in a while if Maggie gets too rambunctious with her, she will hiss.”

Mia is implementing a scent-exchange between herself and Maggie by rubbing herself against the dog’s face every morning. Mia is marking ‘her dog’ with those special scent glands located on her temples and at the gaps of her mouth. Mia is actually reading both Catherine’s and Maggie’s scent signals when she is cleaning herself. She is literally tasting them both with her tongue. Mia’s routine has special meanings... she has accepted her family and has demonstrated her affection by routinely scent-exchanging with them and identifying their scent as a part of her accepted family.

Catherine’s posting on our Feline Forum was not only touching but a true lesson in the rewards received by following one’s instincts. Mia provided Catherine with the greatest gift a feline can offer their owner... that being their total trust. Mia began life as a caged feline trapped in a cattery operating as a kitten breeding mill. It can take many years for these fearful queens to learn that not all people will neglect or be cruel to them. Despite Mia’s situation she quickly passed through the stages of bonding because Catherine’s unique energy was in harmony with her own.

I believe Catherine needed Mia’s presence in her life for quite a while. Although she had lost two beloved cats, she was still emotionally seeking the comfort of another feline; this was the energy she was projecting to the Universe long before the day she encountered Mia.

In Catherine’s words, “Yesterday after work I went out for a drive in the country with Maggie, my adopted Greyhound. However I got caught in traffic at the tunnel on my way back home. Rather than sit in line, I got off the main road and decided to follow the river hoping I would come across another route back.”

No one likes being stuck in traffic, however I prefer to believe that Catherine was following her destiny. She selected a road which lead to the right SPCA facility holding her beloved Mia. It has been my experience that only when the time is right will such a detailed path lead to a Feline Soul Mate. Had she made any other decision then Mia wouldn’t have become such an important part of her life. Despite owning a large dog and faced with the decision of adopting a fearful cat, Catherine instinctively knew she was following the right path.

May we all have the same courage to continue on such a journey, especially when circumstances dictate that it may be easier to turn back. Perhaps it’s better to listen to one’s inner voice when interpreting complicated details concerning matters of the heart. For only when our instincts are in unison with our hearts will such a decision bare results that are as equally rich and rewarding.

Loneliness is comforted by the closeness and touch of fur to fur, skin to skin - or skin to fur.- Paul Gallico