For Adopted Cats-Ever Wonder What Their Life Was Like Before You Adopted Them?

Sherry wrote:



Ahem. gets on soapbox, even though she's preaching to the choir
We've got the double-whammy. We not only live in the country, but between two
lake roads. For some reason people love to dump animals at lakes and camping
areas. I think Pam can vouch for this one, too.


We had a floating colony of around 20 cats when I was a kid, from people
dumping their cats at the farm. The reasoning seems to be that farms
can "always" use another barn cat. Pine Cone was a dump off at Morrow
Mountain SP., where we often camp. They tell me that every year they
get at least one dump off of cats and/or kittens. Pine Cone was one of
the lucky ones. He's still terrified of cars, which makes Rob and I
think he was tossed out of one. Poor Kid.

Pam S. wondering how he's going to keep from singing when we're
traveling as he "says" he's going along

Sherry wrote:



Ahem. gets on soapbox, even though she's preaching to the choir
We've got the double-whammy. We not only live in the country, but between two
lake roads. For some reason people love to dump animals at lakes and camping
areas. I think Pam can vouch for this one, too.


We had a floating colony of around 20 cats when I was a kid, from people
dumping their cats at the farm. The reasoning seems to be that farms
can "always" use another barn cat. Pine Cone was a dump off at Morrow
Mountain SP., where we often camp. They tell me that every year they
get at least one dump off of cats and/or kittens. Pine Cone was one of
the lucky ones. He's still terrified of cars, which makes Rob and I
think he was tossed out of one. Poor Kid.

Pam S. wondering how he's going to keep from singing when we're
traveling as he "says" he's going along

Sherry wrote:



Ahem. gets on soapbox, even though she's preaching to the choir
We've got the double-whammy. We not only live in the country, but between two
lake roads. For some reason people love to dump animals at lakes and camping
areas. I think Pam can vouch for this one, too.


We had a floating colony of around 20 cats when I was a kid, from people
dumping their cats at the farm. The reasoning seems to be that farms
can "always" use another barn cat. Pine Cone was a dump off at Morrow
Mountain SP., where we often camp. They tell me that every year they
get at least one dump off of cats and/or kittens. Pine Cone was one of
the lucky ones. He's still terrified of cars, which makes Rob and I
think he was tossed out of one. Poor Kid.

Pam S. wondering how he's going to keep from singing when we're
traveling as he "says" he's going along

Poor kitties! I'm so glad they've found a loving home with you, Mary.
Best wishes,
--
Polonca & Soncek

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
...
Yes, I do sometimes wonder what my cats' lives were like, and also if they
remember it. From what little I do know, I *hope* (in some circumstances)
that they do not have a memory of "those days." snip

Poor kitties! I'm so glad they've found a loving home with you, Mary.
Best wishes,
--
Polonca & Soncek

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
...
Yes, I do sometimes wonder what my cats' lives were like, and also if they
remember it. From what little I do know, I *hope* (in some circumstances)
that they do not have a memory of "those days." snip

Poor kitties! I'm so glad they've found a loving home with you, Mary.
Best wishes,
--
Polonca & Soncek

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
...
Yes, I do sometimes wonder what my cats' lives were like, and also if they
remember it. From what little I do know, I *hope* (in some circumstances)
that they do not have a memory of "those days." snip

Shmogg was obviously a street-cat. Not quite feral (ie, wild and untamable),
but certainly street smart. I don't think he had a *bad* life out there, as
he wasn't skinny and we've never had any food issues with him. The only
"signs" that he was a street cat is that he's not all that affectionate and
isn't a lap cat, that tends to bite & scratch if he's not getting his own
way. And of course his b*st*rd c*t skills.

Fluffy, though, makes me wonder. She was purchased from a pet shop the day
she was due to be put down because no-one bought her. She was 12 weeks old
at the time. Now, figuring that they get puppies at 8 weeks old, that meant
she'd been at the pet shop, in those horrid little cages, for a month. And
when we brought her home, she was very sleepy and lethargic for two days and
then she turned into a bouncy, energetic, enthusiastic, perfectly normal
puppy. I could only conclude that the pet shop sedated her so as to keep her
quiet in that small horrid cage.

As most of you know, Fluffy is a bit "special" in that she doens't seem to
have alot of smarts, but is a very loving and affectionate dog. She does,
howver, have serious abandonment issues (why we haven't had her spayed, we
can't bear teh thougth of leaving her at the vet overnight), she's terrified
of all other dogs, including the tiny little yappy things she could take out
in one snap of her jaws (which is another reason why spaying doesn't seem
terribly important, she is so scared of other dogs its highly unlikely she'd
"stand" for a mating), and while she is very wary of all strangers, she is
uttelry terrified of strange men, particularly ones with loud deep voices,
and elementary-school aged children. All this speaks of an abusive past,
whether that be active abuse, or just the sort of crap that happens at a
bodgy pet shop where she got to spend most of the day in a boring metal cage
doped out of her mind, whilst children got to prod and poke at her. And when
she got taken out of the cage, she'd be loved and cuddled for a few
minutes - enough for Fluffy to bond with them - they'd then walk away, never
to be seen by Fluffy again. She also cowers if you raise an open palm above
her head. It breaks my heart, that does,a nd we still haven't been able to
train her out of that.

For the record, the petshop Fluffy came from got closed down. I don't know
the reasons, but I can guess...

Yowie

Shmogg was obviously a street-cat. Not quite feral (ie, wild and untamable),
but certainly street smart. I don't think he had a *bad* life out there, as
he wasn't skinny and we've never had any food issues with him. The only
"signs" that he was a street cat is that he's not all that affectionate and
isn't a lap cat, that tends to bite & scratch if he's not getting his own
way. And of course his b*st*rd c*t skills.

Fluffy, though, makes me wonder. She was purchased from a pet shop the day
she was due to be put down because no-one bought her. She was 12 weeks old
at the time. Now, figuring that they get puppies at 8 weeks old, that meant
she'd been at the pet shop, in those horrid little cages, for a month. And
when we brought her home, she was very sleepy and lethargic for two days and
then she turned into a bouncy, energetic, enthusiastic, perfectly normal
puppy. I could only conclude that the pet shop sedated her so as to keep her
quiet in that small horrid cage.

As most of you know, Fluffy is a bit "special" in that she doens't seem to
have alot of smarts, but is a very loving and affectionate dog. She does,
howver, have serious abandonment issues (why we haven't had her spayed, we
can't bear teh thougth of leaving her at the vet overnight), she's terrified
of all other dogs, including the tiny little yappy things she could take out
in one snap of her jaws (which is another reason why spaying doesn't seem
terribly important, she is so scared of other dogs its highly unlikely she'd
"stand" for a mating), and while she is very wary of all strangers, she is
uttelry terrified of strange men, particularly ones with loud deep voices,
and elementary-school aged children. All this speaks of an abusive past,
whether that be active abuse, or just the sort of crap that happens at a
bodgy pet shop where she got to spend most of the day in a boring metal cage
doped out of her mind, whilst children got to prod and poke at her. And when
she got taken out of the cage, she'd be loved and cuddled for a few
minutes - enough for Fluffy to bond with them - they'd then walk away, never
to be seen by Fluffy again. She also cowers if you raise an open palm above
her head. It breaks my heart, that does,a nd we still haven't been able to
train her out of that.

For the record, the petshop Fluffy came from got closed down. I don't know
the reasons, but I can guess...

Yowie

Shmogg was obviously a street-cat. Not quite feral (ie, wild and untamable),
but certainly street smart. I don't think he had a *bad* life out there, as
he wasn't skinny and we've never had any food issues with him. The only
"signs" that he was a street cat is that he's not all that affectionate and
isn't a lap cat, that tends to bite & scratch if he's not getting his own
way. And of course his b*st*rd c*t skills.

Fluffy, though, makes me wonder. She was purchased from a pet shop the day
she was due to be put down because no-one bought her. She was 12 weeks old
at the time. Now, figuring that they get puppies at 8 weeks old, that meant
she'd been at the pet shop, in those horrid little cages, for a month. And
when we brought her home, she was very sleepy and lethargic for two days and
then she turned into a bouncy, energetic, enthusiastic, perfectly normal
puppy. I could only conclude that the pet shop sedated her so as to keep her
quiet in that small horrid cage.

As most of you know, Fluffy is a bit "special" in that she doens't seem to
have alot of smarts, but is a very loving and affectionate dog. She does,
howver, have serious abandonment issues (why we haven't had her spayed, we
can't bear teh thougth of leaving her at the vet overnight), she's terrified
of all other dogs, including the tiny little yappy things she could take out
in one snap of her jaws (which is another reason why spaying doesn't seem
terribly important, she is so scared of other dogs its highly unlikely she'd
"stand" for a mating), and while she is very wary of all strangers, she is
uttelry terrified of strange men, particularly ones with loud deep voices,
and elementary-school aged children. All this speaks of an abusive past,
whether that be active abuse, or just the sort of crap that happens at a
bodgy pet shop where she got to spend most of the day in a boring metal cage
doped out of her mind, whilst children got to prod and poke at her. And when
she got taken out of the cage, she'd be loved and cuddled for a few
minutes - enough for Fluffy to bond with them - they'd then walk away, never
to be seen by Fluffy again. She also cowers if you raise an open palm above
her head. It breaks my heart, that does,a nd we still haven't been able to
train her out of that.

For the record, the petshop Fluffy came from got closed down. I don't know
the reasons, but I can guess...

Yowie

"Ginger-lyn Summer" wrote in message
...
On 27 May 2004 15:42:52 -0700,
(CajunPrincess) wrote:

I adopted Sabastian and Kona as adults, meaning they both have a
"past". I know something about Kona's background was because he was
turned into the clinic (which houses cats for adoption as well in
conjunction with a rescue group) as an 11 year old by the family that
had been bringing him there for years. But Sabastian, who was about
3
years old when I adopted him, was a "door dump"-he was left at the
doorstep of the clinic in a carrier, something which I assume happens
at most shelters.

Periodically I wonder what his life was like with whoever had him
initially. I wonder what name they gave him and how he was treated.
Nothing in his condition or behavior really gives a clue. He was
neutered but not declawed. He doesn't seem to be particularly scared
of anything. He's best described as being a lovebug on his own
terms-he likes being held and petted for discrete periods of time,
but
after some time (and those periods seem to be getting longer) he
decides that he's had enough and wants to go do other things. He
likes
to have places of his own but he also will sleep on his back with his
legs all splayed out in the middle of the floor. He definitely isn't
clingy, although he likes being around me and other people even when
he's had his quota of lovin' for the time being. He's not at all a
"talker", in fact he rarely meows. I sometimes wonder if his sparse
vocalization is a relflection of his upbringing, but it could also
just be the way he is. Whatever life was like for him at his original
home, he seems to have been physically well cared for and there
aren't
any signs of mistreatment.

I know that people give away pets for all sorts of reasons and I
guess
it'll always be a mystery as to why his original owners didn't want
him anymore. He's a healthy 12 lb long haired black domestic breed
(although when he wants to be held he likes to melt in your arms like
a ragdoll, he doesn't seem to have any of the other characteristics
of
that breed) Not an unusual looking cat but very attractive. He's by
far the most athletic cat I've ever been around, but he's not really
bad about jumping on things like the kitchen counter that I would
prefer he not get on. He's real fastidious and always uses the
litterbox. He and Kona have settled down to a roomate kind of
relationship with only occasional spats, so I would tend to doubt
that
there was another cat that he couldn't get along with.

At least his original owners had the decency to make reasonably sure
he'd be taken care of even if they didn't have the gumption to bring
him in to the shelter themselves. Did his original owner get married
to someone who was allergic or didn't like cats? Run out of money to
take proper care of him and decide not to tempt fate? Had to move
away and just didn't want to bother taking him? I guess I'll never
know and Sabastian isn't inclined to discuss the matter. In the end I
suppose all that really matters is that we're both very happy he's
here.

I think your last line says it all, but I, too, wonder about mine.

Internet is the only shelter adoptee, and I know he was removed from
an abuse/neglect situation where he lived with other cats and dogs.
He was terrified of brooms, and always ducked and closed his eyes when
I tried to pet him on top of his head. Took lots of work to get him
over his fears.

Cosmo we think was in a household where perhaps he, or someone in it,
was abused. He gets upset and meows at raised voices, and is afraid
of loud music, as well as thunder. He also took awhile to understand
that it was okay to get up on the furniture, so we think he wasn't
allowed to wherever he was before.

Sabra I think either got lost or was dumped when they found out he had
asthma and couldn't/wouldn't take care of the medical problem.

Trill and Merlyn I have no idea. I think they were just owned by
idiots and dumped when they were no longer convenient and got old
enough to spray/go into heat.

Brando, the former feral, I really wonder about. I think he was owned
by someone before, and I have a feeling his owner died, and no one
else in the family wanted to take him in, so he was dumped and became
feral. When I look at him, I can see him as a kitten, and he had to
be the most adorable little thing back then!

Ginger-lyn

When I got Lindy at the shelter, she was about 18 months old, and had
already been spayed. She was in good health. When I talk to her and
say she's precious, she rolls over on her back and curls her paws. My
theory is that she owned an elderly woman who either died or had to go
into a rest home, and there was nobody to take her. I also suspect that
her name was Precious. Of course I'll never know for sure.

She was obviously loved, though. She runs and jumps up on the table or
bed if I head that direction, meowing loudly for skritches.

Joy