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

"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

"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

Margaret Fine had some very interesting things
to say about For Adopted Cats-Ever Wonder What Their Life Was Like
Before You Adopted Them?:

What I think about the most, tho, is if he wasn't feral how someone
could have either dumped him or lost him. He is so loving. If someone
lost him how come they didn't move heaven and earth to get him back? I
would have. How could someone dump such a precious little soul? I know
people do but I will never understand.

That's what I'd like to know about Felix. When I met him at the
shelter [he was about 2 years old at the time], I was told he'd been
picked up by Animal Control as a stray about two months before. He
definitely did not grow up feral! He was one of the more
attention-seeking cats at the shelter that day and happily cuddled and
purred when the attendant let me meet him outside the cage. He settled
very quickly into ruling the household and has generally been quite
well-behaved [a bit shy with strangers, but he's getting better about
that]. He's certainly bonded to *his* humans. He'll sit on the edge of
the tub when I'm taking a bath, come running at the sight of his
brush, play teddy-kitty on the bed, etc.

--
"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing
(or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL

Margaret Fine had some very interesting things
to say about For Adopted Cats-Ever Wonder What Their Life Was Like
Before You Adopted Them?:

What I think about the most, tho, is if he wasn't feral how someone
could have either dumped him or lost him. He is so loving. If someone
lost him how come they didn't move heaven and earth to get him back? I
would have. How could someone dump such a precious little soul? I know
people do but I will never understand.

That's what I'd like to know about Felix. When I met him at the
shelter [he was about 2 years old at the time], I was told he'd been
picked up by Animal Control as a stray about two months before. He
definitely did not grow up feral! He was one of the more
attention-seeking cats at the shelter that day and happily cuddled and
purred when the attendant let me meet him outside the cage. He settled
very quickly into ruling the household and has generally been quite
well-behaved [a bit shy with strangers, but he's getting better about
that]. He's certainly bonded to *his* humans. He'll sit on the edge of
the tub when I'm taking a bath, come running at the sight of his
brush, play teddy-kitty on the bed, etc.

--
"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing
(or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL

Margaret Fine had some very interesting things
to say about For Adopted Cats-Ever Wonder What Their Life Was Like
Before You Adopted Them?:

What I think about the most, tho, is if he wasn't feral how someone
could have either dumped him or lost him. He is so loving. If someone
lost him how come they didn't move heaven and earth to get him back? I
would have. How could someone dump such a precious little soul? I know
people do but I will never understand.

That's what I'd like to know about Felix. When I met him at the
shelter [he was about 2 years old at the time], I was told he'd been
picked up by Animal Control as a stray about two months before. He
definitely did not grow up feral! He was one of the more
attention-seeking cats at the shelter that day and happily cuddled and
purred when the attendant let me meet him outside the cage. He settled
very quickly into ruling the household and has generally been quite
well-behaved [a bit shy with strangers, but he's getting better about
that]. He's certainly bonded to *his* humans. He'll sit on the edge of
the tub when I'm taking a bath, come running at the sight of his
brush, play teddy-kitty on the bed, etc.

--
"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing
(or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL

wrote:
On Fri, 28 May 2004 12:46:16 -0500, "jmcquown"
wrote:

CajunPrincess wrote:
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.

I don't know about Persia's past. She was definitely a house-cat at
some point; she'd been spayed and front-declawed.

She showed up at my back door on January 3rd, 2001. She was yowling
to be let inside. I know she didn't live here before since I'd been
living here nearly 4 years and she was only around 3 years old. I
admit, I tried to shoo her away. She wouldn't listen to me. Kept
coming back. As the sun set the temps dropped into the 20 F degree
area and I couldn't stand the thought of her just sitting out there.
I opened the door. She cautiously entered and checked out the digs.

That night she crept up on the bed, purring loudly and rather
distressedly. She slept on the pillow over my head.

I took pictures of her, printed and hung out flyers around the
neighborhood; canvassed the area vets and shelters. No one knew
where she came from. The apartment manager thought perhaps someone
had moved out and left her there so she just sort of picked me to be
her meowmie.

Now she sleeps curled up in the crook of my waste

I just love spell checkers. Don't you mean waist, Jill?

Oh fer cryin out loud. Considering 'waste' is a real word, spell checker
wouldn't have caught it.

You have to pick on one typo when I have a lovely cat who sleeps curled up
against my waist??? At least I *have* a waist. And a lovely cat.

Jill

wrote:
On Fri, 28 May 2004 12:46:16 -0500, "jmcquown"
wrote:

CajunPrincess wrote:
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.

I don't know about Persia's past. She was definitely a house-cat at
some point; she'd been spayed and front-declawed.

She showed up at my back door on January 3rd, 2001. She was yowling
to be let inside. I know she didn't live here before since I'd been
living here nearly 4 years and she was only around 3 years old. I
admit, I tried to shoo her away. She wouldn't listen to me. Kept
coming back. As the sun set the temps dropped into the 20 F degree
area and I couldn't stand the thought of her just sitting out there.
I opened the door. She cautiously entered and checked out the digs.

That night she crept up on the bed, purring loudly and rather
distressedly. She slept on the pillow over my head.

I took pictures of her, printed and hung out flyers around the
neighborhood; canvassed the area vets and shelters. No one knew
where she came from. The apartment manager thought perhaps someone
had moved out and left her there so she just sort of picked me to be
her meowmie.

Now she sleeps curled up in the crook of my waste

I just love spell checkers. Don't you mean waist, Jill?

Oh fer cryin out loud. Considering 'waste' is a real word, spell checker
wouldn't have caught it.

You have to pick on one typo when I have a lovely cat who sleeps curled up
against my waist??? At least I *have* a waist. And a lovely cat.

Jill

wrote:
On Fri, 28 May 2004 12:46:16 -0500, "jmcquown"
wrote:

CajunPrincess wrote:
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.

I don't know about Persia's past. She was definitely a house-cat at
some point; she'd been spayed and front-declawed.

She showed up at my back door on January 3rd, 2001. She was yowling
to be let inside. I know she didn't live here before since I'd been
living here nearly 4 years and she was only around 3 years old. I
admit, I tried to shoo her away. She wouldn't listen to me. Kept
coming back. As the sun set the temps dropped into the 20 F degree
area and I couldn't stand the thought of her just sitting out there.
I opened the door. She cautiously entered and checked out the digs.

That night she crept up on the bed, purring loudly and rather
distressedly. She slept on the pillow over my head.

I took pictures of her, printed and hung out flyers around the
neighborhood; canvassed the area vets and shelters. No one knew
where she came from. The apartment manager thought perhaps someone
had moved out and left her there so she just sort of picked me to be
her meowmie.

Now she sleeps curled up in the crook of my waste

I just love spell checkers. Don't you mean waist, Jill?

Oh fer cryin out loud. Considering 'waste' is a real word, spell checker
wouldn't have caught it.

You have to pick on one typo when I have a lovely cat who sleeps curled up
against my waist??? At least I *have* a waist. And a lovely cat.

Jill

in article , Sherry at
itty wrote on 5/28/04 2:18 PM:

Oh, poor Amber. I am so glad you got her. You truly saved her from a life of
abuse. The kind that some "cat lovers" inflict on their cats, but no less than
abuse all the same.
I"m still really puzzled about Biskit. She is just so lovey-dovey she *had* to
be well socialized even as a kitten. Someone handled that cat a lot. She runs
up to me and FLOPS down, hard, to be rubbed. She's always in your lap. The
only
thing she is afraid of is the outdoors. I can't help wondering if she got lost
somehow from the original owners. She has an old injury on her side that the
vet says looks just like a BB gun wound to him. It really makes me wonder.
I"ve
had lots of strays, but never one that settled in and became so devoted to
their owners so fast as her.

Sherry

AWwww so nice to hear she has settled.

in article , Sherry at
itty wrote on 5/28/04 2:18 PM:

Oh, poor Amber. I am so glad you got her. You truly saved her from a life of
abuse. The kind that some "cat lovers" inflict on their cats, but no less than
abuse all the same.
I"m still really puzzled about Biskit. She is just so lovey-dovey she *had* to
be well socialized even as a kitten. Someone handled that cat a lot. She runs
up to me and FLOPS down, hard, to be rubbed. She's always in your lap. The
only
thing she is afraid of is the outdoors. I can't help wondering if she got lost
somehow from the original owners. She has an old injury on her side that the
vet says looks just like a BB gun wound to him. It really makes me wonder.
I"ve
had lots of strays, but never one that settled in and became so devoted to
their owners so fast as her.

Sherry

AWwww so nice to hear she has settled.