The One Where We Fell In Love In A Car 🐱💌

Last week I mentioned getting an urgent call. Here's how that unfolded.

The wonderful society I foster for needed a last-minute transfer – a kitten requiring surgery at a specialist vet across the state. As it happened, Mr. F and I were already in Boston that day trying to get an updated rabies vaccine (more on that saga another time). We couldn't get the shot that day and were asked to come back the following morning. So I reached out to the coordinator and said, hey, we'll be in the area tomorrow anyway – if it helps get this kitten to surgery faster, we'll pick her up.

The coordinator was delighted. Ten minutes of back and forth and we had an extra mission added to our schedule.

The next morning we tidied the car, strapped the cat box in, and headed off to the shelter. We only had a few details: her name was Story, she was four months old, a dilute tortie, and the poor little girl had a rectal prolapse that needed surgical repair.

We got her in the car and the meowing started immediately. She was very concerned. I sat in the back with her, her box covered with a towel, talking constantly so she knew she wasn't alone. Still the crying continued. We had asked if she was a spicy cat and were assured she wasn't at all. So I opened the box, slowly, just in case she wanted some comfort.

What a beautiful cat. That was my first thought. She had this graceful, sleek look about her – like Grace Kelly in cat form.

What a softy. Second thought. The softest coat I've ever touched.

Get back in that box. Third thought, as she pushed her head past the door to brush against my arm. Now I was a bit concerned she'd start running around the car or hide under the seat. But Story just wanted affection. She confidently walked into my lap, stared directly at me, and gave my face little kitten kisses.

What a sweetheart.

No more meowing for the next two hours. Just huge purrs and endless cuddles, wrapped up together in a blanket on my lap. Such a little baby. Within an hour, my husband says quietly from the front seat, "I don't think we can give her back. She's purrfect." After much discussion while Story took a cat nap on me, it was decided. We would put our names down to adopt her as soon as we got her to the hospital.

The drive was easy. Story slept. We arrived, called our coordinator to let her know Story was safe, and added that we wanted her. Do we speak to you or the new hospital?

We got Story registered and shared our intentions with the receptionist handling the adoption centre. What came next was... strange. Instead of a smile and "that's wonderful, I'll put your name on the first call list," we got a wall of negativity.

"Well she might not survive the surgery. We don't do adoption lists, you'd have to call every day. She would have to stay on our services and you don't live in the area. You'd have to become a foster at our practice first and that can take a long time."

More excuses followed. Mr. F and I just stared at her and said, yeah, we're prepared to do what it takes. Meanwhile thinking, lady, you have no idea how willing we are to call you every single day and annoy you into submission.

We said our goodbyes to Story. I noticed the receptionist never once looked into the carrier. Not an animal lover, clearly.

The next day we went back to our shelter to drop off food and bedding and check in with our coordinator. We told her about the weird interaction. She agreed it was odd and said she'd reach out to her contact there to see about getting us on Story's list. We thanked her and got on with our day.

A week later we were back at the shelter picking up two very tiny kittens (more on those chaos agents next week!). As we were leaving, our coordinator spotted us and shared the news. Story's surgery went well. Her stitches come out in another week. And our names have been added to her profile.

A week goes by and we make a few calls. Stitches are out, shes also been spayed, and the clinic even mentioned in her notes what a delightful patient she is. We now have our own contact there called Laurie who listened to my husband retell how we fell in love with her, and she's invested in hearing Story's story. She's still under observation, if there are no changes we should be able to pick her up next week.

Next week's post will be one of three things: chaotic kittens we're currently fostering, the reason we needed new rabies shots, or a catch-up on my actual workload and what customs I've been working on. Place your bets now 🦊☕