News from the Corner Room

I may have been too busy to write about cats, but I haven't been too busy to visit them! Besides my usual Monday volunteering, I visited the shelter two weekends in a row with my boyfriend. We had a good time meeting new cats together, playing with them, and receiving licks and cuddles.

Eagle enjoying some bonus attention.

The 2nd Saturday we went, we were in my favorite room in the back corner playing with Mickey, Tuckerman, and Lukas, when a woman came in carrying two cat carriers. In went Mickey and Grayson. Tuckerman hid under the shelves. Out went Mickey and Grayson, meowing their young boy-cat mews. My heart dropped. Although thrilled that they're going to a proper home, I've been holding out hope that all three friends- Grayson, Mickey, and Tuckerman- would have been adopted together. Instead, shy Tuckerman was left alone to hide by himself under the shelves.

Mickey and Tuckerman- always ready to play.

The Monday before, I was in the shelter, distracted by the news of my old family cat, Dexter's, failing health, and just minutes from learning of his death. My buddies in my favorite corner room seemed to sense my sadness and did their best to make me happy and show their love. Even Tortilla, a soft tabby with a frost-bitten ear that never leaves his cat bed, climbed out from his post to rub against my legs and sprawl on my feet.

Tortilla

"Maybe Dexter's spirit entered him to say goodbye," my mom later theorized. Maybe.

Lukas, Mickey, Torilla, Tuckerman, and me. Cat heaven.

This Monday Tortilla was adopted, Mickey and Grayson have had over a week to settle into their new home, and the corner room has a new roamer- Norton- a skinny, kitty-boy with a healing scratch on his nose and a mind to play.

Norton, still in his cage before allowed the freedom to be a roamer.

But the best thing of all is Tuckerman, who over the week bonded with Norton, and even with the absence of Mickey, now has a new good friend.

Norton and Tuckerman

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Friendly Cajun tries to pat me.

Milton enjoying his brief stay by gazing out at the view.

Sophia Grace tries to reach her mousie two levels down.

Yukon, quiet and hidden in the back room.

The cats patiently wait for the volunteers to enter.