More Alumni Animals - Cats
LEO/FINNIAN
Leo is a purebred Bengal cat who was adopted by Diana
O'Neill in June 2002 when he was 2 1/2 years old. He has been renamed "Finnian."
Here are a few words from Diana about her new life with Finnian:
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Finnian is, "He is
LOUD!" He is quite the "talker" and likes to meow from the minute I walk in
the house after work. When I first brought him home, I wondered if there was
something wrong with him...as he was ALWAYS meowing (and it's not some cute
little kitten meow!). Now I realize that he just wants to "talk" for awhile
after being alone during the day. Finnian is a very active cat, and it's very
entertaining to watch him stalk, attack and bat his toys around the room (and
up and down the stairs!) with an acrobatic grace. Right now his favorite toy
is an empty plastic water bottle that he can make fly across the room with
one swat! He definitely isn't a lap cat, or a cuddler, but he does like to
make sure he knows where I am at all times when in the house and he'll lay
down right next to me when he's feeling sleepy. He is very sweet and
entertaining and I'm so glad that he's joined my life!
BUDDY
Buddy was adopted by Linda Custer and her two dogs
Griff and Zoe. Griff is also an SPCA rescue. In Linda's own words, here's how
Buddy is doing in his new home!
After only 7 days with us, Buddy is doing great! Griff and Zoe were afraid of
him for about two days. Griff finally stood his ground when Buddy decided to
eat his food while Griff was eating. Griff gave a "big bark" and Buddy flew
out of the kitchen! Since the first night, Buddy sleeps on the bed with the
whole family! He has made himself at home. One of his favorite spots is his
perch looking out into the backyard. He loves to watch the birds. He also
likes to watch the dogs when I take them out to play ball. Thanks to all the
SPCA volunteers for rescuing him and to Buddy's foster parents, Sia and
Michael, for taking such good care of him!
Photos taken May 2002; Added 8/24/2002
TUMBLES/SHAMU
Tumbles was adopted by Karen (one of out volunteers)
and Graham Walker and renamed to be Shamu. In Karen's words:
He is doing great - just one of the family now. Spends much of his time on
his back stretching out for a tummy tickle...such a tough life! He has worked
out great with our four dogs. No problems there. He marches into the den,
plonks himself down on the coffee table or sofa and the dogs just have to
step aside.
He still follows us
from room to room and enjoys sleeping on our feet and giving us an early
morning call for breakfast. We thoroughly enjoy his company.
Since adopting Shamu, I've become a volunteer with the SPCA's dog branch, so
regularly turn up at one of their adoption 'meets' to help mind the dogs in
need of homes. It was great fun a couple of weeks ago as we had a pen full of
seven puppies! So Shamu opened up a new door for me that I find very
rewarding as well as helping us after we lost our last cat. I reckon he was a
great all-round gift!
Added 7/15/2002
Tiger, Gypsy and Mocha
These cats were adopted by Kathleen MacKinnon. Here is
their story:
Tiger, Gypsy and Mocha have changed my life forever...in more ways that one!
People who know me now assume I've always been a " cat person." Not true!
Although I've always loved animals my motto had been that animals "belong in
the wild." Even though I grew up with cats and dogs and an assortment of
other creatures, I was not very interested in pets. My love for animals was
combined with my passion for wildlife and the "great outdoors." But in
September 1998 everything changed...forever! My cats, Tiger and Gypsy
(pictured head-to-head in the photo), now 4 years old, were born under the
deck of my cat-loving next door neighbors' home. After calling several rescue
groups at the height of "kitten season," SPCA-NOVA was the only group who
agreed to help. By the time SPCA arrived, I had already fallen for this
little family and kept the two tabbies for myself! I was truly amazed at how
wonderful these creatures were...very loving and always entertaining! Two
years later I began volunteering for SPCA...and, well, that's another story!
I began helping out at adoption fairs and then fostering. One of many fosters
was Mocha (pictured in front of Tiger and Gypsy), now one year old, who
joined our household when he was 6 months old. SPCA rescued Mocha and his
mother Kahlua after a kind woman had been feeding them for quite some time.
We were saddened that others in the litter had disappeared, but were
committed to finding them good homes. I had no intention of keeping Mocha,
but it soon became clear that he was in "kitty heaven" in my household. He is
a sweet and loving lap cat who adores his big brothers, but is terrified of
humans, except me. So, needless to say, we adopted Mocha. I continue to
foster cats and kittens, am now the cat foster home coordinator and, well, it
never ends. My life is indeed much richer since these creatures came into my
life!
Added 7/7/2002
TIGGER
Tigger was adopted by Kristin McArthur. In her words: Tigger
was adopted back in June 1999 when I was living in Northern Virginia. When I
saw that she had been in foster care for about 5 years because no one wanted
to adopt her due to her funny looking eyes...I knew I had to have her. She
was a little scared at first...but quickly warmed up!
Although I knew that Tiggie had some eye problems...I had no idea that she
was blind! After running into walls and people again and again...and not
noticing the cat toy swinging in front of her face, I took her to the cat
ophthalmologist, who told me that Tiggie is 100% blind due to retinal
degeneration. I asked if we needed to get a seeing eye dog...but the vet said
they thought she'd be okay without one!
It turns out that Tiggie is an amazing cat with incredible adapting
abilities. She moved with me from NoVa to Richmond and then to Tampa, FL. She
loves her home and is quite familiar with her surroundings...she knows how
high the bed is...how high the couch is...and where her food and litter box
are. She also knows the scent of her favorite black toy mouse and can be
found playing with it early in the morning before I make it down the stairs
to feed her.
She is the most loving cat I have ever known! And she's the favorite pet
amongst my friends. Because they love her so much, my friends have given her
the endearing nickname "fattie!" I wonder why??
CHESTER/KITTY KING
Chester was adopted by Lisa Choi and renamed to be
Kitty King. In her words: I adopted "Kitty King" from the SPCA in
1996 at the Falls Church PetSmart. No one knew much about his
background at the time -- he was about one-year old and, at some point in
time, he had belonged to a family that could not or did not want to keep him.
He then found his way to a vet who kept him for a while before he was
taken by the SPCA and had the name "Chester." He's the most wonderful,
smart, and loving cat. He's pretty territorial and doesn't care much
for other cats (hence the name "Kitty King"). In addition, he's a bit
on the heavy side (about 20 pounds), but he's been on diet cat food for the
past five years and has held steady at that weight.
TANGO/FERGUS MAXIMUS
Tango
was adopted by Amy Park. In her words: I had signed up to be a foster mom in
August of 2000. They said they had the perfect cat for me - Tango. Needless
to say, I never made it to any of the cat adoptions because I just fell in
love with him. So I made it official. I adopted him and renamed him Fergus
Maximus. It took close to a year for us to get to know each other. He had
been adopted and given back to the SPCA after his new owner couldn't put up
with his aggression. I was worried about his mildly aggressive tendencies so
I brought him to a clinic in Arlington. The vet took one look at him and
said, "look at him - he's so handsome and he knows it. He's a bratty frat boy
who is used to getting what he wants."
Knowing there wasn't anything physically wrong with him, we've learned to
live with each other in peace and harmony. He likes to play, but plays rough.
Since he's more active now, he's gone from 17lbs to 15 lbs. Fergus doesn't
like to be held, but is showing signs of becoming a lap cat. He has lots of
toys, but all he wants is to play with the chain to the bathtub stopper or an
empty box. He loves his catnip and a good game of chase-the-string. He makes
the perfect roommate.
I want to send all my thanks and appreciation to the NOVA SPCA for matching
me with "Ferg".
MALCOLM/DOMINO & ASHES/DISCO
Disco
and Domino were adopted by Lori Liddick (SPCA volunteer) and Matt Ward in
August 2001. Disco is the gray female kitty and Domino is the black and white
male. They are from different litters. They spend their days lounging around
the house, playing with our two big dogs, and watching Animal Planet. Disco
loves to watch Matt's records spin around on the turntable - hence her name.
Domino gets into everything - his favorite toys are candy wrappers -
especially Kit Kat wrappers (which is quite ironic considering the name of
the candy). Maybe he knows how to read! They both love water and jump in the
sinks every chance they get.
BUZZ/GRAHAM
Buzz was adopted by Tara Dwyer in February 2001. In her
words:
When we both got full time jobs, we felt that our cat Dennis needed a buddy
during the day. Dennis had always been a sweet cat, and we felt that he would
do well with a kitten coming in, and we couldn't have been more right! After
looking on the SPCA website, I found this adorable little tabby kitten named
Buzz. I went to Petsmart in Fair Lakes, filled out the papers, and soon Buzz
came home with us. We renamed him Graham, and he has been a delight! He loves
to shadow his big brother Dennis, and the two are like long lost pals. They
are always together, napping on the couch or hiding in the kitchen cabinets.
(As you can see!) Graham has been a wonderful addition to our family, and we
just love him! He has the cutest squeaky meow which is so adorable that even
when he decides to sing at 2:00 in the morning you can't help but smile!!
BUDDY & LITTLE GUY
Buddy and Little Guy (LG) were rescued at 8 weeks old
from an abandoned building in Washington, DC along with 6 other kittens in a
feral cat colony. They were adopted by Abby Ruskey in late December 2000.
Since that time, Abby has taken them on a transcontinental trek. They had no
idea what an adventure their life was going to be with Abby! Buddy and LG
first moved from Washington, DC to Madison, WI for a "taste" of what "real
winters" are like! They were a "big hit" at National Airport and on their
flight to Madison. They especially enjoyed the attention they got when the
security personnel insisted that be removed from their carrier and walked
through the x-ray machine. Luckily they didn't set off any alarms! And, of
course, the passengers on the flight just couldn't help but "ouuuuu" and "ahhhhh"
over these 3 pound little darlings! In Madison, they enjoyed life in a two
story 100 year old house with lots of rooms to explore, big windows, and a
screened-in porch. 
Abby also built them a "cat apartment" made from cardboard
boxes complete with windows, carpeted floors and sides for scratching, and a
ramp which leads to a "roof garden" of catnip. Many months later, Buddy and
LG landed in Olympia after being driven the rest of the way across the
country in a make-shift kitty lounge complete with beds, a litter box, a
scratching board, and lots of toys. They are now enjoying life in their new
home with a fireplace, big windows to sun themselves and watch the world go
by, and their new 18 year old feline sibling.
JOHNNNY BENCH/ZORRO
Johnny Bench was adopted by Julie Kearney & Eugene
Leung in July 1997. He was renamed to be Zorro and is their beloved pet now.
CASSANDRA/WILLOW
Cassandra was adopted by Toby & Bill Reidway in October
of 2000. She was renamed to be Willow. In Toby's words:
These are my two girls. You might recall the article in the last newsletter
about Cassandra. We love her so much and she is enjoying her new home in
Fairfax. She is also enjoying her new baby sister, Jade, a 5 month old Buff
Tabby adopted from the "Best Friends" organization. After some initial
adjustments they got along great. So I thought I'd send a photo of them
snuggling. Willow's special trait is that she retrieves toys and carries them
around with her. She often delivers objects like the kitchen sponge, pens,
pencils and other objects to us. We find things we thought we lost all over
the house!
Both Willow and Jade love to snuggle with my husband & I and follow us around
the house. We love them so much and are grateful to the SPCA for helping us
fall in love and adopt Willow and are glad they have saved so many animals!
I will never forget seeing "Cassandra" (Willow) for the first time on the
SPCA website - as soon as I saw her I knew she needed to come home with us!
JIGGLYPUFF/CRICKET & BUBBLES/SISSIE
Jigglypuff & Bubbles were adopted by Sandra Denmon in
January of 2000. They were renamed to be Cricket & Sissie. In Sandra's words:
They are brother (black) and sister (grey) born in August of 1999. Cricket is
very, very loving and active as well. Sissie is very ladylike and truely a
sweet, sweeet female - she's as quiet and sedate as Cricket is active - they
love one another & wrestle, groom and play together - we love them dearly.
Thank you for rescuing them for us.
CHANEL/COCO
Chanel was adopted by Caroline Esclapez in August of
2001. Considering that Chanel was rescued a couple of months earlier while
living in a feral cat colony, I'd say she is doing wonderfully! In Caroline's
own words, this is how Chanel (renamed Coco Chanel) is doing: Coco has become
such an important part of my life; she is a very sweet young lady. She was
very shy when I fist got her; but with time, she has become very cuddly and
affectionate. In March 2003, Zoro a beautiful Tuxedo moved in with us.
Coco and Zoro get along wonderfully, they regularly have what we call in
French "quart d'heure de folie" which means 15 minutes of crazy time when
they chase each others, but they also have their quite time taking naps
together (see picture).
Thanks again for rescuing Coco and letting me adopt her.
TOFU & TABITHA
Tofu & Tabitha were adopted by Marie & John Roby. In
Marie's words:
Tofu (on the left) was adopted by us through Edith in Sept 92. He was found
on a Manassas battlefield at 1 year of age.
Tabitha (on the right; Tofu's cuddling partner) was adopted in August 1996.
Sandy Soto was the foster mother for her.
They are both doing great and enjoy each other's company. Their antics never
cease to amaze us.
The photo above was a winner in our 2004 calendar contest - so Tofu and Tabitha are now "pin-ups"!
TEACUP/HISSIE
Teacup was adopted by Frances Schiller in November 1994
and renamed to be Hissie. In her words:
Her name was Teacup and because of her personality we changed it to Hissie.
She is not and never will be a "lap cat". But - she likes to be close, enjoys
attention and hide and seek games - we're very happy that she's part of her
family.
PEARL/MOLLY
Pearl was adopted by Virginia Trautman in July 1998 and
renamed to be Molly. In her words:
Molly was 3 years old when I adopted her...she was sad because she had been
declawed and had to be kept in a room away from the other kitties because
they picked on her...now she is a very well-adjusted kitty in an "only pet"
home...she has been with me to NYC and back during an employment relocation
for 9 months and from singlehood to couplehood...now I am getting married and
she has a new daddy who loves her! She has given me a lot of joy and I am so
glad she found me!
Sylvester, the Hemingway cat, was adopted by Cathy Baumbusch in May 2001 and renamed to be Calvin Sylvester. In her words:
Searching for a buddy for my 6 year old Tabby named Hobbes, I saw Sylvester on your website and immediately fell in love with his mitten-paws.
We kept Sylvester (now renamed Calvin Sylvester) in his own room for about a week. At first, Hobbes didn't seem to happy to have another cat around, but he was only establishing dominance. After another week, they were best buddies and true "brothers". They are play-wrestling constantly and love to lounge when they are not chasing each other around.
One week we dog-sat for a friend of mine and we were afraid of how Calvin would react. But after about 3 days, he caught on that the dog wasn't going to hurt him and he even learned how to play with the dog. It was mayhem that week, but the three guys had a ball!
I recently came back after a two week trip, and Calvin has not left my side since I returned.
The top picture shows Calvin lying on the bed in his room. The lower left shows Calvin and Hobbes investigating something in the yard-- squirrels perhaps? The lower right is Calvin resting under the watchful eye of his brother Hobbes - Calvin with the white paws.
Nicky & Jasmine were adopted by Charles and Pui-Teng in July 2001 and Jasmine was renamed to be Jasper.
The top picture shows Nicky and Jasper in the bathroom at their new house -- the cool place to hang out (we are careful about cleaning the bathroom, because we know they like to play in the bathtub and sink).
The following two pictures show Nicky and Jasper by the windows in the living room of our old place -- resting after a busy morning watching the birds on the balcony
FAITH/SADIE FAITH
Faith was adopted by Karisue Wyson in August 2000 and
renamed to be Sadie Faith. In her words:
Last June I adopted my first kitty --
Cooper from your group and decided shortly thereafter a cat as social as
he was needed a buddy. I had originally planned to foster another male SPCA
cat, but fate brought me to a scared little cat hunkered down in the back of
her carrier. Inside was Faith, wishing she was anywhere but a loud adoption
fair! After hearing her story from Liz Gaver (Faith had been born feral in a
dangerous part of town, the last one captured in her brood, intimidated by
her foster bretheren) I decided she'd come home with me to see if I could
love her back into a happy life. I had no idea what I was in for... For three
weeks, she wouldn't come out from under my bedroom chair. Occasionally I'd
see her sneak past me and dart into other rooms, but if I tried to touch her,
my reward was slashes on the back of my hand! I was sure she was feeling as
miserable as a cat could, and Cooper was no help ... He just wanted to eat
all her food! One day, she snuck out from the bedroom chair and glided
herself under my outstretched hand and then the new Sadie Faith was born!
Since those first few weeks, you could not imagine the metamorphosis this
little gal has undergone. She's now a social kitty (though not as bold as her
adoptive brother Cooper) and plays like a little kitten. Her favorite
passtime is to sit at the storm door and peek out at all the birds and
squirrels. She also entertains herself with anything that might be lying
around. The scaredy cat who used to slash my hand now curls up on my neck
each night to go to sleep or cradles herself in my arm like a little baby.
After some stormy months, a truce has been reached between Sadie Faith and
Cooper, though he still feels the need to put her in her place every so often
(usually at 3 am when mom is sound asleep!) I'm so grateful to your group for
having faith in our furry friends who might not seem like lovable pets at
first, but who turn out to be our best surprises. Sadie Faith was that little
diamond in the ruff and I'm so happy she joined Cooper and me!