Today there was a sadness. It’s a heart-hurty kind of day.
So this afternoon I was eating my lunch and playing around on Facebook (as I do) and saw this.
This is a cat that was available at one of our local shelters.
Who, exactly, does he look like?
OMG IT IS DUMBCAT’S THINNER YOUNGER TWIN!!!!
OK, so I had about ten minutes to make a very important decision (because I had to get back to work.) I was not planning to get another cat. The last great cat experiment did not turn out well. And poor Dumbcat. He WANTS a friend, but he’s so timid. (I also love having two cats, but his feelings are more important than mine.)
But this was Dumbcat’s TWIN. And listen, Lynx Point Siamese cats? They’re not something you see every day. Also? He was a polydactyl. He had extra toes. JUST LIKE DUMBCAT. And his name was VERY similar to Dumbcat’s really real name; enough so that it was spooky, actually. I wouldn’t even have to change his name. He’d fit in just fine (assuming he liked me, and I liked him, and he and Dumbcat got along, and such.)
I’m not the most impulsive human. But look at that face.
Yeah. I was gone. I was smitten.
I called the shelter. Yes, he was still there; yes, they were open; no, they couldn’t hold him, but they had very little traffic today, why didn’t I come in around 3:45, he’d still be there. I could bring him home today, actually. Neutered. All ready to go. Yup yup yup.
I jetted back into work. Scared my boss with “OMG THE BOSS! There is a CAT-RELATED-EMERGENCY can I leave early?” After she was talked down from thinking my cat had perhaps called me while I was on my lunch break (what, it might happen, he has thumbs) and said he was dying or something, and I explained the situation, she was very understanding (I have a wonderful boss, who is also my friend, and she is a bigger cat-lover than I am.)
All systems go. I had butterflies upon butterflies. Butterflies all up in my butterflies.
You see this isn’t going to end well, right? I started this on a down-note. I spoiled you before you began. I didn’t want to get your hopes up.
I went down the scariest little roads on my way there. (WTF, GPS, seriously? There HAD to be a less circuitous and less-likely-to-get-me-killed-by-yeti way to get to that shelter.) I ran in. The lady at the desk was all, “Go on back! He’s around the corner in the cat-room!”
I ran in.
His cage was empty.
I stood in front of it for a minute. This didn’t compute. She’d JUST SAID he was there.
There were two viewing rooms in the cat room. I peeked in them.
There he was. Up against the glass. He saw me and walked to the glass. And bashed into it with his face. In a very Dumbcat-like-way.
The two women in there ignored me. I knocked on the glass. They were both wearing scrubs; I assumed they were employees.
Amy: making an ass out of YOU and ME for almost 40 years now.
“I’m here for him,” I said.
They smiled and one said, “Did you fill out an application?”
“Not yet!” I said. “He’s mine – don’t give him to anyone else, ok?”
She nodded. “She has dibs!” she laughed.
I went out. I filled out the application. And halfway through, the lady at the desk said:
“Oh, someone else is taking that cat you want, by the way. You don’t need to finish filling out that application, if you don’t want to.”
I stopped. I got very cold. I looked at her.
“No, I…I told the employees back there I was here for him. I…”
“One of those people is an adopter. She got here a few minutes before you did. She decided she wants him.”
“They’re not both employees?”
“Nope.”
“But…one of them told me to fill this out? One of them said I had dibs?”
(But did she? Or was she saying the OTHER chick had dibs, and I misunderstood? What the hell was going on at this shelter of chicanery?)
The woman at the desk shook her head. “I mean, you can go back and see what’s going on, but it’s a done deal, I think.”
I went back to the cat room. The two women were now playing with OTHER cats. My boy was in his cage. He looked at me with his wise blue eyes, which were ever-so-slightly crossed. I thought about taking his cage card and going up front and lying and saying, “She said I could have him.”
Because he was mine, right? I came all this way. Wasn’t he mine? He was meine Wassermelone, right?
I’m not the devil. I couldn’t.
I went to the visiting area again. The same two women looked at me. I knocked and opened the door a little. The one who apparently WASN’T an employee (was just, randomly, wearing scrubs? What a calvacade of errors this place was, or maybe I was) looked up, annoyed.
“I’m sorry. Are you planning on taking the Siamese? I…I’m here for him, they told me he’d be here, I’m so hoping…it would mean so much…”
“Yes. Most likely. I am DECIDING. THANK YOU,” she said. And made that dismissive tut-noise. And looked at me pityingly.
And I walked up front and stood by the front desk because if I walked out without her deciding and she chose otherwise, what an asshole I’d be.
And a few minutes later, the front desk lady was all “HE’S ADOPTED” and that was that. No “I’m sorry” or “we really should have told you to come sooner” or “we’re sorry, we would have held him for you” or SOMETHING.
I sad-Charlie-Browned to the car. Where I wept. And cussed. And then wept some more.
I know. I KNOW. All things are meant to be, and blah blah blah, and it probably wasn’t the right TIME, or the right PLACE, and listen. I believe in all of that just as much as anyone you know. I really, really do. I live by that as much as I can.
But oh. Oh, I so wanted him. So very, very much. Because someday, Dumbcat will no longer be here. And this cat was two. And had a good long life to live. And I imagined him being Dumbcat’s younger friend, and making Dumbcat happy in his older years, and then having a cat when (shh, I don’t like to think about this) Dumbcat is no longer here to make me laugh every day.
So I cried in my car. Because some dismissive girl who got to the shelter just before me got him. And will she appreciate him like I would? I don’t know. Maybe. All I know is, she called him “she” three times while I was gathering up my things. And he’s a HE. So that’s a worry.
Then I went shopping to make the hurt stop, but only found ONE SHIRT so that didn’t help. And then my cable broke. And I got some shitty news. So it was a snowballing day of badness, and I’m going to take a cool shower and go to bed early because effffff.
Dumbcat waiting for me at home and wanting to be especially cuddly was nice, though. I told him about his long-lost brother. He just purred and headbutted my spleen.
I don’t want another cat. I want another DUMBCAT. Or, at least, one that looks enough like him that when that inevitable day comes that he is no longer headbutting my spleen, the hurt won’t devastate me as much as it might.
(Shush, I know there’s only one Dumbcat, let me have my fantasy, ok? OK. Great.)
So, if any of you are out and about in the world and see a homeless Dumbcat, and he’s looking for a home…you let me know. I’m totally willing to travel. Just promise me he’ll be there when I show up, ok? I don’t like crying in the car. It makes my glasses all fog up.
This one would be good. He looks sufficiently freaked-out enough to join my household.
August 17th, 2013 at 11:57 am
This is a sad story. I’m really sorry. Good luck with finding another one.
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:20 pm
Thank you! It was tough. One will come along, someday. Things have a way of happening.
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August 17th, 2013 at 11:58 am
I’m sorry you missed your cat. It must have been heartbreaking to miss him with just a few minutes.
But hopefully another cat will show up; one that (also) will be perfect for your household and Dumbcat. Probably when you least expect it.
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:19 pm
We’ll see what happens. I’m not actively looking; I wasn’t even looking for this one. But one might come along. Life’s funny like that, you know? Magic’s all over the place, Andreas. YES YES, so is science. But also magic!
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August 17th, 2013 at 11:58 am
I can’t like this post, but I love YOU and I am still so furious about this whole situation. <3
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:18 pm
Thank you. It was a crappy day. Thank you for listening to my various cat related “ZOMGs!” and “OMG NO WTFs!”
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August 17th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Horrible person who stole your kitty! She won’t love Dumbcat2 like you would have! Shame on her! She could clearly see how much it meant to you, and she was looking at other cats. Mean, mean, mean.
I hope there is Karma, and that it bites her in the ass. (Or maybe the cat will.)
I am very sorry you didn’t get that cat. I hope you find another new pal soon. :)
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:17 pm
I hope she does. I hope she’s a wonderful kitty-momma and she treats him very well. He was wonderful. He deserves similarly wonderful.
(But yeah, karma’s fun, too.)
Thank you. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. I just have to be cool. Cool like Fonzie.
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August 17th, 2013 at 1:12 pm
Aw, boo. I can’t ‘like’ this, FFS!
You are the Hemmingway cat lady. Get another thumbcat.
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:15 pm
I do so love cats with thumbs. They are my favorites. They seem like they could take over the world! Or at least open cabinet doors for me!
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August 18th, 2013 at 2:11 am
Cats who have gameboys have to be the most chilled out.
Plus nowadays you can text with a phone on landscape, so that’d be good for cats, too. You could have them working for you, keeping your twitter feed going… note to self, get a thumbcat…
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August 18th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
OMG, I totally should get Dumbcat a Gameboy. He’d probably be very good at Mario Brothers, if the badguys didn’t scare him too badly and make him hide in the cupboards.
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August 17th, 2013 at 1:32 pm
I felt so sad just reading this. I know this feeling so so well. Mr. Weebles and I saw a cat’s photo on the site of the local shelter and we both fell in love. I was so paranoid that someone else was going to take her before we got there. Fortunately she was still there and adoptable when we arrived, but if I was told that someone else had JUST decided to take her, I would have been heartbroken. I hope he’s getting a good home with that bitch, but I also hope you find another companion for Dumbcat who’s EVEN BETTER.
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Thank you. It was rough. I wish I’d known – I’d have left work right away and gone straight over. Oh, well. I’ll find another cat and he/she will be wonderful. But not at the moment. I really think Dumbcat’s best on his own. Well, unless another magical cat of perfection falls into my lap. Then I might reconsider. Maybe.
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August 17th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
If the cat that is meant to be with you shows up in my neighborhood, I will put him in the car and drive him straight to you.
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:13 pm
Aw! This is why you are the best. THANK YOU!
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August 17th, 2013 at 1:45 pm
This is so heartbreaking! I’m so sorry!
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:13 pm
Thank you! It was not a good Friday. Boo.
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August 17th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
That is just ridiculous that they told you to come and he’d still be there…and then just up and decide that someone else could have him. I know they said they couldn’t hold him, but it’s still pretty shitty. I’m so sorry. :(
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:13 pm
It wasn’t the best, that’s for sure. Thank you. It’ll be ok. I’m going to imagine him in a very happy household with lots of light and plants and other cat-friends, and someday I’ll find another cat that’s perfect for the Amy-household.
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August 17th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
What is with this “we can’t hold him for you” shit? And then that gaslighting move when you finally got there? Heartless people. Jeez!
I’m sorry you couldn’t bring Dumbcat2 home. :(
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:11 pm
Hee, gaslighting! That’s one of my favorite things! Well, not to HAPPEN. But to notice!
Yeah, I wasn’t in love with their shelter practices, for sure. Oh, well. All things work out for the best, in the long run. I know it.
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August 17th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Awwwwww, this makes me sad too. He was a beautiful cat and you and Dumbcat would make a most excellent family for him. BUT, I have been watching this cartoon with C called Martha Speaks (it’s a series of big-kid books too that we will get for her once she’s a little bigger.) It’s about a talking dog named Martha, and on the first episode, they show how the little girl that will eventually take her goes to the shelter and doesn’t get to adopt her because this other mean lady beats her to it. But eventually, the mean lady gets arrested for using Martha to help her steal dinosaur bones from the museum. Martha gets taken back to the shelter and the little girl gets to adopt her. SO what I am trying to say in a very roundabout way is maybe call back the shelter in awhile to see if it worked out with the cat you wanted and the woman who adopted him. Maybe it won’t, and you’ll get to take him home ;)
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:10 pm
This is a very good story! The dinosaur bones part especially. I would like to be part of a dinosaur bones caper. (But not the stealing. Maybe the returning.)
I wish I thought the shelter would call me if he was returned, but they didn’t seem very…above-and-beyondy over there. (I’m measuring all shelter workers up against myself and my coworker M. when we worked at the shelter, and finding them lacking. M. and I went CRAZY above-and-beyond to get the animals in the homes where they belonged. Although, maybe the cat belonged with that woman. I don’t know. I’m hoping so; I hope he is very happy there. He’s a good boy. He deserves all good things.)
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August 17th, 2013 at 3:30 pm
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww…. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR…. that makes me stabby. That *person* didn’t even want him like you did or she wouldn’t have been taking so long to decide. See… I’m growing as a person, I didn’t even call her a bad name or anything. Out loud.
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:07 pm
She was just there for *a* cat, not *that* cat. She was trying them all on. He seemed to fit best; I hope she was right, and they do work out. No, I really do. I want him to be happy. He was a good cat.
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August 17th, 2013 at 3:48 pm
Shame on that person for adopting Dumbcat’s twin and being a jerk about it on top of that. There will be psychic karmic justice, I just know it. One day Dumbcat 2 will realize where his real home is and he will escape, and start this incredible journey, maybe pick up a dog friend along the way, and then he HE will finally find you and Dumbcat. I might have just copied a Disney movie.
Still, I am sad for you, that was one cute cat, and I’m allergic to the freaking things. I had a Siamese and a . . . something cat, who was insane, but I loved them and miss them. Situations like this make you wish you had nerves of steel and could glare down at someone and say “CAT MINE (beep) out of my way!” and the proceed to take what is yours. I have that fantasy a lot.
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Aw, I would love to be part of this incredibly Disney-like journey!
I so wanted to CAT MINE her. But she (sadly) was there first. And I would have been, had the lady at the desk not told me there was no need to come immediately over. Grumble, lady at the desk!
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August 17th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Oh my dear. I am so very sorry. I have to tell you, when my sweet Sahara passed away this April (another Lynx-point Siamese beauty) it hit me so hard I didn’t think I could have another pet for quite a while. And my husband wanted another cat, like, RIGHT AWAY. He started sending me messages with links to Petfinder.com all the time, saying, look, here’s a cat a shelter, here’s another cat, look. And a *lot* of them looked like Sahara. That’s the one thing I don’t think I can do, at least not right away – is have another lynx point. Because they do look so much alike.
I did eventually cave – I wasn’t really ready, but I agreed to go visit one “no-kill” shelter in Ontario, California called the West End Shelter for Animals: http://www.westendshelter.com/ and there in the very first MINUTE I found a beautiful seal point siamese giant boy kitty who is enough like and enough not like Sahara to make me feel all the good feels. We named him Mr. Charles Bingley, although we were sort of expecting to adopt a Mr. Darcy, because he’s just that nice. He likes everyone.
But more to the point of your quest. There were many, many lynx point Siamese cats at this shelter. I’m not sure why, exactly, but maybe shelters around here are starting to specialize, and this one has mainly Siamese cats, and mainly mixes, and so you get a lot of the lynx points. The people at the shelter were great. They let us sit with the cats and just be with them and observe them for like 3 hours before we made up our minds.
I know you’re on the other side of the country, but maybe if you take a vacation out here…
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:05 pm
I’m amazed (and envious!) you have so many Lynx Points at your shelters! I’ve never seen another one outside of a breeder site. (They’re pretty breathtaking; I understand why they’re adopted so quickly.) And I’m so sorry about your Sahara. But so happy you found your Mr. Charles Bingley!
It gives me hope that there’s at least one shelter out there with so many of them. I can’t imagine never having another of the breed. It’s such a great breed. (Well, you know. You had one!) I’ll find another someday. I know I will. (And maybe one that’s not a Lynx Point at all – who knows what cat will be right for me. Sometimes things just happen.)
But not right now. Right now, I’ll hang with Dumbcat and see what happens in the world.
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August 17th, 2013 at 8:10 pm
I can’t help but wonder if there isn’t maybe another blog post out their in the webderverse written by the adopter of Dumbcat Jr who was completely bewildered and freaked out that someone tried to adopt her cat right out from under her. Because you just know that gormless half-aware jerk at the front desk probably messed up communication with her, too.
I’m angry on your behalf, but not at the adopter, who obviously shares your love of Dumbcatkind and under other circumstances might have become your friend, but that chick at the shelter’s front desk needs a talking to/screaming at/dock in pay for breaking your heart.
Hugs from afar 8(
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:01 pm
It would be nice to think this, but from what I got at the shelter, it wasn’t the case. She wasn’t there for him. She didn’t know what cat she wanted; she was trying them all on for size, and settled on him.
He got adopted. He got out of the shelter. I’m sure that’s all that matters.
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August 17th, 2013 at 8:15 pm
This happened to me with a shelter too. They didn’t have the decency to tell me the Bombay kitten was going to someone else. I’m sure they thought I would take another animal, but like you, I wanted the one I came for. It IS heartbreaking. I now refuse to do business with any of the local shelters.
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:00 pm
I worked at a shelter for a while, so I get that a lot of people say they’re coming, then don’t. We had a policy of holding an animal for 2 hours. If the person wanted it, they came; if not, it went to the next (hopefully patient) person. They didn’t ask if I wanted to look at other cats, which was good – I’m really honestly not looking for another cat. But this cat seemed kind of a magical find.
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August 18th, 2013 at 9:46 am
The application process is different here, and it’s similar in pretty much every shelter within a 50 mile radius. They put you through the wringer to get the animal into a safe, loving home, which is as they should, but my feeling is that if you’ve accepted my application and taken my money, you don’t adopt the animal being held for adoption to someone else. And if someone is ahead of me in the process, say something and don’t take the adoption fee from me unless the other person’s application falls through.
I’m looking for specific kittens as I lost my cat at 17 1/2 years old in January. I definitely want another Tortie, but whomever else I adopt with her will be as unique, or possibly another Tortie. It’ll depend. I do believe wholeheartedly in magical finds, as my cat was a gift and the best one I will probably ever get. I do look forward to being a “cat Mom” again though. There’s nothing like it.
What is it like having a Siamese? They’re a breed I am considering, but I only know that they can be very vocal. No one I know has one.
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August 18th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
I love that you love torties, too! I lost my tortie in 2012 and miss her a great deal. She was something special.
I’d never had a Siamese, or known anyone with one, before Dumbcat. He’s not as vocal as I’ve heard other Siamese cats can be, but he can be, if the mood strikes him (he gets the wiggins every few nights and runs around going “rowrrrr?” at the walls for no reason.) Siamese cats are known to be very intelligent, but from what I hear from other Lynx Point owners, this breed seems to be a huge goofball. And that’s what he is – a huge, cheery goofball. He’s not very smart (he bashes into things with his head on the regular) but he just loves life. He’s the sweetest cat I’ve ever known. And he’s HILARIOUS.
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August 20th, 2013 at 10:24 am
http://andthemoonseesall.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/1995-2013/
I definitely love Torties. I lost mine earlier this year, as you can see by the photo I attached. I consider them a breed, they’re incredibly unique and every single one I’ve ever met has had a specialness to her that is undeniable. If a person meeting a Tortie isn’t a cat person, maybe they prefer dogs, they’ll come back and tell me that the Tortie “is a bitch”. I had a vet tech tell me last year about her mother’s demonic Tortie, saying how sweet and gentle my little girl is and how everyone adores her and talks about her whenever I bring her in. These people cried when I lost her, and I’ve been incredibly touched at how they have treated me through my mourning period. I have the most awesome vet as well.
Cats sense things that human often don’t, so your cat is either chasing shadows with that meowing or he’s chasing spirits. I know the sound well. It’s amazing how every little sound they make is meant to draw a woman’s attention, because it mentally mimicks a baby’s cries to our ears. It explains why more women are accused of being “crazy cat ladies” as opposed to men who live with 20 cats.
My little macaroon was more intelligent and intuitive than most of the people I know, and she was either relatively quiet or relatively vocal, depending on what was going on. She spent the first almost 13 years of her life super quiet because her sister, who was part Egyptian Mau, was the mouthiest little shit on four paws. She was the bigger cat, but my baby never took any shit from her. They were supposedly from the same litter, so I took them both at 8 weeks. I was lucky in that they were both incredibly well behaved and well mannered.
Siamese cats get both positive and negative comments from owners. I think they’re absolutely beautiful and you can see that most of them are happy cats. Of course, cats are a product of their environments too. If they get love and they’re around good energy, they’re going to respond to that in kind. It’s one of the reasons I prefer to raise them when they’re still tiny, because by the time they’re a few years old, you’re simply the best thing EVER to them. I’m looking to adopt again before the year is out. In truth, I have no idea how I’ve survived this long without her. That cat was my heart.
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August 20th, 2013 at 9:15 pm
I’m so sorry about your girl.
I like cats with personality. Boring cats are not for me. (I feel the same way about people, incidentally. One of the worst trials in life? Being bored.)
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:58 pm
Ohhh my heart. And yours.
I don’t think I had ever seen a full body picture of Dumbcat and he is BEAUTIFUL. I’m not familiar with this breed. To think I have been calling myself a cat lady all this time. How dare I?!
I generally agree with the “meant to be” philosophy too, but it is SO HARD to understand when these things happen. I would be furious with the universe for its cruelty. (I would also probably write the shelter a letter because whoa now with those practices.)
Last year me and my Monty cat got to live with a fabulous gigantic dapper gentleman of a cat who passed away after a few months, but by now I know why he came into my life and was taken so suddenly. Maybe time will give you a clearer explanation for this too.
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August 17th, 2013 at 10:46 pm
He really is gorgeous. I’d never seen a cat like him when I got him (11 years ago now) and researched him in a cat book we had at the shelter and realized he looked just like a Lynx Point (well, other than the genetic abnormalities like the stub tail and the extra toes – those are ALL HIM. Hee!)
I’m sure that’s probably the shelter’s policy, not holding animals…the not-caring attitude is sadly because I’m sure they deal with the lowest-common-denominator of the human race daily. (I did it for two years. You see some of the worst of people at these places, and what these people do to animals. You sometimes learn to turn off the part of you that cares. It sucks…but you do what you need to do, I suppose.)
I’m sorry to hear about your cat-friend. I know how hard it is to lose a pet you love.
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August 18th, 2013 at 9:52 am
Call the shelter and tell them you are very interested in that cat if the adoption doesn’t work out with the other woman.
It may not. It may. But make sure, make very sure, that they have your phone and name.
I am sorry.
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August 18th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
I doubt they would. I might, next week…but I’m willing to bet that’s a thing they don’t do, either. They don’t seem too keen on customer service. Or caring. At all.
Thank you. It’ll be ok. All things for a reason. Even if that reason is being kept secret from me for the time being.
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August 18th, 2013 at 10:17 am
D-: I would’ve been rage-sobbing more than you in the car if that happened to me…but, then, I’m still working on getting my Reacts Ok to Disappointments badge, so…
I’m sorry it happened to you. Stupid people who totally baited you and then pulled the football at the last second. >:-(
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August 18th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
OMG, I would NEVER earn that badge. I react SO POORLY to disappointment. You’d think, after all the disappointment I’ve experienced over my lifetime, it’d get easier, you know? Nope. Still a kid who dropped their ice cream cone on the sidewalk, every single time. Sheesh.
They totally pulled away the Dumbcat Jr. football, dammit!
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August 18th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
I’m never going to get that badge either – I’ve basically decided that I’m like a 46-year-old toddler when it comes to stuff like that. It’s only the fact that I possess a modicum of decorum that keeps me from flinging myself on the floor and pitching a fit when things don’t go my way. Or going all “Jesus with the moneychangers in the temple” with people when they make me mad.
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August 18th, 2013 at 11:17 pm
SERIOUSLY. I’m doing both of those things in my head. I wonder if I’ll ever grow out of that?
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August 18th, 2013 at 11:28 pm
I’m thinking that I won’t because I’m PASSIONATE about stuff and that’s a good thing, right? So, I’m thinking that maybe you won’t either and that it’s not a bad thing – it’s just that boring people who don’t CARE about things make us want to feel bad about things because they have NO FEELINGS. And we are FULL OF FEELINGS and sometimes they leak out.
At least, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
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August 18th, 2013 at 11:15 am
This just made me cry, too. Sigh. I would have been just as upset and disappointed as you were. I’m so sorry.
Screw that “everything happens for a reason” shit, though…you want me to take care of dismissive-attitude-lady? I have an extra bowling bag here I’m not using…
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August 18th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
Hee! Extra bowling bag! I’m imagining you walking around with her head in a bag all badass-style. You’re the subject of the next Tarantino movie, I just know it.
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August 18th, 2013 at 12:03 pm
AWWWW, that is really sad. I’m making sad faces. It really sucks that the people at the shelter wouldn’t hold him for you till the end of the day. (Also, what a BITCH that other adopting lady was.)
This now has me convinced that I need to get another kitty to slightly lessen my inevitable depression when my Gabby is no longer around. She’s not even 2 so I got some time, but UGH so sad to think about.
I hope today is a better day for you! And that you eventually find the perfect buddy for Dumbcat.
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August 18th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
The other adopter was not overly friendly…but I’m going to try to hope it was because she wanted him SO MUCH and was trying to scare me off. (I’m trying very hard to take the high road. HIGH ROAD! WHERE ARE YOU!)
I cannot high-road the staff, however, because I am most displeased with how that whole thing was handled.
Two! You have a very long time with Gabby! (Although I have heard that, the younger the cat, the more apt they are to get along with a new cat? So maybe it IS best to get a new cat now, and not wait til she’s older. Dumbcat grew up with another cat, but she passed away two years ago, and now I fear he’s too old to make nice with a new friend.)
Today will be an excellent day. I am off for an adventure!
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August 18th, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Ehh, high road, shmy road. I’ll be grumpy towards her for you!
I feel like Gabby is still a leeeetle too feisty to get along with a new cat, like she’d be more pissed than anything. But maybe when she’s 5 or so, that’ll be a nice middle age and age gap… Idk. Was Dumbcat real sad when his friend passed away?
Adventure, you say? Have fun!!
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August 18th, 2013 at 11:21 pm
Dumbcat was sad. He wandered around looking for her for months and making plaintive meows. It was so heartbreaking for me. I probably should have gotten him a new friend then, but *I* was so sad I couldn’t imagine getting a new pet that quickly.
I totally adventured! It was wonderful! (Reporting on adventuring will happen Tuesday!)
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August 18th, 2013 at 11:47 pm
Wow. I know working at a shelter, they probably see something like this a million times a day, but way to be extra special insensitive. Your story made me cry. But I know you will find your Dumbcat II. As you know, there are lots and lots of cats that need homes always.
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August 19th, 2013 at 8:49 am
It was tough. But probably somehow for the best. And the right cat will come along, I’m sure!
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June 2nd, 2014 at 8:16 pm
Hi Lucy,
I and my girlfriend read your touching story some months ago. Our cat Celeste is a lynx spotted tabby like Dumbcat and I felt really sad for you reading your story.
Now, Celeste just made five wonderful kittens with a siamese cat, so they should have to grow like linx spot siamese (they are all white at the moment).
Would you adopt one of them? I live in Italy, in Rome. We could guest you if you decide to afford the trip. You can see the photos here: https://plus.google.com/photos/107371436145984153858/albums/6017884026854084465
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August 29th, 2014 at 12:05 am
It is so sweet of you to think of me. Thank you! Sadly, I’m not able to travel overseas for some time…money-wise…but they’re beautiful, and I’m sure you found them amazing homes!
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