And so . . .
I've done some research online, looked at hundreds of cat pictures and descriptions, and I came across this one cute little fella fostered with a local rescue group. I sent an exploratory message last Saturday--we'll call that day 0.
Day 0: Two different emails, sent by me . . . "Is this little guy still available?" By that evening, two responses! "Yes, he is, but there are two applications ahead of you." Me, "Is there any way to speed up the expected 7-to-10-day process?" Them, "Well, you could submit the application." Right.
I present the idea to Buck, show him the kitten, and he is excited!
Day 1: Sunday morning 9 a.m. Online application took an extensive 25 minutes, answering more questions than one should have to to potentially gain a cat . . . past vet history for 10 years (plus contact), types, ages, demise of all pets you've cared for in the past 10 years, birthdates and ages of everyone living in the house, do you own your house, do you have a fence, can you submit a sample of your DNA? (Ha, just kidding on the last one :) But, we did have to have a reference outside of our family who doesn't live here and a reference within our family who doesn't live here, and I needed to release our records from our vet clinic. Okay.
Buck walked through the door with a cat tower, which he proceeded to build with enthusiasm; mentioning that there is also squishy food and cat litter in the garage which he also purchased for our not-yet-cat :)
Day 2: Monday morning, 9 a.m. I called our vet clinic and spoke to a lady who is a fan of our family--Buck said she was teary-eyed, too, when he brought Chauncey in for the last time last month. I said, "We're missing having a critter in our house, so we're looking to adopt one with this organization. They should be calling you this week to check us out. Her response, to my astonishment, "They already did! I told them you're a wonderful family and to give you anything you want!!" (I'm now hoping for a giraffe ;) Later that same day another volunteer contacted Buck to set up our virtual home visit (no joke).
We spent the evening brainstorming cat names that go well with a tuxedo-coloring; not Jeeves :)
Day 3: Tuesday, Buck orders all the things from an Amazon "cat list" that I built from 3:30-5:30 a.m. when I couldn't sleep the previous night. So far, all purchases fit within the gift card amount his mom sent us for Christmas :) I bet she didn't think this is what we'd use it for!
Gabby and neighbor confirm they have received and completed their reference forms. I feel like we are flying through this process! We buy natural cat treats at Trader Joes.
Day 4: Wednesday, afternoon. I am stressed to the max all morning, envisioning a similar foster home study like we had to prepare for when I was in high school! I'm cleaning all the things, making sure there's no coins on the floor (choking hazards), considering hiding our poisonous-to-cats plants (they are up on the mantel). Buck dials in to the video call and we all smile and wave to the inspection lady--they required everyone who would be living in the house with the cat to be present . . . I think we're getting a cat; but maybe I clicked the wrong button, and we are interviewing for a human baby?
Although there was a bit of kerfuffle about the chickens (which we didn't mention--but Gabby later said she did), my understanding is that we passed the home visit portion of our testing. The lady texted Buck later to say that our kitten's foster mom had to take another cat to have emergency surgery, so it might be a couple days before she contacted us to set up a meeting. That is correct, we have never actually seen this kitten other than in a picture and written description.
Day 5: Crickets. Crickets.
Day 6: Crickets. Crickets.
So much for our quick progress through the steps! Friday evening, I asked Buck to send me the third lady's contact info to see if she would reach out to the cat foster again (since we can't contact that person directly). She texted me back and said she would try again. I also asked how visits work and had the other two applicants already met the kitten? It was a relief when she texted back that one applicant didn't return her call for the home visit, and the other adopted another kitten before it met the one we are interested in. That means it's just us . . . and that we have to wait for this other cat lady to invite us to her house to meet the kitten. Once she does, she observes our interaction with the cat and decides if it likes us and we like it. Then she reports this to the people who have the application, references, and home study. They collectively decide if we are qualified to take care of a six-month-old (or maybe six-year-old by the time all of this happens) cat, then notify us by email with an adoption contract we have to sign.
After that--I have no idea how long it takes to actually receive the cat. But I know all the gear for our not yet cat is arriving this afternoon :)
Day 8: Sunday--Buck finished up work early--like 5:30. All the kids wanted to meet the kitten--well, Brennen had to work (bummed), Graysen was concerned he'd like the cat and we won't get it and he'll be sad, and Noah was sort of assumed into the kitten meeting party by his enthusiastic fiancé, ha! So, the guys decided to stay home and play video games on the elaborate system Graysen is collecting/building. Caelan, in the car and along for the ride!
We drove the dark streets of another state looking for a big house with interior lights turned on (our best clue since there weren't house numbers). We chose a place to park, hoping it belonged to the correct house (sidewalk parking was apparently another option given the white, unplated Escalade's example a few houses down). A girl about Caelan's age opened the door holding a panther. Oh wait, that's our gigantic interview kitten!!
The house was full of barking dogs behind closed doors. The cat gave us a "Who are you and what are you doing here riling up the canines?" look, reminiscent of Brennen's babyhood thunder brow :) But, he wasn't fighting to get away, just looking wary. He has super soft fur, white back legs, white eye and nose whiskers, and pretty green eyes. I got to hold him, then Buck. Caelan, like all of us, was expecting an itty-bitty kitten, like Gabby's two. I double-checked, and yup, just six months old!
His mom cat was really just a kitten when this first litter came to be. At 3.5 months old, she appeared on the foster cat mom's porch, and the owners (three doors down) didn't want her back. Five kittens were born in the foster cat mom's care and have been raised at her home since July. So, he's not exactly a stray. He's got his shots, he's neutered, and passed his genetic health tests. The other kittens (including his mom kitten) were adopted quickly, but we were the first to meet him.
Buck decided that giant baby cat's chill response, and description of cuddliness and excitement to see the foster cat mom when she comes home, was a good fit for his future feline friend--who may grow to Muriel proportions with similar fur length ;)
Day 9: Buck left super early for work, so I sent him a message to confirm the decision after a night's sleep. He still felt the same, so I texted the home visit lady and said, "We'll take him!" (Apparently another application came in two days ago for yon kitty. . . not sure where that leaves us?) The house visit lady said she would review the input from all the sources and decide if we are "approved to adopt." Then in the next day or two she will send us a contract to sign. We were told by the foster cat lady that "this won't take long." So, we'll see . . .
Also Day 9--second guessed the first name pick--Darby Remington--so toasted my cell phone charge by noon searching for cat names online :) Wonder of wonders, late in the evening we received email approval and a lengthy contract that basically states we are leasing this cat and if for any reason we don't keep up our end of the bargain they are coming to repo it. Lol, kidding, not kidding! We also are contractually not allowed to ever rehome or adopt it out or give it away; it must be returned to the original organization. Whew! We attempted to pay our required "donation" in two different ways, were unable to find the contact info in either app, then circled back around to finally find a link that allowed payment. Whew x 2!
Day 10: Tuesday Buck is home from work, but busy attending various appointments around town. He receives a text that we can claim our kitty that day! Actually, the foster cat lady offered to drop him off at our house after work. Around 9 PM she arrived with our giant kitten. She had a stack of paperwork, a bag of treats and toys, and the kitty's bed. We posed for the "adoption photo" and away she went.
Unlike Gabby's outgoing, playful kittens--this guy immediately hid behind the first large thing he could find: the toilet. When I pulled him out from behind there, he opted for behind the dryer. Graysen lured him out with a toy, and we blocked off that entrance. He doesn't fight or scratch, and he doesn't make a sound; he just watches warily, startling at every creak in the floor, new voice, cell phone ping, all the noises that will eventually become commonplace. I guess when you live in a house full of dogs for six months, you are always ready for attack?
He did decide to let me hold him last night, or at least he pretended I was a toilet/dryer and hid behind me on the couch :) Eventually, he started purring, and even stretched out so I could pet his belly--which is a sign of trust, usually. He also put his front paws on Buck's leg, so that seemed like a positive gesture! Before bed, we introduced him to his cat tower, and I'm not sure he left it all night, because he was still hiding in it when we checked on him this morning.
So, what is his new name? Well, we're thinking Barclay Birchard, Barclay B, BB :) Chauncey was second-hand named after an NBA player, so it makes sense to continue that tradition. Buck's favorite player is Charles Barkley, so boom, first name! When I was researching names online, I discovered that President Rutherford B. Hayes was the first Siamese cat owner in America when he received such as a gift from a foreign ambassador. I looked up what his middle B stands for and it is Birchard :) So, there you go! (We're saving Cronk and Master Chief--the boys' suggestions--for their future dogs).
Alright, I'm off to remove the prince from his tower and remind him where his water, food, and necessities are located. I'm sure by next week, we'll be missing the kitty's quiet side, as we pluck him off of shelves and high places. Lol, I'll keep you posted! My mom loves seeing cat pictures on the blog!! ;)
1 comment:
😅
Post a Comment