oh me oh my
Aug. 31st, 2009 10:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jaeclecticI've started obsessively surfing cat adoption sites. Which is really kind of silly, because if I get too excited about some particular pair of kitties, they may or may not still be available when I get back into town.
Honestly, I did think that I was going to want to wait a while -- a couple of months at least. And I so don't. I want kitties in my household, and I want them NOW!
Not to mention, there are so many cats who need a good home; it is almost my civic duty. Hey, I can rationalize with the best of them :)
(Obligatory: No one will ever replace Ash or Lena. But you knew that, right?)
The plan that is forming in my brain:
1. Go on my little trip, have lovely time, don't hurt myself, etc.
2. Get back into town a week from Wednesday.
3. Take the rest of the week off, as per original plan (when I expected to be out of town until Friday).
4. Acquire cats on Thursday
5. Have a nice long weekend for us to get to know each other, before resuming work routine.
I do find the sheer quantity of cats awaiting adoption rather painful to wade through. I mean, they are all adorable, and I want to rescue every single one. (But, in the interest of not yet devolving into a truly crazy cat lady, Must. Control. Myself.) The process of choosing Lena and Ash was relatively simple: I only looked at the web site for the SF SPCA, they had a section on "pet pairs" which was exactly what I wanted (two cats who already knew each other), there were two pairs that I was interested in meeting, I went to the SPCA, happened to mention Lena and Ash first, the volunteer got all excited and proceeded to tell me they'd been there for a year, and then I met them and was greeted with insanely loud purring. Case closed, didn't even ask about the other pair.
Now, I have somehow stumbled onto web sites that show pets from ALL the local shelters / adoption agencies. None of them have the specific section on "pet pairs" (it's not on the SF SPCA web site anymore either), although they all have animals that came in together that they suggest might like to stay together -- but for the most part, you have to read through the profiles to figure it out. So I keep trolling through, looking for the perfect pair, or for some two who might go well together...
Things that I'm thinking about, some shallow, some slightly deeper:
- It would be ideal to again adopt a pair who already know each other.
- (But) I really like the idea of giving a home to an animal who especially needs it: a senior, or someone who's been in the shelter for a long time for whatever reason.
- (But) I want at least one young (full-grown but not senior) cat, so I won't be paranoid that they're both going to die soon. (No guarantees, of course, but if I adopted two elderly cats, I'd really be tempting fate.)
- (And) I do have kind of a thing for torties. Black cats are not far behind in my affections, but torties are #1.
The kitties that have most excited my imagination thus far: A gorgeous 11yo long-haired tortie at the Oakland SPCA (at first I thought she was 15, not sure if I misread it or if they changed the website after I first saw it) -- but it does say she would prefer to be solo. A blind tuxedo cat with white whiskers, at Island Cat -- according to the description, she gets around just fine! A medium-hair tortie / short-hair black pair, both 4 or 5yo, at a shelter in Morgan Hill (insane as it would seem to go that far when there are dozens and dozens closer to home). A charcoal grey brother and sister, 6 or 7yo, who were neglected and may not ever fully grow back the fur on their necks after years wearing ill-fitting collars.
See, already, way too many, and all so loveable. So yes, basically, I am tormenting myself. But in an anticipatory kind of way :)
And oh look! Now I'm up too late. Enough of this for now. G'night.
Honestly, I did think that I was going to want to wait a while -- a couple of months at least. And I so don't. I want kitties in my household, and I want them NOW!
Not to mention, there are so many cats who need a good home; it is almost my civic duty. Hey, I can rationalize with the best of them :)
(Obligatory: No one will ever replace Ash or Lena. But you knew that, right?)
The plan that is forming in my brain:
1. Go on my little trip, have lovely time, don't hurt myself, etc.
2. Get back into town a week from Wednesday.
3. Take the rest of the week off, as per original plan (when I expected to be out of town until Friday).
4. Acquire cats on Thursday
5. Have a nice long weekend for us to get to know each other, before resuming work routine.
I do find the sheer quantity of cats awaiting adoption rather painful to wade through. I mean, they are all adorable, and I want to rescue every single one. (But, in the interest of not yet devolving into a truly crazy cat lady, Must. Control. Myself.) The process of choosing Lena and Ash was relatively simple: I only looked at the web site for the SF SPCA, they had a section on "pet pairs" which was exactly what I wanted (two cats who already knew each other), there were two pairs that I was interested in meeting, I went to the SPCA, happened to mention Lena and Ash first, the volunteer got all excited and proceeded to tell me they'd been there for a year, and then I met them and was greeted with insanely loud purring. Case closed, didn't even ask about the other pair.
Now, I have somehow stumbled onto web sites that show pets from ALL the local shelters / adoption agencies. None of them have the specific section on "pet pairs" (it's not on the SF SPCA web site anymore either), although they all have animals that came in together that they suggest might like to stay together -- but for the most part, you have to read through the profiles to figure it out. So I keep trolling through, looking for the perfect pair, or for some two who might go well together...
Things that I'm thinking about, some shallow, some slightly deeper:
- It would be ideal to again adopt a pair who already know each other.
- (But) I really like the idea of giving a home to an animal who especially needs it: a senior, or someone who's been in the shelter for a long time for whatever reason.
- (But) I want at least one young (full-grown but not senior) cat, so I won't be paranoid that they're both going to die soon. (No guarantees, of course, but if I adopted two elderly cats, I'd really be tempting fate.)
- (And) I do have kind of a thing for torties. Black cats are not far behind in my affections, but torties are #1.
The kitties that have most excited my imagination thus far: A gorgeous 11yo long-haired tortie at the Oakland SPCA (at first I thought she was 15, not sure if I misread it or if they changed the website after I first saw it) -- but it does say she would prefer to be solo. A blind tuxedo cat with white whiskers, at Island Cat -- according to the description, she gets around just fine! A medium-hair tortie / short-hair black pair, both 4 or 5yo, at a shelter in Morgan Hill (insane as it would seem to go that far when there are dozens and dozens closer to home). A charcoal grey brother and sister, 6 or 7yo, who were neglected and may not ever fully grow back the fur on their necks after years wearing ill-fitting collars.
See, already, way too many, and all so loveable. So yes, basically, I am tormenting myself. But in an anticipatory kind of way :)
And oh look! Now I'm up too late. Enough of this for now. G'night.
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no subject
Date: 2009-09-01 04:31 pm (UTC)(And I'm glad you're looking for new cats.)
no subject
Date: 2009-09-01 05:53 pm (UTC)Much as I admire your predilection for underdog cats, there is a lot to be said for younger, robust, low-maintenance cats, especially coming out of a long period of chronic kitty-health worry. Also, kittens are big BIG fun. If they are at the SPCA they need homes every bit as much as the senior kitties with bald necks. Taking them home with you also frees up a spot -- if you are looking for justification. :) Also, the $$ you will save on their vet bills -- you can donate to the shelter!
I think it's very natural you should want more kitties. As for planning -- depending on the facility, kittens may not be altered until you adopt them, which may mean you'll have to fetch them the following day. This was the case with El Fritzo and the Tucson SPCA. The SFSPCA, on the other hand, (used to) fix kittens on admission and you could take them home the same day. I know it's a detail, but it was a surprising and disappointing one for me.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-03 04:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-03 04:14 am (UTC)Yeah, kitties with no health issues would certainly be a pleasant change of pace! I actually prefer grown cats to kittens, but young adults might be a good choice :)
And I know whomever I end up with, I will end up adoring.