A couple of months ago I became a new parent of a beautiful Oriental Shorthair named Ping. He seemed to attach to me at the Humane Society and, given the fact that I tend to be allergic to cats and being with him didn't produce any negative results, I brought him to his new home with me. I've never owned a pet myself. While I was growing up my parents had pets, both a dog and a cat, and my siblings have had pets of their own. Up until now I've always lived vicariously through them, enjoying being with both their dogs and cats, and in my sister's case a rat and a snake as well. But I had never made that commitment myself and I thought it was about time I did. I had been urged to adopt a companion for some time by various friends and family, so I bit the bullet and went to the shelter looking for an animal to choose me as their new parent. Initially, I went in with my sights set on a small dog that would be suitable for my small condo, one that I could train to use puppy pads on the balcony in between walks and trips to the dog park, but not one of them really connected with me. I became a little discouraged and was about to leave when my friend said she wanted to go look at the cats. I reluctantly agreed knowing full well I wasn't considering a cat at all, that is until one of the volunteers rounded the corner carrying Ping. He looked at me and started making these wonderful baritone meows, so I asked to spend some time with him in one of the meet and greet rooms. He seemed to love being held and never tried to get away. At one point he even crawled up on my shoulder and started purring. I was smitten! We brought him home, stopping only briefly at Pet Smart to pick up some needed supplies. Once out of the cardboard carrier he wandered around a bit but very soon after went into hiding. He never did come out for any kind of contact with me at all. Weeks went by with no change and he wasn't eating or drinking anything. Finally, we pulled him out from under the couch and he was little more than skin and bones. I held him a while, which he didn't mind at all, and Jackie spoon fed him some canned food, which he seemed to gobble up. But a couple days went by after that with him back in hiding and not eating or drinking anything more.
I had done a lot of internet research on the breed and found that it was quite common for them to be despondent when separated from their human, in his case a single owner for eight years prior to him being surrendered to the Humane Society. Supposedly they had gotten another cat that Ping did not get along with so they surrendered him instead of the new one, which I personally thought was a horrible thing to do. I chalked his behavior up to his trauma of losing his family, being in the shelter for a while, and then trying to get acclimated to a new and unfamiliar home. We decided to take him to the vet to try and get some advice on what to do. I honestly had not even considered that he might be sick because he seemed so healthy at the shelter. I did remember them saying that he wasn't eating there either, but again it seemed most probable that it was because of all the sudden change in his life. Once the vet examined him and did some blood tests it was determined that he was very ill, probably from kidney failure or cancer. They could attempt aggressive inpatient treatment but there were no guarantees anything they could try would have any impact. After discussion and a lot of tears, we decided to put him down so his suffering would stop. It was a very difficult decision and I felt like a failure as a parent, thinking I had done something wrong or didn't do something I should have. The doctor reassured me that he had very likely been sick for a while and that there was nothing I could have done. As hard as it was, I simply couldn't leave him alone so I asked to stay with him during the procedure. I stroked him and held his head in my hand as the drugs were administered, feeling the life quickly fade away into what appeared to be a restful sleep. It was a profound and difficult moment for me and it made me think that I could never go through this again with another pet. But after a couple days and with the support of friends and family I decided to try again. I did want a loving companion so much, one that would give me that unconditional love and wholeheartedly accept mine in return. At that point I began to look on the shelter's website to see if I could find a possible match, maybe a younger cat that would be less likely to have health issues. A couple possibilities were identified so I made a plan to visit the shelter and see what happened. Perhaps there would be one that would choose and bond with me, giving me that sign that they were the one. As hesitant as I was and as much as the pain of losing Ping was still fresh, I just had to try again.
There were two cats from the website I wanted to see and visit with, so a friend of mine offered to go with me to the shelter to take a look. One was a British Shorthair named Buffy and the other a Domestic Shorthair named Shakira. They stood out to me because of their bios and each had very unique and distinctive markings. When I arrived, I was told that Buffy had been adopted just about fifteen minutes prior to me getting there. I saw and met with Shakira but she didn't seem to have much of any interest in me. As common as I know it is, I didn't want to end up with an aloof feline that I'd simply see in passing from time to time. I wanted a companion that enjoyed my company and would snuggle up with me without hesitation. As Shakira was put back in her cubbyhole, I noticed a beautiful orange Tabby looking at me and pawing incessantly at the window. My heart melted at the gaze he gave me and so I just had to give him a trial run. As soon as he was brought into the meet and greet room, he took to me like glue, rubbing my legs and just loving the attention I gave him as I scratched his head and petted him. He never did stop purring and several times he flopped over on his back inviting me to rub his belly. It seemed as though there was no need for any other sign. He had chosen me and was just adamant that I bring him home with me. The adoption papers were signed and off we went. He didn't seem to like being in the cardboard carrier very much and was quite vocal in letting me know that on the ride home. But as soon as we arrived and opened up the carrier he popped out, made a couple laps around the condo to check things out, and has been practically by my side or on me ever since. There was no hiding, no loss of appetite or thirst, he was home and completely comfortable. He didn't really have a name because prior to him being at the shelter he was a stray. The staff had tagged him as Jemerson but that just didn't do anything for me and didn't seem to fit him at all. After some thought and tossing a few options around, I dubbed him Cooper Snuggle Bear. It was a perfect match to his personality and level of affection. He even seems to respond when I call him that, so he must love it as well. He slept with me in bed the first night, but he has now found a favorite spot on top of my Ikea canvas shelf unit where he can curl up and watch the world outside the window. It's like he's always been here and has always loved me, which makes me a very happy man!
Throughout the process of caring for a pet and seeing him through the end of life, even though he was mine for only a short time, and then adopting a spry young Tabby who's just full of love and affection for me, already deciding I'm his best buddy, I just have to stop and thank God for both of them. Each have touched me in some special way, and now that Cooper is with me I just can't imagine being alone anymore. Perhaps I should have done this long ago, but I don't think I was really ready to take on another family member until recently. Any of you out there who have pets know exactly what I'm talking about. They bring such joy into your life that you cannot imagine being without them. Cooper often crawls up on my chest when I'm lounging on the couch and just loves to head butt me and nuzzle my face. Even when I'm sitting at the computer, he'll come over and stretch up with his front paws on my leg until I lean down and let him paw at my face. It's just the cutest thing ever. I never imagined having such a demonstrative cat, which is why I never gave cats much consideration before now. It's almost as if Cooper knows the pain and suffering I've been through, not only with Ping but also my battles with depression and anxiety. He never misses an opportunity to give me reassurance that he's here and he loves me. What a world of difference it makes to have that ceaseless reminder. Maybe it's just in my head, but he seems to be validating me as a person, as someone who has worth and value, as someone he depends on for love and affection over and above food and shelter. It makes me want to get into his mind and understand what he's thinking. I have to believe that everything in life happens for a reason, a time, a season, and God brought both boys into my life. Ping needed someone to be there for him at the end and Cooper needs someone who will love him in the same measure that he loves. If you don't have a pet or have never had one, I can't encourage you enough to give a shelter animal a home, love them and care for them as if they were your children. The commitment and work can be daunting I know, but the rewards are exponentially greater!
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