I drove down to Atlanta this past Saturday in an attempt to adopt Moose (who at the time was named "Stiffler"... not so flattering, I know). It was a long 6.5 hour drive, but I knew it would be worth it in the end. I walked into the adoption wing of the PetSmart that he was being held at, and I immediately saw him lying flat out in his cage. The girl at the adoption desk was expecting me, and she put him directly into my arms. I felt like I was holding a little cumulus cloud. The poor little guy seemed to be overtaken by the other cats; when they would all rush out to use the scratching post, he found it too tiresome to try and compete with his cellmates. I told him I was taking him home with me.
After a brief shopping trip, and filling out all the adoption paperwork, I got Moose into my carrier and took him out to the car. I was expecting constant meowing the entire 6.5 hours home, but no, not one peep! He jumped up when he heard my can of Dr. Pepper opening, but that was it. We got home at night, and it was completely dark... Ryan and Aiden weren't quite home yet. I brought him in to the front hallway, still in his carrier, as I went upstairs to fill his litterbox. This was the first time I heard his little voice yelping out... he wanted to explore! When I opened his gate, he slowly walked out, and went into the first bedroom. He stopped in the middle of it, looked around, and quietly stepped into the room next door. He repeated this for every room in the house. You could just see a thought bubble coming from his head saying, "This'll do."
We've now had him for almost three days and are just enjoying every moment. He loves to sleep and rest on the window seat in our bedroom, as well as sprawl across the center of our bed. He doesn't like lying on any of the floor pillows I got him (of course!), and always likes to sit where he can see everyone. He constantly purrs, is so very affectionate, and has the most friendly temperament I've ever witnessed in a cat. He took to his litter box immediately, and could act as a tour guide in our home. He knows it inside and out already. I think this adoption was meant to be. : )
I've scheduled his first check-up/wellness appointment for this afternoon, so we can make sure everything's in order. Exotic short/longhair cats have excessive eye tearing due to their squinty eyes and smushed faces, so when I first saw Moose, he needed a serious eye-cleaning. I've been cleaning his eyes little by little each day with a warm washcloth as to not startle him. He has his first grooming tomorrow, so hopefully that will give him a nice clean base, and then maintaining his eyes and coat will be easy sailing from there on out. He really is a little puffy bundle of joy.
Like all adopted animals brought into a good home, I think he knows he's being taken care of now. I sit there and look at him, wondering how in the world someone could cast him away... It's just unthinkable to me. I'm completely attached to this sweet guy after just three days; I've given him a home, and he's given just as much back to me. If you have the capacity to take care of a pet, adopt today. You won't regret it.
