Success Story – Chaplin

Chaplin is our CH kitty, and he now has a great home! We found Chaplin in early June and he was in foster care for about a month before we put him as a foster cat in the pet supply boutique where we adopt out some of our cats. He was immediately loved by nearly everyone who came into the store, except for a couple of people who told us they thought his quality of life was so poor that we should euthanize him! Chaplin quickly proved those people wrong, as he was happy and healthy and ran around the store as best he could. Only about 36 hours after we dropped him off, a woman named Meg came in and she and Chaplin fell in love.

Meg decided she wanted to adopt Chaplin – the only problem? She’s from Washington State and was just visiting the area for a few days. Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, we got Chaplin on a flight a few days later on a pet airline, and he went out to his new home – a house with a handful of rescued corgis! Chaplin and the dogs seem to get along just fine, and he is very happy in his new home!

From Meg’s email to us, and some pictures:

Chaplin is so amazing – he takes everything in stride – we love him. And that thing about “not climbing on furniture”? NOT true :) When the boy wants to be in the action, trust me – he can scale a baby gate! He is such a kitten – nights are for PLAY. Actually, so are days. The dogs have been so incredible with him – I think I should give them each trophies ;) Good dogs!

He has been out in the yard with us when we’re outside and loves to hang in the x-pen (though he tried to climb up on the chair that John put in with him because he thought Chappy liked to sit UNDER them – nope! The boy wanted the high view and was content to hang out in the chair IN the x-pen. We propped pillows around him to make sure he couldn’t fall).

We have discovered that you DON’T want to nap with Chaps next to you if he’s on his side…he dreams, and when he does, he twitches. Except it’s more like a big strettttttch/twitch (watch those claws – my nose has proof!). Another time he twitched, turned his head and bit my finger (oww, you little turd), and then went back to sleep…purring in my arms….OK!……???? Dork.

We are wondering about his litterbox and the litter used at the store. We got wheat husk litter, and while he uses it without compunction (and the dogs love the taste…and apparently it’s good for cleansing the system…ok – no dogs near the litter), he slips in the box and ends up on his side (though this doesn’t seem to inhibit his…erm…moment). Was it easier for him to stand in other litter? Or does it not matter (it doesn’t seem so for him).

John and I are absolutely smitten by him – he has such a great character. I am sooooo impressed by the dogs around him (think: potential for disaster with high prey herding dogs) and their respect for him. Lily (the black headed-tri with a tail whom you will see in the pictures) is like his shadow – she goes where he goes, lets him fall on her without eating him (good Lily!), and really, genuinely, seems to be watching out for the boy – it has truly been amazing to watch them all together. It seems like our family is complete :)

Thank you so much to Meg and her family for giving this special cat such a great home! He truly touched all of us (and the dozens of other people who wanted to adopt him)