Even Worse Than I’d Imagined

This is what they looked like the last time I saw them.

 

Arthur

 

Silly Whim

 

They were both sick as babies.  But they rallied back and became healthy, happy kittens.  They were adopted as kittens over 8 years ago.  They have lived with the same family this entire time.  I’ve already written about them coming back here after a lifetime in a home.  It sickens me.  And believe me, I have ranted on and on about this to my husband and two daughters.  But it will do no good to do that here.  I know there are sometimes situations that are beyond a person’s control, and his or her pets have to be given up.  That wasn’t the case with Silly Whim and Arthur.  And because of having Winnie’s Wish and because my daughters are the co-managers at a humane society, I have had to witness TOO MANY situations that did NOT warrant giving your pets away!!!  

It’s awful enough for a pet to be taken to a shelter after being in a home.  It’s even more awful if they’ve lived in their home for years and years – their entire lives, since they were babies.  But don’t forget – Silly Whim and Arthur were also declawed so as not to mess up the family’s furniture. More times than not, declawed cats do not do well in shelters.  They are more afraid of the other cats as they sense they are defenseless.  This is certainly true of Sammi – my MIL’s cat whom Husband and I took when she was unable to continue to live in her home.  Sammi was declawed at some point before my MIL got her.  But she continues to be terrified of all of our other cats.  She has a special room she stays in when we are not home and at night when we sleep.  She freezes solid and doesn’t move if she thinks one of our cats is looking at her.  And if certain cats walk close to her, she screams like someone is trying to kill her.  I knew Silly Whim and Arthur, when returned, had the added disadvantage of being declawed.  I hoped against hope that somehow they would be the exception.  But OH, OH, OH – no such luck!

I received Whim and Arthur last Thursday afternoon.  The woman brought them to the shelter where my daughters work, and Younger Daughter brought them to me.  I had the enclosure in the middle cathouse room all set up for them.  When I got them, they were frozen in their carrier – not moving and not looking up.  So I hurried them to the cathouse and opened their carrier into the enclosure.  Arthur looked out and immediately started growling.  Then he started hissing.  He growled even louder when I tried to pull him out of the carrier.  Whim squished himself into the back of the carrier and started a low growl.  I finally got them out of the carrier and thought I would sit and talk to them for a while.  But I’ve never seen such terror in nonferal cats.  The growling and hissing got so bad that several of the cats who live in that room shot out through the kitty door onto their outside deck.  Now this was Thursday – we had a winter storm approaching that would bring plunging temperatures, freezing rain, and sleet starting around midnight.  I couldn’t have cats OUTSIDE with that coming.  It was quite an ordeal getting those cats back inside and then closing off the kitty door.  After multiple attempts at comforting Whim and Arthur, I finally had to move on to other work.  I hoped that surely they would realize they were safe – separate from the other cats – and they would calm down.

I raced down the next morning through the sleet and howling wind.   All of the cats in that room were sitting in balls as high up as they could get.  Arthur was growling loudly.  Whim was low-growling and squished into a corner.  As I approached, Arthur growled louder and started hissing at me.  I was going to have to do something. 

I went back over to the kennel.  There are three kennel runs converted into kitty condos.  All full.  There are two cages in my kennel office/kitten room area.  Tibby spends the nights in one – for medication purposes.  And Theo (the recently rescued black cat) is living in the other.  I have one additional cage.  I would have to set it up in my storage room so Whim and Arthur would not have to SEE any other cats until I could figure all of this out.  I hurriedly cleaned that cage and set it up in my storage room.  Then I moved all of the things in the enclosure and (after quite a battle) Silly Whim and Arthur from the cathouse to the kennel.  It was especially fun because the wind was whipping sleet and snow into my face as I went back and forth.

 

 

Whim and Arthur have been in this cage ever since.  Arthur has not stopped growling.  Whim tries to disappear every time I enter that room.  I want to comfort them but they don’t know where they are or who I am.  They have never seen another cat in their lives, no dogs, not even that many other people.  Their entire world has been turned upside down.  They have no idea where the only home and people they’ve ever known have gone.  I’m truly having to work on letting the rage go when I see what these two cats are going through.  This was NOT a case of having to give up these cats.  Unbelievable to me.

I sure am glad I was able to share three wonderful stories with you throughout the holidays.  Little Wisher Annie was adopted!  I caught my elusive black cat (Theo) just before our terrible weather hit!  And Chance the dog is now rescued and safe!   We all need stories like those to keep us going when something like this with Silly Whim and Arthur occurs.  Friends – I’m desperate.  I have NO PLACE for these two cats.  Through no fault of their own, they have been torn from their home and are living in a cage in a storage room.  If you’ve EVER considered adopting a Wisher, or if you know anyone who could provide a wonderful forever home – I need a REAL home for Silly Whim and Arthur – this one needs to be FOREVER.  Or I at least need to get either Sunspot or Zen placed, so that Whim and Arthur can live in that converted run.  Truly, Friends, I’m desperate.  Please let me know if you can help.

 

Arthur

 

Silly Whim

 

You can watch this video of Arthur and Silly Whim.  It’s the second video I took of them (the first one was simply too heartbreaking).  Maybe if the right person watches, they will offer these two a FOREVER home.

 

 

See you next week.

 

Comments

[The Poupounette Gang]

Poor little ones. It sounds like the home they were in was far from perfect in many ways, though. Their reaction is just too violent for cats who have been loved and well cared for all their lives.

[Cynthia]

Chrystal, my heart breaks for them & you. I don't understand that reaction either, maybe they are just that terrified. Why is declawing not a crime in north america yet!? Lots of prayers that they find a loving home very soon. Thank you Chrystal for being there for them...you are amazing.

[Ginny @ the Fur Family]

At least they are safe right now. Who knows what they have had to endure these last years. I am so glad you have them back. Love will bring them around. Please some one take a chance on these dear ones. Then need so much love.

[Andrea and the Celestial Kitties]

Poor little darlings! Hopefully a wonderful home shows up for them and they can settle in somewhere where there are no other cats and the humans have patience and love to give! Please share and help find these wonderful people, I know they are out there!!
Share Sunspot and Zen and the rest too! Lets find some great homes in the start of this new year!!
Don't forget donations and wish list items!!

[Cat's Cats]

Oh my gosh poor babies. They are so terrified they can't even soothe each other :( I know in the past at the vet some of my guys have been so scared they don't seem to recognize ME! I really hope they acclimate even just a little bit. What about covering the top or the back of their cage with a towel so they don't feel so exposed? Just a thought xo

[LP]

I agree with Virginia. Cats who trust humans and who have been well loved and cared for in a secure home environment, wouldn't be reacting quite this extremely. Maybe in the long run, it is better for them to be out of that home. Our thoughts and love are with you Chrystal.

Sophie and the critters in the cottage xo

[Maria in FL]

Unbelievable!! I know Silly Whim and Arthur can't talk, but I bet if they could they would tell you that their life in that home wasn't a good one. I always believe, whether it's correct or not, that animals are better off in a shelter than in a home that would unceremoniously dump them like trash. Some people are just scum, that's all. I know you are heartbroken, Chrystal, and somewhat desperate, but I believe you will prevail in making these two sweethearts feel safe and loved again. Bless you!!

[Prudi]

Chrystal, my sympathy to Silly Whim, Arthur and you. It appears these two have been mistreated for a long time and they are really better off with you. Hopefully time and your love will slowly make their life better. I wish for you some adoptions by really good cat lovers in the near future. You are very appreciated by many, many people.

[Random Felines]

I am so very sorry - for you and for them.

[Karen Lucas]

I agree with the others - this is not the reaction of kitties that have been loved and well treated with good human contact. At least now they are not being abused. I wish I could help you but at 79 I can't offer them a forever home. Would some quiet classical music help to calm them a little?

[Ellen Pilch]

This is heartbreaking. I am glad you were able to get them out of the shelter. I don't know how people live with themselves when they give up pets.

[Chris]

Those poor, poor babies. They are terrified. The very first thought that popped into my head was "Separate them." Silly Whim doesn't look angry, she looks scared, and possibly bullied by Arthur. So get her away from him and give her a chance to relax. If she's never had that, if may be a welcome change for her. She may turn into a sweet cat who soaks up the loving she may have been missing.
Arthur can be housed solo while you work on his obvious anger issues and remind him people are good; people are the source of food and pets and love, etc. Or you may discover that Arthur has been "damaged" too far and can no longer be adopted out. But at least by being separated, you can find out if one or both cats can be saved.

[GD]

I truly do not believe it is because they were declawed. I do believe that it is just because they are confused and terrified. I think they would be that way no matter what. Cats have many different personalities and I have seen confident ones and those that are not. We get declawed cats into our county shelter (Animal Control) and they do just fine. I have seen cats with their claws behave as you are describing Arthur and Silly Whim. Many cats have a very difficult time with change. All pets are a lifetime commitment and should not be considered disposable. Also, I truly believe in slow introduction (cat to cat, cat to dog, dog to dog). Adopting a cat and plopping them down in front of your other cat(s)is a terrible idea. My heart breaks for Arthur and Silly Whim. They did not deserve this.

[GD]

Oh, also, sometimes on cat will feed off the fear of another. Because, "If he is scared, I should be scared! What is going on???!!!"

[meowmeowmans]

I can't even imagine giving up our pets. Having said that, Whim and Arthur's extreme reaction makes one wonder what they wet through before they came back to you. I have tears in my eyes as I type this, thinking of how terrified they are. :(