If you have seen Hello, Dolly!, Fiddler on the Roof, or Wall-E, you probably understand the importance of and difficulty with making connections. At Tabby’s Place, the amazing Adoptions Team is dedicated to making matches that stick.
With persons’ personal ads (Are those still a thing?) and ubiquitous dating apps, the goal is to find the right words to describe what one has to offer and what one is hoping to find in someone else. This includes personal interests, demographics, and lifestyle. For interspecies homes, personal ads are especially difficult because only one of the involved species is actually able to complete questionnaires for themselves.
With that in mind, the Adoptions Team members play Dolly Levi’s role, but for cats. In part, this means understanding that cats might behave differently at home than at the sanctuary. Even moving into the very best home is stressful. Even adapting to the most loving family is stressful. There are lots of stresses. And, even with experienced matchmakers’ guidance, the unanticipated can happen. Occasionally, even within the living lovefest that is the Tabby’s Place family, returns can happen.
Sometimes physical barriers present unsurmountable challenges. Sometimes lifestyles turn out not to suit specific feline needs and preferences. That’s why there is a very important rule at Tabby’s Place: Once a Tabby’s Place cat, always a Tabby’s Place cat. And, that’s why there are, except under very special circumstances, no same-day adoptions.
Phew! Lots of words there. And, there’s a reason. Actually, there are very many reasons, and all of them are about 10 inches tall and come complete with rumblies in their tumblies (i.e. permanent states of hunger and the ability to purr). Actually, there are other reasons too, and they are all much taller and generally walk on twos instead of fours (States of hunger are variable, as is the ability to purr.). With so many creatures to connect with the best other creature(s) for any given creature(s), compassionate understanding is key. No judgement, just learning. Because of all of the intricacies involved in connecting creatures, the matchmakers at Tabby’s Place double as counselors, providing advice and resources.
The best days at the sanctum sanctorum are the days when a fond farewell is waved as one, two, or more of the residents are ushered off to their new home(s). This makes it doubly difficult when a cat comes back. The human heartbreak of adopters is hard to witness and difficult to soothe.
Reminding adopters of our visiting policy is cold comfort. Even the kindest offers of condolence can land more awkwardly than an albatross or than one of those totally tiny toads that fall and bounce more than land. Nevertheless, such situations are hardly hopeless for the adopter or for the Tabby’s Place cat (Tabby’s Place excels in focusing on HOPE!).
So, when a cat comes back to Tabby’s Place, the welcome is sincere and warm.
A beloved friend has returned.
Readjustment will be made as comfortable as possible.
Favorite treats and blankets will be remembered and bestowed by old friends.
Newly found friends will dote and adore.
And, as always, the Adoptions Team will be there, ready with a medical history and armed with insights old and new to help make a perfect match.