One of my favorite things about Tabby’s Place is the way the cats bring a parade of amazing folks through our lives. It’s ever apparent to me that our volunteers, adopters, visitors and assorted friends, buddies and pals are some of the most generous, compassionate, loving and deep-down-good people on the planet.

With the recent adoption of Jasmine, I think we can add “courageous” to that list of attributes.

Now, I am definitely not superstitious – not even a little. But I can readily see why anyone might hesitate to adopt a cat who was orphaned when her people died – twice.

Jasmine was one of the very first cats to come to Tabby’s Place (#63 out of 700+). A gentle older girl with a personality best described as “slow-moving vehicle,” Jasmine is a plus-sized cuddle-bug. (As you can see in the photo at right, Jasmine is not exactly, uh, a ball of fire. Sometimes, it even takes too much energy to put her tongue back in her mouth.) It’s no surprise that this snuggle-bunny was scooped up by a loving adopter years ago. Sadly, that person passed away, and Jasmine returned to Tabby’s Place. Jasmine would soon find a second loving home…only to come back to Tabby’s Place just about a year ago, when that guardian, too, unexpectedly passed away.

Poor Jasmine – she’s a big marshmallow, the kind of cat who would love nothing more than to cuddle and purr with a favorite human for, oh, eight hundred hours at a time. I’ve always envisioned her at her happiest with someone who likes to watch daytime TV, whiling away the afternoon in a warm lap. She’s a gentle creature who doesn’t ask much – just love, lots of wet food and the little sisal mat on which she loves to snooze (as you can see in the photo above). She’s a happy soul, who will announce her contentment to you by letting out a big silent meow.

As special as Jasmine is, we all understood why anyone who heard Jasmine’s somewhat disturbing history might hesitate to bring her home. In combination with her age (around 13), Jasmine’s reputation as the “black-and-white widow” definitely removed her from most adopters’ short-lists. (Jonathan has even joked that he’s glad his office isn’t in the Community Room, Jasmine’s home at Tabby’s Place for a season. I’m grateful to report that all of us who do work in the Community Room are very much alive!)

Well, I am delighted to share that the “black-and-white-widow” chapter of Jasmine’s story is finally coming to an end. One of our faithful volunteers has fallen for gentle Jasmine’s sweet nature, and is willing – and brave  enough – to overlook her bizarre history.

Like I said, I’m not superstitious. So, here’s to the end of bad-luck streaks – and long, beautiful lives for Jasmine and her new “mom.”