You come to this venerable blog with the big questions:
Why not “Hannah”?
Why not, Hannah?
Why not Hannah?
You’ve come to the right place. Although such mysteries bewilder great minds, a higher authority is here.
He is a philosopher the color of peach cobbler.
He is an oracle with a giblet habit.
He is the boy called Hannah, which brings us to your first question. Why is this boy called “Hannah”? Or, more precisely, why not “Hannah”?
Nobody knew what to make of Hannah as a baby. He was born with a natural smile and no tail, a round cream puff of a kitten. He could fit in the palm of your hand, but not the anatomy textbook. He had delicate “defects” that made it difficult to know if he was male or female.
A veterinarian described Hannah as “very excited!” A veterinarian also said it might be necessary to “humanely euthanize” him.
Hannah’s concerns were more than cosmetic. Something similar to Manx syndrome caused severe constipation, and his condition was grave.
Hannah did not know any of this.
But Hannah already had the important answers.
Hannah knew that this world contains warm arms and kind eyes, and people whose smiles looked familiar from the first time he met them.
Hannah knew he had a family resemblance to love, and also a sweet potato.
Hannah knew that his name was “Hannah,” because someone decided he was worthy of a name, whether he was male, or female, or only going to be here a short time.
No wonder Hannah was “very excited!” He knew everything he needed to know.
This did not include the knowledge that there are few places for a cat with chronic gastrointestinal needs, even if he is a morsel of heaven who answers to “Hannah banana.”
Hannah’s heroes did not tell him that a kitten may be born with a natural smile, but human smiles hold back tears.
In animal rescue, grace is always arm-wrestling grief.
Hannah only knew this: grace has the stronger grip.
Hannah saw a long life of “yes” in the curve of every smile.
Hannah knew that the answer to “Why not, Hannah?” was, “Absolutely no reason, none whatsoever, not even if the textbook says so, not even if an authority as high as Guy Fieri says so, because I am very excited, and that means I do not answer to ‘no.’ I answer to ‘Hannah.'”
And when love knows your name, answers unfurl.
Hannah’s heroes cobbled together a plan. They found a surgeon who knew how to bring Hannah relief. Thanks to their love and sacrifice, the tiny Manx soon had life by the tail. When Hannah woke up, the “fact” of his suffering was nowhere to be found.
For the first time, he was able to poop on his own, without assistance. He pooped with gusto. He pooped with valor. His poopage was a triumph that should be retold in every history textbook for all time.
You can understand why Hannah was very excited.
Hannah was even excited to hear that he will always need bottom-baths and extra care. “Extra care” means extra kisses. “Extra care” means the kind of bond that comes from letting someone meet your needs.
Hannah would not understand why anyone wouldn’t be excited.
But, one last question chased our cream puff.
Why not Hannah?
Although he was as round as love’s full circle, and as happy as eight hundred Elmos, Hannah needed a rare haven. He would never be “normal.” He would never not be “needy.” He would never be the kind of cat the world calls “easy.”
That will never matter. He answers to “Hannah.” And now, we are the ones who are “very excited!”
Because Hannah is a Tabby’s Place cat.
Why not Hannah?
We start laughing before we reach the question mark. The premise is preposterous. This little boy was born to be ours. On a scale of 1 – 10, the joy at Tabby’s Place now measures “bananas.” And someday, the right adopter will be their own answer.
We are so excited you’re here, Hannah.
And we are doubly excited to announce that Hannah is the venerable “Mystery Cat” revealed as our newest sponsorable sweetheart at Your Feline Valentine this past weekend. Which means there’s just one question left for you: why not sponsor Hannah today?