Oh, no. Oh, my! OH, YES!! Nerf has found his forever home. MINE!!!
The amazing adoptions team as well as another insightful staff member were supposed to tell me why adopting Nerf would not work for me, my spouse, and our 3 cats. There were supposed to be insurmountable issues of an indeterminate nature. Joyously, if challengingly, this was exactly not the case. In fact, this was a very strange case (Thankfully, not on the order of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.). For one thing, the Enormous Rescues of 2024 brought very many undersocialized cats into Tabby’s Place within a very short time. It was a no-brainer for me to join the legion of volunteers set on getting them used to us. I had zero plans to adopt one of them or, in fact, any cat at all. I was utterly unprepared for Nerf.
The downy undercoat, the generously proportioned ears, the semi-naked tum tum with the tiny teal tattoo! I should have seen it coming. The upside down wriggling, the contented drooling, the out of control tail should all have been a warning. Day by day from August to May, it became impossible for me to simply walk away.
So, on May 9, (with complete agreement from my spouse and enthusiastic support from everyone at Tabby’s Place) when I left the sanctum sanctorum after my shift, Nerf came home with me. And, now, he has us turned more upside down and backwards than five 6-year-olds playing Twister. Where “us” had been 5 (2 humans and 3 cats), “us” is now 6.
Well…we’re getting there. It’s more like 2+3+1 or something (I’m fractional in every part of that equation), but this is temporary. Yet, because of Nerf’s history, we’re taking things v…e…r…y…s…l…o…w…l…y.
At a pace roughly equivalent to a frozen slime mold moving uphill in a dense forest in the middle of a harsh winter, we are acclimating Nerf to his forever home, our home. Every day, he grows more comfortable with the cozy apartment set up for him in the master bathroom. At the speed of a high-speed express train, Nerf has already become quite comfortable with totally taking over my lap. Our little grey guy is also very happy with visits from any human who stops by. To a person, they have been charmed by his snuggly sweetness and adorable behaviors.
Thankfully, any initial worries about his eating and drinking…and other things…were utterly unfounded. With the barest assistance for the first few days, Nerf now chows down like a tiny horse and all systems are go. The only no-go that we’re running up against is Nerf’s interest in other spaces. Although everything in the bedroom has been carefully set up to block inaccessible hideouts, provide accessible hideouts, and break up wide open spaces with what is – for we humans – essentially an obstacle course, Nerf is extremely hesitant to venture forth. Calming spray helps only so much. The other cats help the teensiest bit more.
Interest in the other cats and general curiosity will someday win the day. But, this is going to be a long-term adjustment for all parties, and the adventure is just beginning. We are being patient, mindful, and observant. The cats are being mostly cooperative, each according to their individual personalities. Calming spray and plug-ins have been implemented, and everybody responds positively to the excesses of treats that have become the norm for now, including my spouse (very different treats).
Bringing Nerf home was equal parts exciting and nerve-racking (I’m a bit high strung), and the Adoptions Team was wonderful about my very many questions. Now, as reality is hitting home, both hyper-excitement and nervousness are easing, and we are settling into a routine.
Things really are progressing beautifully, albeit about as fast as a snail creeping through thick sludge. That’s as it should be considering where Nerf came from and who and what we are introducing him to. Ultimately, what matters most is that Nerf and his new-to-him clowder (We’ll get there!) are all healthy and happy – minor exceptions during supervised negotiations aside (early days). The future promises many wonderful years together as our family’s adventure unfolds, and we’re thrilled to have Nerf be a part of it.