I’m of the strong belief that God is good, all the time. There are few places I’ve been as frequently or as powerfully reminded of this as among the cats of Tabby’s Place. Their unconditional love is a living, purring parable. The quiet, undeniable rhythm of mercy to them and through them is charged with grandeur.
Just when we can’t take another fleck of bad news, just when we feel like the sorrow is pummeling the worthiness of what we do…the mercy comes. And, suddenly, we’re back in the Land of 1,000 Adoptions.
At just the right time, God’s sent a river of good news running through the sanctuary. Some of it’s almost “too” good to be true, in fact. Hang onto your hats (or dancing shoes, Fred :-)), because the next two weeks are going to be rocking with some of the happiest blog posts yet.
To kick off this week, which “coincidentally” is Thanksgiving week (if you believe in coincidences, that is), I thought I’d start with some of the most shockingly-stellar news of all.
Are you sitting down?
No, really. Because you should be. I’m not kidding.
Three words:
Twinkie.
Cupcake.
Together.
Yes, that Twinkie and Cupcake!
I’ll confess that it was literally unbelievable at first. Every so often, someone will call Tabby’s Place to ask about a cat they’ve seen or heard about somewhere. It’s always a terrified cat, or an angry cat, or a cat with extreme Special Needs. I have no doubt that these are big-hearted people, well-meaning people, and that’s why they think that they can charm or tame or care for the cat in question.
But, 99% of the time, by the time the conversation is over, they’ve heard enough honesty to know that the cat is not what they wanted. Much as we want every cat to be adopted, we don’t want anykitty going to a home that doesn’t understand and love her exactly the way she is. Each cat deserves better than a home that is forever wishing she could be something she’s not.
But this caller would not be deterred.
Not by the fact that Twinkie is, quite literally, untouchable.
Not by the fact that Cupcake is, quite literally, invisible (unless you crawl into a cat treehole).
Not by the fact that, in all likelihood, it will be months if not years before these angel-girls are willing to trust.
Not at all.
It turns out that Mrs. Twinkie-Cupcake has a long and love-rich history of adopting the most terrified, neediest felines she can find, and slowly, painstakingly showing them how good love can be. Far from being put off by Cupcake and Twinkie’s past, she relished the honor of being the one to love them just the way they are.
It became dazzlingly clear that Mrs. Twinkie-Cupcake would give our girls all the time they need to stretch out their souls in the security of her heart and home. With glowing references and a stellar adoption application, it was all over but the going-home.
I said my bittersweet-but-mostly-sweet goodbyes to the dessert girls on Friday. Cupcake, my sweet friend Cupcake, cowered (as usual) in the safe confines of her hidey-hole. Darling Twinkie eyed me anxiously (as usual) from the hammock of the Suite B cat tree. I told them I loved them and always would. I told them they and their mama would be in my prayers. I told them that the best is yet to come, that they ain’t seen nothing yet when it comes to love.
And, today, I’ve had the glee of telling some shocked volunteers that they aren’t seeing things. Those really are Twinkie and Cupcake’s names in a heart on the Community Room white board.
And those aren’t the only amazing names on that white board this week. Stay tuned. 🙂
Shoes are shined and ready!!!
Excellent – and I trust that the Twinkie-and-Cupcake dance is especially sweet. 🙂
Okay, blogger-friends: Let’s all join hands with Fred and Angela and dance together on this one!!!!!! Yippee! Yes, Angela, God is great — this is a gift from above! To Mama Adopter — like Angela said, the best IS yet to come with these sweet ones!
I adopted a cat just like this eight years ago — my sweet Jane Edith. It took THREE years for her to come out from under the bed – now she sleeps by my side each night. Worth EVERY SECOND of the wait!
I am thrilled for my girls! After 5 months of weekly cajoling and attempts at touching, my sweet girls have the perfect forever home! Happy Thanksgiving! There is much to be thankful for with these two amazing kitties. They may be shy and scared, but they have the potential to be snuggily lap caps in short order. They just need some calm and quiet. Thank you, thank you to the wonderful person who has the faith to take on these adorable faces. They easily won my heart, and I know that they’ll win hers too.
What great news for these little ladies! I’m sure they will have a wonderful life in their new forever home.
This post made my cry. I am so happy for Twinkie and Cupcake. And I look forward to more good news here!
Happy tears of love and joy!
For this I give thanks to humans redeeming other humans.Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I look forward to my Thanksgiving dinner – humane and cruelty free. You may be surprised to see how easily you can eat a meal with no animals at all. Well without eating animals that is – I couldn’t eat a meal at my house without 11 animals eyeing up everything we do!
Thanks, thanks, thanks to TabbysPlace, especially Jonathan and Sharon for making it all possible, Tabby for making their good works possible and to everyone who works and loves there.
I can’t wait for the rest of the good news…..
Kathryn
I’m just so choked up. Happy tears, of course. So pleased that Twinkie and Cupcake have such a wonderful forever home. Many happy years to them and Mrs. Twinkie-Cupcake!
Hello all you dear ones – just had to add a very happy P.S. to this post. I’ve learned that all – ALL – of the cats rescued from the Chester hoarding situation with the Dessert Kids have now been placed. That’s somewhere in the ballpark of 200 very traumatized cats, now in loving homes of their own. !!! Trifle and Strudel, your day is coming! 🙂
Oh my little Twinkie has found a home. I’m so happy and sad at the same time. Though I know I do not have the room for another kitty, especially one that need as much time as Twinkie will, I always had a little “twinkle” of hope that maybe, just maybe I could take this beautiful girl. I love you, sweet Twinkie, and will miss seeing your cute little face.