The Christmas of 2013 I decided I would give a special home to a kitty in need, so I went to a local no-kill shelter out on Long Island, Save A Pet Animal Rescue in Port Jeff Station. I had arrived with my dad who accompanied me, I looked into a lot of cages and played with a lot of kitties, but when I saw this multicolored fluff ball curled up against the side of the cage, I knew I had to hold her. As soon as they took Abby (then she was named Amanda by the rescue) she climbed right on to my shoulder and curled up against my neck. I could tell she was scared but she quickly calmed down and I could feel a light purr… I was hooked (Abby is still not big on purring, you can feel the rumble but she doesn’t make much noise).
We were able to take Abby home that night. The next morning while I was out finishing Christmas shopping, my dad was at home laying and playing with Abigail. Once I got home my mom and I noticed fleas all over the bed where Abby was staying, they were EVERYWHERE! They must have been nestled tightly into her thick fur. Thank goodness for my sweetheart parents, here we are Christmas eve giving my new rescue kitten her first bath and combing the fleas out of her fur. That Christmas I got my parents’ dog and cat a flea collar just to be safe (what a gift!).
After the first crazy 48 hours life with Abby has been easy ever since. She has lived in Manhattan, Long Island, Fort Lauderdale and Delray. Miss Abby Cat sure is one well traveled kitty with such a calm and easy going personality!
Bruce was adopted two years later once Abby and I had moved down to Florida. I was searching different rescue groups to volunteer for, when I landed on a page for kittens up for adoption (whoops). Scrolling through I passed a beautiful green eyed black kitten named Dior on a pink chair (they obviously thought Bruce was a girl at first). For some reason throughout the day, I kept going back to the black kittens page and finally later that day contacted his foster at Animal Aid Inc.
That week I drove about an hour just to be able to meet this kitten that had caught my attention. When I first met Bruce (then Dior) he was with a bunch of black kittens, but his rambunctious personality spoke to me. Once it was time to put him back in the cage, he put his head between the cage bars and stared at me. We kept each others gaze until he had fallen asleep. It broke my heart to leave him as I had to wait until the weekend to fill out the paperwork for adoption.
On Friday July 3rd, Abby and I moved into a new apartment in Delray, and on July 4th Bruce had his day of freedom as I was finally able to bring him back home with me. Bruce also had a small case of fleas when I had first brought him home, but I felt like I was a seasoned pro at taking care of this, and he is such a calm bath taker which made life easy. Bruce has absolutely adored his big sister since day 1 and they continue to be the bestest of friends.
Because I am so passionate about finding good homes for shelter cats, I have since rescued/fostered 3 other cats and currently volunteer for The Animal Rescue Force of South Florida every week. The joy that these rescue animals have brought into my life has inspired me to one day open up a rescue farm of my own. Every animal deserves a chance at a loving home, just like Abigail and Bruce… I hope that one day I can provide that chance. – Abby & Bruce’s Mom