It's been 7 years since I had a pet and I wasn't planning on getting one despite my love of cats and my son and husband begging to get a cat. Everything changed with one picture sent by my best friend in Chicago who fosters cats through Paws and Claws. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't deny that I felt drawn to this furry kitten with the big paws and surprised eyes.
Paws and Claws worked with us and we ended up adopting our boys, Pickles and Olives (Ollie for short). That's a typical happy adoption story, but what happened shortly after we adopted them is the real story. I underwent major neck surgery as a result of a work injury and went from a very active person to someone who really couldn't move for weeks. My mental and emotional health declined as I sat in a recliner and watched summer pass me by....but Pickles and Ollie saved me.
I honestly don't know how I could have survived those months of pain and inactivity and complete life upheaval without those kittens. Because of them, I had a reason to get out of bed in the morning. They needed me and loved me when I felt useless. I couldn't do much, but I could hold a fishing pole cat toy and laugh at their craziness. When my family was gone and I was alone for hours on end, I was never really alone. Having other living things to talk to did wonders for me, not to mention they were always close by.
In the mornings Pickles would sleep on my lap and Ollie would sleep on top of my chair. When the sun came around in the afternoon, they would sleep in the sunbeams right next to me. I drew vast amounts of comfort from them, and I still do. When I come home tired from physical therapy, they are right at the door. They wake me up with purrs and hair kneading and I am improving my neck flexibility by forever looking under things for lost mousies, lol. 6 months has brought alot of changes but they are the best ones.
My family and I can't even begin to think of our life without them. Thank you to Paws and Claws and their foster people for blessing us with our kittens.
Love,
Kate S.