We don't know why Charlie ended up in a kill shelter before he was 2 years old. He'd already been declawed and neutered, so somebody cared enough to do that. He was rescued by a local organization, and we discovered him on Petfinder.com. We had just lost our 14 y/o Shadow, and wanted another kitty to fill the empty spot she left. Charlie was not quite 3 y/o when he came to live with us. He hid under the kitchen table for a few minutes...until I offered him a bit of canned food on my fingers. He became my instant best friend! He slept with us the very 1st night, and spent his 1st full day with us in my lap. We think he may have been abused a bit in his former home...he cowered away when he would bump into our legs. It was a year before he became "curious" about what was behind closed doors. Maybe he was punished for being clumsy and curious, we'll never know. But with lots of love and patience, and the freedom to be his big, lovable self, he's becoming a "normal" kitty. He's just a sweetheart!

Debbie H.
Edgefield, SC