I loved my black cat Spooky as a child, and wanted another black cat as an adult. My sister, who volunteers at a shelter, notified me when a young declawed black cat was taken in. I went to meet him the next day at his foster family's home and fell in love. By the time I bought a carrier and food and called to arrange a pickup time the next day, the foster family had decided to keep him. I was heartbroken.
My sister went online and found a declawed black cat at another shelter. His name was -- Spooky! I called the shelter and made an appointment, taking the carrier with me because I was determined to take this cat home no matter what.
Spooky turned out to be a feisty 4-year-old, and overturned a table as soon as he was let out of his cage at the shelter. He had been unadoptable and "incarcerated" for months. After every adoption day, he remained at the shelter because he hissed and growled and bit whenever anyone came near his cage. But I had decided in advance that this was my cat. He snarled the whole way home.
After hiding under a bed for a few minutes, he ventured out and has been my lap cat ever since. He's polite and playful and purrs beautifully. All he needed was the security of a permanent home where he was loved. I've now loved him for more than seven years!
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
