Tara

Bellevue, Washington

When I was born, my cat-mom was feral, she had all us kitties out in a lot next to a parking lot. A man came along and found me when I was a few months old and he took me home. But he and his wife didn't get along, and so the man-who liked me-left. He couldn't take me with him, though, so he left me with the woman who didn't like me because I reminded her of him.

She had three mean boy-cats who didn't like me either. They wouldn't let me eat, and I had to stay up on the refrigerator and never got petted. My teeth hurt, but nobody ever noticed and so I was in pain for awhile.

Finally, the woman decided she didn't want me and she decided to give me away. One day, her daughter came and put me in a carrier. In 1993, she took me to this rescue place where they had lots of wild kitties, and I was afraid I'd have to go in one of the cages, but instead, she set my carrier on a table and a little while later, a man and a woman came in. They peeked in the carrier, and said hello to me. They both had soft voices and I could tell they cared a lot, so I squeaked (I don't meow so good) at them to let them no I wanted to go home with them.

They took me out of the carrier and the woman held me, and petted me softly and asked me if I wanted to go with them, and she rubbed her face against my fur. I purred as hard as I could so they'd want to take me. They put me back in the carrier and I was so afraid that I'd be taken back to the not-so-good house, but then the man picked my carrier up and they took me to their car.

At first I was afraid-new places are scary-and I hid under the sofa. My new mommy Yasmine didn't try to make me come out, she just slid a bowl of food and water under there with me, and let me stay there where it felt safe. After awhile, she went in the other room and I decided to see where she went. I crept out and saw Keeter-my new sister, who just ignored me. When I went in the bedroom, my new mommy peeked over the bed where she was reading and said, “Do you want to come up here?” I jumped up and she gently petted me, and I decided it wasn't as scary. She gave me a new name, because she said mine wasn't dignified, and she and my new Daddy took me to the vet, where I had to have lots of teeth pulled since the people at the not-so-good house didn't take care of me. All I can eat is soft food because I only have my fangs left.

When Luna came to live with us, she didn't like me-I think she knew how much I needed Mommy, and she needed Mommy too. We fought a lot, and she beat up on me, so Mommy and Daddy gave Luna medicine to calm her down. Meerclar came shortly after that, but she was kind of fun.

When we moved to the new house a few years ago, Mommy decided to put me in her office so I never get disturbed by Luna any more, and the whole office is mine. I get Mommy's attention all day because she works at home, and I finally have a nice quiet place to play and rest. I'm not very active. Nobody knows quite how old I am, but I'm at least 15 years old, even though Mommy says I don't look it. I know I'm the prettiest kitty she has, she just doesn't want to make the others jealous by saying so. I sleep on the desk next to her arm, and drool all over her keyboard (no teeth to keep the drool in, the doctor says), and I like to sit on the window and look outside, and to play with my catnip toys. It's been so nice since I left the not-so-good house, and that's my rescue story.

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