Our special needs kitty, Rain-Beau, also had a holiday miracle which deserves a much more in depth story. Please read Beau's Travel Diary below. It will give you your daily, maybe even weekly dose of hope.
First, I think that I need to explain why we, a group whose mission statement says that we will provide a permanent home for homeless and abandoned cats and keep them safe and healthy within our shelter for the balance of their natural lives, were looking for another more permanent home for Rain-Beau.
We are a very small shelter. The key to our being able to continue to rescue is adoptions. Many people are weary of adopting a shelter kitty anyway and then there was Rain-Beau. He was so friendly that he'd get people's attention as soon as they came in the door and the first thing they'd say was, "Oh! That cat's sick!" Then we'd have to try to explain that actually he was feeling pretty good. That they were looking at the nursed back to health version of the kitty we'd taken in April. That when we first got him you couldn't even tell what color his eyes were under all of the scars and goop, (green) and that his congestion was so pronounced in the beginning that you could hear him breathing from across the room even if a train was going by and the washer and dryer were running. We also got a lot of, "Oh, so that's the cage for the sick kitties." Rain-beau shared a cage with two perfectly healthy kitties, Miles and Moo-Lan. We were starting to wonder if their chances for adoption were being hampered by the stigma of living in the "sick" cage. So that's what led us to the following:
We are a very small shelter. The key to our being able to continue to rescue is adoptions. Many people are weary of adopting a shelter kitty anyway and then there was Rain-Beau. He was so friendly that he'd get people's attention as soon as they came in the door and the first thing they'd say was, "Oh! That cat's sick!" Then we'd have to try to explain that actually he was feeling pretty good. That they were looking at the nursed back to health version of the kitty we'd taken in April. That when we first got him you couldn't even tell what color his eyes were under all of the scars and goop, (green) and that his congestion was so pronounced in the beginning that you could hear him breathing from across the room even if a train was going by and the washer and dryer were running. We also got a lot of, "Oh, so that's the cage for the sick kitties." Rain-beau shared a cage with two perfectly healthy kitties, Miles and Moo-Lan. We were starting to wonder if their chances for adoption were being hampered by the stigma of living in the "sick" cage. So that's what led us to the following:
On November 26th, I was packed and ready to leave early the next morning for a three day trip. I had just received word earlier that another local, more permanent shelter had agreed to take Rain-Beau. Since I was feeling a little unsettled about it, I turned to a resource I'd used only once before in six years. I wrote to another volunteer, Amy, about it since I didn't want him to be gone before I got back from my trip.
Hey Amy,
I just posted the following on Petfinder's message board:
Rain-beau is a male, adolescent dilute tortoiseshell. He's the only male tortoiseshell we've ever seen at our shelter. He was born into a family of cats that was not being spayed or neutered by their owners. Some of them were very sick but they were not receiving any veterinary care. His brother ended up needing his eye removed. Rain-beau had to have a lot of scar tissue removed from his eyes but he can see just fine. He's been at our shelter in Deerfield Beach, FL for about six months now. Since he doesn't look completely normal and has an amazing amount of boogers, the general consensus is that he will not be adopted. So.... we are about to offer a generous donation to another shelter that is more or less a permanent home. They are very interested. I should be thrilled that the story has such a happy ending. Instead, I'm sad that we are giving up on his chance for a normal, real home. He's SO friendly! He is such a cuddler and gives so much love. I think he'd actually make an amazing addition to any home. I just want to be able to sleep peacefully knowing that I threw out the fact of his existence to as wide of a community as I could before we completely gave up on him. If anyone has any ideas about an actual home with real people who could love him, then please let me know. Thanks!
I just want to make sure we've exhausted all avenues for the sake of my own soul. The Petfinder message board was where I found a home for Tex, the cat at Acacia that was Leukemia and Aids positive. You never know. I'll check for responses when I get home from my trip on Tuesday night. Try to stall Rain-Beau's leaving until at least Wednesday. Thanks!
Beth
Of course I couldn't wait to check for a response until I got home from my trip, so I checked it before I left for the airport the next morning.
I saw your post and I'm willing, more than willing to give him a home with me. I currently have 2 males with eye problems. One is blind in one eye and the other has limited vison due to injury to one eye. I also have other normal cats. I adopted both cats with eye problems because I knew they needed a loving home too. Only glitch is I need him transported up here to me in Kenosha, WI. I'm willing to pay for transport if you can set something up. Please let me know. Thanks and God Bless. Karen
That's when I danced around the house screaming! I tried to keep in mind that I still didn't know if Karen was an axe murderer and she still didn't know the scope of Rain-Beau's boogers! I responded to both Amy and Karen.
I saw your post and I'm willing, more than willing to give him a home with me. I currently have 2 males with eye problems. One is blind in one eye and the other has limited vison due to injury to one eye. I also have other normal cats. I adopted both cats with eye problems because I knew they needed a loving home too. Only glitch is I need him transported up here to me in Kenosha, WI. I'm willing to pay for transport if you can set something up. Please let me know. Thanks and God Bless. Karen
That's when I danced around the house screaming! I tried to keep in mind that I still didn't know if Karen was an axe murderer and she still didn't know the scope of Rain-Beau's boogers! I responded to both Amy and Karen.
Hi Amy,
I checked my e-mail this morning and already have a reply! Theoretically I guess I could fly him there since I'm a flight attendant. Maybe while I'm away you could contact Karen and find out a little more about her via e-mail...like how many cats she has total...would he get to stay indoors, etc...
In the meantime I'm going to write back to her and let her know that I received her response and will be away traveling till Wednesday and that someone else might contact her. Thanks!
Beth
Hi Karen,
I never thought I would get a response so quickly! The good news about transport is that I'm a flight attendant so I'm sure I could manage a day of flying to get him to you. Unfortunately I leave today, Sunday for a three day trip and won't be able to work on anything till I get back. Another volunteer, Amy, might write to you while I'm away to get some more info. I look forward to talking to you when I get back from my trip! Thank you so much!
Beth
Hey Karen,
Hey Karen,
Thank you so much for staying in touch. Everyone is really enjoying reading
your notes. As a matter of fact I'm going to try to put the whole story of
Rain-Beau up on the news section of our website. The one thing that
Hi Karen. My name is Amy and I'm also a volunteer at Feline Friends. Beth forwarded all your corrsespondence before she left for her trip. I was curious as to how many cats you have in all and are they indoor, outdoor or both. Do the kitties with eye problems hang with the others? Are there children in the house.How do you feel about claws?? Please e-mail me and I will be in touch with Beth between her flights. Thanks. Amy
Hi Amy,
I have 6 cats. They are all indoor cats, it's way too dangerous for cats to be outside now days. I have a 100 year old 2 story house with lots of windows for sunbathing. My daughter is 16 and 2 of the cats are hers. The ones with eye problems do interact with the others. Most of them end up on my bed at some point during the night. No need for an eletric blanket :) I do not declaw my cats, I find that to be cruel and unnecessary. I have several scratching posts around the house and they all use them. One of my cats came to me already declawed, he's the only one. I have multiple litter boxes set up and also multiple food stations. I'm a widow and home most of the time. Favorite thing to do is have a nice fire, lay on the couch with the cats and watch movies, read or talk on the phone. My cats are a big part of my life. We are involved in a lawsuit for my husbands death and when that is done I plan on setting up something to have my animals taken care of when I can no longer do so due to illness or death. I never want them in a shelter again. Talk to you soon. Karen
(Well, that e-mail was when we all allowed ourselves to officially get chills!)
I think "I" want to live in your house- Ha!Ha!"! I will leave a message for Beth to call me when she can and I will relay your wonderful reply. Thanks.
I've got a sleeper sofa for guests :) Karen
Hey Karen,
I'm home and so excited for Rain-beau. So is Amy. Tomorrow I will share everything with our director, Cindy. I'm sure she will be as excited as we are. Then we just have to pick a good travel day that works for all of us. What is the closest major city to you that Delta flies to?
Hi Beth, I'm soooo excited too :) Can't wait!! The closest city would be Milwaukee. Please let Cindy know that I plan on keeping in touch with you to let you know how Rain-Beau is doing and any updates. I'll even send pictures of him with my guys. I've told my guys they're getting a new brother and of course you know how cats are LOL. Just think, he'll be coming home for Christmas. What a great gift for us both. I'm getting my fireplace cleaned today and will be buying a few more cat snuggy beds for them and we'll be ready for the winter! I also have 2 great vets that I use. One is traditional and one is holistic. Only the best for my guys:) Karen
Hi Karen,
Cindy is in complete agreement that you would be the best home for any of our kitties and a dream come true for Rain-Beau. I have made a reservation for Monday the 12th. It doesn't look all that hard. I just
have to bring a good book and hope that Rain-beau is VERY quiet and doesn't embarrass me amongst my colleagues. Cindy says she has a soft sided carrier that can use and you can keep. I'd hate to have to try to switch him into a different carrier in the ladies room or something. I will buy him a harness so that I can safely take him out of the carrier for security. I think the holistic vet sounds like a very good idea for Rain-beau. Maybe you can lessen the amount of boogers he blows. My boyfriend, Miles, a beautiful black adolescent who's about Rain-beau's age and has shared a cage with him for a long time, eats each and every one of Rain-beau's boogers before we can get back to them with a wet paper towel. We will break the news to him gently
that his supply is about to dry up.
Hi Karen,
Cindy is in complete agreement that you would be the best home for any of our kitties and a dream come true for Rain-Beau. I have made a reservation for Monday the 12th. It doesn't look all that hard. I just
have to bring a good book and hope that Rain-beau is VERY quiet and doesn't embarrass me amongst my colleagues. Cindy says she has a soft sided carrier that can use and you can keep. I'd hate to have to try to switch him into a different carrier in the ladies room or something. I will buy him a harness so that I can safely take him out of the carrier for security. I think the holistic vet sounds like a very good idea for Rain-beau. Maybe you can lessen the amount of boogers he blows. My boyfriend, Miles, a beautiful black adolescent who's about Rain-beau's age and has shared a cage with him for a long time, eats each and every one of Rain-beau's boogers before we can get back to them with a wet paper towel. We will break the news to him gently
that his supply is about to dry up.
Beth- If my daughter goes somewhere on spring break this spring, I think I'll give myself a spring break and pop down there for a few days and volunteer to help out. It would be a welcome change of pace. Karen
Hey Karen, Yesterday one of our new vets went by the shelter and made a travel health certificate for Rain-beau. Tomorrow we're going to start practicing putting his travel harness on him. I don't think that's going to be much fun! We have a tranquilizer for him that I'm going to try not to use but I'll have it with me just in case. I'm going to try to call you on Saturday. I hope you are still excited. We all are! Talk to you soon!
Beth
Hi Beth-
I can't wait. I'll be home Sat. morning and then Sat. night after 6 pm., I have to be in Milwaukee with my daughter for her modeling class. I hope all goes well. :) Karen
Hi Karen,
Rain-beau is very excited about having a model for a sister! He's a huge flirt! I wish you guys luck. I will just call you on Sunday then before I go to the shelter. I usually head that way at about 12:30 or 1:00 EST.
Beth
Well, Monday the 12th was Travel Day! I got up at 3:30 AM. For anyone who knows me, this was a complete miracle! I read vampire books, and hate mornings! I shocked all of the cats at the shelter by walking in on them in the middle of their nightly, private party. Rain-Beau was already dressed in his new harness. I attached his leash and tricked him into his carrier with catnip. He talked to me loudly all the way to the airport. We're going to Mil-where?! It's HOW cold?! I had a quarter of a valium in my pocket just in case he planned to keep up his dialogue on the plane. Luckily, once we were on board, he was a purrfect traveling companion. Neither of us needed the valium! That day, he literally was on planes, trains, and automobiles. It took us two flights to get there. Karen and I walked right past each other when I exited security in Milwaukee. Then I called her on her cell phone and we looped back. It was almost like a drug deal! I only had about five minutes to hand over the goods before I had to get back to the same plane I'd just gotten off of. So, she really didn't get to meet him until she got him home. I spent the next few hours traveling back home, silently chanting, "Please love him! Please love him!" Of course, I walked straight to my computer when I got home. I read:
Hi Beth!
We got home fine. He didn't make a peep. He's upstairs in the bathroom where I keep one of the litter boxes and food/water for the cats. A few of my guys are checking him out. All is quiet and he let me pet him and he comes to the edge of the carrier when I call. What a handsome boy. Thanks again. Karen
Oh what good news! I just got settled in back home myself. It's 5:00. It was probably one of the best ways I've ever spent a day. I'd do it again a 100 times to hook you guys up with each other. I keep forgetting to tell you little facts about him. He is very oral. He's a nibbler. He loves to nibble on anything hard and shiny while you hold him...like your buttons, watch, earrings, etc...Sometimes he even gently nibbles on your chin! He also would sometimes try to nurse off of his two cage mates. Luckily they were nice and didn't mind. If I would lie down in his walk in cage with him, he'd either go to sleep on my chest or groom my entire scalp! His favorite toy in the world is a feather toy. He'll show you how well his eyes still work when you get him going with that. That's all I can think of for now. You'll probably be telling me little known facts about him soon. ;-) Have a great first night!
Beth
Hi Beth,
It's me Rain Beau, isn't this neat my new mom let's me use the computer. Wait a minute---Hi Beth-Karen here, Beau likes to sit on my lap while I'm on the computer and taps on the keys. Anyway, he's doing great. He's started to eat today and has been all over the house. His favorite place is napping on a spare pillow in my storage closet (the door doesn't shut all the way). We took a nap this afternoon on the couch with a nice fire and he slept on my shoulder curled up against my neck and purred me to sleep. I bought him a feather toy today and he loves it. He follows me around the house and calls for me if he doesn't see me or wants to know where I am. What a delightful little furball. Thanks for adding joy to my life. Karen
Oh Karen!
You are the best mom in the world! I forwarded your e-mail to Amy and told her to print it out and hang it up at the shelter. I leave for a 3 day trip to Amsterdam tomorrow. (That's even exotic to me!) I will be going with my heart at peace. Thank you for loving him! We always thought he was pretty special but didn't think that anyone else would ever see it. Thank you!!!
Beth
He likes to lay on my lap when I'm the computer and on my shoulder when I lay on the couch. He is such a cuddle bug and soooo sweet. We love him. My daughter said he is beautiful also. Who could look at his face and not fall in love with him?
Hi Beth!
Got your phone message, we were actually in FL on vacation for Christmas. I wish you could see Beau right now, he's playing on the loveseat with my 2 chihuahuas and my persian mix. They are taking turns batting at each others tails. He has adapted perfectly here. He seems more and more at ease with everyone and loves to play with the chis all the time. He gets right in the thick of things with them and whatever toy they've decided to play with. Happy New Year to everyone at the shelter from Beau!!
Hi Beth-
Well Beau loves to sleep on top of my head at night
and I wake up with a new meaning for bed head!!! His
nasal problem seems to be getting a little better.
Maybe being out of the shelter environment is helping.
We love him sooooo much. Thanks also for the
carrier. When I come down in April I'll bring it back
with me. Karen
Well Beau loves to sleep on top of my head at night
and I wake up with a new meaning for bed head!!! His
nasal problem seems to be getting a little better.
Maybe being out of the shelter environment is helping.
We love him sooooo much. Thanks also for the
carrier. When I come down in April I'll bring it back
with me. Karen
Hey Karen,
Thank you so much for staying in touch. Everyone is really enjoying reading
your notes. As a matter of fact I'm going to try to put the whole story of
Rain-Beau up on the news section of our website. The one thing that
I never thought to ask you is how you came to be reading that folder
of the message board that night? You must have read it almost as
soon as I posted it because all I did was sleep and wake up to find
your response. Just curious. You can keep the carrier if
you want, but if you are able to bring it, it might serve another kitty
someday. Thanks!
Beth
you want, but if you are able to bring it, it might serve another kitty
someday. Thanks!
Beth
Beth-
I think Beau would love to be in the newsletter and so
would we. I have to tell you that my daughter
adores him. She'll lay on the couch nose to nose with
him and talk to him and he reaches out and pats her
arm or face with a paw. She said she understands him
and felt connected to him as soon as she saw him. I
have a feeling that after freshmen year in college
(2008) that she'll be taking him with her when she
gets an apartment. Then he can tell everyone about
college life. Maybe he should write a book and we
could all be famous like KoKo and YumYum or Midnight
Louie. I was up that night because I couldn't sleep
(common widow problem) and I surf that sight alot to
see if there are animals I might be able to help or
directions I can point people in to get help. Take
care. Hope you get some rest after this last trip.
Karen
I think Beau would love to be in the newsletter and so
would we. I have to tell you that my daughter
adores him. She'll lay on the couch nose to nose with
him and talk to him and he reaches out and pats her
arm or face with a paw. She said she understands him
and felt connected to him as soon as she saw him. I
have a feeling that after freshmen year in college
(2008) that she'll be taking him with her when she
gets an apartment. Then he can tell everyone about
college life. Maybe he should write a book and we
could all be famous like KoKo and YumYum or Midnight
Louie. I was up that night because I couldn't sleep
(common widow problem) and I surf that sight alot to
see if there are animals I might be able to help or
directions I can point people in to get help. Take
care. Hope you get some rest after this last trip.
Karen
In the middle of January when I showed them what has morphed into Beau's Travel Diary, I got back the following:
Hi Beth,
It's me Rain-Beau aka Beau for short. My meowmy left
the computer on and I found your email. I'm going to
be famous!! Tell all my friends at the shelter I
think of them often. My new home is very neat. I
have 2 new little chihuahua brothers Josh and Bently
that I love to play with. They help me keep my face
clean and my new favorite place to sleep during the
day is in their little canvas night crate in my
meowmy's bedroom. It has lots of soft blankets and
these cool little pillows made just for them. I'm
telling you this place is the Hilton of the cat world.
Wait, I think someone is coming downstairs... got to
go.....
It's me Rain-Beau aka Beau for short. My meowmy left
the computer on and I found your email. I'm going to
be famous!! Tell all my friends at the shelter I
think of them often. My new home is very neat. I
have 2 new little chihuahua brothers Josh and Bently
that I love to play with. They help me keep my face
clean and my new favorite place to sleep during the
day is in their little canvas night crate in my
meowmy's bedroom. It has lots of soft blankets and
these cool little pillows made just for them. I'm
telling you this place is the Hilton of the cat world.
Wait, I think someone is coming downstairs... got to
go.....
Hello Beth,
I see my celebrity cat was on the computer again LOL!
:) He is a joy to us. My daugther refers to him as
one of her boys. She has decided that he is her cat now.
At night when Beau isn't sleeping on my head he sleeps
in front of her bedroom door. He also loves to lay in
the recliner with me and the chis for an afternoon nap. I
brought back these really neat catnip balls from
Disney World and they all love them. The chis like to
bat them around too. Who needs cable, I've got my own
entertainment and I get kisses from everyone besides.
This is great. Love to everyone, Karen, Beau and all
the crew at the cat Hilton
And that's how Rain-Beau got to live happily ever after.
I see my celebrity cat was on the computer again LOL!
:) He is a joy to us. My daugther refers to him as
one of her boys. She has decided that he is her cat now.
At night when Beau isn't sleeping on my head he sleeps
in front of her bedroom door. He also loves to lay in
the recliner with me and the chis for an afternoon nap. I
brought back these really neat catnip balls from
Disney World and they all love them. The chis like to
bat them around too. Who needs cable, I've got my own
entertainment and I get kisses from everyone besides.
This is great. Love to everyone, Karen, Beau and all
the crew at the cat Hilton
And that's how Rain-Beau got to live happily ever after.
