Forest the Declawed Gentleman

First, I should say that my daughter talked me into being a foster mom for cats. Well, "talked me into" is really a nice way of saying she brought me a cat that was completely traumatized in the most basic way that a human or animal can be traumatized. The cat was three years old when I took her in as a foster and in those few, short years had lived with an owner with a terminal case of cancer (and stayed by her side to the end), then was immediately moved to the dying womans mothers home. She adjusted slowly. Incredibly, a year later the mother died of a sudden heart attack. The cat was transferred by the remaining daughter from California to Orlando along with an small dog who had lived with the mother. The dog integrated well with the family and the temperament in the home but the cat had suffered too much in her young life and could not survive in that environment. She was reliquished to the shelter in the hopes she could find solice and peace with another family. I kept her for a few weeks to keep her out of the shelter. The experience would have done her in as she had suffered too much! The reason I know this is because I was recently rescued from an abusive relationship. The abuse was both psychological and physical and I am trying desperately to recover. I have been traumatized in a way that I cannot fully explain. You do not know me, but those who do find it incomprehensible that I would have fallen into this trap and more incomprehensible that I cannot claw my way out. To continue....I understood the cat and, even though she could not trust or understand me, we somehow managed to survive those weeks together. I have now survived those weeks and I am beginning a slow recovery. The cat has been adopted into a "forever home" by a most patient and loving woman. We needed each other then and we each served a purpose in each others lives. But, we are each too "high-strung" to soothe each other for long. Since then, I have been brought another cat. Older. Not as pure and with some "warts" and things that make him less than a showpiece. But, he is loving and soothing and we have had a connection from the beginning. He will be my companion for as long as he his here and healthy and happy. I urge everyone considering a cat from Pet Rescue By Judy to consider "fostering" if it appropriate for you. To help those you can to transition to homes best for them and, through that act, to find the one who will heal your heart and make your soul soar. Thank you to the incredibly intuitive staff at PRBJ and thanks for making me smile.....finally! "Forrest's" Forever MOM