A tale of two kitties

The best part about traveling around the country is the people you meet and the stories they share.  One of my neighbor ladies and I bonded when we found we both had cats.  

She found herself suddenly widowed when her husband had a sudden massive heart attack.  After everything was over she found that although she had a good network of friends, when it was time to go home... you go home alone.

Her daughter, who worked at a shelter, suggested getting a pet for companionship.  And she just happened to have the perfect cat for her named Murphy.  Well, this was agreeable to her and she said she would take the cat,but not until she had returned from a trip that was planned so she'd have time to devote to him when he entered her home.

After the trip was completed she contacted her daughter about taking ownership of Murphy.  Oh no...her daughter said, he wasn't at the shelter any more.  This was awful, she had mentally prepared herself for this cat and felt that she suffered yet another loss.

But Murphy had not been adopted, just shipped to another shelter. She and her daughter went to the second shelter to claim Murphy and bring him home.  Now there was a complication.

At this shelter there was a cat named Simon that was determined to be unadoptable due to his level of fear.  He refused to leave the cage and did not respond to people or other animals around him.  At least not until he had Murphy as a neighbor.

Murphy worked his charm on this recalcitrant cat and they became best buddies.  Now it would be an emotional upheaval to separate Simon from Murphy.  What's a person to do?

Well, she did the only thing she could do...she took both of them and has never regretted it.  It has been over four years now and the two cats are still best buddies and have never had so much as a spat between them.

That unadoptable cat named Simon, how did that turn out?  He has proven to be the best snuggler while watching TV.

It reminded me so much of the back story to George and Gracie.  George would constantly stay hidden and depended on Gracie to comfort him and "test the waters" to see if it was safe to come out for food.

After having them now for four months their personalities continue to blossom and they always surprise us with their antics.

They love taking turns sleeping in the box on the dashboard.

George is getting bolder and bolder and is accepting more contact and snuggling as you can see here as he relaxes cradled in Left Brain's arms.

It just goes to show that there's always a reason for everything and sometimes it doesn't make sense,but it just feels so right.

Long Live the Queen of Cats