Rory & Lily

Update on these two shy brats that were rescued from a barn out in Oakfield.  They were kittens at the time and Foster Sue took them under her wing and did the best she could at socializing them.  They were becoming feral - shyer than anything really and needed someone to guide them.

Potential adopters after potential adopters came to meet them, but no one wanted to give them a try.  Everyone wants a ready lapcat.

Many months later, along comes an acquaintance who goes way back to my early days when I was job hunting - she owns a very successful personnel agency - and she was looking for a cat that would make a good fit for a large hunting lodge (6000+ sq. ft) in the southern tier.  The man that owns the lodge had just lost his permanent cat resident there, and wanted another furry companion to keep the place 'homey.'   The place is used only certain times of the year, so any cat there would have to be somewhat independent.  Someone does come in to feed once a day, change a litter box, but that would be it.

I immediately thought of Lily and Rory.  The longest fosters ever.  I started trying to 'sell' them to my friend who was going to try to 'sell' them to her friend.  He did NOT want TWO cats.  But she kept pushing.  And pushing.  Finally, he gave in and said he would try it.

So off I go, first to pick them up at Foster Sue's house, then the drive to Dansville.  God's country.  Beautiful drive.  I get to this place and it's crazy beautiful.  I greet the adopter, we take a tour through the lodge, my mouth dropped open the entire time in amazement, and then he takes me to the basement.  The basement???  I was hesitant, but this was where he wanted to set them up.  No windows, but little did he know, there was a crawlspace that these two would eventually crawl into and not come out.  Not for a few weeks at least.  Long story short, Foster Sue and I made another trip out there to coax them from the crawlspace and we placed them in a bedroom - one of nine - upstairs.  They hid under the bed the entire time, but thanks to a local worker/caretaker, and my friend, and their frequent visits, they got the kittens to come out more and more.

The gentleman that adopted them was ready to give them back because they just weren't coming out for him during his infrequent visits.  He has a place in Florida too, so he wasn't at this lodge long enough to visit.  Even though his house is up and across the road.  While there he did make frequent visits but they wouldn't budge from under the bed.

Well, after several conversations with my friend, he continued to go into the room and sit with them.  Talk with them.  He finally got them to come upon the bed and visit, from a distance.  They were getting under his skin, finally.

This week, PROGRESS!  He decided it was time to let them out of the room.  They have been holed up in a room for two months now.  So, by the looks of it, they are starting to like their new digs!

First cuddle with Rory (in the basement)

Out and About!

Lily 'holed' up in the fireplace!

When they were first rescued in September 2019

I will keep you updated on this.  I couldn't be happier.  :) Thanks Sue for the care and love you showered upon them so that they could know what love is, and thank you Jeanne for your persistence!

Have a great day!

“An arrow can only be shot

By pulling it backward.  So when life is

Dragging you back with difficulties,

It means that it’s going to launch you

Into something great.”