Last year after my 19 year old cat passed away, my husband and I decided to get another cat. I'd heard a lot about Maine Coons, so we agreed on the breed. We also decided that since we both worked full time, that we didn't have time for kitten antics like shredded toilet paper rolls. So an adult cat it would be. After looking around on the internet we found the Maine Cat Coon Rescue. Sarah Weston told us about a special cat named Santa whom we went to meet.
Santa was a 12 year old beautiful black Maine Coon with gray belly fur. She had been raised in a house where she was chased and tormented by two dogs. This poor kitty put the T in Tense. She was hyper alert for any noises, sudden movements, and of course, any sign of dogs. Sarah had kept her in a separate location from the other cats so she would have a safe, quiet environment. By the time we met her, she would occasionally come to people for attention, but then would suddenly hiss, hide, or run away. But we were up to a challenge so we adopted her and took her home. For a few weeks she sat at the top of the stairs surveying the landscape. If she heard a dog bark, or even heard the word 'dog' on tv, she would react with hissing and hiding. We would tell her calmly that 'everything was ok'. It did not take long for Santa to realize that she was in a safe place, and in a short period of time she felt secure enough to come by to get petted. Her little ventures for attention became longer and more frequent. Finally we started to even hear purring! It took a few months, but before long she was even sleeping with us at the foot of the bed. While Santa is probably always going to dislike loud noises and sudden movements, our little rescue kitty has become a loving and wonderful adult cat and we really enjoy having her with us. We tell her that she is a good kitty and I swear she knows exactly what we are saying! About 7 or 8 months after we got Santa, we decided to get another cat. Having had such great success with the rescue, we contacted Sarah and she told us about another adult Maine Coon, a 10 year old named Margo. She was also black with a white tuxedo. She too came from a broken home and had ended up at the rescue. Almost immediately Margo made herself at home in our house. She was quite the opposite of Santa, from Day 1 she was loving, purry, and following us around the house. She loves attention and comes when called, but most times she starts following you on sight and rubbing your legs so calling her isn't necessary, she is your friend and she is going where ever you go! She loves to play with toys, and one morning she even presented me with a live baby mouse. She was quite pleased with herself. (I released it outside). There is a lot to be said for adopting a rescue cat, and for adopting older cats. Kittens are cute and full of energy, but that isn't for everyone. We have found that adopting an adult cat was the perfect choice. They are litter trained, know their names, and can be trusted not to climb the curtains or do silly kittenish things. Also having lost their prior homes, they are more receptive to finding a loving home. I believe you definitely get more back from an adult cat coming from the rescue. They just need some love and a safe environment for them to bloom into wonderful companions. So if you are thinking of adopting, please consider an adult cat! Call Sarah, she is the best, she will find the perfect cat for you! Ellen Preston Woodbury, NJ
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Maine Coons & More is a nonprofit rescue in Southern New Jersey. These are our stories and the reason we continue to do the work we do! Archives |