So I had the incredible idea about a month or so ago to get Clark a cat for his birthday. I had it all planned out. We have been talking about getting a kitty for a while now (regardless of what Clark says, it comes up A LOT) since we don't foresee children anywhere in the near future. So I went ahead and drove down to the AZ Humane Society to check out some of the cats I viewed online. I played with about 4 of the cats: Carla, Josie, Katie and Mr. Handsome. Carla was too shy, Josie was fun, outgoing and liked to rub up against my leg and hand, Katie was also outgoing, and Mr. Handsome was way too spunky (so much so that he drew blood on the humane society worker). After viewing and playing with all four seperately, I asked to see Josie again. Once again, she was fun, curious and playful. I decided that she would be the lucky cat to go home with me. I went through all the paperwork and we shoved her in a complimentary cardboard carrying box and I took her out to my car for the 40 minute drive home.
Within the first minute of the drive Josie went NUTS.
She began meowing like crazy and shaking the box. She started batting at the holes in the cardboard and was able to tear her way out of the box! She climbed out and started climbing all over my car seats, sinking her claws into the cushions. I pulled over at my first opportunity. Not only was I worried about my car seats being torn to shreds (I'm sorry, but the car does take first priority over a $20 cat), I had no idea how to get her home safely without her pooping and peeing all over my car! I tried shoving her back into the torn-up cardboard carrier but that didn't work. I jumped back in my car and raced back to the humane society, praying I could purchase a plastic carrier there.
I ran inside the building and let one man who had helped me know the situation. The cat was still in the car, windows were cracked. He pointed me in the direction of the "Pet Emporium" where I could purchase a carrier. Only they were OUT OF CARRIERS! Come on! All they had left was a small cloth carrier which I knew would not suffice. One of the nice female workers who was trying to keep me calm down raced back to the warehouse to grab me a larger plastic carrier (apparently when people surrender their animals, they also surrender their carriers). we were able to get Josie into the carrier without any trouble and luckily my seats were still intact. On the way home she meowed a little but was way more calm than she was in the cardboard carrier.
At home I handed Clark a bag of cat food and said he needed to meet the newest member of the Tobler household. We went out to the garage, where I set up the food and litter box and we took Josie out of the carrier. She was terrified. We set her down and she raced under my car where we could not reach her for 6 hours.
And that is the story.
She is coming around....a little. She is still hiding under the car, though. She has used the litter box and eaten some food so we know she has left her safe haven from under the car occasionally throughout the night and day.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE:
I will never attempt to bring home a pet without Clark's approval. I just don't understand. Josie was SOOOO playful at the facility but here she is scared out of her little mind! I know there is an adjustment period, but if it doesn't get better, we may have to "exchange" her. I always imagined having a playful cat that wouldn't hide every time a new face came around. I think this cat may always be scared, even if she warms up to both Clark and myself. So she may be going back to the Humane Society if things don't get better by the weekend.
Other than that, I did make Clark a cat that wouldn't hide: A Kitty Cat Cake
And we got to enjoy an awesome birthday dinner of In and Out while watching the election coverage.
Clark and I still have to go shopping for his "real" presents: a computer and some shoes :)
I love my husband and I am so happy he was able to laugh about the situation with the cat. I made sure to tell him 25 reasons why I love him so much!
4 comments:
Happy Birthday Clark! Mmm, In N Out. It's been too long. That's quite the story about the cat! Hopefully it comes around soon.
happy super duper birthday, clark:)! i hope the kitty settles down; animals are a 'little bundle of joy' without being a huge burden...like a kid;), haha!!!
ps - LOVE the cake! very 'artsy fartsy', as chris ellison might say, haha! seriously though, it's looks great!!
Happy belated Birthday Clark! I've been without the internet for a week... Hope your cat comes around so you can enjoy it. I think you need to have a talk with it and let it know it needs to be friendly or you'll nix it.
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