Pumpkin & Patch — New Beginning

Pumpkin and Patch have found their forever home! The adoption process was like a mini roller-coaster, with lots of ups, downs, and hiccups. I thought I’d share what went on behind the scenes in trying to get them to their forever home.

I received several qualified applications, but many of them were for one kitty. Since they are not from the same litter and they are not super bonded, I was okay with finding them individual homes as long as the families had a cat-friendly cat and/or pup. However, I do prioritize applications that want to adopt a pair over a single kitty. As I looked through all the applications for P&P, one of them really stood out. The applicant’s name was Sarah. It wasn’t just one thing; everything I read on her application spoke to me. She had recently lost her kitty siblings, whom she had raised and loved since they were 8 weeks old, at the ages of 17 and 18. She understands the joy and benefits of having two kitties. She wrote “They were always a handful and gave me so much joy.” She’s a vet tech, and she wanted to adopt both Pumpkin and Patch. When I called her vet for a reference, I was told that I would be so lucky to have her adopt any of my kittens. The only obstacle was that she lived in Massachusetts, and I’m in Texas. We did a home visit/interview via FaceTime so that I could see where my kittens would potentially be living, and I was happy with the residence and the neighborhood. I couldn’t wait to tell her I wanted her to be their forever mom. Distance doesn’t bother me, and I’ve successfully adopted my previous kittens out of state before. If there’s a will, we’ll find a way to make it work.

After she accepted adopting the boys, we were on the clock to find the best way to transport. I do not like the idea of shipping my kittens, so that would be the very last resort. Our goal was to find the least stressful way for them to travel. We couldn’t find a direct flight, so we contemplated the idea of meeting in another city, perhaps in an Airbnb. My hope was for Pumpkin and Patch to be in their forever home for Thanksgiving. Then things began to look complicated logistically. Driving was also an option, but not an ideal one. Sarah would need to find another person to fly in with, then rent a car to drive close to 30 hours back to the East Coast. We did look into pet transport companies, but I kept thinking about “what ifs” and just couldn’t do it. She was starting to get overwhelmed with the obstacles, which was understandable.

At the end of the day, she decided not to pursue this adoption. She was crying, I was crying. I just had a strong gut feeling she was the one for them. After we had spoken on FaceTime and seeing where she lived, I was already visualizing Pumpkin and Patch in her home—happy, running around chasing each other, snuggling up in front of the heater, then jumping into her bed for a nightcap. Knowing how sweet Pumpkin is and how funny Patch is, I had imagined they would help Sarah heal her broken heart after her recent losses. I was very disappointed for this potentially amazing match to fail. But, you can’t force or pressure any adoption. It has to be organic. I wished her that she’d find her special kitties a bit closer and asked her to pray for Pumpkin and Patch to find a wonderful home. I filed her application and emotionally moved on.

The next day, as I looked through other applications, something made me look for flights one last time. Magically, there were flights that would get P&P to Massachusetts! I called the airline about the pet policy, fees, health certificate, etc. All looked good, except that they only let you have one animal per person, which meant she would still need another person to come with her. I hesitated for a moment, but decided to text Sarah to let her know I had found possible flights. I also added, “You don’t need to respond.” I didn’t want her to feel obligated. That was my final effort in making this match happen. She responded. “Really???” Suddenly, we were back in the game!

She found someone to fly with her, so both boys could travel with them. She booked the flight for the following Monday, I got the boys’ appointments for health certificates, a couple of sweaters for the cold weather, and we were nearly ready! Then…I was told one of the vets wouldn’t issue a health certificate for 2 weeks after their neuter surgery. Again the roller coaster swerved…and it turned out my regular vet was able to issue them.

She had 5-6 hours between the flights in Houston, so we were going to meet at the Marriott hotel at the airport, as it is animal friendly. Monday came, aaand…Sarah’s flight was delayed for 5 hours! She wasn’t sure if she could make the return flight the same day. I started looking for a nearby hotel that allows cats in case they had to spend the night. By the way, just because the hotels say “pet-friendly,” it doesn’t necessarily mean “cat-friendly.” That’s a new challenge I’m having to face since I adopted GB too.

Finally, we were on our way to the airport!  So it had to start pouring rain. My anxiety went up.  Again. I have a very important job delivering these babies safely. A few other hiccups at the airport, but I finally made it to the terminal, and her flight landed a bit later. Sarah was exactly whom I expected. She was down to earth, patient and sweet with Pumpkin and Patch.

Anytime I adopt my kittens out, I send them with a baby blanket with my scent on it. This time, I sent the boys with the exact blankets I used to transport them from the shelter. The blankets signify “new beginnings”–once from the shelter to me, now from me to their forever mom. Pumpkin had a rough start in life. The shelter staff thought he was hissing when approached. I think they mistook his semi-silent mewing as hissing. When I met him for the first time, he leaned into my hand. He was in the back room in the shelter, not in the adoption area. He might not have made it out if he hadn’t been rescued. Seeing how incredibly sweet he is today, the thought horrifies me still. So many well-tempered animals are nervous in shelters and they get put down to make room. Patch too had a rough beginning. We named him “Patch” because he came with a big bald spot and an injury on his head. Today, the patch is gone, now covered with luscious black fur. He’s a playful and confident little guy who complements Pumpkin’s soft energy.

Though the pair adoption wasn’t required for P&P, I still tried to keep them together if possible because they are friends. It is NOT easy to find adopters who want two kittens. Most people already have cats and dogs and just want to add one more. Some people are intimidated by the idea of having two kittens. By requiring a pair adoption, a kitten could miss out on an amazing home. You have to look at each situation differently and decide what’s best for the kitten(s). In Pumpkin and Patch’s case, I know I made the right decision for them.

Oh! I forgot to add…they almost didn’t make the flight back! Her friend was detained at security.  Sarah had to ask the airline to hold the flight! There was no way I was going to relax until I got a text from her saying “We are home.”  At 10pm that night, I finally got that text. And there, my job as their foster mom was done! And my wish came true. Pumpkin and Patch will be home for their first Thanksgiving. How amazing is that!?

I want to thank you for supporting our rescue emotionally and/or financially. Your help in sharing videos of my kittens plays a crucial role in finding them the best home. You never know who might see what you share, and that one person could be the one for my kittens. Social media can be a powerful platform when used right. Thank you for those applied to adopt Pumpkin and/or Patch and opening your heart to once a homeless kitten. And to all the generous donors, your donations allow me to provide high-quality care for my kittens. I truly appreciate you!

Happy Thanksgiving Pumpkin & Patch!