Webster and his kittens… *video*
Life for Webster, my adult foster, has been scary.
Surrendered by his original owners, he sat in a cage for nearly a year… then in quick succession, he was adopted, returned to the shelter, adopted again, and returned… again.
Then he sat in the cage for another six months.
When I took him to foster, he was just a solid ball of sadness.
use the arrows on the photo to see all of his glory.
He was so kind and sweet.
No aggression at all.
But SO curled into himself.
Terrified of literally every.single.thing.
He was not cleaning himself— even his fur was sad.
He let me give him a bath.
IN THE BATHTUB.
I mean, he wasn’t THRILLED about it.
But he accepted it.
I think he figured– whatever.
Life can’t get any worse.
When Webster came, he hid at all times.
So I took his hiding spots away.
He kept finding new ones… HOW did you get IN there?
So I emptied the third floor of ALL HIDING.
Shut the door.
And just SAT.
And he was like— FINALLY SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS.
He became my buddy.
TURNS OUT HE LOVES BEING LOVED.
It’s all he wants— to be someone’s true companion.
But also, now he refuses to come downstairs.
Unknown humans come and go.
Things bang down there.
It’s unnecessary.
The shelter had been told Webster hates other animals.
So my other fosters were not allowed up there.
But kittens don’t care about the rules.
So one day they found him.
Webster was terrified.
THE GAPING MAW OF KITTENS.
Nothing scarier.
But the kittens did not get the memo about how Webster is an old cranky lion *STAY OFF MY LAWN* so they just charged right up to him.
hullooo!
we love you!
do love us?
would you like our butt in your face?
we are going to eat your tail because it is a prehistoric monster that we are stalking!
WHAT IS THIS THING SUNLIGHT MOVING ON THE FLOOR?
your butt smells delicious!
LET US CHECK AGAIN.
I was not at all worried that Webster would swat them.
I WAS worried they might give him a heart attack.
He was OMYGODWHATNOW.
But the kittens INSISTED ON LOVING HIM.
This cat was a SOLID LUMP for MONTHS.
But Elvis the Prequel just does NOT understand NOT LOVE.
She MUST GIVE YOU LOVE.
To get to SEE Webster have THIS MUCH JOY.
I realized: how LONELY he was.
So.
Last week, in my post, about doing EXTRA DEEP KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS <– I AM STOKED… I mentioned that the kittens were away getting fixed, and Webster was inconsolable… WHERE ARE MY KITTENS?
Truly.
He behaved completely different than I have ever seen him.
ALERT.
He positioned himself in a CONSPICUOUS spot and STARED at me.
HE LEFT THE THIRD FLOOR to wander the house howling.
Returning to stare.
Then.
It was time.
But somehow he did not realize I had brought the kittens up… so he was just staring at me WOEFULLY BALEFULLY… until he heard something familiar… BUT YOU CAN SEE HE WAS UNSURE.
WHAT IS HAPPENING.
Like, it took him a minute to realize all his dreams had come true.
The life of animals.
At the mercy of humans.
Is hard.
It is the thing that rips my heart out.
We despair for the abandoned cats.
The unwanted dogs.
The sadness.
The solitude.
We lick our lips for bacon.
Living beings.
We pay ardent lip-service to the ideal of motherhood.
We take the breastmilk of mothers.
Made for their babies.
We debate— should females have autonomy?
We exploit the female reproductive system.
For ice cream.
We should all be feminists.
Cheese tho.
July 16, 2018 @ 10:32 am
What a sweet cat! I love all your posts, but especially the ones about the kitties!
July 16, 2018 @ 10:36 am
Ohhh my heart
I’m not even a cat person… but… I think maybe someone is chopping onions in my office
Seriously though, watching an animal feel safe and know love after a life of sadness is really something else. We adopted our dog in December in a time of dog sadness for us (just over 3 months after unexpectedly losing our 3 year old dog, and just over 3 months before less-unexpectedly-but-still-sadly losing our 14 year old dog). She was picked up as a stray and had been looking for a home for over a year. She growled and snapped at new people who approached her kennel, so obviously no one wanted her. She was adopted by a family and then brought back because she growled at their high school age daughter. When we went to meet her and introduce her to our older dog, I was truly expecting Godzilla but it’s like she just knew we were her pack. We are still working with her on stranger comfort but man, she has blossomed and it’s so great. Swimming and kayaking are her new favorite activities and I just love watching her be happy after being sad and scared for so long.
July 16, 2018 @ 10:43 am
What a sweet story! So, you are definitely keeping Webster and the kittens furever, right??????
July 16, 2018 @ 10:46 am
What you have done for Webster is immeasurable in all the ways it helps him!!! Quality of life is EVERYTHING for our companion animals. I know if he stays with you that it fills up a spot in your home that precludes your being able to help another (perhaps senior) animal. That being said, I think he has had more than enough change in his life…I am actually quite surprised that he even survived all the rapid changes and then loneliness thrust upon him time after time. Often, people simply do not understand how sensitive these precious beings are. I am so thankful that you and Paul agreed to foster him. I can only hope for foster failure in this particular instance. Having been a foster failure in the past, I know how making that decision yanks at your heart with a might you just don’t see coming. May God bless and keep all of you, each and every day!
July 16, 2018 @ 10:51 am
Oh Victoria – you are making me ugly cry…..
July 17, 2018 @ 8:18 am
Me too! And I’m at work! And there is NO crying at work!!! Sob! Please tell me that Webster will never be separated from his kittens, or you, or the 3rd floor ever again!!!! Wahhhhhh
July 16, 2018 @ 10:54 am
Webster sounds SO like my Sherman, including back and forth to the shelter. Even after 6 years, he is afraid of nearly everything and everyone, but OH WHAT A LOVE MONKEY he is with me. Kinda still breaks my heart.
July 16, 2018 @ 11:00 am
Part A. I hope beyond all hope that Webster and Elvis the prequel have found their forever home. Look how much Webster needs YOU and Elvis needs Webster (and vice versa). How can you now split them up? You can still foster little ones!
Part B. I don’t understand how adopters don’t understand, that once you adopt – that’s it! That child is yours. For better or for worse, for cuddles or for shyness.
I adopted an adult cat who was lovely in the vet’s office, and when I got him home, was shy and scared and very un cuddly, and wanted to hide in the closet ALL OF THE TIME. Poor Sweets was not a cuddle bunny friend to me. For the entire 8 years we cohabited. Turns out he was sick. Even with a new, terribly nice and thorough vet and medication. He lived in the closet the entire 8 years. I put a stool in there so I could talk to him and pet him and try to love on him. But I knew he still needed a home where he felt safe. So I didn’t give him back to the vet to put in a cage. I kept my promise to him. Tearing up as I write this. Sweets died over 1o years ago. And I’m still so sad that he was so sad all those 8 years.
PLEASE ADOPT WEBSTER!
July 16, 2018 @ 11:00 am
This beats any feel good video/story by FAR……Thank you for starting a Monday off with such a heartwarming dose of pro love and kindness ……. i do hope you intend to keep Webster and a kitten or two (let’s face it you have to have some around for his well being 🙂 ) now that he has not only gained your trust but truly found his happy place. You are so right, all any living thing needs is love and a companion to thrive and find their happiness. Good job Victoria, for having such a big heart that brought out the best in a lost soul!
July 16, 2018 @ 11:03 am
Amazing, sweet, touching story! Thank you for all you do for the precious animals!! ❤️❤️❤️
July 16, 2018 @ 11:04 am
Amazing, sweet, touching story! Thank you for all you do for the precious animals!! ❤️❤️❤️
July 16, 2018 @ 11:10 am
I so agree you should adopt Foster as your resident kitten carer. He just needs a job to be happy.
July 16, 2018 @ 11:11 am
Oops, that should be adopt Webster …
July 16, 2018 @ 11:14 am
Oh…that video…I am crying tears of sweetness! You have made Webster whole again! 😉
July 16, 2018 @ 11:17 am
Where is Webster now? You’d better say, “Well, he’s HERE, you nimwit.” Please?
July 16, 2018 @ 11:18 am
I was doing quite nicely this morning, reading your post, while I had my coffee. I held it together until I watched the video of Webster run across the room to his babies. He wouldn’t even bathe himself, but now he cleans his kittens? OMG! If someone doesn’t stop chopping those damn onions in here, I’m gonna go crazy. Now I have to leave for work with onion eyes.
July 16, 2018 @ 11:20 am
Best post EVAH!!! Love the video of Webster finding his kitties again.
July 16, 2018 @ 11:35 am
I have two cats and a small house. But oh, how I wish I could adopt all three! Such love Webby has!
July 16, 2018 @ 11:36 am
That video is PURE LOVE
July 16, 2018 @ 11:38 am
Having a little trouble seeing clearly. You are a true saint for your patience and care of Webster, and he is passing it on to the kittens. I loved seeing him run to the kittens and groom them.
July 16, 2018 @ 11:41 am
I’m crying, Victoria, for your innate perception and patience about what Webster needs and wants. I know he’s a foster, but please adopt him. And maybe the kitties, too? Or one? At any rate, you and Webster deserve and have earned the love of one another. Bless you.