I don't know whether it's an old wives tale or some other saying (haven't researched it yet), but it goes something like: if you're in need of (or meant to have) a cat, one will find you.
This actually has happened to me twice. Once after a long-time companion died and I had gone a couple years without a cat (college). I was finally on my own and had a job, so I was ready to adopt and had told several friends to look out for me. At the time I was a reporter for a small daily newspaper, covering the courts in the county seat and a near-by city.
I was in that near-by city for my usual full day of court coverage (we NEVER got to leave early) and for some reason, the judge let us all go early for the first (and only) time in memory. I walk into our offices and on our society editor's desk, all curled up, is this tiny ball of tabby; sound asleep and oblivious to the world.
The society editor tells me she found the young cat wondering outside the office and was worried "she" would get hit by a car. So, she brought "her" in and called the local humane society. Then she said: "Wait. You've been looking for a cat, why don't you take her?"
I was petting the cat (now awake and very cute) and told the society editor I had really wanted a male cat (my previous companion had been a male and we had had 17 great years). At that moment, the humane society worker walked in. Well, I looked at him and then the cat (like some TV sitcom) about 10 times in 5 seconds -- and said, "I'll take her."
The guy about broke my arm thanking me and shaking my hand -- obviously they were overrun with animals in need of a home.
Well "she" turned out to be a he after all (society editor was a city girl after all and not used to looking at animal genitals
) That cat, Macbeth, lived 15 years and was as good a cat as I've ever had. He was my constant companion and always waited in the window looking out as I got home from work.
The reason I tell this story is I've already been contacted by someone who read about my loss on another board I frequent (people were talking about losing pets...it must be a bad year for a lot of us) -- and he has a kitten he's trying to place.
She's exceptionally cute with great tabby markings, big green eyes and an "eraser" nose. Now I have to decide whether logistics will allow this (I have some serious health issues I'm facing so I have to take that into consideration when it comes to her care). Also, this really took a lot out of me and I want to be truly ready to give this cat the care and love she deserves.
I'll let you know if it was meant to be at this time...
