A Perfect Match

About this time last year I came across a sad situation.  A neglected indoor cat whose family was going through a divorce,  The newly single pet parent was constantly out of town, and as an acquaintance of mine, I spoke up to him.  I offered to care for the cat as a cat sitter, but the owner didn't have time for the cat.  The lack of food and water the cat had while he was away for 10 days was a wake up call for him.  He'd left Pearl with 3 days worth of food, but was gone for 10 days.  His business trip had been extended.   Long story short, I became Pearl's new Mom.

Pearl could not make the adjustment.  She was used to living with a dog, but not other cats...and I already had two of my own.  She was the grumpiest cat I'd ever met, but she was precious.  I took her to the vet.  Her teeth were in terrible shape and the vet thought they'd have to pull a few.  I guess I wasn't surprised by this other type of neglect.  Pearl went in for her dental appointment and, thankfully, the vet was able to save all of her teeth after a good cleaning.

Still, Pearl was not happy.  And she began expressing her dissatisfaction by leaving stinky messages for me in the house.  And one night, she flew out the front door, looking like she was in the midst of a jail break.  This wasn't working.

Enter my Mom.  In her mid-70's and in poor health, Mom was making a rough adjustment of her own.  My brother and I had strongly persuaded her to sell her single family home and move into a one level condo close to me.  A new way of life.  She was depressed.  Her house where she'd raised us with our father was gone.  I knew she was afraid the memories of my Dad would go with it.  He'd died more than 11 years earlier of lung cancer.  She couldn't see the positive and I was afraid I'd lose her soon.

She came over to my house for Thanksgiving, and I introduced her to Pearl.  I knew that in her current state, she probably couldn't handle a pet, so there was not a thought in my head about putting the two together.  But as soon as Mom sat on the bed, Pearl sniffed her and cuddled up next to her.  Instant friends.  A week later, Pearl made the journey to Mom's new condo.

Today, Mom and Pearl are still in love.  Pearl actually sleeps on the pillow opposite Mom at night. She isn't the grumpy girl I adopted.  She's a lap cat!  A total cuddle bug!  What a match these two make.  And as for Mom, she's got a much sunnier outlook on life.  She even stopped smoking.  Her health is improving and she loves her new home (not the tune she was singing when she first moved in).  My brother and I even laugh that we have been replaced.   My Mom adores Pearl. 

I'd say this was a perfect match.