Offered without comment.
Indianapolis Animal Care and Control
Aug. 8, 2013
Dear L--,
Thank you so much for speaking with me today. I really appreciate your kindness and understanding during this time of transition for me and Divi. Below is some information about her that may be helpful to you and to potential adoptive families.
I found Divi in July 2003 in a construction site in Chinatown when I was living in New York City. She was a kitten, and when I took her to the vet, he said she was approximately seven months old, so we estimated that she was born in January 2003. I had her spayed, declawed, wormed, and dipped for fleas and ticks. She was strictly an indoor cat from the time I brought her home. She was playful and affectionate, though she was afraid of my then 5-year-old son and has preferred adults ever since.
In 2009 my son and I moved from New York City to Indiana, and Divi was visibly stressed by the move. We initially lived in a farmhouse and Divi had the run of the house, though she preferred to remain in my bedroom most of the time. We got a Golden Retriever puppy, and Divi promptly smacked him in the face to show him who was boss. Though our puppy grew to weigh 80 pounds, he never stopped being afraid of her!
In 2011, I got married and we moved into my husband's house in Indianapolis. Our household now held myself, my son, our Golden, Divi, my husband, his two daughters, and their Labrador. Our dogs got along fine, though we always had to make sure the Lab was restrained because he has a history of attacking small animals (squirrels, birds, etc.) and we didn't want to take a chance. Divi spent most of her time hiding under our bed, and she mostly would come out whenever no one else was home except me. Then she would play and follow me around the house. But she was under a great deal of stress because she wouldn't allow anyone near her except me. When the kids or my husband would try to pet her or come close to her, she would hiss, growl, and occasionally bite them, then she would run away and hide and sometimes throw up on their beds.
Finally, my family came to me and said that they felt as though the whole household was being held hostage by the cat. They felt they didn't have freedom of movement because they were afraid she would run out and bite them, pointing out that even the dogs were unable to move freely around the house. They said it was unfair that, since I was the only one Divi tolerated, everyone else had to make concessions for her. My husband put it this way: "How would you feel if I had a dog and it bit you, but I kept it and made you build your whole life around it even though you were afraid of it?" I was heartbroken, but I couldn't disagree. The situation had become intolerable.
This is why I brought her to your shelter on Tuesday. I originally asked for euthanasia, because I thought she would never allow anyone else but me to take care of her, but the intake person convinced me that she should be observed and that it was possible that, without the stressors in her life, she could be a good companion to another family. I'm sure I made quite a fool of myself bawling my eyes out as she was taken away, but I feel that it was the right decision for my family and, I hope, for Divi. Though I miss her terribly and will never stop loving her, I hope with all my heart that you will find someone who can make her last years happy--perhaps happier than they would have been had she stayed with me.
Divi (rhymes with "skivvy") knows her name and will come running when she hears it! She knows the word "snack" means food is on the way, and her favorite between-meal treats are American cheese and chicken broth. She does best when she eats twice a day rather than having access to a full bowl all the time. She loves to play with rolled-up socks and in open paper bags, and she is more than willing to "help" when you are folding laundry, making the bed, or working on the computer. And she loves to grab your head with her two front paws and "groom" your hair! She is very talkative and will keep up a running commentary on everything that goes on. She keeps herself extremely clean and has never had dirty ears or runny eyes. The only time I ever took her to the vet was to get her annual shots--as long as I've had her, she's never been sick.
I hope this information is helpful. It means a lot to me to be able to share it with you this way since I was so overwhelmed with grief when I came in to the shelter that I couldn't properly complete the paperwork. I also thank you for letting me know that I may call occasionally to inquire about Divi's status. I promise not to abuse the privilege by making a pest of myself. I only hope that she may make someone else as happy as she made me. When I found her in Chinatown, an elderly Chinese gentleman who was walking down the street saw me pick her up and called out to me, "You take cat home! Bring you luck!" I wish that prophecy will hold true for Divi's new family as well.
With deepest regards,
(Greek Goddess)
Update: Thank you so much for the Community Spotlight and the rescue. Today was the first day I went without crying (but the day isn't technically over yet), and that was mostly due to the wonderful support and love from everyone here. Thanks for being a true community.