For 15-year-old feline Tabitha, her long life has been a balance between love and heartbreak.
Photo courtesy of Purrfect Pals
As a kitten, she was originally adopted in 2003. She resided in assisted living with her owner for the past 6 years.
Tragedy struck when her beloved owner passed away earlier this year.
Tabitha was brought to live at the Purrfect Pals Cat Sanctuary.
Photo: Facebook / http://purrfectpals.org
Why was Purrfect Pals in Washington the ideal place for Tabitha, whom they call a “vintage” cat? Their website explains exactly why.
“Our ultimate goal is to place them, but these cats have a loving home in our Arlington sanctuary for as long as they need us.”
“The Purrfect Pals Geriatric Room, also known as “Florida” since that is where cats go to retire, is a special place for very special cats. Florida residents are mostly older kitties with a variety of medical issues that make them more challenging candidates for adoption.”
For the next 5 months, Tabitha lived at the sanctuary.
Although she preferred to be an only cat, she tolerated the others, keeping to herself most of the time.
But that changed as soon as she was around humans.
The shy, quiet girl instantly turned into a purring, affectionate, love-bug. Volunteers knew she’d be the perfect companion if someone could just SEE how much love she had to give.
That is of course, provided she was the ONLY one getting her humans love!
Photo: Facebook / http://purrfectpals.org ~ The “Florida” Room
Then mid-September, a couple visited the sanctuaries’ Issaquah Petco location in search of a pair of bonded cats. (Kudos to them for considering adopting 2 needy cats together!)
Fate intervened though, and they met Tabitha.
Photo courtesy of Purrfect Pals
Shelter volunteers recall and shared on their posts, “Their previous cat lived to be almost 19 and rather than being put off by Tabitha’s age, it’s what drew them to her. They didn’t want to see a 15-year-old cat spend the rest of her life in a shelter.”
The cat loving couple, Joe and Marcia, returned to the shelter on Friday.
Tabitha was having a grumpy day though, not wanting any attention which is understandable at her age and what she’d been through.
They left without her that day.
Photo courtesy of Purrfect Pals
Joe and Marcia weren’t giving up on her yet though.
They returned Saturday morning to a well-rested and happy Tabitha relaxing on a cat tree. Things were looking promising!
Finishing up their daily errands, they returned yet again to see if she would accept them as her “dedicated servants”.
“Tabitha went right up to the fence to rub her face in Joe’s hands, which Marcia took as a sign the adoption was truly meant to be”, said Purrfect Pals.
The couple fully accept that Tabitha is a diva, and rightfully so. She will be an only cat, provided with all the essentials and allowed to run the household.
Photo courtesy of Purrfect Pals
If she wants to snuggle, they will be there, ready and willing.
If she wants to be left alone, they will give her the space she desires.
She is finally at her furever home with 2 very happy purrents. They live in a friendly neighborhood, full of cat people who enthusiastically share their joy at gaining a new family member.
Joe and Marcia are not just amazing people that randomly decided adopt a senior cat. The couple have given a special gift to Purrfect Pals at Christmas time in the past years.
They donate to the sanctuary in each others names as their holiday gifts!
Now Tabitha, Joe and Marcia are happily living the sweet life.
Photo: Facebook / @PurrfectPals ~ And now they are a family!
They say she has allowed them to share their home and friends graciously.
She loves ALL the attention, especially cheek scratches and head rubs. Tabitha even sleeps on her parents pillows at night now.
This vintage beauty never gave up on finding her fur-ever home and has been rewarded again with loving parents.
Everyone is delighted that she can live out the rest of her retirement surrounded by those who cherish this queen.
Congrats to Joe, Marcia and Tabitha! Big Congrats and thank you to Purrfect Pals Cat Sanctuary and Adoption Center on their 30th Anniversary!!!
Photo: Facebook / @PurrfectPals
REMEMBER: ADOPT, DON’T SHOP & SPAY AND NEUTER!
Related Story: Abandoned Senior Cat Finally Finds Furever Home; Her Difficult Life Has Love At Last!
Related Story: Barnaby – A Senior Cats Love Story ~ You’re Never Too Old To Find Your Happy Ending!
Related Cole and Marmalade Video: 10 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Cat!
? Luv Valentine Tabitha’s story. I’m saddened by all of the changes she had to endure but she has been loved which is the most important. It breaks my heart when some get the short end of the stick every time. Many blessings to the couple that adopted Tabitha.
Thank you for this story. Our family is several cats and 2 “hummans”, my wife and myself. All cats were shelter arrivals, some bottle feeders, and a few with developmental or behavioral issues. Over many years we have lost seniors who we hope have passed over the Bridge. We hope to provide love and care to our remaining family to their end. This goal unites us and happily rules every day.