Sunday, July 28, 2013

Saying goodbye to the Kitten No One Wanted..


I am so struck by what the shelter said to me when they first asked me if I might want to foster Odilia.. 'Do you want her, she has no eyes, no one wants her'

How could I possibly refuse?


She came to me in April, the 23rd to be exact.. small, but robust, friendly and outgoing. She was the size of a three week old kitten but had the teeth of a five week old one. So who knows how old she really is. Talking with Amy Jo we thought that April 1st would be a wonderful day to celebrate her birth.

Amy showed up on Thursday and came to visit.  She couldn't take Odilia because they were staying in a non-pet friendly hotel - like I minded in the least. (oddly enough they ended up staying in a room called Ophelia)

Friday we went and did her adoption.


Amazingly enough while we were there two other kitties went home as well.  For a Friday morning that is impressive..  One of which I got photos of last week and you'll see him in the next installment of "Shooting at the Shelter"

Amy and I then spent some time together, shopping for goodies for Odilia and showing her the sites, including Lenny the Chocolate Moose..  I dropped her off at her hotel and she and Ray went to dinner and I went home for some last cuddles.  I was very fortunate that Odilia was in a cuddly mood.  We had a good long snuggle.. she played with the random tear that fell down my cheek.  Generally I prefer my fosters to be all playful and not snuggly in those last days, it tells me they are ready to go... but I was happy for the time. Odi has been with me far longer than most kittens - and it has been a while since I have had long term kittens. Generally they leave at 10 - 12 weeks of age and they rarely stay that long unless they were born here and when that happens they don't have personalities for the first few weeks.. and I haven't had a kitten born here in a while.

Saturday they came to pick her up to drive the 9+ hours home. They set her up in a kennel for the ride and the photo she shared with me showed that once again she drove beautifully..



And yes, I sobbed after she left. I felt silly because it was exactly what I wanted. I could not have been happier - well no, that's not true.. If Amy Jo decided to move and live across the street I could be happier.. but barring my own personal brand of crazy I couldn't be happier with where she ended up.  Amy has invited me to visit, and I don't doubt I will do that one day.  Until that day I always have this brand of crazy to keep me company

Come on Momma, lets get some chocolate cream pie and snuggle...
I'm hoping to get Amy Jo to do a guest post and share some of her photos of the trip home.. but I imagine she's a little stressed over the whole situation so I'm not sure when it will be.  I can tell you she is doing amazingly well.  There has been a bit of adjustment on her end with older siblings, but they are patient with her and I am sure in time it will be like she has always been there..

45 comments:

  1. I admit it, I'm tearing up too...it feels like that little kitten belongs to all of us!

    Odilia, we have no doubt you'll be ruling the roost in no time flat.

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  2. No surprise that I'm crying, too. Odilia deserves the best & I'm sure Amy will give it to her.

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  3. Well, I'm bawling too. Odilia won many of us over with the first photo and the knowledge that no one else wanted her, just because she was born without eyes.

    I hope she has a wonderful, happy, long and healthy life with Amy Jo and her family.

    Smooches to Odilia, that precious little girl who has our hearts.

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  4. From unwanted to beloved!! You did a great job with her....even the hard part of letting her go. We may all have tears...but happy ones.

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  5. I agree with Trish. She's everybody's! You did a great job, Connie. I'm tearing up too!! xx

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  6. I don't think Odilia could have a better home to go to... but yeah, we're weepy too. How ridiculous that no one wanted her originally - because now she sort of belongs to everyone.

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  7. I am so happy that Odi found such a loving home. Wishing her all the best. We will miss her but look forward to the next kitten!

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  8. You've got ol' peepers in tears, over hear. Way to go. I, on the other paw, being a brave and strong manly mancat - who just happens to have a girls' name - am not sheddin' a single tear. Not one. Nope. Ummm... peepers? Could you pass one of those tissues over here? No... No, I'm not cryin'. Got a whisker in my eye, that's all.

    Purrs,
    Nissy

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  9. We have grown to love that little precious girl so much also. We think she has chosen the purrfect forever home. *happy tears*

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  10. The head peep is wiping away tears reading this post. Unwanted kittens are just as deserving, if only people would stop and get to know them. Thank you for sharing Odilia's journey with us.

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  11. We all love Odilia and are so happy that she has found the purrfect furever home! We know she will be very happy...though we know you are a little sad to see her go. She'll always be a part of you. :)

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  12. How could they say no one wanted her? We *all* want her!!!

    I must admit I've been on Facebook all weekend waiting for Amy Jo's posts. I've been teary eyed so many times, excited for her, sad for you. But so, so excited for precious, perfect little Odilia and her wonderful life. I can't wait to watch her grow and thrive! Bless you for being her guardian angel.

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  13. She is a special kitty and we miss her too. Purrs and hugs to you!

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  14. I am SO glad this story has such a great ending. I would have cried too, but you will be able to follow her adventures in her new home.

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  15. I think Odilia is in the heart of everyone she meets. Such a special kitty!

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  16. Sweet and sad all at the same time! We can imagine how much you'll miss her - but we're so very happy she has a wonderful forever home now!

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  17. When someone throws out and says "No one wants them" I always shake my head and say YOU have not tried hard enough. But YOU have tried hard and won that battle - Im so happy for Odilia and for you. My foster failure Toot, is blind as well and I just could not let her go. Thank you for helping Odilia.

    Mom Laure

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    1. They tried just hard enough.. they found me :) and aren't I glad (and isn't Amy glad) that there were a few nos before there was a yes..

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  18. OMG I cried....so so so happy and sad....I just want to say THANK YOU!!!!!

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  19. We are so happy for Odilia, it is wonderful she has a forever home, and that they said you can visit. We hopes they will do a guest post soon.

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  20. I'm so happy for Odilia and hope she will adjust to her new forever home and family quickly. She is such a special kitty. Shelter said no one wants her but I think everyone who has met her on line and in person fell in love with her. You are so wonderful to take such good care of her.

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  21. We love when there are happy tears flowing from Mom Paula's eyes. We are very happy for Odilia.

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  22. Anonymous10:23 PM

    Well, we could not be happier for Odelia...and I was an adult cat that my former rescue thought was "unadoptable and should be PTS"...after they 'rescued' me from the county kill shelter..but after no one wanted me, nor would anyone foster me after a year...my life was again hopeless...and no kitty is 'unadoptable'...we just have not yet found out furrever home Guardians...just sayin', Paw pats, Savannah

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    1. You are right, no one is unadoptable, but finding those rare gem of a guardian is hard..

      Odilia was only 'unwanted' in that no one at the shelter or whom they had asked already wanted to take her to foster, either because she had no eyes or because they were full up. I don't think badly on any of them, because she ended up EXACTLY where she needed to.

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  23. * fights back tears of happiness * Oh I KNOW how you feel, you fell in love with a perfect little cat and now she has flown the nest and gone to a wonderful forever home. GUEST POST?? Yes!! OK Whenever they are ready... Until then * Happy Dance Happy Dance +tears of joy *

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  24. Mum and I just thinking. Your magical story is just like Homer Blind Cat - 'he needs a home' hehas no eyes' and if you have read Homer's story you KNOW they are a bundle of active dyanamite!!

    Sorry, just thought and had to come back.....

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    1. No need to be sorry, comment all you want :)

      I have read Homer's story.. and he and Odilia do share some very similar traits.. Both Homer and Odilia's mom are very lucky people indeed..

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  25. Sending love and purrs. You have her the best start ever. thank you. xx

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  26. We love stories with happy endings!

    The Florida Furkids

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  27. I know the tears only too well that you speak of - I think everyone who fosters can relate. It's wonderful that she got her forever home (and shame on the shelter for their comments - just goes to show that they don't know what they are talking about). It also goes to show once again what I always say there is a home for EVERY kitty!!!

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  28. Oh I suspect I'll have those same tears when Rachel & Ray are adopted (and they WILL be 'cause we WILL find them forever homes)! I know you'll miss this sweet girl to pieces but you were and are an important part of her life & she'd not be here today most likely were it not for you. Savour that warm feeling you get thinking about that! And I love happy endings for Odilia!

    Purrs!
    Selina & MomKatt Laura

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  29. Bless you for all you do....as always, love the heart and the honesty in your writing. And of course as always I love all the lives you save!

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  30. I cried when I read this update -I'm so happy Odilia found such a wonderful home, but I can only imagine how hard it was to let her go. I will always be grateful that I got to meet this special little girl at BlogPaws - she won my heart, that's for sure!

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  31. Well, it all happened as it was supposed to, except that I'm still crying. Odilia was not your typical foster, and not your typical kitten. I'm sure she won't be your typical cat, and I'm glad you will be able to keep in touch with her home and she will always be a part of your life.

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  32. What a lovely story. She is so fortunate to have had you and now a forever home of her own. You've got us teary too. :)

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  33. She's growing up fast*sniff*we shall miss her too,*sniff*but it is wonderful that she has gone to a lovely home,xx Rachel

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  34. You are an angel from God.....Odilia will remember in her lil heart the love she received from you....As I read this I thought of my now Cat "Faith" I found her in my mother's back yard, mom said she could hear a lil cry at night but could never find it. I visited mom and suddenly I heard the cry. I immediately went outside and there the lil gray kitten cried. I picked her up and noticed that both eyes were matted shut and she tried to snuggle on my neck...I took her straight to the bathroom and got some cotton balls with water and tried to clean out her eyes...her eyes were so swollen I couldn't make out an eye. I cleaned as much of it out as I could without wanting to hurt her....The next day I took her first thing to the vet... He thoroughly cleaned out her eyes....pus came out when he opened up her eye lids....he gave her a shot and some oral antibiodics along with some cream to put in her eyes. Today she is full grown, and I can tell she has sight problems...but she does very well. I lost her a couple of months ago. I searched all over the neighborhood....I finally found her. I walked towards my mom's garage...calling her name and she just cried and ran into my arms...she goes into our backyard to go outside now and she also knows she is not allowed to go to the front yard...She is very special to me because I knew my faith in God would heal her and that is why her name is "Faith".

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  35. We are so happy Odilia has found a forever home where she will be loved to bits. And that Amy Jo has set up an Odilia FB page so ALL her fans can keep up with her antics. :)
    Thank you for taking Odilia when no one else would, Connie. x

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  36. What a wonderful, happy ending story! We send our love to Odilia and her new folks and to you, Connie, for giving her the love she needed for the best start in life, ever!

    Hugs,
    Angel Tom, Tinker & Anastasia

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  37. Tears of joy here, too! Hooray for Odilia, and big hugs for you for loving her so much while she waited for her forever home with Amy Jo.

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  38. Tears here too, grateful Odilia has found her forever home, and with sadness for you as I know she will be missed.

    I hope she settles in easily in her new home. She's done well thanks to you!

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  39. You just have to love a happy ending right? Wishing the little sweetie all the best in the world!
    xo Catherine

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  40. Muffin definitely looks like she is doing her best to distract you from thinking about and missing Odilia. We will really look forward to that guest post whenever it happens. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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  41. It's wonderful to hear that sweet Odilia has found her forever parents. It must be so hard for you to say goodbye. You gave her the best possible start.
    And thank you for bringing her to BlogPaws so that we could all meet her!

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  42. Anonymous8:50 AM

    This was such a touching story. I'm so glad that you found a home for this little sweetheart. She's really special and she deserves to be loved by someone who appreciates how unique she is. You do great work :)

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