*sigh*

Meet Baby J. This guy was one of our more recent residents. Believe it or not, he didn't come in as a stray, but as a surrender. This tiny tyke had been acquired by a young couple..barely old enough to drive, but apparently old enough to breed (as evidenced by their too cool for preschool daughter who accompanied them past my 'no kids ever, verboten, boo' sign to be a part of this process). Feeling the need to expand their family, they sought out a furry friend in the best manner possible- Craig and his super awesome list (as time goes on, my love for craig will reveal itself more and more). One week after adding J to this family, he was sent packing. His crime?  Scratching the NickJr obsesser while being heldandlovedandsqueezed. Apparently, he was a viscious feline, and well they just "don't want him anymore."

Imagine that. Baby J is a scratcher. He's also a .......

KITTEN.

We took in the miniature convict, and let him know the law of the land. To make it here, he is not allowed to behave as he is- kitten behaviour is not becoming in a kitten. He must automatically know to behave like the perfect adult cats you see in pictures. Scratching? Uh no. Paw usage is expressly forbidden. Romping at full speed, burning off energy? Try again. Sitting perfectly still is the only way to go.

He was given a prime kennel spot in our lobby where he was truly the star. Despite having other kennels, the public only had eyes for him. Our staff sorted through applications, weeding out the "absolutely nots" from the "we should talk." Finally a home was picked for J. The excited couple called *endlessly* to follow his progress as we readied him for surgery before sending him home. His date with destiny was bumped upon developing a case of the sniffles- nothing to be alarmed over, with 60+ felines in our shelter, viruses like that circulate quite a bit. Holding off allows him to recover and be in prime shape for the stress of anesthesia. Again, the happy family called, just to see how the cold's course was running, and to express eagerness in his arrival home.

Yesterday was that day. Baby J, fresh from surgery, was tucked into his kitty carrier and sent on his way with the "fur"ever family.

Today, kitty dad called and began with "I'm XXX XXXX, and I adopted Baby J yesterday." I got all excited, waiting to hear about the silly antics that he must be bringing to the new home. I asked "and how are things going??" to which kitty father tells me what a great cat he is...how cute...just an awesome guy.

"But...we've got a BIG problem." he hints....

I ready myself for kitten quirks, and tales of naughty scratching or litterbox accidents.

"He's been over at my mom's house, and she just looooves him. She loves him so much, she won't give him back," father of the cat begins.

I'm imagining a scene in which the excited family brought their newest "child" over to show off....that sort of thing.

"He follows her all around the house, and hops into bed with her- she just thinks he's sooo smart!" continues the man...

Now i'm starting to think to myself...why is this kitten spending his first night as a "free" man in someone else's home? Regardless of the fact that our adoption policies do stipulate new animal spend 7-10 days somewhat isolated (to allow for easier transition into the home, and limit any viruses/parasites that may transmit to other animals,etc)...one would think that an excited family would have a special area that they can't wait to see their new baby sleeping in. But his first night is not in his home?

"Well, I'm just wondering...would it be really bad if I just let her" (kitty dad's mom) "have him?" asks furfather.

A) this man just left us yesterday having had our adoption policies explained ad nauseum- the biggest of which is that we DO NOT ALLOW REHOMING. Animal lives with adopter or comes back to us. End of discussion.

B) What was the point of adopting if he wasn't going to keep the animal? I mean, did he not come to us, seeking out our furry friends, filling out applications, paying adoption fees, because he WANTED a friend to love? And now he's allowing the chosen feline to leave his life and be a part of someone else's?

 This cat didn't even get 24 hours before he was rehomed....

*sigh*