Tuesdays With Tag - He's Gone!...

Hi, Everybody!

Well, I've got great news for you. Furgus has gone to a new home, and it's a wonderful story.

Mom was so worried about the feline dynamics in the Compass Barn. This big boy showed up in our yard some time around late fall, but with the extended halfway decent weather, he'd come and go as the girls snarled and hissed him off the property.

Once the weather got crummy, it seems that this guy was more of a homebody than feral cat. He wasn't afraid of Mom, and he never missed a meal time. The girls - on the other hand - were put out to no end. Claudette took to sleepin' on a lawn chair in the big part of the barn instead of her warm bed. Crystal made herself even more scarce. This was untenable for Mom. I mean, remember all the redecoratin' she did in the barn so the girls would be warm once the weather fell in the crapper? Furgus was even usin' their litter box, for Pete's sake!

Well, Mom started payin' more attention to him to see how friendly he might be. Not only was he friendly, he was downright lovable. Every time he heard her voice, he'd bounce out of the barn to see if she might be walkin' over to visit with him.

Mom put up a post on her Facebook page, asking if anyone might want to adopt him. She got three replies. One was for this lady who wanted him for her second house cat. He would be livin' with a dog or two, too. Then, the lady contacted her again and said her daughter, who has her own home was lobbyin' hard to have him. They set a date for a visitation at noon on Saturday.

Wouldn't you just know that Furgus was nowhere to be seen Friday and Saturday? They had planned to come out Saturday noon-ish, but Mom had to tell her she hadn't seen the boy. Mom promised to let them know as soon as he showed up (hopefully at dinner time). As an aside: a nice man wanted a companion for his older cat and we think he would have been a good choice, too, but these ladies had the first option.

Mom kept watchin' the girls, because they move out of the Compass Barn whenever Big Boy showed up. Around 6:30 on Saturday night, both the girls were back on the porch. That was unusual because she'd already put food in the barn for them. When the weather is cold, they then stay in the barn the rest of the night.

Seeing them on the porch, she hurried and put on her barn coat and went into the barn. Like clockwork, Furgus was up on the table stuffin' his face! She went to the table, said hello to him, and scooped him up. He loved that! He cuddled right up to her and she was easily able to put him in our kitty crate. Then she called to see if the lady and her daughter wanted to make a road trip. You won't be surprised to learn that they jumped in their car, and a half hour later were standin' in our garage with Mom.

Furgus came out of the crate to Mom, but he was apprehensive about these ladies. Even though they cooed and tried to pet him, he buried his face in the crook of Mom's arm. He was afraid, but not aggressive with his fear. Eventually, Mom was able to hand him off the the lady's daughter, Meadow. Isn't that a pretty name? Actually, it's a perfect name for the person who would be adopting Furgus. 

After visitin' a little more to make sure Furgus was gettin' used to them, Meadow and her mom put Furgus into the crate they bought with them and put him in their car. Mom was so happy that he had a forever home. These ladies already loved him when they left the yard.

Meadow sent photos to Mom the next day, sayin' that Furgus had spent most of the day on her bed, sleepin'. We said it's probably the most wonderful, safe sleep he's had in months. No fear of predators, antagonizers, or crummy weather. Mom was very happy. 

So the photos we're sharin' today are of Furgus' mom, Meadow, holdin' him for the first time; him sleepin' the first day (Isn't is cute that Meadow covered him with a blanket?); and a day spent hangin' out on her bed yesterday. He's really landed in a great place, and best of all, everybody is happy. Meadow's happy. Claudette and Crystal are happy. Mom's happy that he's in a safe, lovin' home, and Dad's ecstatic that there's one less cat (he's not a fan of felines) on our property. Mom tells people that we have two negotiated barn cats on our property.

I can safely say that this was a happy endin' all the way around. We're just hopin' Furgus didn't talk to any other strays before he left, directin' them to our house. We need a break from helpin' strays. Truthfully, it's a little hard on Mom's heart. She'd keep 'em all if she could...but I'm darn glad she can't. It's crowded around here as it is. Here, I'd hope to be an only puppy all those years ago. Especially since Bella's still raggin' at me these days. I'll just keep my head down and count my blessin's. Not inconsequential is the fact that Furgus will now sleep as nicely at night as I do, and that's a wonderful thing, indeed.

Merry Christmas Blessin's, Meadow and Furgus.

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then... 

"Been There, Chewed That!"