Arturo's Story

Sometimes kittens hand-raised indoors never attain full independence and self-suffiency. We know, because we have some.

Former alleycats, though, are often more resilient, having relied on their own resources. They seem to have an empirically-validated concept of home. “Their” humans are not mere esteemed providers of food, affection, and entertainment; they are consciously-made family, family all the more because there was a time when they were un-family.

Arturo made a conscious choice. Though his goal was a long shot, he never hesitated for a minute. He wanted to live inside with people, in a secure place out of the weather and away from vicious dogs, speeding cars, and those evil entities in the shadows. He wanted a window and soft places to sleep, and someone to provide him fresh water, and decent food morning and evening (along with occasional tidbits, stalks of grass, and sprinkles of catnip).

Arturo thinks he's arrived, but that's because he doesn't know what more is possible. Does he dream of curling up right beside his person at night? Does he think how entertaining his frolics with the laser pointer could be in a long hallway? Does he wonder if rooms ever have more than one window?

Arturo deserves someone who can't imagine being without him, someone who will love and protect him for the rest of his life. Arturo deserves this and more, and our cats deserve a better life than we can give them with Arturo here.