Trouble and Pax were amazingly adaptable. They had been surrendered to Homeward Trails when their original owner died. They lived at PetMAC for a while and were adopted by a woman with known allergies that turned out to be much more severe than she realized. Back at PetMAC, we finally found them! Despite all this turmoil in their short lives, they were the most personable cats we'd ever met. They greeted us at the door from the first day and settled into our house as if they'd always lived there. Pax quickly learned (and loved!) to play fetch with toy mice. Trouble found his way onto the highest surfaces in the house, including the occasional balancing act on top of an open door.
Sadly, just over a year after we adopted our boys, Pax became very ill with bladder problems. He passed away quickly in January. Trouble did not know what to do without his constant companion. He became more affectionate and cried at the door when we left the house. We knew he needed another companion so he wasn't by himself all day. We returned to Homeward Trails, and Lori began to help us with the search for a friend for Trouble.
We met cat after cat, each with great attributes, but when we met Johnny, a milk-and-honey-colored kitty, we just knew he was the cat we'd been searching for. We call him The Beast because he looked like he was about the size of a bobcat in his Homeward Trails profile picture. He's actually a regular size for a cat, but he has big paws and ears like a kitten who's still growing into his fur. The nickname just stuck!
The Beast was relentless in his affections to Trouble, jumping up next to Trouble even when he knew Trouble wasn't used to him yet. He just didn't give up, and Trouble quickly gave in. We usually find them in the same room (and always in a room with one or both of us), and The Beast - who is just a big kitten somewhere between a year or two old - has brought some real playfulness to Trouble's life. (He has also taught Trouble to knock shiny things to the floor - thanks a lot, Beast!) We're so happy that neither of them are lonely, and we're lucky to have such affectionate cats from Homeward Trails to greet us at the door when we come home.
-Lauren & Allen, Arlington, VA
