In August, I adopted a bonded pair of cats from AniMeals. Adopting from AniMeals was interesting in that they require adopters to sign a contract where if adopters can no longer care for the cat in the future, they must return the cat to AniMeals. It also takes a couple days for AniMeals to respond to adoption applications because they will do a background check, including calling personal references provided to them. I didn’t expect the friends I listed as references to actually receive phone calls, but they did! I don’t think even personal references I’ve listed on a job applications actually received phone calls, but AniMeals is thorough.
Anyway, since AniMeals is more involved in the lives of their adopted cats than the typical shelter is, they sent me an email to ask if I’d share an update about how the cats have adjusted. Below is the questionnaire I filled out for them, and a few of the pictures I sent.
1. Did you rename your kitty?
I adopted Stella and Bodie, now known as Night and Mr. Black.
2. How did your kitty adjust to your home?
It took some time for them to adjust to the house, my other cat Luna, and me. They stayed in their safe room and didn’t like leaving it for about three weeks. Night can still be skittish outside her safe spaces, but she is slowly getting more comfortable with me and the house. Her latest favorite place is lounging on my desk while I’m working. Mr. Black, who has settled in with much greater ease, gives her confidence when she’s feeling shy. Both of them like pets, watching birds out the windows, and playing with toys. Black will throw himself on the floor to ask for full body pets. Night likes playing with cat wands, and Mr. Black can often be heard playing with stuffed mice and toy balls late into the night. They’ve always been polite to and tolerant of Luna, who is slowly accepting them into her house. While they aren’t friends yet, the three of them frequently lounge in their favorite spots on the couch together.
3. Have any behavior issues arisen since adopting?
No major behavior issues have arisen since adopting them. Mr. Black occasionally picks a fight with Night and has swatted at Luna, particularly around meal time, but nothing too concerning.
4. Is your kitty eating & using the litter box, okay?
Both of them eat and use their litter boxes fine. Mr. Black had some diarrhea initially that resulted in messes at the entrance to the litter box, but I’ve since identified that as a sensitivity to fish.
5. Have you been to the vet since adopting, and if so, did anything arise from the visit?
I’ve taken them to the vet and had bloodwork done for both of them. Night’s bloodwork was perfect, but Mr. Black had some abnormal kidney values. I’ve since put them both on an all-wet food diet (except for a few crunchy treats they enjoy). Mr. Black will have his kidney values tested again in a couple months.
6. Would you adopt from us again in the future?
I would definitely adopt from AniMeals again!