Friday, February 22, 2013

Meet Cole


Hi, everyone!  Today I'm veering off of my normal 'decorating' topics to introduce you to one of my babies cats.  This little sweetie is Cole (named so because he's 'coal black'-clever, yes?  no? well I amuse myself, at least...)  Anyway, he's really hard to get a good picture of because every time I walk near him with a camera he gets up and comes to greet me, and he won't stay still.  Our other cat, Bobbi, is so photogenic, and she has a million looks; Cole, on the other hand has ONE look (Keith and I call him 'Zoolander' which you'll get if you've seen the movie-ONE look.)  But Cole is extra special, and I'll tell you why...


About 3 years ago we had to put our beloved cat Zeb to sleep (I had had him for 18 years, and he'd been through so much with me!) and I was an absolute wreck.  I cried so hard during the week after that my eyes became swollen shut.  About 6 months later, I was in no way ready for another cat (or so I thought) when Cole showed up on our back stoop and wouldn't leave.  We'd had other strays in the neighborhood come and go, but this was different. He just camped out there pretty much 24/7.  We were leaving for vacation to Vegas, and it was getting cold out, so I said to Keith, "Ok, if he's still here when we get back, we'll have to take him in."  I didn't really think he'd still be around after almost 2 weeks of us not being here to feed him.


Well we got back, and you guessed it...he was still here!!  It broke my heart to leave him out in the cold, so of course we took him in.  He instantly became my little shadow.  Zeb used to sleep by my head every night and sometimes snuggle with me, and Cole does the same thing!  Every night we have our little ritual:  I walk to bed and he follows me, then sits at my feet and lifts his front paws, waiting for me to place him in bed beside me-it's the cutest thing!  I honestly believe that God put him on our back stoop as a special gift just for me!  He knew that I was still missing Zeb, and that Cole would be the perfect cat for me-sweet and snuggly!


(Notice Bob on the floor?)  I had to take Cole to the vet a couple of days ago, and unfortunately the vet is very concerned about his one eye.  It's always been kind of 'cloudy' but it's getting worse and the vet doesn't know why, so he referred me to an animal ophthalmologist-I never knew there even was such a thing!  I'm taking him next week (the nearest specialist is about half an hour away) and I'm hoping and praying that it's nothing serious.  Poor thing.
Well, I'll leave you with a picture of Bob in one of her adorable poses (yes, napping counts as a pose :)  Don't let her sweet face fool you...she once swallowed a huge wad of string (which we still don't know where it came from) and she had to have emergency surgery to have it removed...very traumatic and NOT cheap!  What we do for our fur babies!


She's so ornery, but she definitely keeps us entertained!  Hopefully this pic of her will make you smile!  Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a fantastic day!  (Oh, and I'll soon be announcing the winner of my giveaway! :)

27 comments:

  1. You needed him more than he needed you. They have a way of stealing your heart. I love the last picture, she looks just like my old cat, he was a love. We only have one cat at this time and he is just like a dog, cries to go outside, waits at the back door to come in, lets us know when he is hungry. I think I would much prefer a cat over a dog any day.

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  2. They are both precious! Love reading about them.

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  3. Bless your heart!! What an amazing story. He looks so sweet and happy :) My husband and I are also involved in animal rescue, and yes, it started with finding stray cats that we would nurse back to health and get adopted. Then we got involve in dog rescue and have fostered dogs for over two years. We ended adopting our very last foster (Sofie) because she absolutely melted our hearts. Now we have 3 dogs and 2 cats. Yes, crazy animal person here! One our older cats, Flynn, has lost vision in both his eyes (it was gradual) and he sees an eye doctor regularly. Anyway! This turned out longer that I meant it too.

    Have a great weekend.

    Stephanie
    http://sharelovealways.blogspot.ca/

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  4. It is amazing what LOVE a sweet little fur ball can bring to our life just when we need it most !!
    Enjoy your new friend !
    Hugs
    Janet

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  5. Awww.....they're both so cute! I love how pretty their fur is. It is such a heart warming story to hear how you acquired Cole. He was meant to be with you!

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  6. Aw, Cole sounds like suuch a sweetie! Looks like God and Zeb sent him to you. I will pray that Cole's eye has no serious problem. The picture of Bob did make me laugh!

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  7. what can i say but bless your heart....as a cat lover i know the hurt you went through and new found love you found in Cole and for that last pic....i smiled and laughed!!

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  8. so cute--both of them! bob's pic cracks me up!

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  9. Hope Cole is ok and yes, that last pic of Bob definitely made me smile! Cutie!!

    happy weekend.....!!!

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  10. Awwww Susan what a beautiful story about Cole. I am glad he found you and Keith because he will certainly be loved and have a wonderful life. I hope his eye is not anything too serious. I love the picture of Bob too. It made me smile. Good luck with Cole hope that goes well.
    Kris

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  11. Aww! Sweet furbabies. Hope his eye will be ok.
    Enjoy your weekend.

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  12. Oh- He is a beauty. I love his story. I sure hope it is nothing serious with his eye. Poor thing. Love old Bob, too! xo Diana

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  13. A must for being human is loving pets. Sweet!

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  14. Your kitties are gorgeous. I hope for all the best for Cole.

    Briana from Texas

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  15. Awww Susan that is just so sweet. I agree I'd say God put Cole there just for you. I hope his eye is nothing serious too. I'm not an animal lover but I can imagine how you felt when you lost Zeb. We had baby kitties last spring. Something got hold of one of them and hurt it so it couldn't use its back legs. we took it to the vet and had him put to sleep. I cried more than the girls did. and it wasn't even an indoor cat. I just couldn't handle the way the poor dear looked at us so trustingly. it was awful. So I can feel your pain!

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  16. I was scoping out new blogs (love the junk and thrift and shabby stuff) and it must have been meant to be that the first post I read on your blog is about your cats! Sold! I have 4 cats, 2 old one - 18 and 19 years old so I am at the vet with them all the time. I hope Cole's eye is okay!

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  17. Your Story of Cole and Zeb reminds me of the parallel I had when my Beloved Cat Rat Boy passed at age 20... I felt the same way, she (yes, Rat Boy was a SHE... long story)... had been my Shadow for so many years that I felt lost without her... I'd been her Favorite Human in our household and you know how that makes you even more attached to a Fur Baby that chooses YOU above all others!? *Winks* Well, I too had decided that tho' we still had the Bohemian Cat Boys, Rusty and Morris, I was NOT getting another 'Pet Quality' Cat (the Boys were Feral Strays and so they just kinda tolerate Humans as a means to their end, winks). So... who shows up but Yul, a Siamese Stray that wouldn't go away, be chased away or give up on endearing himself to us... and yes, after 3 months we Caved, named him and he's as Special in Personality as Rat Boy was... only he ADORES ALL of the Family, so each of us is his Favorite Person! *Smiles* I Pray that Cole's eye heals without any major issues.

    Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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  18. What a sweet story. It was definitely meant to be that he call your home his permanent home. I sure hope it's nothing serious with his eye. Both your babies are adorable, and Bob put a huge smile on my face.

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  19. Love Cole's story. God is so good, He knows just what we need, even when we don't. Our fur babies add such joy to our lives. Yours are sweeties!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  20. What a heartwarming story! Home wouldn't be home without a four-legged friend, right?

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  21. I have no doubt that zeb and sweetie pie are in heaven together having a total blast!!!<3 hope Mr. Cole feels better asap!!!:(

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  22. I love Cole--what a great story! I am a big cat lover too :)

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  23. Susan,

    Your story just warmed my heart! Both Cole and Bob are so adorable. If I could I would take in every cat I find. Just listening to them purr is so calming.

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  24. Omg what adorable pair of fury babies you have here. Really touched by Cole story, my that cat is sure a fighter for cold and Bob is sure a charmer. Got my eye on your next posts.

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  25. Sweet story...I believe he was sent to you.
    Love your bedtime ritual, I do the same with my Corgi, Sophie.
    I hope Cole's eye is okay.
    Bob! LOL

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