New Cat Kindness

While surfing the web a couple of days ago, I learned that today is World Kindness Day. I think that's appropriate, given that today Hubby Tony and I brought home our new Foster Cat Smokey Joe.

Checking out his new home

Twenty four hours after Pimento left for his new home Tony and I decided the house needed a feline. I sent an email to the shelter, but before we could get a response a request popped up on social media that one of their partner clinics asked if they could take in a FIV+ cat with a suspected leg injury. (A cat that has tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus has a weakened immune system and shouldn't be around other cats). It only took a couple of minutes for me to respond to the post that we were interested, and a couple more minutes for the shelter to acknowledge our offer.

Because this was a new cat Tony and I got the honor of giving him a name. The shelter only uses a name one time, so we had a great time thinking of something that would suit him based on a photo and comparing it to the database to make sure it was unique. 

The shelter picked up Smokey Joe from the partner clinic this morning. After lunch Tony and I brought him home. 

It took almost two months for Pimento to feel comfortable around us, but today when Tony opened the carrier Smokey Joe slunk out and cautiously walked down the hall, then around the kitchen and eating area. He found the gap underneath the couch and settled in for his first nap.

I hope the rest of his assimilation is as easy as the beginning has been.