Chompy_214
Legacy Name: Chompy_214

Tali's Story
I don't know if I can do this anymore. I'm not pretty, I'm just plain boring grey with plain boring yellow eyes. I'm shy. I'm quiet. I'm surrounded by kittens much younger and cuter and louder than me. No one wants me because I'm too old, even though I'm not even a year yet! I've seen so many other cats come and go, yet I'm still here. Why? Why can't I go home too?

- - - - -

Today must be another adoption day. There are many more people here than usual. That means either being ignored by everyone in favor of all the kittens, or picked up by people who are too rough and don't realize that we have feelings too. I don't know which is worse.

The same person keeps looking at me. She seems nice, but why doesn't she seem to want to hold me? She just looks at me and then looks away. She'll probably end up taking home a kitten, like everyone else always does. Now she's talking to a man and pointing to me. I think she's going to hold me! Will today finally be the day?

She's opening my cage! Even though I know no one can hear me over all the other cats--my voice is much too quiet--I can't help but squeal in excitement! I'm trying to be on my best behavior so she'll like me, but I'm so excited! She's so gentle and kind. She's smiling, hugging me, and talking to me. I can't understand what she's saying, but she seems like she likes me a lot! I like her a lot too. Especially her long hair, and her gentle hands, and her warm, soft hugs...

Wait, stop, why are you putting me back in there?! I thought you wanted to take me home! Please don't put me back in the cage! Please! Don't walk away!! I promise I can be good, I'm just excited!

As she closes the door on me I reach out my paw in desperation and manage to grab a bit of her long hair. That catches her attention! I don't understand why, but she seems both happy and sad at the same time. She takes my paw in her hand, says something to me again, and walks away for good. I'm too stunned to cry after her.

I am alone again. I'm done trying to be nice. It's not worth it. I really thought she was the one who would rescue me. But now my heart is broken, again.

I lie down in the back corner of my cage, away from all the noise. I just want to be left alone. Or go home. For good.

- - - - -

Later that night, I can't even bring myself to cry anymore. I just lie there, awake, and listen to all the other cats talk or cry. I know it's only a matter of time before they put me down; I've already been here much longer than anyone else. That's what happens to cats that no one wants. That fate is all I can realistically hope for.

- - - - -

I must have fallen asleep at some point, because I wake up to gloved hands pulling me out of the cage, not roughly, but not gently either. Just indifferent. Like me. With a jolt, I realize that the day I'd resigned myself to had finally come. Today was the day it would all end.

The doctor takes me into the room with the cold metal table. This is it, my suspicions are confirmed. I start thinking about my short life, regretting letting myself be taken to this place. I should've hid better when they came for me. But, being the youngster I was, I thought they were actually going to help me. I'd heard stories from other cats that there was a place where cats go for a little bit, and it's not fun, but then people come and take them home, and it's the best thing ever. That sounded good to me, so I didn't resist at all. It seemed like the only chance I had. I'd been satrving before they took me. If I'd known this was how my life was going to end, I would've tried harder to escape. All I ever wanted was a chance.

The indifferent doctor pokes me with something. I know the end will be soon, so I try to relax and think about happier things. I'm glad it doesn't hurt. I let myself fall asleep for the last time.

- - - - -

I'm awake again. Why? Did something go wrong? Did they decide to give me one last chance? I feel very sick. Ugh, why can't anything ever go right for me? Please, I just want this to be over.

- - - - -

The next time I wake up, I'm in a dark box that I can barely turn around in. That's okay, I don't feel much like moving anyway. Is that the nice girl's voice? No, it can't be. I must be hallucinating. I wish someone would tell me what's going on. I'm just so sleepy...

- - - - -

My box is being opened. As I wake up...again...I think I must be in one of those fast-moving boxes the humans go around in. I still feel sick, and this is not helping. I look up into the nearest face. It's the girl!! The nice one with the long hair! She's smiling really big and petting me. She keeps saying "Tali." Does that mean home? I try to repress the tiny flicker of hope, but in my ill state, I can't. I don't feel like moving at all, so I just stare at her sleepily.

After a long time of being in the moving box, we finally stop. Everyone's getting out. Please don't leave me behind! I don't like it in here! Don't close me up in this tiny box again!!

I'm being carried somewhere. The box is opening again. I look out, and all those people are staring at me. Am I expected to do something? I feel so sick and I'm far too tired to jump out of this stupid box, I think I'll just nap here until I feel better.

Well, I guess that was the wrong thing to try. The girl reaches down and lifts me out. I'm too tired to resist, so I succumb to her comfortable hug.

She looks me in the eyes, and says, "Tali, you're home."

My Story
Tali came into our lives on August 3rd, 2014. We went to the shelter, intending to only get another cat if we found the perfect one. I did not want another one, he did, so that was our compromise. I did not want the responsibility, knowing that I would have to do all the work.

They had four big rooms with about 20 cats in each room, each cat in its own tiny cage. I held so many cats that day, every kind of cat you can imagine, from tiny kittens all the way up to fat 15 year olds. None of them really struck me as the perfect cat. Sure, they were cute and all, but I didn't really feel connected with any of them.

Then we saw "Nala", a Russian Blue mix with yellow eyes. They said she was a year old, but she still looked like a kitten. I immediately knew there was something special about her. We couldn't take our eyes off each other; those big, bright yellow eyes followed me around the room. I held a few other cats, but I kept coming back to look at Nala. I finally decided I wanted to hold her. As soon as I opened the cage, she started purring so loudly I could hear it over all the other noise. We cuddled for about five seconds before I decided she was the one.

I had to put her back in the cage so I could tell the volunteer that we wanted to take her home. My heart almost broke when she looked at me with those sad, disappointed eyes. This had happened before. According to her paperwork, she'd been at the shelter for over a month. Sitting in that tiny cage, day after day, hopes raised and shattered time after time as people held her and then put her back in the tiny cage. I wished I could somehow make her understand that I would be coming back! After I closed the cage door, she stuck her paw through the bars and stared up at me. I took her paw in my hand and said I would be right back.

I brought Nala's tag to a volunteer, and she started the adoption process. She explained that we couldn't take her home that day, that they had to give her vaccinations, spay her, and do a final check-up to make sure she was as healthy as possible. We'd have to come back and get her the next day.

- - - - -

The next afternoon, we finally got to bring our new kitty home! On the drive back, we tried to think of a new name. Neither of us thought Nala fit her very well. He wanted to name her Liara. I liked Tali better, and he said that was okay too. Tali seemed happy enough with it, so it stuck.

We found our forever kitty. Tali.

Images and Art
Photo by me.


Feli recolors by Tali.


Minion recolor by me.