SOOOOOO... a very pregnant Mama Lyttelton showed up on the doorstep of a family's home and ended up giving birth there. Mama stayed with her babies until they were about a month old, then snuck off never to be seen again, leaving her kittens behind. The family cared for the kittens for another week, then brought them into the Humane Society.
The Lytteltons spent a couple of days in the foster room, then moved in with us. They were such friendly, trusting little beings from day one, it was obvious wherever it was they started their lives, they got lots of love an attention while they were there.
About a week later, I got a call from Traci, the foster care coordinator at the HS. She had just spoke with the woman who had brought the Lytteltons into the shelter. She couldn't stop thinking about that dear little Ezra, and was hoping to get her boy back.
He, of course, was already being fostered, so she would have to wait until he was at least two months, two pounds and neutered before she could adopt him. She was disappointed that she had to wait, but he was worth it, so she did.
Fast forward one month later - Ezra is two months, two pounds, now neutered, and ready to go.
I brought him back to the HS and said goodbye.
It did feel a little strange not knowing exactly where he was going, or who he would be moving in with. For most folks who foster, that's the way it always is - you surrender your foster babies when your work is done, and they find their adopters at the shelter. We're so lucky to be able to hand select our families.
Kind of weird, but I'm completely OK with it. I've said this before, but some how, some way, our kittens ALWAYS end up where they are supposed to be. The universe has a way of always sending the perfect families in our direction. I trust this, and even though I didn't get to meet Ezra's family, I'm sure they were meant to be his.
Oh, Ezra, you are going home to your very first home where you are already loved.
ReplyDeleteEzra must be one special kitty for this family to wait for him. I'm sure he's going to a loving family (and have some kitty siblings, I hope)!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Ezra will be loved and happy, but it makes me sad he didn't get to bring along a brother or sister to play with. Doesn't this mean another singlet will have to go out in the word without a sibling for support since there were an even number of fuzz balls? Or is there a wonderful family out there looking for 3 kittens!!? :O
ReplyDeleteSo nice to know Ezra is going to someone who loves him that much!
ReplyDeleteLittle sweet pea - glad that he's going to his first home but wish he had a playmate!
ReplyDeleteWho knows? Maybe he does have a playmate. He didn't go with any of his siblings, but that doesn't mean there's not a kitty or cat in the home already.
ReplyDeleteI hated not getting to meet the couple who adopted my last 2 kittens. I had gotten way too attached to them. The shelter at least gave me a description of the couple and 2 of my close friends at the shelter were glowing when they talked about how the couple had been looking for kitten siblings to spoil and treat as their own children.
ReplyDeleteI'm now back to official senior freaked-out cat lady (the cats are senior and/or freaked out, not me). My emotions were not built for little ones. I'm glad that his family waited for him. What an impression he must have made!
Ezra worked his little black magic on his founding family!
ReplyDeleteThis says alot about his family, that they would wait for him. But it would be nice to know how he is doing...that's a lot of trust on your part.
ReplyDeleteI wish Ezra lots of love and happiness in his new forever home. I hope the family knows how special he is.
ReplyDeleteSweet little Ezra going off to his forever home. We will miss him but somebody knows they have gotten a very special kitty!!
ReplyDeleteAWWW my kitty son's name is Ezra and he's a sweet rescue that came to me through serendipity :) He's exactly the cat I needed and the light of my life :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck little buddy! I am sure if your first family wanted you back and were willing to wait, you are going to a house of love.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that his new mama bonded with him so deeply is an encouraging sign though. She obviously had a special place in her heart for him so I'm hoping that this will be a good ending both both of them.
ReplyDeleteDear Laurie,
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting story...we (those of us who follow you and your work) don't always get to know and learn about how the kittens became fosters in the first place.
I cannot know for certain, but I suspect, based upon the almost unimaginable amount of love that you and Craig pour out to your beautiful little "charges" that sometimes, saying "Goodbye" is not a very easy thing to do.
Thank you so much for sharing this story of Ezra with us...
And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the work you do to care for these beautiful animals. We are so lucky and blessed that people such as yourself step up and do this work.
I also thank you for the wonderful job that you do, day in and day out, to share their interesting and entertaining stories and day to day life with us.
If Ezra is anything like my big black cat Edgar, I'm sure his original foster family bonded fast and forever, and they'll show each other an amazing amount of love. Hope Thelma will be part of a triple-play, though: somehow, in my mind, I saw the kittens pairing off as Ridley/Fern; Ezra/Thelma; and Pia/Gia on their way to their forever families.
ReplyDeleteDear Laurie,
ReplyDeleteSomething else I wish to offer...
I was surfing the net one day, and stumbled upon the website of a woman who breeds Main Coons for show and pets.
And she mentioned something that has stuck with me ever since...
She insists that potential owners come and visit the kittens...
And she has observed that, if a kitten chooses "you" (and not the other way around) that the kitten is never, ever wrong.
The kittens just seem to know whats best...
I was reminded of this story when you spoke about how lucky you feel when you have a chance to allow the kittens "to choose"...
Again, thank you so much for the work you do on behalf of these wonderful, beautiful animals...
And then there were five! I'm so happy for Ezra, but of course it's both wonderful and bittersweet at the same time, just like always! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, this was very much meant to be.
ReplyDeleteThink about it this way, Ezra wiggled and mewed his way into his forever family's heart so much so that they waited for two months and some change for this very special boy.
When it's love, it's love. And I just have this sneaky suspicion that Mr. Ezra is going to a home filled with so much love that it will curl his whiskers.
That kind of dedication to a kitten is heartwarming. I bet it does feel a bit unsettling to send him off to the unknown...but it sounds like another special home was waiting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for caring for your furry charges so much!
How wonderful that Ezra will be going "home"!! Sure hoping his new mama has been following his online journey, and will be able to share a picture of a bigger Ezra at some point. Bless all the people in the world who help these kitties out:-)
ReplyDeleteJust know that his original home loves him so much, that they waited 2 months to get him :) Make sure to tell the HS to give Ezra's home your contact info so they can give you updates!
ReplyDeleteWe have a good feeling abowt Ezra's adopters too. The fact that they couldn't stop thinking abowt Ezra means they had already bonded ~ so Ezra will be very loved.
ReplyDeleteWe hope yoo get an update though ... it's always nice to know the happy ending first hand.
Good luck, sweet little boy, with your fur-ever family!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you guys found Ezra a good home. ^__^
ReplyDeleteFull circle, wow! Happy homecoming, Ezra. Thanks for sharing this unique story, Laurie. It is interesting, the way things work out.
ReplyDeleteAw, hope Ezra likes her new home. :)
ReplyDeleteAw, hope Ezra likes her new home. :)
ReplyDeleteEzra, you little heartbreaker, you!! Staked out your furever home the day you were born, did you? ;-) Laurie, having personally placed our fosters, too, I can imagine how tough it is not to have met Ezra's furever parents... but trust those you trust at the shelter and celebrate!!!
ReplyDeleteI wish Ezra the best in his new home. Perhaps his family will send updates like others have.
ReplyDeleteJust saw Charlenes tweet.. the building is quiet! Has everyone gone to their forever homes?
ReplyDeleteKevin, thanks for your kind words. Kittens and cats are very intuitive, indeed, and quite good at picking their people.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story! I am confident Erza will be much loved in his new home!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the things I love about you, Laurie - your intuition about what's right for your itty bitty charges. First Mama Lyttelton trusted Ezra's family enough to birth him and his sibs on their doorstep. Then you trusted that that was the right place for him to return to. I bet he's happy as a little clam to be back in their loving embrace. What a lovely story. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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