"Hi, Mary Lou here!
There's a volunteer here who's been a good friend since I first arrived. She always sings an old Ricky Nelson song ("Hello, Mary Lou...") to me when she visits. Most of the time I roll over on my back and beg for head rubs. Sometimes I even meow along. There are other times, though, especially when it gets to the line about "mine forevermore" when I stalk into the small side of my kennel and refuse to be lovey.
Maybe it is because no one so far has wanted to make me theirs 'forevermore'. And honestly, I am really tired of living in my little condo."
"Luckily, I got a chance to take a vacation from shelter life and am just back at the shelter relaxed and refreshed. It was sweet! I got to live with another volunteer who had an extra bedroom all for me! I was in heaven with so much space. I got to look out the windows and see people pushing baby strollers down the street; watch joggers go by with their dogs; and even get to hear the ice cream truck coming down the street.
I'm quite social actually. My foster mom says whenever she was in my room hanging out with me that I always want to be near her. I don't usually sit on her lap, but lay between her legs or curled up next to her hip - close but not smothering her, and I'm purring away.
I don't need to be held all the time like some cats, and foster mom can have her hands free for crafts or reading. I hadn't been much interested in toys, but am getting fond of a cute little plastic cat with a fish on a wire that's got a roly-poly action. I also like my ball toy and chasing mom's tape measure when she's sewing. I may not have been exposed to toys during my formative months, but I'm catching up now. Love those rolly balls that whiz by too!
I love being brushed with my own little pink brush. It has a soft side that I love having rubbed on the top of my head and down my back, but especially on my cheeks. I like being petted and having my cheeks rubbed with a human hand too, though sometimes I can gently nip if it's too much of a good thing. I don't break the skin or leave a scratch, just my way of saying "enough already!". I do it less and less as I'm getting to know my frequent visitors. I've got them trained now so that if they see my dirty look, they stop unless they're not paying attention.
I don't like other cats for some reason. People think I'm afraid of them and at the shelter, it's even a bit worse seeing so many. I didn't like my foster mother's cats either and they're nice to me. One especially wanted to be my friend, but I had to say "no, thank you". I'm really going to need to be your only kitty. Is that okay with you? I promise to give you so much love and attention that you'd think you had a whole pack of friendly kitties living with you.
I like it here but I want my very own person or family. I want to be able to follow my human around and see everything that's going on and not be bothered by other animals. There's a great big world out there I want to explore and so far, I've only gotten to see a little piece of it. Sadly, I've spent half my life in the shelter so am more than ready to see much much more. Would you be willing to share your world with me?
I promise to be yours forevermore.
All my love,
Mary Lou"
Mary Lou has been waiting a very, very long time for her forevermore at
Great Plains SPCA, Merriam. And - til the end of August - she can go home with you for free. All fees are waived!
