Simon

This story comes from Helen Estes

The day we adopted Simon, we had no intention of adopting. We recently had our cat Phoebe euthanized. She was 18 and her kidneys were failing.

We walked into PETCO and my husband saw a cat for adoption that looked almost like Phoebe. We went to look at the cat and I spotted Simon in a cage on the floor. His face had been damaged. He was blind in one eye, his teeth were crooked, and his tail had been broken.

I went to look at him and he hissed at me. He was frightened. He had been through a lot. I asked about him and he had been checked out by the vet and was healthy. He had been neutered and declawed by his previous owner. He had been found wandering around near the Berkshire Mall.

Deb delivered him to our house that night and he immediately fit right in. I had two other cats at the time. He didn't act strange, he didn't hide, and he loved my husband.

We have had him since the spring of 2003 and he is so cool. He cannot chew dry food, but he eats soft food and is not the least bit fussy. He loves attention, especially being brushed, kissed, and having his chin and ears scratched.

I now have a 4th cat Sammy who was hanging out in the woods behind my house. He was literally starved when I captured him. I think the starvation damaged his brain a little, because he is clumsy and slow to react to anything. He has a raccoon tail and is the most adorable thing.

I also have Jenny (the spitfire) and Louie, both homeless strays also. Simon, Sammy, and Louie all love one another. Jenny rules over them all, so we leave her in charge when we are not home.

These guys have totally enhanced our lives and we love them dearly.

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