Buffy's Story

In the autumn of 2010 I was in Santa Cruz Petsmart when I saw her among a group of kittens playfully wandering around behind the glass enclosure where adoptable cats were located. She had just run under a small stool. But, her calico fur was unmistakable. I had been searching for a calico ever since 20 year old Keli (calico) had died. I suppose I thought that replacing her with another calico would relieve my grief. I was wrong. The hole in my heart has never left. I knocked on the glass and asked if I could see her, hold her for a moment.

The volunteer from Animal Shelter Relief brought her out to me, and it was love at first cuddle. She purred the moment she was placed in my arms. I wondered how I could adopt her. The price was higher than I could afford and they had no "discount" to offer. I made the excuse that I had no money on me. But, the volunteer saw her opportunity to give this little girl a home. She knew a cat lover when she saw one! Very quick thinking, she suggested I could withdraw the money from my account since I had no checks with me. She even offered to walk with me down to the ATM not too far away. I was inextricably sucked in. The universe had opened the way for adoption and loving another furbaby to happen.

I learned that this polydactyl was named Angelica and the woman who fostered her was very attached. Would I mind if the volunteer took a picture of me holding Angelica? No, not at all. I wanted her to know how much I appreciated her time and purrsonal investment in giving her a foster home meant to me. As soon as I took her home and eventually introduced her to Bambi, Ninja and Timmy, and introduced them to their baby sister I began to refer to her as "Sissy". But, that name didn't fit her in my heart anymore than did the name Angelica.


Shortly after this, I traveled down to Rancho Cucamonga to visit my daughter. I took Sissy with me in the car. There was no way I would leave a newly adopted kitten at home alone with her new siblings. While visiting, we had a naming game. I wrote down all the names suggested, about 30 of them, and thought it over for the few days I was there. Soon it was clear Buffy would be the name, as in Vampire Slayer! I had some cat toys with me. One was a halloween bat. The minute Sissy saw it, she fiercly attacked! She attacked it repeatedly until it was shredded... flayed. So she became Buffy da Bampire Flayer from that day forward.


A few days later, at home I realized Buffy was sick. I contacted the vet. He suggested I call the organization I adopted her from (Animal Shelter Relief) as it was so soon after the adoption. They were kind enough to cover the expense, and had me take her to the vet where she had been treated while she had been fostered. There I learned she had a very challenging beginning in life. A feral abandoned by her mother, she had nearly died while being infested with fleas. So they had helped her regain her health before releasing her to adoption. I was very grateful to Animal Shelter Relief and the Veterinarian on Mission Street in Santa Cruz for being so caring.

Perhaps Buffy's rough start in life is what gives her the feistiness she displays. Although, it just may be that she has the catitude most calicos exhibit. In any case, Buffy has grown up to be a graceful, if a bit chunky, adult kitty with a loving purrsonality. But, only when alone with me at night snuggled beside me, or in her favorite spot... on top of me!

Buffy's existence in my life has helped heal my broken heart.

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