Let's Go, Jane!

When I set out to blog about my year of seeking adventure, I decided to share both the good and the ugly. This post may veer toward the latter. After the week we’ve had, I can understand if you don’t have the bandwidth to read on.

I’ve always been a pet person. I’ve had cats, dogs, hamsters, hermit crabs, chickens, snakes, bearded dragons, poisonous dart frogs, axolotls, freshwater fish, saltwater fish and corals, sea monkeys, tiger salamanders, and the supporting colonies for the live feeders (crickets, roaches, meal worms, fruit flies, worms, copepods). I’ve always had a fascination with animals and found pet ownership to be incredibly rewarding. That said, I am planning to do a lot of traveling next year, and travel and pets are not compatible. 

A few years ago I adopted a beautiful and sweet rescue kitty named Frida. A year later I brought home another rescue kitty named Romeo. Frida and Romeo have been fabulous company and a source of comfort for the last few years.

I adopted these cats under very different life circumstances. I was married, living in a house, with two teenage children at home. I am now divorced, renting an apartment, with one child in college and the other applying for next fall. I recently made the difficult decision to find another home for these cats.

I asked my friend group if anyone wanted to adopt them, and found a friend in Seattle who was interested. They have two teenage boys, a house, and lots of love to offer. They asked all the right questions about medical records, neuter/spay, and keeping the cats indoors. They’ve had cats in the past. I feel confident that they will provide a stable and safe home for these cats.

Last weekend I took the cats on a plane to their new home. Airlines have limits to how many animals are allowed in the main cabin (under the seat) so I had to find a flight that could accommodate my two. I got two new soft carriers that would fit the TSA requirements. One person can fly with two animals, but you need to purchase two tickets so I recruited my boyfriend to accompany me. The trip was largely uneventful, and the cats were settled into their new home by mid-afternoon.

I returned to my apartment after spending an amazing weekend in Seattle and opened the front door, only to find that Frida’s little face wasn’t there to greet me. Days later I still keep expecting to see the cats come around the corner, or try to dart into the closet when I open the door. It will take a while before their absence isn’t so pervasive.

I know I will be judged for breaking my commitment to these cats. I believe in forever homes, just like I believed that marriage was forever. Life sometimes has other ideas for us. I assuage my guilt with the thought that I found a really great home for them, with people with huge hearts and similar values. I know the transition will be rough, but I also know these cats will have great lives. And I understand that they will also have their first Christmas stockings.

And with that, the biggest hurdle to going locationless has officially been lifted!