Take 5 with Kathy - "Adopting Symba..."

Yesterday, my husband and I accompanied my son and daughter-in-law to the SPCA to “look” at baby kitties. Since they adopted a kitty before Christmas, they have been trying to convince my hubby it was time I should have one. They didn’t have to convince me!! I had two cats when I was growing up and we’d had a dog for a few years after we were married, but for about 12 years we’ve been without a pet. It gets pretty lonesome sometimes when I’m home alone through the day, so off we went to see if there might be one which we could adopt.

Welcome home, Symba!

It was the first time I had been to the SPCA, and it was busy! As we walked into the first room, I immediately saw the sweetest tan-colored tabby in a woman’s arms. My heart melted! Oh, it was so cute and I wished I could have that one. But, out the door it went on its way to a new home. As we peered into each cage at several cats from tiny to grown and all different colours, I made my way down to the last cage and there he was! He looked exactly like the one that had just been taken home. I found out later, it was a brother to six others from a litter which had been left on someone’s lawn. As I picked him up and held him, he was purring like a motor and starting cuddling up to me caressing my face gently with his soft little paws. I was smitten! So was my daughter-in-law and if it had been a female I think we might have had a problem as they may someday adopt another kitty to be company for their girl cat.

As I held several of the other kittens, none of them quite matched the first one. I guess it was love at first sight. So, with the choice made, I filled out the initial paperwork and said we’d be back for him after lunch and shopping for kitty supplies. The three of us all agreed he looked like a little lion cub and the name “Simba” just stuck. Just the spelling got changed a bit. We could hardly wait to go back and take him home (my husband was less enthusiastic). After purchasing a carrier, litter box/kitty litter, and a scratching post/house tower, we headed back and I filled out remaining paperwork, paid the fee, and the attendant said, “Congratulations! It’s a boy!” We chuckled on the way to the car remarking we hadn’t heard those words said to us in almost 24 years.

He's a playful one!

Once home, it was pretty hilarious watching little 2-month old Symba explore his new home – we’ve had to temporarily weave bristol-board around the railings of the basement steps, put old towels over one cloth couch, put up barriers so he can’t run behind the entertainment stand with its maze of enticing wires, and close the bedroom doors so his domain is limited for a while. He’s a flying fur ball of energy and I finally had to put him in his carrier so he could calm down and sleep a while which is where he was as I took time to write this entry yesterday.

Being able to adopt an animal that might otherwise have not survived is a wonderful thing to do. The staff at the SPCA said they had adopted out a good number of cats yesterday and they were so happy to make room for more. Several dogs had been adopted this past week too, so they’d had a good week.

As we were having lunch, the following Scripture verses came to mind reminding us of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ:

“For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.” (Ephesians 1:4-6)

How amazing to know that God, in His infinite love, chose me to be His child and inherit all the blessings that come with belonging to His family!

Until next Sunday,

Kathy