Success Stories

Duncan & Dudley

Duncan was left in a box on a stranger's doorstep. He was taken to a vet, who contacted us for our help in finding him a new home. Dudley was trapped with a colony of feral cats. His coat was so badly matted that he had to be shaved. Our foster volunteer suspected there was a very sweet cat under all that fur, and that turned out to be Dudley's first big lucky day. He and Duncan at first seemed to be a very odd couple, but they quickly bonded at their foster home. Their second big lucky day came when Andrea and Brian came to meet them.

Here's an update from Andrea:

The guys are doing very well and have really settled in. We now have a nice routine and if they get a good play before bedtime, they allow me to sleep until 5 am! They are super friendly to visitors and they keep us entertained. My job is pretty stressful these days and they are such a nice gift at the end of a long day. I love them very much and feel so lucky to have them in my home.

-Andrea

Macchu & Pichu (formerly Huey & Louie)

Thanks so much for helping us find these boys. Machu and Picchu are a joy to have as members of our family. They are perfect for us: affectionate, playful, and so sweet.

-Ann, Zack, & Mika

Colette

Colette appeared at the home of one of our volunteers during the coldest part of last winter. After a month of searching for her owners with no success, we were able to find her the perfect new home.

Colette is very affectionate and outgoing. She is active and loves to play. Her favorite game is chasing the laser beam. Even when tired or sleepy, she is eager to accompany me up and down the stairs. And she gets very excited each time I go to the kitchen. When I open the refrigerator, she sticks her entire body in there to investigate. All of my friends are amazed to see how friendly and beautiful she is and they cannot believe that she was a homeless cat.

-Grace

Misty (formerly Toffee)

Misty now has us both wrapped around her tail so well we could never give her up. She sleeps with us every night at the foot of our bed. Thanks so much for our very loved kitty!

-Virginia & Keith

Marigold

When Marigold first came home with me, it was quite a challenge as she didn't have any of the qualities that I was seeking: an affectionate, mellow lap cat. She wanted to play all day, would not let me pick her up, and had no experience living in a home with rules! But with patience, an open heart, time and support from Pam at ARCF, who was committed to finding me a cat that would blend into my life, I have come to love Marigold for the qualities she does possess and I just can't imagine my life without her. I am just crazy about her! As is Jasmine, my other adopted cat. They are inseparable and I refer to them as two peas in a pod.

Thank you, ARCF!
Kim

Mezza

We adopted Mezza over a month ago. She is an older, wiser kitty of nine years and has lots of stories to tell us. When we first met her she seemed a little aloof but she warmed up as soon as we got her home. By the end of that day she was on her back between us getting her (very hairy) belly rubbed. She is a very social cat who enjoys meeting our friends who come to visit. I am very glad we were able to provide a home for an older cat. She is a great companion and addition to our home.

-Shannon

Tabitha & Dusty

The girls are doing great. They think my big male cat is best thing since canned food, and he enjoys their company. The three of them generally travel in a mini-cat parade around my feet. They are still wary of the dogs, but getting less so. Tabitha and Dusty recently met a toddler, found her fascinating, and were happy to be pet by a tiny hand. We have decided to keep their names; both of them seem know their names and we like them, too.

-Kristen

Roxy & Cartman (formerly Misty & Truman)

Roxy is like a guardian angel who watches over my family and me. Cartman is Roxy's other half. They have been such a joy and, we couldn't have asked for sweeter cats than these two.

Thank you, ARCF and Pam for such sweet and loving companions.
Sophia

Flash & Black Lantern (formerly Marney & Wiley)

Just wanted to let you know the boys are doing well. They are growing fast and are very healthy. Wrestle-mania every morning! Our friends love the boys as they are so outgoing when new people come over. I have never had indoor cats before, but they run around and play all over the house to their hearts' content. They are certainly the cats for us!

-Anna, Matt, & Shep

Arnie

Arnie is doing great! He loves to cuddle, snuggle and nap under the covers as much as possible. He purrs very loudly and has recently started playing with toys, too! He loves chasing a giant feather around the apartment and loves his cardboard scratching boards, too. Arnie is a very sweet, affectionate, and sometimes silly cat. We love having him as part of our family.

-Kristin

Chouquette (formerly Tali)

Bonjour from Chouquette! My mom gave me the name of a French pastry she likes a lot. She says chouquettes in France are very sweet and tender-hearted, just like me. I was a little sad to leave my foster mom but I am glad to say I found a very good home. My new mom is a little funny because she sometimes speaks English, sometimes French, so I had to learn all that—this is the reason I need to chew on the dictionary so often. I try to teach her to meow like me but we are not there yet. Still, we talk a lot to each other, especially about food as we both like fish a lot. We share a passion for the laptop too since it is always warm and purring. And sometimes we take a break and watch some old movies. So far my favorite is James Bond. He makes my whiskers quiver!

Thank you to Pam, Yvonne, and Erin who worked hard to help me find a good family!

From,
Katy (secretary to Choquette)

Cinco & Luna (formerly Cinco de Gato & Hula)

Cinco has decided that the best time to snuggle is in the middle of the night. His favorite spot is to lay with his back to my chest and his head tucked under my chin. We're still negotiating acceptable positions for my upper arm. During the day, I think he's made of springs. If you pick him up, you can almost feel him vibrate with the need to get away. He's chosen a small fleece blanket from the sofa as a security blanket; when we come home from work there's no telling where we'll find it—under the dining room table, in the upstairs hallway, on the stairs...

Luna has turned into the real lap cat. When I work from home, it's almost guaranteed that I'll have a lap warmer for most of the day. She purrs when you pick her up for snuggles and doesn't ever “have to get down!” She seems content to let you hold her until you've had your fill.

Our other cat Mitzi still isn't sure about these interlopers, but she's starting to stand up for herself. She will demand lap time, and look disgusted if it's already occupied. But rather than walk away, she'll often lay on the desk nearby. She and Luna get along fairly well—often sniffing and licking each other with only the occasional hiss. Cinco is still too playful, I think, for Mitzi's tastes. He wants to bat and pounce; she hisses and growls; he goes away and finds his sister.

-Linn

Serge & Martina (formerly Bruno & Sasha)

Serge and Martina are playing and exploring all over our house. They are currently learning, with some curiosity, the cat door that connects our kitchen door to the basement. They are sweet, purr-filled and inquisitive, and our four-year-old son loves rolling cat toys and catnip mice to them. They also love the Cat Dancer. Serge has jumped up more than four feet to catch it!

Thanks so much for all your help in bringing them into our lives.

-Lisa, Douglas, & Sterling

Huck & Phinn

It has been so relaxing to come home to cats who greet you at the door every day, anxiously awaiting your arrival and the soon-to-come cuddle time. Huck and Phinn are very outgoing and people-friendly, and they have quickly won over our hearts. We have turned into those people who show pictures of their “kids” at parties and somehow find the conversation leading back to the time Huck and Phinn did something absolutely adorable. We will stop there before we start sounding too cheesy and sentimental.

Thanks ARCF,
Amanda & Claire

ChiChi & Luka

ChiChi and Luka are fabulous. I recently moved and got married. My wife had one cat named Baloney and now all three get along great. We are expecting a baby in the near future and are looking forward to the cats meeting baby Mia. ChiChi and Luka absolutely love Christe and she has grown very fond of them. I would like others to know how great your organization is and how happy I am with my decision to adopt these wonderful kitties!

Best wishes,
Matt

Boris & Natasha

Our house was very empty and quiet after we lost our kitty of 19 years. After several months we figured it was time to start looking for new friends. The search was unsuccessful for weeks until we met Boris and Natasha! Two coincidences told us they were meant to be ours: All of our previous cats were named after cartoon characters and we met and adopted Boris and Natasha on the same day we had adopted our previous kitty, 15 years earlier.

They are sassy, happy and loving. They mean the world to us. Many thanks to Ron and ARCF for their foster care of Boris and Natasha before they came home.

-Ken & Michelle

Asia (formerly Bonnie)

Asia loves to roam the house, sitting in different windows to observe the night. She sleeps in the bed with Musta and us. She loves to play with catnip mice and toys that have feathers. Our Musta loves chasing a red pen light, but Asia just looks at us as if to say, ”Do you think that I am really that gullible?” Asia also loves the cat tree. She is getting used to being brushed every day and she is fascinated by the self-cleaning litter box. Asia is also starting to talk to us more, she and Musta chat with each other quite a bit. The conclusion is that we now have ‘big sweetie’ Musta and ‘little sweetie’ Asia.

We now have also a German Shepherd puppy that Musta and Asia are training together. Most cats want their own dog anyway. Asia is getting to be quite a self-assured young lady and is now enjoying her life worry free.

-Hannamari & Michel

Zoe & Miles (formerly Fontina & Cheddar)

Zoe and Miles are incredible, and we are crazy about them. They entertain us all the time. Miles is a little purr machine. Zoe is still a bit stand-offish at times, but we are patient. They having a great time exploring the house. Who knew that bathtubs could be so fascinating?

-Andrea & Rob

Charlie Chaplin

We adopted Charlie from you and we are overjoyed to have him. He has managed to seamlessly fit himself into our life, and has become a wonderful companion and playmate for our other cat, MungoJerry.

Although Charlie was initially very shy and reserved, they now tumble about the apartment chasing each other and both sprawl out on the bed with us every night. Charlie has completely won us over with his easy going personality and extreme self confidence. He likes nothing better than to lie on my chest, paws around my neck, head tucked under my chin and purr. And drool. And he always manages to be there as soon as I wake up.

Adopting from ARCF was so easy and wonderful. Your program really puts the cats’ need for a good home first and foremost. Thank you for a wonderful addition to our family!

Lucy

I was 10 months old when I was brought home by my new adopted family, Don and Mary Feller, on October 27, 2003. Patty Davies of Animal Rescue certainly did a wonderful job matching me to Don and Mary. As they left the Western Pet store in Raleigh Hills with wonderful things to make me feel at home, they said they spent more on me than they did their daughter, Amanda, when she was born in 1969. Amanda is my big sister but she has her own home in Tacoma because she is a college professor at Pacific Lutheran University. I like having her as a big sister, but I am glad I don't share "my space" with her. I get all my parents attention around the house!

My mom, Mary, has a plaque in the kitchen that says, "Dogs have masters, cats have staff". That certainly is true around my home! If I want to eat, I sit by my bowl until my Dad pets me! Then I eat. I have him well trained! When I want to play hide-and-seek I make very strong eye contact with Don. He knows that it is time to run upstairs and then find me! I always make it easy for him to find me!

Mary knows that I like to sleep on top of her when she reads in bed. However, I have not been able to train her to let me sleep on her all night. She does let me sleep next to her with my body tight against her side. Unfortunately, she make me get up in the morning before I am really ready. Sometimes, I leave the living room and go back to sleep on their bed in the master suite. Actually I call it the Mistress Cat suite!

There are only two things I would change in my life. The neighborhood cats invade my yard. Sometimes, I get so upset I run into the glass window trying to scare them away. An even worse thing is when my parents travel internationally. They hire a cat sitter for me but it is just not the same. I usually punish them for a day or two upon their return to show my displeasure!

Thank you again for my wonderful home!
Lucy Cat Feller

Bob

This is in response to your call for updates. I adopted Tom - now known as Bob - last November. He is a sweet, loving boy and has fit right in with my other cat, Iggy. We just celebrated his first anniversary with us early last month. When Bob came here, he had just had stitches on his tail. I am happy to report that his tail hair has grown back and his tail is now in great shape. Here is a picture of Bob/Tom.

Please keep up your wonderful work. I'll send a donation along in a couple of weeks.

Sincerely,
Grace

Banshee & Alani

Banshee and Alani, (formerly Madison and KieKie) came home with us May 2006. Having lost 2 old cats in less than a year, we knew we wanted two more and preferably sisters. Even before we had seen the kittens (we knew one was calico and one was orange tabby) we decided we would name the tabby Alani because it means orange in Hawaiian. Banshee came by her name after we observed them at home for a couple hours. She's a wild one! She is also sweet sweet and loves to snuggle. Her favorite toys can be found in her food dish when she's finished playing with them.

Alani is a little more selective with her snuggle time, while she loves to be petted, she doesn't like to be held. She does curl up between our legs when we're reclining on the couch with a soft blanket. The softer and more plush the better for Alani. Alani's also the talker. We call her the “howler monkey” because her meows are shrill and often for no reason at all.

These sisters love each other and we are continuously entertained by their wrestling and grooming each other. We know when they're racing upstairs as we can hear them tear through the hallways—sometimes in the middle of the night!

We love the girls and are so glad we brought them into our home. Thank you ARCF!

-Rob, Brenda, Bethany, & Elizabeth

Marshmallow & Tabitha

Wanted to let you know how well my girls were doing. I got them from ARCF in April 2006 at 16 weeks. They are very active and happy girls that keep life interesting (it is amazing how many things they can get into). Can't believe they will be 2 in January 2008 (they are growing too fast).

-Debra

Poncho & Lefty

Hi Team,

I wanted to thank you all again for bringing Poncho & Lefty into my life. My two shy boys are such loves now, I don't know what I would do without them. I'm enclosing a photo of the two of them snoozing on my bed.

Thank you again,
Nona

Patches

Hi Pam,

We just wanted to let you know that she's doing great! We've re-named her "Eva" which she seems to respond to. She's been very friendly and playful and just a joy to have. She's been eating fine and seems content in the room we have her set up in. We let her wander around the house when we're home, although we are still keeping her separated from our pug with a baby gate since she's not used to him yet.

We are so pleased to have her as a part of the family! I've already taken several pictures of her to "show her off" to our friends and family, and have attached a couple for you to see.

Sincerely,
Lori & Samuel

Lucy

Pam,

I wanted to let you know that I've had Lucy for a little over a year now and she is doing very well. We have 3 other cats that we've had for 10 to 15 years. They are our family since we have no children. We also are taking care of my mother in law's Persian since she passed a year ago. It's funny Lucy has taken over as the head cat. She loves having a home. She sits in the flower box on the front porch and watches everything that moves. This is her house!

Thanks,
Sig

Rainy & Dot

Hello! I just wanted to give you an update on my darling kitties that came to live with me late last summer. You may recall that I came to visit you looking for a companion for my 8 year old male kitty, Hazie, who had just lost his best friend Julius to renal failure. Hazie was miserable and wandered around the house howling. I was pretty miserable, too.

I came to the house determined not to take the mother and daughter that you had home with me but I took one look at those girls and it was all over. I remember Zoey followed me around making the funniest “blork” noises. I've never heard a cat make such a noise and I've never heard it again. When I got the girls home, at first Hazie would have nothing to do with them. They trotted around after him until he found a way to escape their attentions. Ali especially seemed quite enamored with big, beautiful Hazie.

It became pretty clear to me that Zoey was not hearing everything that went on around her. She was constantly surprised that I had come into the house and she was totally easy to sneak up on. I decided to rename her after my lovely, but quite deaf Grandma Lorraine. So, from that day forward, she became known as Lorraine (or Rainy). Of course her daughter then had to be renamed Dot which was what my Granny Lorraine called my Mother. The names suit them so well that they had to be meant to be.

It wasn't too awfully long that Hazie decided that they were sorta kinda okay to hang out with. And then it wasn't too long after that, that I caught Hazie and Dot licking each other and finally snuggled up on the bed just like Hazie used to do with Julius.

So, now I've got a pack of prancing, preening, playing, black and white (with a little orange) beautiful cats making me laugh and cuddling with me at night. Thank you so much for all you do and know that they're having a wonderful life. Here are some photos of the gang.

-Nadine, Hazie, Lorraine, & Dot

Lizzie Burnside

Lizzie came to live with me last September, after my sweet Phoebe's death, and has been brightening my home ever since. Word is she was found on a construction site, with worms, fleas, ear mites, giardia and an omnivorous hunger. As you can see from this photo, she's now healthy and beautiful.

Lizzie appears to be loving her new role as Only Cat and turns out to be the Class Clown. She frequently joins me in the shower in the morning, races to the door to greet all guests and flirts shamelessly with the plumber and the electrician. I recently discovered that she comes running if I sing to her, jumps on my lap purring loudly and rolls over to have her tummy rubbed. She's not really a lap cat, but makes regular middle of the night demands for snuggles. Not the cat I had in mind, but clearly the cat I was meant to love.

-Marion

Emmie & Crewcut

My husband and I moved to Portland recently from Austin, TX, where we had had cats for the past 20 years. Our last one died a few months before we came to Oregon, and the house was too quiet. We really wanted a bonded pair of Manx kittens, but we were OK with one. Pam told us about a bonded pair that were up for adoption! We have had them now for six weeks: Emma, aka Emmie, and Ringo, now Crewcut. Our cats in the past mostly tolerated one another, so we wanted to see what it would be like to have kittens that were inseparable. What a joy they are! They groom each other, sleep together, and entertain each other when we are not around.

Thanks so much to Pam and the kittens' foster mom for helping us find them. Your organization is wonderful!

-Christy & Joe

Frankie

Thank you to everyone who helped me to adopt my cat Frankie (previously Chloe) last summer!

Frankie's story of her early life is spotty, but didn't sound good. She had been rescued from a hoarder at about 1 year of age, and had been living in a dog run with other cats, so was not well socialized with humans. It seems she had a litter her first heat. I suspect these early stresses of life have contributed to her small size (only 7 pounds!). When I met Frankie, she spent most of her time hiding, cuddling with other cats, and generally avoiding humans.

But her foster mom had gotten to know her and seen that she could grow to trust humans in time. The primary reason I knew Frankie was a good match for my home was that I was looking for a cat to pair with my 4 year old mellow and lonely male cat. Frankie showed that she yearned for cuddling and playing with other cats!

It's bee about 8 months since I brought Frankie home, and we continue to see improvements in her comfort with humans. At first she showed small signs like climbing up to cuddle when I was in bed. Then she got brave enough to approach us while sitting on the couch. Now she easily plays and often seeks out human attention. She does still run away sometimes, like an old habit, when a human walks through the room or reaches at her.

She and my other cat, Julep, have bonded very deeply! I have included a picture I just took today when I got home from school. Frankie is the grey and black tabby, Julep is the orange tabby. They are always found cuddling or wrestling and would prefer to never be apart! Julep is a much happier cat with his companion Frankie!

Isabell

Dear ARCF:

Thank you so much for all the good work that you do for the animals -- especially the cats. I watch your website, and enjoy seeing the kitties come and go. I was an adoption counselor for C.A.T. for a few months, and I know how wonderful it is to do a successful adoption from both sides of the transaction -- as a counselor and as an adopter.

Just about a year ago, we adopted out little "girl", Isabell, from you. We had a cat, a purebred Chartreux -- Mazel Tov. She was lonely and needed a companion while we were at work. Having worked at C.A.T., I knew how many stray kitties needed a home and was determined to adopt a kitty from a shelter. I hounded the Internet, and of course, kept an eye on the cats coming through C.A.T. What impressed me about your organization was that you fostered all of the cats and could give us an insight into their personalities. Your wonderful photos and descriptions made it much easier to find a kitty who was perfect for us and our purebred princess. Her kennel name was Betty, and she was a wonderful tortie who was fostered by a lovely lady out in Northeast Portland. One visit was all that it took to convince us that she was the perfect girl for us. We brought her home, and she would have none of the "breaking in" routine that I had taught my adopters; she broke out of the bedroom within an hour and ran up to Mazzie, purring away. As we held our breath, they sniffed each other, and have been best buds ever since. They sleep together, play together, and she is a perfect addition to our family.

Keep up the great work that you do for the animals!

Violet

Dear ARCF,

I've attached a photo of Violet which I shot just yesterday. I just wanted to let you know that she's healthy and happy here with Marnie and me and her best cat friend, Ned. We have a large house and she can always find a peaceful spot when she needs her solitude, but she also makes it her business to know exactly where her people are at all times.

Best regards,
Doug

Wiley

Hello,

Wiley came to live with me about two years ago. I was told his foster family had given him the nickname Loverboy. Boy, does it apply! He's the most affectionate, easy going, love-monkey ever. He keeps his two dog sisters on their toes while holding down a full-time job as my office mate (I work from home). But here's what really makes Wiley special: Everyone thinks he's cool. Even people who don't like cats. Yes, he's really that special.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Stacey

Cosimo

Hello there,

Cosimo is doing very well. He loves hiding under clothes and bed sheets. His new habit is dragging clothes from the living room upstairs to the hallway. Currently he is trying to transport a pair of jeans from the garage. He is small and scrappy. My Max still pushes him around a lot. However there times of quiet where both share the same spot to sleep. I’ve enclosed a photo.

-Hal