Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor came home to me as a kitten from NACHS in January of 2009—I had room for a pet and wanted to support the shelter, and had actually visited several times before I actually adopted her, looking for the right fit.  However, I didn’t bring a kitten home until I met this one.  She was special from our first meeting--just berserk with joy when I took her out of the kennel and nuzzled my face repeatedly until I put her back.  I took a look at several other young cats and kittens—taking each out of their kennel and holding them for a while.  The entire time, Elizabeth kept trying to get my attention by putting her paws through the kennel wires and flopping around like a lunatic.  While all the cats there were sweet and tempting, “Liz” just stood out.  She was just too cute to pass up.  If you look at the masthead photos at the top of the NACHS page, you will see why—that’s Liz as a kitten, third from the left.  I named her Elizabeth Taylor because she has really unusual eyes and seems to purposely pose for photographs.

Liz fit in almost immediately and got used to my house and other cats quickly.  She was, and still is, a goofy cut-up of a cat. 

     Liz as goofy cut-up cat

She has matured into a very petite adult—weighing in at a lightweight 5.5 pounds.  When Ziva, my NACHS adopted Shiba Inu dog came to live with us a year and a half later in May 2010, I worried about the two of them getting along.  I also worried, given her small size, about Liz’s safety around a rambunctious dog.  I shouldn’t have.  What Liz lacks in size she makes up for in attitude.  Within a week or two, the two of them were playing together, sleeping in the same bed, and generally tearing around the house, taking turns chasing each other.  While Liz is obviously in charge of the household, she has essentially become “Ziva’s cat”.  Ziva grooms her every morning and herds her away from open doors when people are coming and going, lest she accidently get out.  Overall it’s a perfect situation.  Ziva and Liz are both ‘indoor’ pets, so they’re able to keep each other company during the day, and they both keep me company in the evening.  I couldn’t have asked for two better pets, both individually and separately, and I’m very proud that they both came from NACHS.

Liz with Ziva                               Liz posing with Christmas tree

I wanted to tell Elizabeth’s story because cats are the overlooked and underrated pets at animal shelters across the country.  But they shouldn’t be passed up when families adopt from a shelter.  I’m lucky that I have the energy and physical ability to care for a dog day in and day out, but many people are in situations where they do not have the ability, resources, or time to invest in a dog.  I’d like to encourage those people to check out cats and kittens at NACHS instead.  Because of her time at the shelter, Liz was well socialized when I brought her home.  Already used to being held by many people, she didn’t hide, hiss, or avoid social contact in the house after she came home.  She was an open and friendly kitten—well behaved and sweet.  I think that is the major advantage of shelter cats and kittens—most of them are very used to being handled and petted and are ready to bond with their new families.  Plus you’re saving a life and supporting a worthy cause, so it’s really a win-win situation.