| Meet Isabella |
Isabella was originally supposed to stay with her person, Trisha, for just two weeks. "Isabella was adopted by a friend of mine in December, 1995 at a local animal shelter as an 8-week-old kitten," remembers Trisha. A year and a half later, when the friend had surgery, Trisha agreed to take care of Isabella. When the friend's surgery and recovery were more involved than expected, "two weeks turned into two months.then three.then at six months, it was sadly decided by my friend that she was unable to continue care for Isabella."
"I remember our phone call with her tears of sadness," continues Trisha, "saying she knew Isabella was in a good place and wondered if there was any way I could keep her. Of course I could!"
"Up until then, Isabella and I kept
our distance...That night, after
agreeing
that Isabella was now my
kitty, was the
first night that
she slept with me."
"Interesting," notes Trisha, "up until then, Isabella and I kept our distance. She was a guest. She was respectful. No nicknames or cuddles. I simply took care of her basic kitty needs.
"That night, after the phone call agreeing that Isabella was now my kitty, was the first night that she slept with me. Isabella and I made a special bond that continues to this day. I truly love and adore that kitty!"
Settling In and Acting Out
"Shortly after Isabella came into my life," Trisha recounts, "her personality began to emerge. She became very vocal and demanding. Quite a BIG voice for such a small cat." This was a surprise to Trisha. She had not seen this behavior when Isabella was "just a guest."
"Isabella got into things," says Trisha. She was "opening cupboards and knocking stuff off tables and shelves. Indoor plants were getting dug up and destroyed.
"I realized she was bored," Trisha continues. Yet, "Isabella wanted to please." She listened when Trisha told her "no."
Working It Out by Going to Work
Trisha had recently started a new job in the Pet Encounter Therapy (PET) department at an animal center. "We took animals (bunnies, dogs, guinea pigs) to hospitals, nursing homes, abused children's centers, and visited hospice patients." Trisha asked her manager if she could try Isabella as a Therapy Cat but was told that "cats don't do well on pet visits." Trisha was persistent, however, and when her boss finally agreed to have Isabella tested for Pet Therapy work, the cat did exceptionally well.
"This cat finally had the 'job' she
needed to keep her paws out of trouble. Isabella's job was to
make sick people happy."
"Isabella's first PET visit was a memorable one," remembers Trisha. "She sat on laps, cuddled in bed with an elderly woman who cried because she missed her cat so much, and, with another patient, Isabella got poked in the eye. Nothing fazed her. This cat finally had the 'job' she needed to keep her paws out of trouble. Isabella's job was to make sick people happy."
A Nurse in a Fur Coat
"Since 1997, Isabella has shown compassion and unconditional love to so many people and brought smiles to those in the last days, sometimes hours of their lives," says Trisha. "Isabella is a true blessing. An angel of a nurse in a furry fur coat."
"The little 12 pound kitty brings
a ton of unconditional love...
Even people who don't like cats
seem to like Isabella."
"On a 'work' day for Isabella," says Trisha, "we pick out a special collar (one with diamonds or bows), get a good combing and climb into the kitty carrier for a safe ride in the car. On our way to visit our hospice patients, she gets excited - still - to go to work.
"When we arrive at a nursing home," Trisha continues, "patients are so excited to see her. Even the nurses are excited! You can hear patients saying 'A cat is here! A cat is here! Let me pet her!' Isabella will ride in a patient's lap while being driven in their wheel chair. We make the rounds, and after about an hour, many times more than an hour, the kitty is tired. Off then to home where she just finds a comfy sleep spot for a much deserved rest."
Well Deserved (and Well Behaved) Days Off
On days when Trisha goes to work without Isabella, "this kitty knows when it's time for me to leave home. She will 'sit' patiently and wait for treats at her special spot in the living room before I depart." Trisha leaves the radio on for her. "Isabella likes the Smooth Jazz station."
Isabella has "several little beds around the house...kitty toys all about...her very own kitty size papasan chair!" And that's not all. "Isabella has her very own antique baby cradle by the bed. She sleeps in it during the day, or when she just wants to be alone. But," Trisha explains, "she always sleeps with me at night."
"Isabella is also very respectful of not doing naughty things around the house like she did when she was unemployed," says Trisha. "She stays off the counters, tables and has NEVER scratched in an inappropriate spot, always uses her scratching post. She listens well and actually obeys commands!"
When Trisha arrives home from work, Isabella begins meowing before the key goes in the door, then meows even more loudly to get petted. If Trisha's hands are full and she can't pet Isabella right away, says Trisha, "this is NOT acceptable! Isabella 'throws' herself down at my feet and meows and meows how happy she is I am home. Sometimes she will bring me a toy as she greets me at the door. Her favorite toy is a giant plastic spider."
She's a People Cat — No Animals, Please!
Plastic spiders may be one thing, but real critters are quite another as far as Isabella is concerned.
"Isabella has some traits that may embarrass the cat world," explains Trisha. She is afraid of aquarium fish ("the poor kitty cowers and will bury her head under my arm") and birds. "Isabella has been an indoor cat her entire life has never had a bad bird experience. Plus, this cat is afraid of mice and rats! Go figure!
"Isabella has the
purr-sonality of a kitten!"
But Isabella has no fear about letting Trisha know what she wants. "If Isabella wants something, mostly when she demands canned food," (BLUE, of course) "she really knows how to get your attention! First she sits there. Meows. Then meows louder. If still ignored, Isabella will find a plastic bag or something crinkly and sit there and paw at it and paw some more, till you get up and give her canned food, plus attention."
Isabella and BLUE
Trisha first learned about BLUE by receiving a sample in the mail. "Upon getting home that day," remembers Trisha, "I had laid the mail on the floor to go grab the ringing phone in the other room. After the call, about 20 minutes later, I returned to pick up the mail, and Isabella actually chewed open the completely sealed box that contained the Blue Buffalo sample!" Trisha had received other cat food samples in the mail, but, she says, Isabella "had NEVER done that before!" According to Trisha, Isabella's "meows of happiness around Blue Buffalo continue every morning at feeding. Isabella LOVES BLUE BUFFALO! It's BLUE Spa Select dry food all the time, and in the morning it's BLUE canned food. Her coat is sleek and shiny. Bright eyes.it's really hard to believe Isabella is 14 years old. Isabella has the 'purr-sonality of a kitten! Thanks, Blue Buffalo, for an excellent product, keeping my pet happy and healthy!"
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