It's Lexy's Seventh Gotcha Day!

Hello, everyone! This is Lexy and I’m here to tell you that today is a very special day. It’s my Gotcha Day! But like to refer to it as “the day my life changed forever." 

It’s actually a two-part day with the first being April 10. Seven years ago on April 10, 2010, Mother and I found each other. It was serendipitous if I do say so myself. By happenstance, Mother found herself in Petco in Nanuet, NY the same day I happened to be “on display” at an adoption event with Hudson Valley Humane Society. 

I quickly accepted my reign as Queen at the White House. 

"On display" may seem a little negative to say, but that’s how I felt. Family after family, person after person, just passed me up. After a while even the most confident girl starts to feel there’s something wrong with her. This went on for almost a year, and then it happened; a human stopped by my cage and couldn’t take her eyes off of me. It was Mother. She "oohed and aahed" over me and didn’t even look at the other cats. For the first time in a very long time, a human had eyes for only me. I liked her and I could feel her positive energy, and I felt something else, too; love. I didn’t get my hopes up too high, though, because I didn’t want to get let down again. Especially when she left without me. 

A week later on April 17, 2010, the volunteers (who were all so wonderful to me) told me I was going home. They kept petting me (I didn’t do hugs back then, either) and told me how happy they were for me. I wondered if they had me confused with some other cat because surely I hadn’t been adopted. A little while later I smelled a familiar human scent; it was a human who had petted me before in my cage but I didn’t know who. I looked up to take a peek and there was Mother who looked so happy! She was accompanied by an entourage of humans who I later found out were my new relatives. They all came to see me! The next thing I knew I was in a carrier (it was actually a cardboard box type of thing but it served its purpose) with my bed from my crate and off I went in the car to Queens, NY. (You know what? I never slept in that bed again and I never went near it. That part of my life was over and I was happy when Mother finally threw it away.)

I claimed the bathroom sink as soon as I moved in.

About 90 minutes later I was home, but it felt so strange to say that word. The last “home” I had ended up with the humans moving and me being thrown outside, left behind, to fend for myself. But I had a feeling deep down inside that Mother wouldn’t be like that. The house was already set up for the arrival of a queen, complete with fancy dishes, scratching posts, beds, catnip toys, and plenty of treats. After a quick trip to the litter box, I took a look around and then I jumped in the kitchen window. It was so long since I was able to do this and I didn't realize how much I missed the birds!

Birds! Oh, birds, how I've missed you so!

I turned around and looked at Mother to say “thank you”, and at that moment I gave her my heart.  We’ve been in love ever since. 

Thank you for letting me adopt you. You'll be my Mother now. 

I know how lucky I am to be rescued and adopted because not all cats can say the same thing. I have a wonderful home and family (including a pesky little feline sister), and I am truly the Queen of my castle here at the White House. I am loved and I am safe, and I will be forever. 

So, to say “thank you” to the folks at Hudson Valley Humane Society

I’m having a comment-thon! For every comment we receive on this post and on our Facebook page between today and May 1 we will donate .50 cents to HVHS. That’s how grateful we are for everything they do for the community in Rockland County (where Mother grew up - did you know we're from the same hometown?) and for taking me off the streets. My wish is for all cats to be as lucky as I am and to have a wonderful home. 

My lovely bed/cave that was waiting for me when I got home. 

Thank you for celebrating my seventh gotcha day with me. I am one happy cat and I am grateful for your friendship. I bet HVHS didn't know I would famous alumni that day I was adopted! 

Lexy