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March 10, 2010

A Great Note from Ginger's Foster Dad

Last June, we posted a story about Ginger and Tump, who came to PAWS when their owner passed away. It soon became apparent that these two sweet kitties weren't particularly attached to each other, and that they could be adopted out individually. Happily for Tump, he found his forever home a few weeks after that posting, and he is now living "the high life." But for those of you asking whatever became of Ginger, this is your lucky day. Because this post is an official Ginger the Cat update! And who better to share about Ginger than Chris, her foster dad (and fellow PAWS volunteer)? So without further ado, here's Chris:


I’d like to introduce you to a wonderful cat I am fostering named Ginger. There are actually 2 other Gingers at PAWS, so she is Ginger I, but I don’t call her by that name. I call her "Gin Gin." I have no idea why, it just came out that way and I kept it.


From what I know, she is 23 years old! She is doing very well for that age. When I first brought her home, she took no time at all getting adjusted. I figured when I opened the cat carrier she would find a hidden spot somewhere, but she simply started walking around and stayed in the open. I was prepared to separate Ginger and my own cat (Tumble) until they got accustomed to each other and Ginger got used to her new surroundings, but there was no need. They weren't instant best friends, but they both immediately tolerated each other. You can’t beat that.


I don’t remember how I discovered that Gin Gin is deaf. I don’t think it was one thing but rather a succession of events. I have learned how to communicate with her without sound: vibrations, light and shadows, touching. And she is certainly not afraid to be vocal! Can she meow! And purr.


I have noticed her curling up with a TV remote control, placing her paw and head on it and relaxing. I’m sure she’s done that before, and it makes me feel as though I am getting a glimpse of her previous life (she is doing just that as I am writing). And now she’s doing the one thing that I wish she wouldn't, even though I find it amusing. If she is bored with sitting next to me on the bed as I use my laptop, she will get up, walk around the back of the laptop, around the side, to the front, and walk right on the keys. And yes, she knows exactly what she is doing. I have tried to get her to walk NEXT to the laptop and keyboard, and she almost always refuses. She has to walk ON the keyboard. She is stubborn. Or persistent. Or both. Most of the time I win and she eventually stops. Eventually. If not, we make a trip to the kitchen for a cat snack.


I think Ginger wants to win this time. And so to the kitchen I must go … dcsgvdghgbbjhnh.


Our ultimate hope is that Ginger will find a forever home of her very own. But until that happens, we are extremely grateful that Chris has opened his home and heart to her. :)


***** UPDATE (April 7, 2010): You can now refer to Chris as "DAD." He officially adopted Ginger last week. :) Yay for Chris and Gin Gin! *****

32 comments:

umi_e said...

wowwwwwwwww :O she's that old! Amazing! How i wish i could keep a cat that long...

* may gin gin (ginger) happy with Chris :)

~hugs~

Forever Foster said...

Twenty three years old?!?! That is amazing! I never would have guessed that. Not even close. Ginger is gorgeous. We are purring for her to find a fabulous forever home (although it sounds like she is in a pretty fabulous foster home:) ).

P.S. I love your blog header. It makes me smile every time I come to your page:)

Mama Feline said...

Oh I do so love these type of posts! Thanks for sharing Ginger's journey thus far and how wonderful of Chris. I think he is the perfect forever daddy for her :)

Ginger sounds so much like my boy kitty named Prince. He came into my home at age 1 almost 8 years ago and instantly belonged. He too did not hide away but walked round with his tail in the air and he and my little girl at the time named Storm became great friends very soon.
He also loves to walk across our laptop keyboards and will take a TV remote in all 4 paws and do that kicking /biting thing to it.
What special angels all our kitties of the world are.

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

Ginger is amazing ~ we so hope she gets a really extra special forever home ~ espeshully since she is already 23 years old and needs to be settled.

Karen Jo said...

I think that Chris sounds like the perfect forever Dad for Ginger and I hope that they can stay together always. If Chris can't keep Ginger forever, I hope that she finds the perfect family to hold and love her for the rest of her life. I think that it is amazing that she is already 23.

Teddy Westlife said...

23? Wow that is an impressive age! I hope she'll find a nice home to retire to.

Daisy said...

I'm so glad Ginger has such a great foster home!

Maggie May said...

Doesn't it make you feel so wonderful to get those letters! We wish Ginger will find her forever home, but we're glad she has such a loving and caring foster home!

The Furry Bambinos said...

That was a great story about Ginger! Mom and Dad also volunteer for an animal rescue group called PAWS (Public Animal Welfare Society) in NE Ohio.

Thanks for attending Cookie and Caramel's Coming-Out Party last week!

Padre, Panda Bear, Meerkat, Cookie, and Caramel

The Chair Speaks said...

Ginger looks healthy and happy. Who would think that she is 23 years' old!

The Monkeys said...

She sounds like an amazing old girl! We're purring that she finds her forever home, but thank you Chris for stepping in and taking care of her now!

Marg said...

We are so glad that Ginger has found such a great Foster home. And isn't it unusual for a Ginger cat to be a female??? And that is old for a cat. She looks wonderful. She must have had very good care all her life.

Brian's Home Blog said...

I really enjoyed hearing about Gin Gin too, thanks so much for sharing that with us!

The Kitty Krew said...

Wow, Gin Gin doesn't look to be 23. We agree that Chris should just keep her, she obviously already has him well-trained. :)

Purrs and hugs,
The Kitty Krew

Jacqueline said...

Gin Gin is a gorgeous girl and certainly doesn't look 23=that is amazing!!...I hope Chris can keep her since she seems happy with him and at 23, may not have a lot more time left...BTW, I love your header=that's an awesome belly!!

SASS....Sammy Andy Shelly Sierra said...

Bless Chris!!!!!!!! 23 years old????? Oh, we so hope that Chris will keep her for her remaining time as she seems very happy there and can't have a lot of time left at that age. We will be purring for Gin Gin...love that name!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Ginger already has a great home! And she knows it too!

Admiral Hestorb said...

Oh that precious girl. To be a very senior cat like that and have her foster home where she is happy and comfortable..it makes my heart so happy. Thank you Chris. Make the rest of my year. And Gin Gin is beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Ginger is the oldest cat that we've ever heard of! We wish her all the best and we hope that she finds a furrever home real soon:)

pibble said...

Ginger looks fantastic! Chris is doing a great job caring for her. Maybe she HAS found her forever home... :)

havetailwillwag said...

i think gin gin wants to stay with her foster dad forever!! and it kinda sounds like her foster dad wouldn't mind that at all.. :)

A few Good Cats said...

As formerly homeless cats in our youth, we are very glad to hear that Gin Gin has a loving place to stay in her youth! We wish her many more happy years to come...

Chris R said...

I just want to thank everyone for your kind words. You made my day just that much better and they will carry with me for many more. Gin Gin thanks you too (she's sitting right here purring away).

Chris

The Island Cats said...

Gin Gin is very lucky to have a good foster home and a good foster dad like Chris!

Anya said...

Wow!!
So old I hope Kareltje received that age :-)
Wonderful work you are doing !!!!
Hugs to all

Kareltje =^.^=

Alley Cats and Angels of North Carolina said...

What a wonderful foster story. Gin Gin sounds very happy and Chris sounds like a fantastic foster dad.

Anonymous said...

Wow!! 23 yrs. old. that is amazining. She is a pretty girl to be that old.

For the most part is she healthy? Does she take any medication? I wished I lived close enough to adopt her. My cats will not accept grown cats..but they will accept kittens.

I wish you much luck on finding her a home. She deserves it.

Love to all your animals!

Sasha said...

probably she is going on the keyboard because she wants to start her own blog. Ginger cats here are all male, although Lynettea tells me she had a female ginger cat in Port Moresby when she lived there.

Everycat said...

What a wonderful post and what a wonderful cat Gin Gin is. It's lovely to know how well she is doing in her great foster home with Chris!

WW

Chris R said...

From Gin Gin's Dad -

More great thoughts from everyone! Keep them coming. I may have to write more about Gin Gin soon.

Someone asked about her health. It's great. She gets some extra fluids about once a week to keep her body well hydrated. Of course, she's an older cat so there's the creaking that goes along with that...but overall she's great!

Chris

The Whiskeratti said...

We also help that Chris keeps Gin Gin forever... we know all foster parents can't keep their foster but in this case it would be purrrrfect.

Admiral Hestorb said...

Oh GinGin...you lovely sweet girl! You are so lucky to have such a dear Foster Dad and he is lucky to have your dear love too.