CC, who you can read about elsewhere on this blog, is a sweet cat who will make someone a great companion, and she’s definitely available for adoption. She’s a low-maintenance kitty, which is why I figured I had the time and bandwidth to take in a second foster. At the very least, I could showcase a new cat, and at the same time I thought a companion might help CC come out of her shell.

Fat Kitty City came up with a recommendation: Bernie!

Bernie’s owner dumped him at a shelter in San Francisco, where he was two hours away from euthanasia when the folks at Fat Kitty City rescued him. My job is to identify personality characteristics that will help a potential adopter know if he’s the right kitty for their home.

Bernie is a handsome, confident fellow. His white socks in front and booties in back accent his smooth grey-to-tan coat. He is all muscle, with a stout neck like one of those Bulgarian weightlifters from the days before the fall of the Iron Curtain.

When I brought him home and opened the crate, he immediately set out on an exploration of the apartment’s perimeter. When his journey brought him within hissing range of CC he retreated to the bedroom, where he took refuge under the bed.

But when I lay down on the floor next to the bed, he quickly emerged and let himself be scratched, though it would be more accurate to say that he forced his head against my hand, leaning into it while I scritch-scratched. He leaned in hard, urging my very heavy scratching. One cheek, two cheeks, the neck, the chin, the back — he LOVES vigorous scratching.

Within several hours of Bernie’s arrival at my place, he identified a couple of places for relaxation.

His interactions with CC have resulted in occasional growls on CC’s part. Bernie has respected the warnings and kept his distance. I believe CC will come around.

In any case, Bernie, in barely more than 24 hours, how shown himself to be affectionate and curious. He’s curled up next to me in bed. But my advice to potential adopters is this: Be ready to scratch. Hard.

Inquiries about adoption should be directed to:

Fat Kitty City
El Dorado Hills, CA
www.fatkittycity.org
916-939-3418