If you are seeking a role model for overcoming adversity and confidently living your best life, this story about Calvin may be for you. This is a real-life feline fairytale about a seemingly-unadoptable cat who was given the chance he needed to become the cat king of his furever family.
In 2009 a state trooper found a cat near death in a ditch and fortunately decided to bring him to a rescue. This black cat had many microfractures in his sinuses and a broken leg that required surgery. He first impressed us Caring for Cats (CFC) volunteers as he recuperated, running in his cast and eager to meet his new feline and human friends. We named him Calvin.
This handsome black cat immediately showed us his persistently charming personality, which he used to woo and amuse both us volunteers and his many cat roomies that passed through CFC during the six years of his shelter residence. Calvin was everybody’s friend and special guardian of the kittens, with whom he assumed a sort of fatherly role. His swagger reflected his unassuming confidence.
He outsmarted our magnetic doors and roamed wherever and whenever he wanted. His wanderlust and dashing maneuvers enabled to constantly enter the rooms of his feline neighbors. He was so quick that a CFC volunteer was inspired to create The Calvinator, a device that is used to prevent a cat from escaping through an open door. To this day, every room at the shelter is armed with The Calvinator.
While Calvin’s stealthy moves made him lots of friends, he could run but not hide because Calvin was a bit noisy. Or at least his nose was noisy. Calvin has a chronic, benign upper respiratory condition, which leads him to breathe loudly, sneeze often, and secrete forcefully. Luckily those in his path get fair warning that a productive sneeze is on its way, and (if attentive and agile) they can take heed and run.
Woe to those who are in close proximity to the ‘snot rockets’ that Calvin’s damaged nose produces! You can ask many a CFC volunteer and Calvin’s current family to describe the times that they were on the receiving end of a Calvin sneeze. Those memories linger.
Finding a forever home proved elusive for six years. We at CFC thought Calvin might be a shelter cat who would live out his many years with us. He was adopted twice to families who had no other cats, which did not suit this very social and nasally noisy cat.
Fate eventually found him on New Years Day 2016 in the form of a dedicated volunteer with a heart for rescues. She saw in Calvin what Calvin saw in himself—a true gem of a cat with a lot of love to offer. Since joining his loving family, Calvin has found fun and companionship with cats, dogs and humans.
Calvin occasionally sleeps in the bed of his great buddy Hobbes (coincidentally adopted before Calvin entered the picture).
He has limited sight now but still loves to watch the outdoor critters, especially as he lies on the floor vent to get first dibs on the heat. Calvin enjoys a good meal and likes to be carried on his humans’ shoulders. When scratched, his tongue moves in and out of his mouth to the rhythm of the scratching. His once-coarse coat is now silky soft. He is as handsome as ever.
And he still sneezes. A lot. But the extra housecleaning is a small price to pay for all the love, humor and companionship that Calvin brings to his family.
Calvin has never let his ailments stop him from living his best life. He was and remains a cool and confident cat. He charms, he sneezes, and he loves every minute of life with his loving family.
Calvin inspires us to both rise above our circumstances and to deeply appreciate those special adopters who rise to the call of the rescue.
You can sponsor cats like Calvin by becoming a Caring for Cats sponsor.