Follow Your Heart. Maggie's Story.

Maggie Mae and her siblings were rescued last winter out of a dangerous situation in southern Georgia. Maggie was shy and skittish, but one couldn't help but want to cuddle and pet her because she was so beautiful.

Maggie and her sister, Junebug spent months in foster care hoping their forever home would find them, but they were no longer tiny kittens and as young adults their adaptability began to wane. I wondered what I could do to help Maggie find a home that would give her the chance to blossom. I knew that in time-maybe months or even years-Maggie would be all right but it had to be with the RIGHT family or Maggie could revert and become more feral.

©2014 Warren Royal. Maggie (grooming herself in back) with her siblings the day before being trapped. You can read their backstory HERE.

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Kendra adopted two kittens from us a few years ago. A brother and sister, Bandit and Smokey, where two of our sweetest fosters. They joined three dogs, Kendra's son and husband where they all lived peacefully together. But something was missing. Kendra wanted one more cat. It would be her “dream cat” and because of that it had to be a kitten and it had to be long-haired and make her heart swoon. She takes the commitment of adopting pets very seriously so she asked me about our kitten, Julep.

Julep is in Georgia in foster care so I couldn't tell her too much other than she was very sweet. We volleyed emails back and forth about it, but Kendra wasn't sure. Then one day she asked seemingly out of the blue about Maggie. I'd posted that Maggie could not be around dogs because she came from a situation where feral dogs were picking off, one by one, the cats in the colony where she lived. I just assumed she would be terribly fearful of dogs so I didn't want her to be near them.

©2013 Kendra Friedman. Smokey and sister, Bandit (right).

Kendra shocked me by saying that she'd wanted Maggie for months, but never thought it could be possible because she had dogs. I told her my concerns, but I also knew that Kendra's dogs were very easy going and already lived with cats. A few days later Kendra met Maggie and the rest is history, but how things worked out shocked us all.

©2014 Robin AF Olson. Gotcha Day! Kendra & Maggie.

Maggie must have been waiting for her family to show us her true colors because within barely a few days of arriving in her new home, Maggie began to blossom. When Kendra expected fear, Maggie was completely relaxed. Maggie was fine being with the dogs and soon enough was making friends with Smokey. Bandit wasn't very happy about this newcomer, but Kendra didn't give up.

Barely two months after Maggie's adoption this email arrives in my in-box.

I often wonder why I write so much about Maggie, and take so many pictures. Here's what I think. When I adopted her, I knew Maggie was beautiful, soft, and shy. I hoped she could learn to feel comfortable and that one day, after much work, she might sit on my lap or play with the others. I thought I was going to give up on the one dream of three happy kittens playing together to fulfill the dream of righting a wrong for a cat who had gone through more than she should. I was good with that decision and happy to provide a great home for the rest of her life.

©2014 Kendra Friedman. Maggie makes new friends.

The thing is I didn't do anything. It was all Kendra's doing. She followed her heart and had faith in Maggie. Maggie had gotten a lot of love and support while with her foster families and I know that started her on the right path, but Kendra was the final piece of the puzzle. In all honesty, this reminds me to be more open-minded when choosing adopters for our foster cats and I hope it reminds all of you that when you're ready to add to your family to always consider adopting an adult. This story isn't about a miracle after all. It's about trusting your instincts and taking joy in the outcome.

Happy life, Maggie. Happy life, all.

©2014 Kendra Friedman. Life is good.