Today, we’re combining Finally Friday with a Friday Flashback about Ruby. She said she was fine with this.
Ruby says, “What?” – © Colehauscats.com
What? That wasn’t exactly what I agreed to.
We’re really celebrating Friday this week so, while Mom finishes some needed work around the house, let’s revisit Ruby joining our family back in 2012.
Ruby was an owner-surrendered 10 year old sweetheart named Pearl who had just been released from the shelter sick room when Dad saw her. He says it was love at first sight, but acknowledged we weren’t looking to adopt anyone.
Pearl, our Home for the Holidays (and perhaps beyond) House Guest – 2012. © Colehaus Cats
A couple of weeks later, we stopped by our local PetSmart and saw her at an adoption event. She was very frightened and sadly, was looked over while nearly every other cat and kitten was adopted that day.
Pearl in 2012, our Home for the Holidays (perhaps beyond) House Guest – 2012. © Colehaus Cats
That was the day we learned about the shelter’s annual Home for the Holidays drive to find homes for all the adoptable dogs during Christmas. And we learned there was no such thing for the cats, which, of course, we thought was highly unfair and thought to do something about that.
While we couldn’t adopt all 60+ cats at the shelter (at that time), we were determined to make a difference for one. Shy and timid Pearl was the one.
Pearl/Ruby – Our Home for the Holidays foster – 2012. © Colehaus Cats
She continued to be very shy and while she is quiet and sticks to herself by nature, she seemed to embrace having an entire room with lots of space and light to call her own. By accident, Mom started confusing her name, Pearl, with the name Ruby and was surprised at the positive response the name Ruby got over and over. And so, Ruby she became.
Ruby Roo Sweetfeets – © Colehaus Cats
Of course, you know the end of this story. Home for the Holidays? More like Just Home Forever! Dad couldn’t stand the thought of sending her back to the shelter. Ruby continues to thrive in her room, the master bedroom suite, with her own heated tower, personal feeder, and servants at her beck and call. She’s a snugglebug at night and enjoys the early dawn hours sitting on the windowsill chirping at foraging birds and squirrels.
Ruby, November 2017 – © Colehauscats.com
That’s right. I do!
Ruby still loves her tower – © Colehauscats.com
And I still love my tower.
Ruby, November 2017 – © Colehauscats.com
And yes, I am a snugglebug!
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A Colehaus Cats flashback:
2016 – No post
2015 – Ruby Tuesday
2014 – Maxx’s Take on Living with Sisters
2013 – No post
2012 – No post
I am so glad that Ruby stayed after her holiday. She is lovely and looks so happy to have got her home. I remember when she came to stay and it seems impossible that it was 5 years ago! It’s true, time flies.
We hope many of our cat friends waiting in the shelter will have happy endings like you sweet Ruby.
Emma and Buster
“Ah now said I love a girl and-a Ruby is her name
Hear me talkin’ now
This girl don’t love me but I love her just the same
What’d I say?
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, Ruby, Ruby, I’m-a want ya
Like a ghost I’m-a gonna haunt ya
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby will you be mine, sometime?”
That’s a great story!
ruby….we rememburr yur storee N we waz buzzed happee then N we R still buzzed happee ya haz yur for everz home ~~~~~ N like whooz gonna fezz up ta drivin de car inta de waterz tank dad ~ !!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 ♥♥
You’re a beauty, Ruby. I can’t imagine who would give you up – but you finally have the loving home you deserve! It’s so hard to watch perfect kitties being overlooked because of age. Over the month I was considering adopting Ellie, she was always still there (she’s 6) – when the kittens flew out the door and were different each time we visited. There was a cat named Allie (12 … owner surrender for litter box problems when the people got a new puppy) that I fell in love with. She and Ruby sound a lot alike. I would’ve adopted her if the rescue didn’t recommend her being an only kitty. Ellie isn’t a shrinking violet and knows how to kick some butt when she has to … so I figured she and Bear would be okay. But my heart is also with Allie. I know she’d have been frightened here and we don’t have enough room to give her her own space.
This is a great story. We hadn’t heard it before. Thank you for sharing with us.
Ruby, you’re a beautiful girl! Over the month time frame we considered adopting Ellie … kittens came and went … but only her (she’s 6), and a cat named Allie (12, declawed, surrendered when she had litter box problems after her owners got a new puppy) remained. I would’ve loved to adopt Allie but the rescue recommended she be an only and we don’t have the room to give her her own space. If Bear hadn’t been so obnoxious to Kitty, I would’ve considered at least trying … but everyone agreed that we needed to adopt a cat that would stand up for herself and not be frightened.
So glad Ruby got a happy ending!
I think it is terrible that there was no Home for the Holidays event for cats – especially since cats need to get out of shelters way worse than dogs. Shelters are pretty sucky places for any animal, but cats suffer most and it leads to the shyer ones like Ruby being way less adoptable.
Anyhow, I’ll get off my soapbox and say that Ruby really lucked out by finding a home with you guys!
oHHHHHHHHHHHHH Ruby…you are now living the life of a fine GEM with a wonderful family
Hugs madi and mom
I just love this happily-ever-after story about Ruby! I’m so glad you gave her such a wonderful home. Her chances didn’t sound good, and I’m sure that was largely due to her age. I agree with what Summer said too. Ruby sounds like a blessing!
Ruby the beauty always makes us smile!!!
Ruby yoo ares a beauty!!!
We love stories with a happy end ! Purrs
Ruby, we couldn’t be happier that you found the purrfect home. Thanks for letting your peeps share your story with us.
We love a happy rescue story! Ruby, you hit the jackpot, that’s for sure.
Just like in the A Dog Named Christmas book! What a fabulous adoption story 🙂
Happy forever home for the holiday and forever!
I am so glad you rescued beautiful Ruby. XO
So glad you were home for good. You are so pretty, Pearl, er I mean Ruby.
Cheers for room fer one more…
She’s so beautiful, and she is super lucky to have found the purrfect home and family. We remember when you brought her home for the holidays! XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo and Cooper Murphy
Ruby, we’re so happy you ended up here! We’re pretty proud of our mom’s work place – they’re responsible for inaugurating the Home for the Holidays drive! It all began with a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, based on a book written by a local Kansas City resident, and they partnered with Petfinder to launch the program that holiday season, back in 2009! (http://transformgov.org/en/Article/101678/Olathe_KS_Runs_Third_Annual_Holiday_Pet_Adoption_Drive)
Ruby, you are a real gem no matter what you’re called!
Stereo purrs……….Hemingway and Steinbeck
We love happy endings!
Have a super Sunday…
Noodle and crew
We are so glad that Ruby found her home for the holidays and forever with the best family ever!
What a lovely girl Ruby is! Mommy was going to adopt an older cat when Queen Penelope passed, but She put me in front of Mommy and here I am, flying from Tehran to Vancouver!
I can see Ruby LOVES her new life!
Purrs
Marv