@LotsOfFur ((hugs)) to you... good luck with your love...
Artie: This is a long story.. everything I write is long..
Prelude: I am an only child. My dad lived with me. He was cognizant up until 1.5 days before he passed. He lived with me. He went into the hospital 2 days before he passed; even though he was under hospice care, I was not able to adequately take care of him alone, any longer.. I needed help, and my dad really needed help and comfort..I had to convinced, strongly that I was doing the right thing.. I swear the hospice nurse was a real life Angel...she was so understanding..
I am grateful that I had an opportunity to know my dad as a 'person', not just as my father. We talked a ton about everything. My dad died on Jan 3, 2012. I still miss him a lot.
I brought up the idea of adopting a cat with my dad, around September, in 2011. My dad told me to wait until after he was gone. He said he was afraid of a cat and his walker. That is where the idea came into my head.
Early March of 2012, I felt I was ready and really needed company. I needed a cat in my life. I contacted the humane society, on a Saturday evening. I left a VM message. A woman returned my call a couple hours later. Sunday at 11am I went to meet a cat whom she felt was 'perfect' for me in my position. I wanted a cat around 5 years old.. someone trained..
When I met Artie, he was in a foster home, down the cellar. Yes, cellar, in a cage. There were other cats in the house also.
I was kind of shocked to hear his story: Artie was owned by an elderly couple. The husband passed around November. The Wife passed around December. An adult daughter took Artie in; actually snuck him into her apartment. She already had a cat and a dog, so Artie was really illegal. Her landlord found out, and told her she had to get rid of one of her pets. She was heartbroken. She had to give Artie up. He was the youngest of the bunch, 8 years old.
She felt so bad about this. She even brought in some food for Artie, a clean litter box for his new owner, an old baby blanket which was his, and made the foster mom promise that he would go to a 'good' home.
My heart melted when I heard this story.. and the similarities to mine with my dad.
When I saw Artie, My heart skipped a few beats.. Artie was Orange!! My last cat, was an orange female... I honestly felt it was a match made in heaven; with divine intervention.
He was a lot older than what I wanted, but his story tugged at me....
No, Artie did not jump into my lap or even notice me; but I knew it was meant to be.
I agreed to the adoption, ran over to PetSmart to pick up the necessities and to set up my apartment.
At 3pm, I signed the papers. Artie was mine!!
I let him lose in the apartment, showing him where everything was located. I had a dinner plan with my cousin. I left Artie alone in my apartment, to get used to it. He had free reign.
I cut my dinner plans short. Artie was hiding in my dad's room, which I made into his play room.
That night, still grieving for my dad; I was lying on the coach covered with a quilt.
Artie came right over, jumped on top of me, sniffed, started kneading, purring... and I melted into tears...
That was it.....5 years ago...
Glad to hear Artie is alert and full of life. My very best goes out to the "A" man and you. 
. Going in one end and out the other, that's what we want to hear. Well done Artie and well done Cindy
