Sandy* had always had one cat who was part of the family. But one rainy day, a cat came across the field with a small kitten in its mouth. The cat walked up to the sliding glass door and looked up at Sandy who was standing inside the door. Mama cat set the kitten down, then turned around and made three more trips, each time bringing a tiny kitten with her. Sandy brought them all inside and decided she needed to ensure the future care of her growing family.
Sandy, first visited the Oregon Humane Society in 2016. With her five beloved cats at home, she was concerned about their future care if she was not able to look after them. During her visit, Sandy learned about Friends Forever, OHS’s unique program that helped her make a vital plan to ensure her pets’ future care. By making a gift from her estate, if ever the need arose, the Oregon Humane Society would immediately receive, care for, and find a loving home(s) for her cats. She liked the peace of mind Friends Forever gave her, made a provision in her will for the Oregon Humane Society and confidently enrolled her cats in the program.
When Sandy died unexpectedly in 2019, OHS took in her cats, cared for them and found them new homes. Two of the cats, Zuzu and Zander, were a bonded pair and inseparable. They were adopted by Ellen W., who has a special love for older cats. As Ellen says, “They usually have some common sense.”
When Ellen first brought the cats home, Zander was fearful and spent most of his time hiding. He proved to be excellent at squeezing into the tiniest spaces possible. However, with Zuzu’s encouragement, Zander eventually began to come out of his shell. “Zuzu is the leader and Zander is the follower, but they watch out for each other,” Ellen reports. The two enjoy bird-watching from their cat tree and cuddling up for naps.
Six months on, Zuzu and Zander have gotten more comfortable in their new home. Zuzu now enjoys getting belly rubs from Ellen and likes to perch on the very top of the cat tree. Zander has emerged from his hiding places and can be found napping on the couch or snuggling between Zuzu and Ellen in bed. The pair is still wary of strangers, and Ellen is looking forward to the day when they will greet visitors.
Zuzu and Zander are thriving, and Ellen says each day brings new rewards.
*Name has been changed for donor privacy.
Read about other Friends Forever alumni.
