Who Will She Choose -- Me or Him?

I mentioned in a post last week that we had someone coming out this weekend to meet three-legged Honey Girl for a possible adoption.  Well, Keithi W. from Missoula arrived on Saturday as scheduled, and Honey Girl was everything she usually is ... sweet, affectionate and full of antics as Keithi loved her up.  It seemed like a perfect match.  That's when I took this photo of Keithi with Honey Girl:

But then blind Herbie got in the way.  Did he ever.  He wanted Keithi to notice him, too, and he kept pawing at her for attention.  Despite being blind, Herbie knows exactly (well, within a few inches) where you are, and he leans forward with his paws out to get some loving.  "Hey, what about me?  I'm adorable!"  It is an irresistible sight, this beautiful little blind cat pawing at you and meowing for affection.  He looks right at you, as if he can see.  Then he climbs onto you, and you melt.

Keithi wavered.

The more she petted Herbie, the more antics Honey Girl performed to draw Keithi's attention back to her.  When Keithi stopped to pet Honey Girl, Herbie would start up again, pawing and meowing at her.

Keithi said, "Oh no, I'm not sure now."

I fully understood, because both of these cats are real dolls and it would be difficult for me to choose between them. 

I told her she was in luck, that this weekend only we were having our 2-for-1 special on cats.  I offered her an extra crate, since she had only brought one.  "The crate's free with the second cat," I said.  (I was joking, but only sort of!) 

Herbie pawed.  She wavered some more.

She held Herbie, and I took this photo of them:

Keithi said, "This is really hard.  I came here fully expecting to adopt Honey Girl and now I'm torn.  I mean, look at him," she said, pointing to Herbie who was back on the cat tree, pawing at her again.

I told her that we would be delighted if she wanted to adopt either cat, but also reminded her about our one-time only 2-for-1 special on cats, including the free bonus crate.

At this point Honey Girl, not one to let Herbie outshine her, climbed back on the cat tree, too:

Meanwhile, during all of this our cat Fibby continued to chew on Keithi's shoelaces.  Whenever she tried to walk around in the cat house, Fibby would use his paws to hold onto her foot so he could still nibble on her shoelaces.

Finally, Honey Girl decided to take matters into her own hands.  She climbed down, walked over to Keithi's cat carrier, and got inside.  She sat in there and looked up at Keithi with an expression that seemed to say, "I decided.  I'm going home with you."

Keithi looked down at Honey Girl in the crate and said, "Well, I guess that settles it."

Comments

[Miranda]

Well drat, how can a story be happy and sad at the same time? I don't know how they could leave Herbie behind! I am fond of Tortie's and very happy Honey Girl got a forever home. But Herbie was choosing her too! If the two cats get along it would have been perfect. I hope she calls again and says she'll come back for Herbie!

[Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin]

I'm thrilled for Keithi & Honey Girl! Yes, cats do choose us & that's a fact. I do not know how she didn't take Herbie too! I am weak & would have taken both & maybe she will come back for him. But, if not, Herbie knows he is loved at RDR & his day will come very soon! Honey Girl, I will miss you, but, I know you will have a wonderful new life in your forever home.

[Carla Polastro-Nigro]

Keithi must be stronger than me: I would have taken the 2-for-1 offer in a heartbeat!:-)

Let's hope she'll come back and adopt Herbie, too...

In the meantime, I wish Keithi and Honey Girl a long and happy life together!

[Nina]

What a great story! Honey Girl picked her human.....quite an intuitive cat!! Good Luck to both! May Keithi will return to get Herbie!!!

[Margaret]

And to think that I've been head-over-heels charmed by a puppy chewing on my shoelaces! Kinda like "you had me at hello". Whatta a gang!

"Congratulations" Keithi and Honey Girl. But there are no "losers" here, because Herbie is still beloved at RDR.

[Boundforglory]

Wow...what a tough choice for Keithi!
Well, determined Honey Girl....enjoy your new Mom and home!
Good luck to the both of you!
I hope Herbie the love kitty finds a family sometime too; he's so full of personality and affection; he'd make a great companion.

[Heidi & the kitties]

Once again proving that cats choose their humans, not the other way around! Way to take charge, Honey Girl!

[Debbie]

OMG....The face on Herbie!!! Of course we all love Honey Girl...but WHO could resist the happy face on that little boy!!! She's gonna wish she had taken them both...not doubt about it.(I would have...but I lack self control!)

[Jessica, NL]

Congratulations Honey Girl and Keithi! Maybe she'll be back for Herbie also ;-))?

I remember the time when I did NOT take "the one who walked into the crate". I came to bring home the kitty staying in the shelter the longest (4 years!)and I did... She was no match for my own cats, went to live with friends of mine and I went back for the first one, hehe.

[Richard Blanc]

In the first photo, Honey Girl appears to be putting the evil eye on someone. Herbie perhaps? If so, it seems to have worked.
Note to Herbie; be patient, your time will come soon enough.

[Shirley * James * Portland, OR]

I love that story and now I can't wait to see who adopts Herbie the love bug!!!

[Barbara Arenal]

What a cute story! I can fully appreciate how hard it is sometimes to make an adoption choice, but I know for a fact that 99% of the time, the adoptee animal will choose their new owners/family, not the other way around. We only THINK we're choosing! Boy, that Herbie is a real doll. He could charm the kilt off a Scotsman! Congrats to Keithi and Honey Girl, looks like this is the beginning of a long & happy relationship!