Lucy and ToniLynn Steele: Furry Friends Fur-Ever

“I moved here from Walla Walla, WA in July of 2021,” says ToniLynn. “My cat Gracie had just crossed the Rainbow Bridge and I began adjusting to life without a pet.  

“Then last fall, my son visited me, bringing a kitten that friends of his had saved after seeing him thrown from a car! His name was CJ, and he was so happy in my home that my son asked if I’d take him. Needless to say, I fell in love with him and took him to a local vet to receive his shots. The vet heard a heart murmur and we were going to keep track of it. CJ was growing and thriving. Then in February, during what seemed like a normal morning, he suddenly passed and I was devastated. He had touched my heart so much that I knew I wanted another cat companion.  

“In June, I discovered Furry Friends and started to watch several adoptable cats. After deciding that I wanted an older cat, I kept looking at Lucy who was about 7 years old and had been with them for a long time. She needed a quiet home, preferably without other pets or children. Knowing that I fit the bill, I filled out an application in July to adopt her. Because Lucy was in a foster home, I looked at other available cats, but said that I was holding out for her. We arranged for the foster to bring her to the shelter where she was left in her carrier because she was so nervous. I saw a cat that needed someone consistent in her life, and I wanted to be her person.

“Lucy adjusted quickly to my home and to me. For the first hour, I sat on the floor in my bedroom with the door closed while she sat about 6 feet away and just stared at me. I talked sweetly to her and told her I loved her. After awhile I opened the door to get some water and food to put in the room, and she indicated that she wanted to come with me, keeping me in her sight at all times.

“That night, I opened my closet and she slept under the hanging clothes. The next morning she ventured out where I fed her wet food in the kitchen. When I sat down to watch TV, Lucy came and lay down at my feet, actually touching them. Now she’s always in the same room -- in my lap or between my legs when I put my feet up in my recliner.

“Lucy loves playing with small, soft cat balls, chasing the laser pointer, and jumping up to catch the ‘bird.’ She loves watching me sew and wants to be so helpful – NOT! I just have to walk away and try again later. I love when she gets the zoomies and she loves when I run after her. She loves being brushed and talked to sweetly, and I’m always saying, ‘I Love You Lucy!’ Wherever I am, so is Lucy. After a week, Lucy started sleeping in my bed, close enough to feel me breathing. She’s an early riser and Daylight Savings Time was tough. I felt that because she had to adjust to so much, it was the least I could do and became an early riser as well.

“I work from two to four, four-hour shifts each week, and when she sees me put on my uniform, she knows that I’ll be gone for awhile. She gets a treat before I leave and loves when I get home.

“I want to thank Furry Friends for taking such good care of Lucy. We were truly meant to find each other.”

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Furry Friends Fur-Ever Stories are compiled and written by Nomi Berger who is the bestselling author of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of poetry, and hundreds of articles. She is a volunteer writer for Furry Friends in Vancouver, WA and also volunteers her writing skills to animal rescue groups in Canada and the USA.