Ragdoll Cat Forums

Last weekend was a very special one in our household, with the passage of 2 very important dates. Sunday was the one year anniversary of the day that Billy & Tiffy-T came into our lives and Monday was their 3rd Birthday.

I had planned to post this last weekend but indeed felt Shana’s loss of Finn keenly (not least of all with the similarities to the situation I found myself in previously with my late, much adored; Kyri). Somehow our party mood did not seem appropriate for the forum last weekend and indeed , Shana you are still very much in my thoughts as you have been all week.

For those from the UK who know Billy & Tiffy-T’s story; I apologise for going over some old ground, but have also posted some updated pics and B & T’s progress, one year on.

For those that don’t know…..I adopted Billy & Tiffy-T a year ago at the age of 2, from an English re-homing charity. I had just 11 months earlier lost my beloved Kyri, a seal point Birman, who was 10 days past her 18th Birthday. I swear that part of me died with her; such was our bond and I vowed adamantly that I would never put myself in that position again…..A well worn path I know and indeed it was the emptiness of our home and my stumbling across a rescue site for Ragdolls, that made me start to relent. I was always frightened that I would not be able to recreate the bond I had with Kyri, yet reading about Ragdolls (which I had heard of previously, but never known much about), I realised this was a breed within which I stood good odds, of getting a cat that would want to bond closely with a human………….as you all know; I was on the right trail, even if I didn’t realise it at the time!!

My only specification to the charity was “no seal points”, given the pain I was still suffering over the loss of Kyri . Other than that I didn’t care what colour and secretly hoped for straggly waifs/strays that needed me as much as I needed them. When I was matched to B & T, a Brother and Sister, I was struck by just how gorgeous they were and that, if anything, they were in much better condition than I could have expected. As thrilled as I was with the prospect of them, I did express to the lady running the charity at that time; that I was secretly disappointed that they were not more needy cats, her response to me, was absolutely true in that, any of them that need a home, having not immediately landed in their “furever” home are indeed “needy”.

After the beginning of their new life, had been started by the kindest of foster families who had cared for them for 5 weeks, the transition to our home was smooth despite a 4 hour journey with them and they settled in easily, in a pattern that we have seen repeated many times now; Tiffy soon took things in her stride and was the first to eat, play, toilet etc, whilst Billy would always be about half an hour behind her and was much more wary than his courageous Sister, despite his being 1/3 bigger than she! Given this smooth transition, we were taken completely by surprise, by something that emerged 3 days later, Billy was a frightened boy inside this giant and gentle exterior. To cut a long story short, I now believe that he was given cause to be frightened in his previous life, much of his fear emerging at any time that I had something in one hand and tried to stroke him with the other. The very bold Tiffy-T, seemed unflappable, but did in the early days show reaction to any bunches of keys, rattling. We of course will never know what life before held for them, as they were re homed on the premise of a “landlord that didn’t welcome pets” or similar, but as you can read between these lines; somehow my boy Bill, has a legacy from his past, that saddens me, but also has become my challenge in breaking this down. The lady who had organized the adoption for us, said you should “be careful what you wish for”…….clearly appearances were deceiving and they were a little more needy than I had first appreciated.

Keen to get them both on a partially wet diet, we did suffer 6 weeks of runny tummies initially until, plenty of reading and much trial and error found a diet that stopped all of that, in it’s tracks and they haven’t looked back, they have both grown considerably and their coats have really developed. It is true to say they both love their food and are in fine condition and have put good amounts of weight on each in this last year.

Our progress with these two has come on in leaps and bounds, Billy has bonded to me especially, making me wonder if he ever experienced unconditional love before. Without doubt, Billy has been a handful at times and can be a vocal and demanding cat. Tiffy is still very kitten like, even in her facial features and her behaviour, these cats needed routine and stimulation when they came to us and seem to thrive on both. They both, but Billy especially, seem much happier and confident cats now, although Billy’s fear can still catch him out and I wonder if this will ever disappear completely, but I am satisfied that he is for the most part a very happy boy that knows he is loved completely and unconditionally.

The question always arises in regard to re-homing; that one of course, misses the kitten years. I can honestly say that the journey that we have all been on together (my Husband, is completely smitten with them too) has made up for anything we might have missed. I cannot deny; I would love to see pictures of them as kittens, but that will never be. I can barely put into words the delight I get from seeing them in a particularly content moment, as I let myself wonder how life could have been for them and truthfully that feeling for me has not yet worn off one year later and on occasions still has the power to bring me to tears, just thinking of them before I could keep them safe. The problems/challenges we have faced, (with Billy in the main), have been manageable and in their own way, simply heighten my feeling for them and indeed my sense of protectiveness over them……………..as you can probably gather now; I am completely besotted with these two and would go to the ends of the earth for them to make sure they never ever experience anything but complete love and care for the rest of their lives.

The big weekend saw them even more spoilt than usual, Mike went to the yard of a tree felling company and bought some large oak logs and a large tree stump to provide interest for them in our garden, and we bought them a Cat Mate Fountain, which has been a great success. Favourite meals and treats were plentiful and thanks to it being a public holiday in the UK last weekend, they spent longer than usual in their beloved garden with us watching over them and playing the odd game of sponge ball football that they love!!

For anyone who has been kind enough and patient enough to read this, apart from thanking you for your interest; please in the future consider re-homing; so many Ragdolls, especially here in the UK, need new homes; it truly has changed my life having them in it and I like to think that if you could ask them, they might say that life with us is not bad either!!



Tiffy-T and Billy, approx 2 weeks after they arrived with us, one year ago:




Pictures from last weekend............................

Tiffy-T


Billy


Tiffy-T



Billy




And finally; just to prove how tiring big anniversary and birthday celebration weekends can be........................

Billy is considering a nap.................


and Tiffy well.........oh........too late....................



Thank you to anyone who had the patience to stick with my long post to this point xxx

Just stopping in for a minute as we are on vacation. We got in last night as I do not handle big crowds well and with the holiday coming up I wanted to come home. I am sure missing the boys had alot to do with it.

I simply loved the pictures and so beautiful.

Those pictures are outstanding!

Thank you for sharing your wonderful story of Billy and Tiffy-T. They were so fortunate to find a furever home with you and Mike where they are unconditionally loved and totally spoiled!! The pictures are so lovely -- but the one of Bill caught mid-yawn is fantastic!!

I loved reading your story. They are both beautiful ! I too loved the one mid-yawn

Thank you for sharing your story with Tiffy and Billy. How lucky they are to have found you. How lucky you are to have found them. They have a lovely life with you, and they have helped you heal. Happy celebrations.

Sue, they are just stunning. Well Done!!!!!!!!

They are BIG and very beautiful!! They have such beautiful eyes too!!

Sue ,Thank you for sharing your inspirational story of, Tiffy and Billy they are both gorgouse and what great photography.
Isn't it amazing how one door will close and another will open.

Hi Sue,

Happy anniversary and happy birthday to Billy and Tiffy T! I'm so glad you shared your story with the forum and love seeing the photos of your beautiful duo. They may not have started their lives with you and Mike, but they're definitely meant to be yours.

Coral