Last updated: 22 Jul, 2019
Published on: 25 Jul, 2018
Nippy 2s company for 88-year old
They say that you never feel alone with the company of a cat, and that couldn’t be more true for 88-year-old Irene, who recently welcomed shy cat Nippy 2 in to her life.
Of course you’re probably thinking that Nippy 2 is a very strange name for a cat. And you’d be right, if Nippy 1 hadn’t already been taken! Nippy (the original) was the last cat Irene had in her life. She lost her over 30 years ago, and after receiving a flyer from her daughter about PetRescue’s Shy Cats and Senior Citizens program, Irene liked the idea of adopting an older female cat to keep her company.
Losing her husband 18 months ago had left Irene feeling alone while at home, and a cat was a great way to make her house feel a little more ‘full’.
She just wanted “a regular tabby who was affectionate and good company,” just like her previous cat.
Irene reached out to Caren on the PetRescue support line and expressed her interest in adoption. After chatting with Irene, Caren got to know more about her lifestyle and what she was looking for in a kitty companion, and sent links to several cats available on PetRescue.
Irene and her daughter decided to visit Animal Aid in VIC to meet four older cats, with the hope that one of them might just be her new companion, "Nippy 2".
A cat named Bindy was bought out to meet Irene, and the first things that she noticed were Bindy's lovely eyes and pretty face.
“She just looked so sweet,” Irene said. After a bit of time spent full of pats and greetings, Irene made the decision that Bindy would make the perfect Nippy 2.
When Nippy 2 was bought home, the first thing she did was go and hide under a bed - very common for a shy cat who is entering a new environment for the first time. Irene recalled writing in her diary “Wondering if Nippy 2 had died under there!” but after three days she ventured out to explore her surroundings.
“I just let her slowly come to me,” Irene recalled. “I didn’t fuss over her, I just left her to her own pace.”
The next night Nippy 2 slept on Irene’s bed, totally ignoring the cushion that had come with her from the rescue group. Irene says Nippy 2 now owns the bed!
Irene loves it when Nippy 2 sits on her lap and purrs - a sign that both ladies are very happy with their new living arrangement. Nowadays, Nippy 2 will have a sudden burst of energy and run around the loungeroom for no apparent reason, and then stop and go back to sleep in the sun - clearly very comfortable with her new home!
Daily life for Irene continues as usual, but she no longer feels alone. Irene loves coming home to Nippy 2, who’s always at the door to greet her and follows her around.
“When I talk to her, I don’t feel lonely,” Irene says. “I am a regular old lady and Nippy 2 is a regular old cat. Sometimes I just wish Nippy 2 could talk back!”