When Marisa first said yes to fostering two senior kitties from us, she thought she was simply opening her Manitou home for a little while. Potato and Anna had other plans.
Three years later, these two beloved senior ladies are still right where they decided they belonged: tucked into the rhythms of family life and adored for their quirky habits.
Senior cats can sometimes be overlooked, especially when they arrive needing patient people who understand that love may come on its own timetable. Potato and Anna were already mature girls when they were surrendered to Happy Cats Haven, and they needed a home that could honor who they were while giving them room to settle in. Marisa’s family offered just that.
Their new life also included an active daughter and friends, which meant these wise girls had to learn the household with extra sensitivity. In true senior-cat fashion, they adapted with grace, showing that older kitties often have deep wells of tenderness and quiet understanding.
Potato, now 16, has become the household’s joyful little comedian. She performs her Potato Dance, flopping onto her back, wiggling around and inviting belly rubs. Once she has had enough admiration, she pops back up, head-bonks whatever happens to be nearby, then flops down to begin the whole adorable routine again.
Anna, also affectionately known as Noo-Noos, is now an amazing 20 years old. She started out the shyer of the pair, but over time she has blossomed into a much more social girl.
She loves to play, has plenty to say, and sleeps with her family every night. In the mornings, she happily collects head scratches, making sure her humans begin the day with the proper feline blessing. Her passions include plastic bags…because every dignified 20-year-old lady deserves a hobby.
Potato and Anna remind us that senior cats are not “less than.” They are full of personality, affection, humor and heart. They may come with a few extra years behind them, but they also bring a lifetime’s worth of love to share.
“We love them so much,” Marisa says, “and are incredibly grateful that you asked us to foster them many years ago!”
The magic of fostering is that it gives cats a safe place to land while they wait for another family. And sometimes, if everyone is lucky, the cats look around, take a nap, perform a Potato Dance, claim the bed and quietly let their humans know they are already home.
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