An Odd Couple Finds Their Forever Home

Pittsburgh residents Anthony and his wife, Christine, were dog people. They had a beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Nicole, who they lost after an illness. Following that loss, they decided they just weren't ready for another dog.
 
The couple had their first encounter with the Cleveland APL when they came to Cleveland to visit their daughter. They accompanied her on a trip to the Parma PetSmart store where she picked up for supplies for Neville, her FIV+ cat. They ventured over to the part of the store that houses the Cleveland APL’s PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center.  There, two cats caught Anthony—the dog-lover’s—eye.
 
If you’d have told Anthony that Omi was part bobcat, he'd have believed it. This strong, muscular little guy was like a little lion, with a ton of personality! His neighbor in the kennel was a little gray female cat, Molly. She was pregnant when she arrived at the Cleveland APL.  She gave birth and lovingly raised her kittens in the home of a APL Foster Care volunteer.  Molly was a wonderful mom! All her kittens were adopted, and now Molly was just waiting patiently for her new family to pick her and take her home. Molly was born without cartilage in her eyelids so her eyelashes rubbed her eyes, causing her discomfort. The APL veterinary team performed surgery to alleviate the rubbing but sweet Molly would need an adopter who would continue to monitor and care for her eye condition. Animal lover Anthony worried about whether anyone would want to take her home. He knew from his experience with Nicole that caring for an animal with a medical problem could be daunting.
 
He went home that day without either of the cats. Still, he couldn't get them out of his mind.  Omi had been in the APL’s care for two months after being transferred to the Cleveland APL from another shelter, and Molly had been in the APL’s care for more than six months. They both had such big personalities, and he was charmed by the backstories on their cage cards.  But he wanted to be sure. After a couple of weeks, he made the decision and returned to Cleveland and adopted Omi! Little Molly was still there, waiting for her person. So, Anthony called his veterinarian to see what kind of care she would need, and then called back to the Everyday Adoption Center to see if she was still there. She was—and the next thing he knew, he was on the way back to Cleveland to pick up Molly.
 
Omi and Molly settled into their new home almost instantly. Omi cuddles all day long. If Anthony is on the sofa, Omi's there. If he's going to bed, Omi's there. Omi can even tell time (well, at least he can tell when it’s dinner time!)  He doesn't like to be picked up though, and makes little noises expressing his displeasure. Molly, on the other hand, is “a sweet, precious, little instigator,” running by and smacking Omi to try to entice him into a game of tag, but also happy to just be cuddled and held. Her cross eyes don't stop her! She's still has some challenges with her eyelids, but her loving owners put drops in her eyes a few times every day. No problem!
 
Anthony had no idea cats could be this amazing, loving and smart! Nothing could fill the empty space left by their beloved dog, but these two unique cats with big personalities have filled a void in their lives. And the knowledge that they were helping two shelter cats who had been waiting for just the right humans to come along makes this happily-ever-after just purrfect!
 
Information about the Cleveland APL
 
To meet the adoptable animals at the Cleveland APL, visit our adoption center in Tremont at 1729 Willey Avenue in Cleveland or our PetSmart Charities® Everyday Adoption Center in the Parma PetSmart® store at 6870 Ridge Road.  To view all of the animals who are waiting for loving homes online or on your mobile device, visit www.ClevelandAPL.org or download our free adoptions app on your iOS or Android device.
 
Our Facebook page is called “Cleveland Animal Protective League”. Here is the link to it for your reference: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cleveland-Animal-Protective-League/29396512928
 
Our Twitter handle is @Cleveland APL. Here is a link: https://twitter.com/ClevelandAPL