It wasn’t until about a week after I began taking care of a stray cat that I found out that I was pregnant with my third child. After finding out the result of that test, I started to believe that the maternal instinct had taken over. The urge to nurture and protect this little animal was strong. Certainly, the last thing that I needed was three children and TWO cats but still, I made the arrangements to bring the new cat to the vet for a checkup and shots so we could add her to our family.
The boys and I began to call this sweet little cat “Bella.” Until I was certain that she had all her shots and would not put our other pet in danger of disease, she stayed comfortably in our garage. That meant that my husband’s car stayed uncomfortable outside in the driveway, where he parked, night after night. This continued for a few weeks until we were ready to blend in the newest member of our family. Although the vet had given her a clean bill of health, there was still a problem; our beloved cat of seven years was not open to accepting another cat into our home. Even after seeking numerous pieces of advice for the introduction, the result was a catastrophe. Our current cat that had never behaved aggressively became a frightening animal as he hissed and attempted to attack Bella. I managed to successfully separate both animals but not before my little boys witnessed the confrontation and started screaming and crying. I was stressed out. The cats were stressed out. My children were afraid. Bella moved back into the garage. This was not going to work.
I spent the next few weeks searching for a good home for Bella, the orphan that I had now invested several hundred dollars in by taking to the vet. In addition, the boys and I spent time each day interacting with her and bonding. I had a problem; I had to find a new owner for this cat. As my belly grew with my new pregnancy, so did the worry that I would not be able to find a good home for Bella.