Three Maine Coon Rescue Stories

There are three awesome rescue stories here to read; Peyton's story, "Who Rescued Who", Lucky's story, "Dad's Best Friend", and Andy's story, "Dumped."

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Dumped

by Bill Christenson in Dunnellon, FL USA

Kathie was just getting into her truck when she heard a faint meow. She looked around to see if there was a kitten around and was about to leave when a small face came up over the curb.

She took the little guy home and she and her cousins took care of him. But, her kitty wasn't buying into a new cat (even as cute as he was) in the house.

They started getting ready to find a permanent home for the foundling and were at the vet's office having him checked out when Marilyn and I came in.

Our 12 y.o. Coonie, Nick, had died suddenly and unexpectedly the week before and we were there to pick up his ashes. While talking to the Dr., we indicated we were thinking about adopting another kitty and asked for his thoughts on where best to look.

He mentioned a couple local shelters and then pointed to a lady in the waiting room.

He told us the story of how Kathie rescued this little (1 lb.) kitten that had been dumped by the side of the road. But, he wasn't sure if we'd like another Maine Coon.

We went over and talked with Susie, Kathie's cousin, and then I looked in the carrier. Marilyn took one look at me with tears in my eyes and said "you're in love aren't you".

We brought Andy home the next day and in 3 months he's gone from a 1 lb. ball of fluff to a 7 lb beautiful silver tabby Coonie.

If we had gone to the vet's office 10 minutes earlier or later, we would have missed Andy. Some things are meant to be and we have to think Nick had a paw in this.

Nick, our 12 y.o., died of the silent killer, feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It's silent because it hits so fast and Coonies are especially susceptible to it. You don't ever want to see your pet die from this horrible disease. It can be treated if caught early.

We'll know now to get a chest xray and cardio ultrasound when Andy is 2 y.o. Then having periodic follow ups will let us know if anything is developing. It's especially important to have a vet who is familiar with Maine Coons and this disease.

Comments:

Thanks for the great story :)
Congratulations on your new kitty! I'm so glad for two happy endings! I also lost a Maine Coon to HCM and with a young Maine Coon, I too will take in for HCM screenings as you mentioned!

Thanks for spreading the word because it's painful to lose a cat to HCM!

Similar Experience
by: Jessy
Though it didn't involve a Maine Coon. My daughter and I were leaving the pound when a lady came in with a tiny kitten that had been abandoned on her porch. I smiled.

"It's a Mulemut-colored cat," I told my daughter, by which I meant a dilute calico. Mulemut, pronounced /MOO*lih*moot/, was the chief cat of our clan as I was growing up.

My daughter promptly threw her hat in the ring. Easiest sell they ever had. She named the cat Moolimoot, so spelled because nobody was going pronounce Mulemut correctly.

tears here too
by: Carol
Beautiful rescue story and a beautiful Cat!

How Andy Got His M
by: Bill Christenson
Kind of wondered how Andy got the M on his forehead. Found it really isn't for Maine Coon. The story goes way back to when Jesus was born.

That night it was very cold in the stable where Jesus lay in a manger. There were many animals in and around the stable and one was a kitty.

The kitty didn't want Jesus to be cold, so the kitty laid with Jesus in the manger all night and kept him warm.

Mary loved that kitty so much for what the kitty did that she put her M on the kitty's forehead so everyone would always know how special that kitty is.

Andy has that M and there surely never was a more special kitty. Now you all know that your kitty is even more special than you knew.

Dad's Best Friend

by Mary Barota in Michigan

About two years ago... my daughter, who is a runner, showed up at my apt. door, holding this pathetic, thin... so hungry young cat.

I guess about 2 months old. Begging me to rescue him. I had just lost my cat of 14 years during surgery, and really was not interested in attaching to another cat.

My daughter was running and found the cat on the highway, so dangerous, and my daughter could not walk away.

At the time I was caring for my elderly father, who was elderly and had dementia. My life was very busy. But something about this cat, he was pathetic, moved my heart.

So I took him and named him... Lucky. Almost immediately he bonded with my father. Sleeping with him, sort of watching over him. Dad loved Lucky, he would try to play with him, and always pet him.

They were friends. When dad became bed ridden, Lucky all but lived in the room at the foot of Dad's bed.

Dad passed away a year later. Lucky would not leave his room until dad was gone from the apartment, and even then, Lucky would go into Dad's room and lay on the floor, waiting for him to return, it seemed.

So when I left Illinois, I took Lucky with me. We are now settled in Michigan. Lucky turned out to be a Maine Coon Cat, with a big M on his forehead. He is beautiful, and we make a life together.

Comments:

Friends...
by: Kim Sweet
Holding back tears and yet a smile crosses my face at the same time. Its amazing what an impact animals make on our lives and others around us. That is an amazing story and a true testament the bonds between humans and animals can be just as strong or stronger then between humans themselves.

Old age cats
by: Helen
I am so happy your dad had Lucky for has last year. I've often thought as I go into my own golden years that I can make it through anything if I have my cats.

Bonding
by: Charlene
Great story!! So glad your dad had a friend for his last years and that Lucky had someone with which to bond!

Animals are so giving of their love, I'm involved with animal rescue, and it breaks my heart to read the stories of how many are abandoned and abused. This was a great story to read and it fills your heart with happiness!

Lucky is Lucky
by: Dorothy
Nice article Mom! Lucky is very lucky to have been rescued and to have such a good home! Glad that he was there to watch over Grandpa to the end!