Wally & Molly Tabby Rockville, MD

Wally and Molly

Wally and Molly share the sweetest and most undemanding natures of any cats we have fostered.

Although they were thin and appeared a bit moth-eaten when they first came into care, they applied themselves to regular meals with gusto, and good result. Their coats are becoming shiny and full. They are coming into good weight. A visit to the vet relieved them of the flea and parasite burdens that living rough had caused. And most importantly, both cats tested negative for Fe-Leuk and FIV, and were found to be spayed and neutered. They received all their vaccines at that time as well.

Wally and Molly have put their past month of foster care to excellent use, and have blossomed into beautiful cats whose dispositions are open, gentle, and expectant of good. Whatever trauma they experienced from their abandonment does not seem to haunt them. They are just quietly, contentedly and happily grateful to be safely indoors.

BACK STORY

Two cats were witnessed being “dumped” on a rural road in September.

Confused and forlorn, they remained on the road while the caring individual who had observed their plight approached them. They received her advances trustingly and willingly allowed her to pick them up in her arms.

At this precise moment, however, a passing jeep, oblivious to the rescue effort underway, performed a “burn-out” on the road, terrifying both cats, who leapt out of their rescuer’s arms, and fled into the woods. But not before their observer had a chance to give excellent descriptions of both cats.

Although searches for them were conducted for days, and then weeks, we did not find them. Our few rural neighbors had sighted them occasionally scavenging for food in the early days following their abandonment, but the sightings dwindled as time went on.

We did not give up hope, but we also faced the likelihood that they had succumbed to predators.

Their survival ultimately was due to the kindness of a 96-year-old woman whose farmstead and outbuildings border the acres of woods and ravines into which the cats fled.

Exactly one month after the cats were dumped, we visited our heroine neighbor. While we were there, she proudly demonstrated her daily system for table scraps, which involves carefully scraping them into a bucket that she attaches to her walker, and then emptying these scraps into another bucket that is secured at the edge of her yard. She calls this her “critter food”, and it is her way of helping wildlife, and also making sure that nothing ever goes to waste.

With this magical clue, we set humane traps where our neighbor put out her “critter food”, and within an hour, both cats were in safe keeping. They had survived with a reliable food source, and likely found refuge from storms and weather in her outbuildings.

ADOPTION

Wally & Molly - grey tabby cats - male and female - young (veterinary guess is 3 years of age) - neutered and spayed - fully vaccinated - Wally has a short coat and Molly has a medium long coat

Wally and Molly are fully vetted and ready for adoption.

We have struggled over whether they should be placed as a pair, or could be adopted individually. Since coming into our home, they have occupied one small room of our house in complete contentment. They are quiet, clean, and fastidious in the use of their litter box. They are non-destructive and happy to use a scratch post. Molly enjoys sitting on a high chair gazing out the window, while Wally spends more of his time stretched out on his cat bed. Neither has shown interest yet in their cat toys, but, again, their room is small and on some level, they may still be recovering. We feel it is safe to say that these two cats had always been house cats before they were dumped. While we have not mainstreamed them with our own cats or dogs, they are aware whenever their door is opened that 3 pairs of curious canine eyes are looking in hope to score cat kibble, and Wally and Molly seem completely unconcerned.

We will never understand why two such lovely and loving cats were dropped off on our country road, but it is clear to us that the reason did not attach in any way to the cats or their behaviors. Whatever circumstances led to such an action, we are just grateful now for the kindness of our dear neighbor, and the resilience of Wally and Molly. We would like to see them adopted together since on some level we believe that they stuck together and got one another through their ordeal.

Wally and Molly are crossposted with Hedgesville Hounds, meaning that they are being adopted through their fosters directly. If you are interested in adopting them, please contact Mike and Susan at this email address:

whalton@earthlink.net.

We would like adopters to agree never to de-claw the cats, and if for any reason the placement is not successful, or the adopter’s circumstances change, Wally and Molly are to be returned to Susan and Mike. In lieu of an adoption fee, we suggest a donation to a charity.