The Story of Abigale-Clare:

Hurricane Floyd was a near Category 5 hurricane that pounded the East Coast on September, 1999 and caused 57 deaths, the deadliest hurricane since Agnes in 1972, killing 35 in North Carolina alone. Winds reached 139 knots at the maximum intensity and storm waves grew to nearly 10 feet on the North Carolina coastline, and over 15 inches of rain fell in North Carolina in less than 24 hours. Property damage was estimated at 3 to 6 billion dollars.

In the midst of this storm, Abigale-Clare was a young, expectant mother-to-be at a local North Carolina shelter when the flood waters rose and swept her away. Desperate to save herself and her unborn kittens, she tried to find a safe place in the shelter. Scrambling about frantically, she jumped higher and higher to escape the ever-rising waters, but the swirling waters and strong wind wrapped played a cruel trick on her, wrapping wire around her and pinning her in place. Frightened, whimpering, but still determined, she struggled mightily to stay above the raging waters. With the water lapping at her belly, the last spark of hope was beginning to fade. For what seemed like forever, Abigale struggled, unable to escape the cold clutch of wire as the water rose, lapping at her legs and belly, rising ever closer to her head....

Abigale rests comfortably in her catbed.

But finally, the storm lessened and the water started to recede. She was alive, but for how much longer? She was still trapped in a flooded shelter, pinned by the wire, hungry, thirsty, and with no help in sight. But then it happened...the Rescue Angels arrived.

Abigale and I play a game of "touch the toesies"

Abigale-Clare was rescued from the flooded shelter with only minor damage caused by the wire cutting into her, and was brought to the Virginia Siamese Rescue Center. There she gave birth to two healthy female kittens, Twig and Twiglet.

Ahhh, this is the life!

Eventually, her kittens were adopted, and Abigale "adopted" some kittens at the Siamese Rescue Center whose mother was somewhat neglectful. She cleaned them and nurtured them as if they were her own. During this time, we installed webcams at the Siamese Rescue Center, and Abigale-Clare quickly became the star of the webcam. She was always there playing, cleaning or sleeping with the kittens while fans everywhere watched enraptured and discussed her antics on the Meezer board.

Anytime is a good time to be pet!

Eventually, an elderly lady adopted Abigale-Clare, causing tears of happiness and sadness among all of us at the shelter at the time. But alas, poor Abigale hid the entire time at her new home and was eventually returned to the shelter when the lady who adopted Abigale moved to a nursing home. Traumatized, Abigale hid from the camera and everone else. However, whenever we came to visit, she would always venture out cautiously, reassured by our voices, and knowing that we were always good for some quality cuddling time with her. We were dismayed by how scared she remained week after week, so even though we have many cats already at home, we took her home as a foster to see if she would be any more comfortable at our place.

Happiness is a comfy lap to sleep in!

Boy was she ever comfortable! We thought she would be frightened of the other cats, but Abigale-Clare made herself right at home. Her look of utter contentment and happiness was unmistakeable. After a very short foster period, we adopted her formally, and at long last she now has her forever home.

Hey, what's with the water? I've had quite enough of the wet stuff during Hurricane Floyd!

Abigale has become quite a social butterfly now. She happily greets any human visitors, and tries her best to socialize with our other cats, whether they want to or not! She has such a sweet personality that all of our other cats have taken to her quite nicely, and she even gets along with our two dogs. However, nothing makes her happier than to sit on my lap and cuddle. Any time I am in the same room, she sits quietly at my feet until I finally pick her up and put her in my lap, and then she purrs and purrs contentedly for hours. I think she knows she has finally found that home she always wanted.

The good life.... No wait! Don't go!

I hope you enjoyed my story! Drop by and see me again real soon!

Comments? Write to my daddy at kelly@kswmyy.com! Maybe he will get me my own email address soon!