Tigger aka Wee Tig ~ Pawprints and Purrs

"Anyway, I want a cat," she said. "I want a cat. I want a cat now. If I can't have long hair or any fun, I can have a cat." ~ Ernest Hemingway, American Novelist

Tigger was a tiny, tiny kitten eking out a sad, pitiful existence in Singapore when I first knew of her. Jana Faucher was in a frenzy trying desperately to find someone - anyone to help spread the word about Singapore's horrific animal abuse situation. I had readily become an advocate of the cause and in doing so, came to know Tig's little playmate, Keiko, her mom Missy, and fourteen other little starving cats. Slowly and heartbreakingly, thirteen of the seventeen cats which Jana cared for vanished to fates unknown or were cruelly killed as was Keiko.

When the rescue effort was no longer a fervently hoped dream but a reality for the four survivors of the group, I told Jana that Craig and I would do all we could to sweet talk our landlord of the apartment we were living in at the time, to please let us take on one more cat. My heart had gone out to Missy, obviously an older cat who would have trouble being placed in an adoptive home once she arrived in the States.

But the harsh fate that seemed to haunt poor Missy's life made that hope impossible. She had tested positive for FIV. We weren't able to take her living in an apartment with five healthy cats already in the household. Broken-hearted, I knew I would never get to give her the life she needed so badly. However, she was given a wonderful new life at PetRescue.com, Inc. and is deeply loved, knowing the rest of her life will be filled with security, peace and contentment.

In the meantime, partly to help heal the loss of providing Missy a loving home and partly because the cause was in desperate need of getting a home for the remaining cats, I continued to help out in the search for homes for the others. While still awaiting the test results for Missy, little Tigger had received an adoption request from Cricket, a beloved Canadian friend. At the time, Crick had 13 cats and two dogs; however, she wanted to give Tigger a secure loving home. So as Tig's diary explains, she was fostered in Craig's and my home until her two week period in the States with us was over. How we missed that little cat!

In March 1998, Craig and I moved with our beloved cat family from the apartment in the Pocono Mountains to a tiny little house in North Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. At last, the Kiddens could enjoy a trek in supervised backyard outings. How they had missed having those little visits in the fresh air and sunshine.

In June 1998, tragedy struck within our Kidden family and the following month, our precious KC left us for the Bridge. In an email expressing her sorrow for the loss of KC, Crick told us that Tigger had always been our cat and when we had settled down some after the devastation of our grief, all we had to do was come for her. So on Labor Day, September 7, 1998 Craig and I drove up to Ontario, Canada to bring our little Kidden home.

And poor Crick cried and cried - she kept telling us she had always felt Tig would be going "home" one day and knew she could handle it, but the day arrived all too soon. Exactly thirteen months to the day, our little Tigster came back home to the USA. With visiting privileges, her Meowmie Crick came two months later and stayed four days with Tig during our American Thanksgiving holiday. And we are looking for many more trips in the future.

After her arrival to our home, our Tig hid out for a day on the third floor, ventured down to the second floor the following day, and on the third day discovered that food and water was plentiful on the ground floor. She decided all is well back in the United States after all.

Tigger is a petizen of three countries - Singapore, the United States of America, and Canada. Her 13,000 miles worth of travels include her native Singapore, arrival and fostership in the USA, thirteen months of living in Canada, and finally arriving back home in the USA.

Now she rules the roost. She and Lucky are back at their fun and games - our Lucky has his treasured Tigger back once more. And we truly believe Tigger has helped Lucky through his grief of losing his bestest playmate and pal, KC. At last our precious little Sunshine is home with us.

Craig and I love our life with our cats. He has learned each are unique, each have their own purrsonalities...and the magic word to their hearts is "snick-snack." As the years pass, I draw them all closer to my heart. Yes, we all (including the loving memories of KC, Spook and Cuddles) enjoy a good life together.