Moped
"Hi, I was out looking at the Website today and just really felt the need to share our story. We found each other in March of 2005. I had been groveling for a couple of years to my husband about wanting a cat to add to our clan and kept getting the same response, "No, I don't like cats, they have no personality and I think I am allergic". One day while on break at work I heard someone talking about the Bengal breed and how unique they were so I began some research. As I tapped website after website, I began to believe that this breed was my answer. I contacted a breeder and mentioned that I was really interested in purchasing a Bengal kitten. I explained that we had a couple of dogs one of which was a senior rescue but I was certain they would adapt to the new addition. She asked me if I would be interested in adopting an older cat as she knew of a lady that had an older male Bengal that had been in foster for a while. Being a sucker for rescues I told her I would be… Thus our story begins. I contacted Janet Saltzman with Great Lakes Bengal rescue and made arrangements to meet Moped or "Mo". I was so excited but the hard part was still ahead of me; I had to talk my husband into going with me! I knew in my heart that once they met each other I had won. After setting a time with Janet to meet Mo, I sat my husband down and explained to him once again how bad I wanted a cat to complete our clan of "kids" and shared with him all the things I had learned while researching the breed. He agreed to go with me and I felt as though I had just broke through that brick wall!! When we met Mo the first time, I absolutely fell in love with him. Janet had had Mo in foster for around 9 months at that time and I truly believe he was just waiting for me and us for him! I looked at my husband and asked, "Well, what do you think?" All he said was, "I don't care, it is your decision". WE WON!! I told Janet that we would take him but that we were going on vacation in three weeks and I didn't feel it was fair to Mo to bring him in and then leave him during this adjustment period so she agreed to visitation during that three week period. I came 2 – 3 times a week by myself and spent an hour or so playing, loving and gathering info about Mo's personality. We even swapped blankets so he could get used to the dogs smell and the dogs could get use to him. The day we got back from vacation I went and picked him up to bring him to his "Forever Home". This was April 7, 2005. Mo had just turned 10 and is now 13. There were tears shed but both Janet and I felt like this was a match made in Heaven. I opened the crate door when we got in the house and fully expected to not see him for a couple of days! Well he did hide for the first two hours but then he made his debut never to hide again! He met up with our Great Pyrenees Dakota who barked at him and as the fur went up on Mo's body he hissed and stood his ground not leaving that spot. He was home and he knew it! Oh Mo came with rules from my husband that he would never sleep in our bed and that he probably would never like him much.. Well, that did not last long. Mo has slept with us for years now and thoroughly loves crawling up on Scott's lap to watch TV in the evening. It didn't take long for him to make his way into our hearts!! Equally, his training process with us has gone well, thus far I believe Scott and I have stars on our board from him. Yep, that's right he has trained us! It's just that Bengal attitude.. I can't imagine not being woken up in the middle of the night by gently swipes of his paw initially, tender little bites when I don't respond to the paw, a little bit harder when I don't respond to that or a tongue in the ear which always gets me up….. when Mo doesn't want to eat by himself. He drinks from water glasses, enjoys bath time with Mom and pretty much runs the house. Mo is always there at the dinner table stalking us for a scrap of meat. He loves Richards chicken! Friends and family are always amazed at how social he is, always greeting everyone. He loves to talk and is not the least bit shy! He enjoys daily games of chase with our newest rescue "Oreo", an energetic 2 year old Shih-tzu and loves watching golf on TV. I know I am rambling and could write a book. Our lives are so complete with him and he constantly amazes us with new things but maybe that is just still part of our training. As we approach his 14th birthday, I look back and can't help but think how blessed we are to have him and I know he feels the same about us! You would never know this boy is a Senior and for anyone out there with a reluctance to adopt a senior cat, I am here to tell you it was the best choice we could have ever made! Ours is a true Love Story! He constantly brings tears to our eyes when we look in his!
Thank You Janet & Thank You Great Lakes Bengal Rescue!"