Herman and the Ivanytskyis: Furry Friends Fur-Ever Tail

“It’s hard to believe that nearly a year has passed since we adopted Herman,” exclaims Flor. “My husband Andrii and I both grew up with family cats, but Herman is our first cat together as a family.

“When we started our search to adopt a kitten, our goal was to expand our small Seattle family and find a kitten whose personality would mesh well with our 14-year-old Chihuahua, Lady. However, the process proved more challenging than we anticipated, with long adoption wait times, waitlists and the high energy of most kittens.

“After a year of searching, patience, and many visits to shelters and rescue events, we took a trip to Vancouver to visit Furry Friends. We had pre-selected two kittens online, but once there, we were introduced to several others -- one of whom was Herman.

“Herman’s calm demeanor, ease with other cats, and familiarity with small dogs made him the perfect match for our family. His gentle nature and mellow personality, especially when being handled, made him an easy choice. The adoption process was swift, and I loved having access to their online platform to organize and track his medical records to use as a database for his microchip in case of unexpected emergencies.

“His adjustment to our home was gradual (he’s the definition of a ‘scaredy cat’), but over time, he started to show his true feline colors: mid-day zoomies, knocking knickknacks off shelves and waking us up at 2 a.m. demanding food or playtime! In the summer, he loves taking long naps and watching birds from our balcony. In the winter, he spends his time curled up beside Lady while we cook and work from home. He still loves to zoom around the apartment, chasing the laser pointer, and although he’s not fond of being picked up, he lets us know when he’s ready for cuddles. We’ve learned to respect his boundaries and give him space when he needs it.

“Herman and Lady have developed a special bond. He watches over her, offering her gentle guidance as she adjusts to being blind in one eye, and keeps her company while Andrii and I are out. He’s become an incredibly sweet and loving presence in our home, and we’re so grateful to have him as part of our little family.”
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Furry Friends Fur-Ever Stories are compiled and written by Nomi Berger who is the bestselling author of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of poetry, and hundreds of articles. She is a volunteer writer for Furry Friends in Vancouver, WA and also volunteers her writing skills to animal rescue groups in Canada and the USA.