“Valkyrie is my third kitty,” says Jerry. “However, my wife Faith has had cats all her adult life and throughout her youth at her family’s farm. And although we kept her original name, we lovingly refer to her as our gal Val.

“My family always had critters trotting around,” admits Jazz (Jacqueline). “As an introvert, I’ve naturally gravitated towards cats as companions, but I’m also an especially enthusiastic kitty cuddler. And so, when I excitedly broached the subject of adopting one, my partner Mike agreed that we were ready to provide a kitty with a fur-ever home.

“When we added Cocomelon to our family, he was our third kitty,” says Delaney. “At our two-year-old daughter’s insistence, we changed his name from Argo to Cocomelon.

“Dazzler (formerly Jellybean) and Ela (formerly Jupiter) came into a home that already had three cats,” says Sharyn. “Their names are Addie, Barlow and Cortana, hence, A B C … D and E! Dazzler is named after the comic book hero Disco Dazzler and Ela is named after a video game character in Tom Clancy’s ‘Rainbow Six.’

As volunteers for Furry Friends for seven years, Tanika and Mike have been fosters for three of them. And so, several months after their beloved Torti unexpectedly passed, they were ready to adopt not one kitty but siblings this time.

Black beauty Jersey and marmalade-striped Johnny are the family’s first cats, chosen, explains Caroline, because they were so sweet when they met them — especially Jersey.

“Although she was called Spiget while she was with Furry Friends, I renamed her Spriggan, who’s a fantasy forest creature. I gave her that name because her eyes are green, which reminded me of nature, and because I enjoy fantasy. I also thought it was close enough to her original name that it wouldn’t confuse her.

“We adopted Dandelion and Tabby (formerly Fawn) because Dandelion was friendly each time we visited and Tabby enjoyed playing,” Heather says. “And I’m delighted to say their adjustment to our home was immediate.

“My husband John and I REALLY wanted a cat while we were still living in Alabama,” explains Anna Michelle. “But we knew that we were likely going to move within the year, and so we patiently waited until moving and getting established in our new home.

“I’d adopted three others before him,” Corinne says, “but they’ve all crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and I can’t be without a cat!

“When I adopted Scooby (formerly Casanova) from Furry Friends, he was extremely shy,” says Leonette, “but he grew comfortable here quite quickly. He now walks happily around the house and doesn’t hide any more when guests visit.

Luna is Amelia’s first kitty, and although she tried to change her name, the name Luna suited her so well that she eventually stuck with it.
“She’s a young, pretty Russian Blue, a breed I’d been interested in for a long time,” Amelia says. “And she was so cuddly and so sweet when I met her that I was instantly smitten.

“Fluffy is not my first cat, far from it!” Kensie, our medical director explains. “Jaimie Garver called to let me know about a primarily outdoor cat who had been bitten by a raccoon and needed to have its leg amputated.

“We felt that Karen, our 4-year-old kitty, needed both a best friend and a brother,” says Stefani. “And so we adopted Oreo, renaming him Berlioz after the little black cat in the Disney film, ‘Aristocats.’

“Penny (formerly called Mizer) is PURRFECT!” exclaims Janet. “I’d had a large Maine Coon I loved very much, and hadn’t been ready for another cat until I noticed this large and beautiful 15-pound Siberian Forest cat available for adoption. I knew she was meant for me as soon as I read about her.

“I grew up around cats, but Zelda is the first one I adopted on my own,” Jessica says. “I kept her original name because it’s so unique. When people ask if she was named after the character in the Legend of Zelda video games, I say ‘yes’ but that I don’t play the games. I was won over by her beautiful eyes!

“She adjusted gradually to living with me and although she didn’t like my roommate’s cat at first, they tolerate each other now. She’s definitely made me feel less lonely since my move to Portland, and while I’ve been trying to harness train her, it’s not going well.

“Ella is kitty number 10 for us,” Julia says. “We were told that she was 8 years old and we figured that she was used to her name — it seemed to fit her.

“We wanted an older cat (12 + years), but we didn’t click with any of those available at the time. We’d been without a cat for seven months and we always try to adopt one who’s often overlooked. My husband chose Ella because of her cute features. And she really IS a cutie.

“I recently had to put down one of my two cats due to a progressive nerve injury,” says Karina. “I was devastated at losing my fun, affectionate seven-year-old Miles, and my other cat, Victor, showed signs of depression, such as hiding and not eating. I live alone, and I’ve always had pets in pairs, and it seemed so quiet with just one cat.

“After about six weeks, I decided it was time for a new friend, and began looking at rescue websites for a kitten. I wanted a kitten with lots of energy, lots of love to give, and who was good around other cats. I was looking at the Furry Friends website and saw a litter of black kittens, all with names that started with G. As soon as I saw Gunther, I knew that I had to fill out an application. I had had two black cats in college, and I have a soft spot for the mini-panthers (Victor is a tuxedo).

“Nori, formerly called Cutie at Furry Friends, is my very first fur baby,” says Blair.

“She’s been with us for four months now and we’re utterly in love. I chose Nori because she was friendly and wanted to snuggle, but I could never have imagined what a cuddle bug she truly was. Not only did she adjust to her new home right off the bat but in a matter of days it felt as if she had lived here forever.

“Although she’s extremely playful and has a lot of energy, she simply ADORES people and wants to be with us all of the time. She greets strangers with ‘open arms’ and always manages to finds a chest to lie on whenever we’re watching movies on TV.

“When we adopted Blackberry, we renamed him Pookas, which is similar to the Lithuanian word for ‘fluffy’ since he’s a fluffy, long-haired tux kitty,” Diane explains. “He has a brother about the same age, Karvee (cow in Lithuanian), a cow tux. Because my husband’s parents were born in Lithuania, we try to pick names that work in both languages.

“When I lost my 15-year-old Yorkshire terrier, Murphy, I knew that I didn’t want another dog,” Jean explains.
“Living alone, and having always had cats in the past, I knew what I needed and what I’d most enjoy was the companionship of a kitty again. Rather than choose a young kitten, I had my heart set instead on a healthy but older cat.

Who is black and white with pale, jewel-toned eyes? An adorable, adopted cat named Hideyoshi!

As Anthony’s first cat, his original name was Hank, and he not only stole his new owner’s heart but the heart of Anthony’s dog.

“I had many cats growing up,” Sarah says, “but Indigo is the first kitty of my own. When I adopted her, her name was India, but being a graphic designer who loves color, I changed it!
“In my search for a low-shedding cat, I learned that not only are Siamese low shedders but they’re also very smart and social, and so I inquired about India. A Furry Friends volunteer told me that she had been returned more than once for being too chatty and for sometimes biting. ‘She just needs to find someone who wants to talk to her all day,’ the volunteer said.

“My husband and I adopted Bergamot after we lost our 17-year-old kitty during the pandemic,” Kathy says.
“We kept his name but shortened it to Bergie. When my husband saw Bergie, he fell in love with his regal appearance. Bergie has a mane that makes him look like a lion.