Monday, June 4, 2018

In the Beginning: Renn



After Tungsten and Josie, Renn came to live with me. His name was originally spelled with one N, and I am not sure why or from where he acquired the second. He arrived, as so many cats do, as a foster (hence his full name of Renfrew Foster), coming to live with me in May of 2010.


In  August, 2007, he had been rescued as a kitten, along with his four brothers and mother, who was named Alberta Rose by the PAW Society, into whose care they came. The young family had been abandoned in the coulees (the earthen cliffs cut by ravines that line the river here in Lethbridge). At three and a half months old, Ren and his brother Charlie were adopted together, but returned in the spring of 2009. They then went into foster-care together.


Trouble arose when Ren bit his foster-guardian. She explained that she had been trimming Ren’s bum-hair, of which, as a long-haired beast, he has plenty. I came to know that Renn does not like his nether regions attended to, nor does he like his claws cut. I must see to those tasks patiently and sometimes over a few days. My big boy gives a warning groan when his own patience is being tried, and that is a sign to pause, calm him and attempt the chore again later. I doubt that he had developed such a characteristic at that point; on the other hand, his guardian may have trimmed too close for comfort. The result was that Ren was banished to the basement of his foster-home, and PAW was told that another must be found for him. I had fostered three cats by then, and offered to take in Ren.


We were told by the foster-guardians, who retained Charlie, that Ren did not like people and preferred to remain in the basement. I suspect that he did not like the people in the house, who had decided that he was a bad cat, and preferred to remain away from them. In my home, Ren was timid (which he is still, even after he achieved the extra N in his name) but anxious to meet the other cats, and me. He loves people and, while he is initially shy, it does not take him long to test the waters, especially if the newcomers sit still for a few minutes.


His brothers have all been adopted – Mondo, Dusty, Charlie and a fourth, whose name I am sorry to write, I do not know. All share Renn’s big facial features, big size and big hair; colouring differs except for Charlie, pictured below. (Charlie was eventually adopted – into the same home as his brother, Dusty.) I decided to adopt Renn because I thought his timidity would prevent most people from getting to know him well. I don’t now think that was really the case, but he seems comfy enough here, so he may as well stay.


Renn has become the most tolerant of new cats – which isn’t really saying much here – and became good friends with Tungsten, who returned his feelings, after she had established her dominance by striking Renn once on the top of the head so strongly the blow made my teeth rattle.




Healthy and strong, and going on eleven, my big boy seems set fair for a long life, and, paws crossed, he and I will live it together.

21 comments:

  1. I've been reading your blog for almost three years now, and it's so interesting to learn about how your cats came to live with you. Thank you so much for sharing their stories with us. I look forward to hearing about Cammie, Tucker, and Parker.

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    1. While preparing this entry, I read through Renn's old profile and realised I'd forgotten that he'd been adopted once before, then returned. Some cats go through a lot to get to where they are.

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  2. We are glad to hear that Renn got to come and live with someone as calm and patient as you. We felt bad that he was being punished in his previous home.

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    1. Renn has put up with me so far without biting, so I guess I pass.

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  3. Renn! You know I have a soft spot in my heart for him, and it's terrific to read how he came to join you. I hope his first foster people didn't foster again. No surprise that he bit the person, any cat might do so. In any case, Renn and you were the winners in this. Give him a cuddle from me! ♥

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    1. I figured you'd like to read Renn's story. His former foster-people very much wanted to keep Charlie, but in the end he was adopted elsewhere.

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  4. Renn is such a handsome boy, it is interesting to learn about his background and his story of how he came to be just where he was supposed to be.

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    1. Everyone thinks he's the handsome one in the household!

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  5. Poor misunderstood Renn! I am so glad that dear boy came to you.

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    1. Thank goodness he purrs more than groans here!

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  6. dood....we agreez with dad; we think de peepulz ewe used ta live with iz why ya pre furred de base mint. we N joyed yur storee N we R glad dad said yes ewe can stay N we R glad we iz palz ~~~~ ...ewe due look a lot like yur brother charlie ~~~ ☺☺♥♥

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    1. You could tell all five cats in the family were brothers.

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  7. Obviously, that second 'n' made all the difference! Such floofiness!

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    1. Yes, there was enough floof in those five brothers to make a dozen more cats.

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  8. Renn is in the perfect home. He was waiting for you all along. I do love the photos of Renn and Tungsten. How is your holiday going?

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    1. I loved seeing Tungsten and Renn together. The holidays are going well. They are busy - I am working on the PAW Society calendar - but I am busy not at work, and that's the important thing.

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  9. I am so glad Renn (I think he is German in his ancestry and that's why he added the extra N to his name!)waited and came to your home where he is loved and appreciated for the boy he is. That he has a loving home, that you let him be who he is..that is a loving kindness. All the feline family members have this freedom at the cozy apartment.

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    1. I couldn't stop them being who they are if I tried - but why would anyone want to?

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  10. Poor Renn had such a bad start in life, but he's definitely enjoying the good life now! I love all his fluffy hair, though, it must be a pain to take care of. Adore the pic of Renn and Tungsten at the window together. It's hard to believe that little girl wallopped Renn that hard! I sure am enjoying reading about the history of your fur-family and how they all get along, for the most part. Each one of them are becoming more real to me. I should finally be able to remember their names, these stories really help!

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    1. Don't worry about not remembering their names. I call them by the wrong names half the time myself.

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  11. What a handsome big boy! I laughed at the thought of little Tungsten bopping him on the head. That girl had 'tude, even if she was a orange kitty.

    Lucky Renn to have found his way into your home.
    Eileen

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