[Absynthe]

I wasn't looking for another Persian; she's both a rescue, a pureblooded Persian kitten, the VERY last of a 30 year line, and a heart-breaking story.

I suppose Zofia's a rescue of sorts, from the Midwest. She was a gift to me, when I bailed a friend's cat out of the SPCA, when her boyfriend changed all the locks, and had the SPCA pick up all her cats, while she was only at work. One was deathly ill, so I got her out, while my poor friend, pregnant a few weeks, scrambled to get money, rent a hotel that accepted pets, then find an apartment.

Just before Christmas, the last of a 30 year line in the CFA (every line has it just about; checked) caught fire; electric. Only a handful of survivors. Zofia and her sister were, because the 80 year old woman had a soft spot in her heart, for red-headed McTabbies. But, they were both orphans, and were scared to death of men because of the Fire Department.

Understand, the cattery was a separate building in the backyard, and I do feel the woman was too old to be doing it at her age, and I'm so thankful that she'd willingly cut back 20 cats earlier last year - that's STILL 10 cats who cried for their human mommy, and who died crying for her. THAT pisses me off! I cried when I first found out. Also when I first heard, I'd heard that the daughter and mother were only allowed to save a nursing mother and her kittens, but it looked like all were going to die, from smoke inhalation. I made the call, and told my friend, to NEBULIZE them all! She said, why? I have asthma; this is a lung issue, stick ALL the kittens into the shoebox nebulizer NOW, don't argue with me, it's the only chance they have! ALL of them, all at once, since they're only a day old. The mother took the brunt of the smoke inhalation, but I had faith that her fur, and their constant nursing may have blocked it.

Fast forward 3 days. My friend called me, and with thanks for helping to save the kittens, and the momma was doing find. Would I like one of the older kittens in the house, 4 months old? I told her, my beloved Purrby was dying, and I was helpless. She said, that's why she was offering the kitten - to help me, and Purrby, and for the thanks on saving her cat, and for saving the kittens.

So, a month later, because there was so much bad weather in the Midwest at the time, I got little Zofia, who had big bunny ears, at the airport. Other than hiding under the bed, she took to Purrby instantly. I'm having a few issues with getting photos up, but I do have photos of her snuggling with Purrby, while she has all the fluid lines running on her, on her pillow.

Actually, I never removed Purrby's pillow/Tara's pillow; I've only washed the covers when we wash regularly. The cats seem to understand, that the pillow's just for them only, and they stick to it like velcro!

Though Zofia's the last of her line, no one's come forward, so I'm going to fix her now. Raising Persian kittens is NOT the same as normal kittens, and an awful lot of horrible things do, and can happen, and I'm rather RELIEVED!! Breeder wanted me to wait until she was 2 anyway- HAHAHAHAHA! I'd go crazy like the Joker from Batman! Working with another breeder out here would be one thing; but even then, after looking at whom I've had from rescue, having contracts, how do you REALLY know!? People get ashamed, then your kitten gets put down, over pride. Only if you chip your kittens, would you ever know.

Tara, my dilute calico persian, was a rescue - she was actually one of the MOST rare persians of all. I have Cheshire, also a rescue; she's a tortie, THE most expensive persian, and rare. How on earth did she wind up in a rescue!? My evil ex bought Purrby for me, then he abandoned both her and me - she's the MOST desired persian being black, ergo more money shelled out. Oh, wait - he got tired of us both. Guess what the fourth most rare persian is? A TABBY! And out of tabbies, red is the most rare; and only 20% are females! And Zofia's not just any red tabby - she's a McTabby! Yep, a cute little 'M' over her head.

So, she's my little Princess - Princess Zofia, named after one of my ancestors, purported to have been nearly as bad as Helen of Troy. Let's just say, ONE country was indeed lost for a century...and it separated my family for a century. I can't take sides in that one, it was done over love, and we all know that the wrong brain was engaged.

Zoey can now trust men to pet her, pick her up, snuggle her, and kiss on her. Far cry, from when she was scared of them.