Yuka

In the world of fostering animals, I have found the most irresistible cats are those who've made me really work to gain their trust. Those cats who've overcome significant challenges yet remained sweet as honey. Those cats who've got unique personalities and appearance. Those cats who love to talk and will tell the story of their people to anyone willing to listen. Yuka is this cat. She travelled to the safe haven of West Columbia Gorge Humane Society from an overcrowded shelter in Texas. Not being one to love being in a carrier, this must've been very traumatic for Yuka. She arrived scared, confused, and not fully trusting anyone. Then came the indignities of the medical rites of passage: she was examined, vaccinated, medicated, had extensive dental work done, and was spayed before moving to our foster home. Honestly, I can't begin to imagine what she saw and felt in those first weeks. So here is our Yuka now: She is a little over 8 lbs and estimated to be about 2 years old. She always reminds us of mealtimes by leading us to her bowl, she eats voraciously, and has been putting on some much needed weight. After lots of dental work and painful extractions, Yuka sports a most deluxe snaggletooth when she smiles - which honestly is most of the time. She has a couple cool little crimps in her sleek, long tail. Yuka is currently being treated for feline asthma, but her symptoms only seem to appear at the vet (go figure) -- literally nothing stops this girl. Oh, Yuka just asked that I share this: the way to her heart is by giving her a full-on body rub when she wakes from a nap, with timely meal services, and by offering her occasional Churu treats. Yuka is a player. She absolutely lives for a good ambush, and has been known to instigate shanannigans with both the resident cat and Boston Terrier. She doesn't take no for an answer, sometimes receiving firm reprimands from the persnickety resident cat - after which Yuka simply tries again a bit later. She is curious and explores everywhere - but is very respectful about others' property. She uses a scratching post instead of furniture, doesn't take toys or things that don't belong to her - except the once she snitched leftover fish from the kitchen counter and toted it upstairs to create her own personal seafood buffet. She still denies doing that, but we have witnesses. Yuka can smell fish and chicken from a deep sleep five rooms away, and she will come running just in case it is meant for her. Yuka is a fan of the afternoon siesta and is an active member of our home Nap Club. Most afternoons she can be found dozing in a sunny perch overlooking the back yard. When Yuka wakes up, she flops down on the floor and writhes around until you give her a full-on body rub. Otherwise her favorite spots for rubbies are on her head, ears, and chin -- and when you hit just the right spot, her purr can be heard around the world. At night Yuka loves to sleep with her peeps, curling up in the warm spot behind someone's knees and/or stretched out beside them. Yuka loves just being around her family. She runs to greet us when we come home, she follows us around as we do our chores, and she generally supervises everything. As Yuka goes about her busy day, she will sweetly tell you about what she's thinking, where she's going, what she's doing, and if she's changed her mind to do something else. Yuka has won my heart, for sure. She deserves the best of the best. A patient family who will go slow at first and give her time to trust will be rewarded with the love of a lifetime. *This animal is eligible for the partners in placement program. Please ask a staff member for details!