Qwerty Cat- The joy of a foster failure

by Robert Hudson

Qwerty cat was found on August 6, 2009 in the back alley way of Michelle’s apartment building. “A nurse, Carole, who we are still in contact with, working at NYU hospital spotted him pawing at the gate as she was commuting back to Penn Station. She noticed he was very friendly and carried him to the front desk to see if anyone was missing a cat.” Michelle told me.

Reluctant Cat Mom

I grumbled at the thought of managing a cat while working long demanding hours. My new leather furniture wasn’t cat friendly. I needed to travel that upcoming weekend. I refused to get attached to the cat, anticipating the return to the finder.

That night I ran across the street to CVS to get cat litter and cat food, because he was clearly hungry. He was so thin you could see his ribs through the fur, but he appeared to crave affection even more than food. He was by my side the entire day and night The days when I went to work my neighbors would tell me he would sit at the door crying for hours on end. When he slept, he always had one paw on me to ensure that I was around and wasn’t leaving his side.

We had a struggle with the bed arrangement, as in I didn’t want a cat on my bed. He would jump on the bed and I would carry him off over and over again throughout the entire evening.  Given his perseverance, we made a compromise. I set a towel at the edge of the bed and he would stay on it. A paw was on my foot the entire evening.” 

Qwerty Cat- Part of the Family

Her boyfriend was responsible for her decision to become a cat mom. “My boyfriend at the time traveled in from Oregon that weekend, and he is not a natural animal lover. He met Qwerty the day before he was going to be returned to the finder. Qwerty completely won him over. He massaged his belly and gave my boyfriend constant love and attention. They were even playing fetch! (Yes, Qwerty was pulling out all the stops). After a long deliberation, with my boyfriend we decided to keep Qwerty. I let the nurse know that we will be keeping Qwerty permanently and he has blessed our lives ever since. “

Qwerty cat has now been with Michelle for 13 years. “I don’t know how old he was when I got him”

“He is in great health today and as spry as ever,” according to Michelle. Qwerty is one cool and chilled cat.

“He isn’t all that mischievous other than jumping into every box or bag that enters in the apartment. When I first got him, his infatuation with opening the door locked me out of the apartment  His favorite activity is trying to catch a laser. 

The Cat-dog

We call him a cat dog because he acts like a dog, but manages us humans like a cat. He fetches balls, flushes toilets, takes commands to sit or lay down. He gives his paw on command, and as mentioned before, opens doors. Qwerty only drinks water from a running faucet, and often prefers hand feeding. He is even picky down to the shape of the dry food that he eats. We call him our first child, and he cares for his younger two human siblings deeply.

Qwerty wakes us up by pawing at our faces, meowing in our ears or scratching our walls to make the chalkboard sound. . Despite him being 13 years old, he’s still spry, and can jump from the floor to the countertop. His fur is silky smooth. He loves fitting into spots that look impossible to fit into, sitting on freshly cleaned laundry, and participating in our work Zoom calls only when it is not muted. (And she told me he is NOT mischievous!)

No regret

Michelle has no regret bringing Qwerty Cat into her family. He keeps her and her husband entertained, and showers them with affection. The whole experience has strengthened her passion for rescue.

“I am personally passionate about animal rescues, and am a big contributor to Stray from Heart, Bideawee, CPAW NJ. I dream of the day when we can have no strays on the street exposed to the elements. This love for animals comes from my mother, who has rescued countless numbers of cats all around NJ. I had dreamt that Qwerty would gain popularity to the point I could monetize into a recurring revenue stream. All of the profits would be sent to charitable organizations to help give stray animals another chance at a loving life- just like we did for Qwerty!”

https://www.facebook.com/qwertythecat

Qwerty’s favorite rescue