(this post was written and submitted by Eleanor Mohabir)
Hi! My name is Iffley and I am a cat; born December 1996 on a cold and blustery street in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
I was adopted from the Winnipeg Humane Society (WHS) on March 1, 1997, where I was showcased at the Eaton’s Place Satellite location. That was a very long time ago!
My owner Wendy and her sister Eleanor were out shopping and stopped to make a donation to the WHS. Lucky for me I caught their eye! They told me later that it’s because my beautiful orange fur coat was the same color as Wendy’s hair! It was a match made in heaven!
So instead of purchasing that just right handbag, Wendy ended up shopping for my litter box, food and all my toys before I arrived to live in my new home in Osborne Village. I was so ecstatic to have found my forever friend, and loved to lie spread-eagle on my new bed – one very happy cat!
Wendy and her soon-to-be husband Phil, decided to call me Iffley after the road where they met in Oxford, England, a couple of years before. I fit into their lives perfectly!
But before I knew it, things were about to change.
Wendy married Phil and we all moved to sunny, hot Los Angeles, California. L.A. has a population of 4 million and is the second most populous city in the United States. This small-town cat was going to the BIG city!
I traveled by plane, and that would be my very first and last trip via that mode of transportation! No purring; it was just awful!
We spent a couple of years in my L.A. apartment with a roof-top deck (that was the life) before settling into our new home in North Hollywood, the Entertainment Capital of the World. I never met any movie folks, but Wendy and Phil were undoubtedly the brightest stars on my Hollywood Walk of Fame!
In my new home I had an awesome cat flap, so I could come and go and relax in my spacious tree-lined back yard. Ah, those were the days, sunning myself in or under the fruit trees! I never ventured outside of my yard except for one night… all night! Wendy and Phil were frantic with worry. Finally they tracked me down; wet and confused after being surprised by an automated sprinkler system!
Just when I thought things were perfect, Wendy and Phil had to return to Winnipeg for a couple of months. This time I traveled by car and stayed with my relatives, including my nephew, a feline named Mikky (also adopted from the WHS), in Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba. I enjoyed heading back to my roots and although I didn’t like travelling by car much at first, I soon got used to it. At least it wasn’t that horrible “iron bird”, like last time!
After returning to L.A., I spent another 4 years in Hollywood. (No cat commercials, but Wendy and Phil thought I was the cat’s meow anyway.) As time went on, they realized that the lights and action were a bit too much for me. It was decided that we should all venture to Vashon Island, Washington to live out the rest of my 9 lives.
Situated in the “Heart of the Sound” with views of water or mountains at every corner, Vashon can only be reached by a breathtakingly beautiful ferry ride. I must admit that trip was rather painless!
My island is magical! The pace is slower and all the people are friendlier and more relaxed. Vashon Island is just west of Seattle, approximately 13 miles long and 8 miles at the widest point with a year-round population of about 11,000. My new home is nestled on a hillside, overlooking the Olympic Mountains. This is my heaven on earth after the bustling pace of L.A.!
Soon after arriving, we welcomed a new addition to our family – a lab cross puppy named Sally. Sally was adopted from Homeward Pet Adoptions, a shelter in Woodinville, WA. I basically ignored her; I mean she’s just a dog, but tolerable as far as dogs are concerned. I would never let anyone know that deep down I considered her my beloved companion.
So, my human friends in Friendly Manitoba, this is my life and what a life it is!
To my furry friends waiting to be adopted at the WHS, don’t despair. There is someone special out there waiting to share his or her life with you. Who knows where you might travel and what far and exotic places you will end up!
Note: Iffley is now an Angel in animal heaven, passing away in 2010 from renal failure. Wendy and Phil were heartbroken, having spent 2 years trying to treat his condition. They keep Iffley’s memory alive by sharing stories and photos.
After some time, they adopted 2 new furry kittens (joining Sally the dog) named Bentley and Riley, from Vashon Island Pet Protectors.
The family continues to reside on Vashon Island, WA.
