When Izzy ain’t happy . . .

When we found Izzy in the Trader Joe’s parking lot she was tiny and tar-covered and scared to death.

We took her back to the house and tried to find a home for her. For two weeks the poor little thing hid under furniture, ran from shoes and cried. The only thing that would calm her was being held tightly and petted, then as soon as we put her down, she ran under the furniture again.

She came to know her surroundings and grew more comfortable with us, and when none of our cat-loving friends had room for her we knew she was with us to stay.

She finally got over her fears and became the most playful cat we’ve ever had. She loves to chase the laser pointer beam, wrestle twist-ties, and play soccer with wine corks. I’d never seen a cat dribble a wine cork the length of our first floor as well as she can. She became even happier when we started letting her out. She rarely ventured beyond our little yard and the neighbors’ and she seemed to mostly sit under a shrub and watch birds, but she wanted to be outside all the time, summer and winter.

So then we sold our house and Izzy went to stay with Jack’s family while we boat shopped. At first she reverted to hiding under the furniture but within a few days she grew to love her foster home. There were people to dote on her and play Catch the Twist-Tie and lots of bird feeders to watch. Best of all there was plenty of room to run, because more than anything, Izzy loves to run.

When we found Escape Velocity we drove back to Pittsburgh and collected Izzy for what would be a much longer car trip than she’d ever experienced. And she did not like it.

We stopped for a week with my family and it took only a day or two before she was right at home, getting hugged and playing outside.

Then, just as she was getting used to that, we were back in the car for a long ride to Florida,

two weeks cooped up in a short-term rental while we wrapped up the purchase of Escape Velocity, and finally the big move aboard our new home. She was understandably frightened. We figured a couple of weeks and she’ll be exploring the docks and making friends with the neighbors. But no. She hides in various places on the boat and only comes outside under cover of darkness and even then any sound at all makes her flinch. When we’re underway she heads down to the lowest place on the boat, and if it gets at all bouncy she cries.

The night before we arrived here in Portsmouth we tied up to a free dock alongside a town park. Izzy must have smelled land because she came out on deck, saw how close we were to shore and walked up and down the side deck choosing her spot. In a flash she was off the boat and under a bush. Lucky for us she doesn’t run away but just hides. We grabbed the leash and hooked her up and stayed with her while she enjoyed the cool feel of grass between her toes.

It broke our hearts to have to bring her back inside when it was time to go. We’ve had to face the fact that our little cutie would be much happier in a land-based home.

We love this little kitty so much, but more than that we want her to be happy.