I have seven rescues, six cats and one dog. Autumn Splendor is one of my own rescues. I found her on a very hot day in August 1998. I had just come home from one of my shopping sprees and opened my front window to say hello to a good friend of mine that was working on my apartment building. He asked me if I had lost one of my cats, because there was one under the tree in the front yard. I said I hadn't lost one, but I would certainly check to see what was under that big fir tree. As I looked under the tree, on my hands and knees, I moved a few branches, and saw this starved, frightened kitten, with the biggest eyes and loaded with fleas. As I picked her up, my friend said "How can you pick her up? She's probably got fleas!" I told him "I don't have a problem with the fleas, but I do have a problem with an abandoned kitten under a tree!" As I picked her up and held her tightly, she looked up at me with those big yellow-green eyes and purred contentedly as if to say "I love you and thank you for saving me."
I took her to my clean basement and checked her out. She had fleas and ear mites. I told her that until she got rid of the fleas and ear mites, I couldn't introduce her to my other pets.
I then called the groomer, and off we went to get her first bath.
The groomer asked me for a name. I took one look at this little tortoiseshell kitten, with light red, light tan, brown, gray and golden colors, and said to the groomer "She reminds me of autumn leaves, so I shall name her Autumn Splendor". The groomer told me that he would call when she was done with her bath.
I went home and called my veterinarian and made an appointment for shots, exam etc.
Autumn, I was told by my vet, was approximately six weeks old. The vet gave her the shots, exam, and ear mite medications.
In September 1998, Autumn was finally introduced to my other pets. My German shepherd, Misty, immediately fell in love with Autumn, and to this day considers Autumn to be her cat.
In October 1998, Autumn was in her first ACFA cat show. She won three ribbons. Since then she has received Best of the Best Household Pet, a titled Royal HHP-ACFA, Eleventh Best HHP, ACFA, Northeast Region, Supremely Honored HHP, in the Happy Household Pet Cat Club and is Tenth Best regional HHP.
Autumn Splendor turned one year old on June 15, 1999. So far she has had a wonderful showing in her first year of cat shows.
Autumn is lovable, and thinks that she rules the "roost" (that's the hereditary red coloring!), and is a big ham in the judges' rings. Autumn will get on the judge's table and stand there as if to say "Look at me! Look at me! I'm the only cat worth judging!"
All of my pets get along with Autumn and Autumn rounds out my family of pets quite nicely.
At the end of a long day, around 10:00 pm Autumn curls up on my lap, and looks up at me as if to say "Mom, I love you, and that you for rescuing me".
Doreen Meier
Chester, PA
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