OLIVE

HISTORY: Senior Olive was surrendered to a SC county animal shelter when a new baby arrived in her home and she was no longer a good match for the family. 

When you enter our senior cat room,  be prepared to stop dead in your tracks to gaze upon the beauty that we call OLIVE!  Such a sweet, sweet, dear girl,  she had the same family for over 15yrs and then a child entered the picture and she lost the only safe spot she had ever known.  She was surrendered to a SC county shelter where she rapidly declined.  Luckily, we learned of her plight and worked as quickly as possible to find a spot for her here before she just gave into sadness and depression.

The shelter reported that she was untouchable, hissy and had little or no appetite.  Clearly,  that environment was super stressful for her but surprisingly (or not!!),  when we got her in her new kitty condo,  she was calm and relaxed and she quickly started to eat.  You could almost see her exhale in one big mighty wave of relief as she inspected and took in her new surroundings.  You got this girl!

Olive has adjusted well to her new room and she enjoys soft body rubs and will arch up in delight if the perfect spots along her body and her chin area are appropriately scratched.   A petite, old lady at just 8lbs,  she sports a full, luscious jacket – a patchwork of muted tans, greys and other earth tones.  Her soft green eyes perfectly round out her exquisite look.  In her prior home,  she had 2 humans caring over her since she was a tiny kitten.  She had a huge 2 level home to call her own and enjoyed the human laps and also following them around acting as their shadow. She was very tuned into her humans,  very doted over, loving and very social.  

So what works for Olive in her golden years as she searches for her final home?  We believe less will be more for Olive.  A more quiet, calm home where she can quickly settle into a routine with her human(s) would nicely suit her style.   In her prior life, she shared her home with a min pin dog.  Moving forward,  she might be happy as a single pet,  however if there are older, more mature, polite pets in the home she might be open to sharing her new space/life with them.  At 16 yrs of age,  Olive is in great health,  her spirit has been restored and she and we believe she still has one more family to serve as a cherished pet.  Might it be with you?  

Fall Update 2025: Observation from Volunteer Steve: OLIVE’s discovery last Spring of the Senior Room Catio changed her life. She rejoices as she basks in the warm sunshine streaming through the catio skylight. Usually, she’s sprawled on the low bench in the middle of the catio. But, I think, she sometimes gets too hot and moves to the cooler concrete floor. She’s still a purr-machine par excellence. Her bench is low to the floor so I often sit in a chair beside it, reaching down to pet her. She invariably begins to purr when I touch her. As time goes on, her purr increases in volume and never stops. Sometimes, she begins to purr before I even touch her.

Spring Update 2025: Olive continues to expand her horizons. As far as both staff and Senior Room vols knew, she’d never been to the Catio. In March, that changed when volunteer Maddy carried Olive to the Catio and sat with her on her lap for over an hour. Olive reveled in the light, closing her eyes with her face in the sun. Since we weren’t sure she knew how the cat flap worked, we brought her back in at the end of the day. Over the next few days, others carried Olive to the Catio where she luxuriated in the warmth and sunshine. And she quickly learned how to use the cat flap! On my last visit, I found her sound asleep on a platform bed on the Catio. What made this extra special was that Oliver was curled up next to her, touching her. Now Olive has clearly shown that she doesn’t like other cats intruding into her space. So, it was remarkable that she allowed Oliver to be that close to her. With no emerging health issues, we’ll look forward to seeing where this budding relationship might go, if anywhere!

Winter Update 2025: Let the Sunshine In
A few months ago, I wrote about Olive, the beautiful dilute Tortie who was surrendered by her family of 15 years. I’ve been caring for her for almost a year now but I’ve never seen her venture out to the Senior Room’s catio. Neither have other volunteers and staff.

So, last week on a spring-like February day with the sun shining brightly, Volunteer Maddy gathered Olive in her arms and carried her to the Catio. Olive purred all the way. But her contentment shot up to pure ecstasy when Maddy placed her in the sun.

As Maddy’s pictures show, Olive closed her eyes and stretched her neck toward the sunshine. She seemed entranced by the sun. She appeared to be completely at peace—perhaps a transcendental experience for this lovely girl. Maddy sat with her for a while but then went to work with other cats. Olive remained, still with eyes closed in the direction of the sun. At CFC closing time, we guiltily returned Olive inside. We weren’t sure she knew how to use the cat flap. Volunteer Steve

Fall Update 2024: Picture this: a gorgeous blue and cream Tortie with white (aka a dilute Calico) sound asleep in a deep bed on a shelf with a window view. You approach and call softly to her. She continues to doze. You call her name and her eyes pop open. Before you can touch her, she begins to purr. You pet her and she purrs more loudly. While petting her, you lean forward and press your cheek to her warm fur. You can feel her body vibrating in time with her purr. You lift her in her bed, sit and place her in your lap. Her purr never stops. This is nirvana for both you and her.  This is Olive! A year after being betrayed by her human family of 16 years, she has weathered abandonment and depression to become a Kitty Lovebug. CFC staff and volunteers use only superlatives to describe this beautiful, sweet girl.