Texas cats seeking California homes

By Joan Morris, Contra Costa Times

Posted:   10/16/2013

Every once in a while, having a big heart can get us into bigger trouble.

We don't think something through, or more likely, we refuse to weigh the consequences because if we did, we probably wouldn't act at all, and we couldn't live with ourselves if we didn't try.

Such is the case with Judy Michel and Michelle Wilson, both of Walnut Creek, who find themselves with 20 loving, playful and healthy cats, rescued from an uncertain future in Texas.


Judy and Michelle were going about their busy lives when Judy learned a childhood friend was in trouble. The two had known each other since forever, or at least their forever, and had spent summers playing and daydreaming of their futures. Judy's life, while not all roses all of the time, has been good. Her friend, not so lucky.

Some of the Texas cats waiting adoption. (Courtes of Judy Michel and Michelle Wilson)

The woman was in a second marriage that Judy describes as "bottomless and futile." There was some domestic violence on both parts. The husband is a disabled veteran who has had trouble getting and keeping a job. Finances were bad. They were broke and broken, the marriage lumbering toward its inevitable end.

Judy's friend, perhaps searching for love and fulfillment that wasn't coming, began rescuing cats in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in 2008.

For a long time she did well, caring for the cats, loving them, finding new homes for them. But over the years, her situation worsened. She suffered various health problems and ended up losing her job.

Things began to spiral out of control. She had managed to get some of the cats neutered, but as the money situation worsened, she couldn't afford to have them all fixed. Eventually, she didn't even have a car to get them to a free clinic.

The cat population grew until the house was overflowing with cats.

Eventually, the woman and her cats received an eviction notice. The animals were slated to be taken to the local animal shelter, something the woman just couldn't bear. Judy, however, had an answer.

Judy paid for her friend to get a car and drive the cats to California. Hours away from being taken to an animal shelter, the woman loaded the cats into the compact Dodge Colt and headed toward California.

There was no room for cages or carriers, so the cats jockeyed for position and slept their way across the country.

The woman drove straight through, unable to stop at a motel because there would be no place there for the cats.

Once she arrived, Judy and Michelle took over, finding foster homes for the cats all across the Bay Area. They also paid to have all of cats neutered and brought up-to-date on their shots.

They did it out of kindness and love not just for the cats, but for a woman in need. It's a big task they've undertaken, as any animal rescue group can testify to, but they are determined to find the cats permanent homes.

Judy and Michelle are not asking for adoption fees, but they do want to make sure the cats, who've been through a lot, go to good homes.

To help, contact Judy at 925-788-8675 or princessbunny@comcast.net; and Michelle at 925-324-7519 or mdw442@sbcglobal.net.

Contact Joan Morris at jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com or 1700 Cavallo Road, Antioch, CA 94509. Follow her at Twitter.com/AskJoanMorris.

source