The Rescued Interviews: Little Pip

Meows from Mudpie!

Back in 2015 Angel Truffles started interviewing the cats featured in Rescued: The Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes, an anthology of rescue cat stories compiled by Janiss Garza, who writes the Sparkle Cat blog. She was unable to see it to completion but I was more than honored to continue the series once I settled into my forever home and took full reins of our blog. Now Rescued Volume 2 is on store shelves and it's my goal to interview as many of the kitties as possible once again! (If you missed our review, it can be found here.)

Each author featured in the book has nominated a cat rescue and was assigned a month to promote the book, with a third of the profits from that month going to their rescue. October's spotlight is Pip, a rescue cat adopted into a family who needed her just as much as she needed them.

Welcome Pip! Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Could you start by introducing yourself to us and telling us what made your story such a good fit for the Rescuedanthology?

I am Pippa, Little Pip, Pipsy. I came from the cold place, but a mother and daughter took me home. Honestly, being called Pipsy is a bit embarrassing, but only the little girl calls me that. My story is good, hopeful for all cats who are stuck in the cold place. And people must know that the cold place is not where we belong. We all deserve a second chance.

Your story begins, not uncommonly, at an animal shelter praying for your forever home. What do you remember about that scary time and how you ended up there?

I ended up in the cold place because the others who had me first pushed me out of their home and would not let me back in. I roamed and learned to do things on my own until a stranger caught me and took me to the cold place. I no longer talk about my time there, it is all forgotten because I am in a warm place now with people who want me.

A mother and very special little girl finally bring you home. Tell us about the special bond you've formed with the humans in your family.

I have different energy, a different bond with each human. I know the mother is the leader, I call her Mom now. She watches over me the most. She always knows where I am, knows when I need some love, when I need some time alone. She let’s me sit on her lap often, she has a special way of petting the pads on my paws, her fingers move across them lightly. I love the little girl, but she miscalculates space. Her love bulges, like I’m in fluffy clouds and getting squished. So I let her know, patiently at first, that she must give me room. But sometimes it doesn’t work. I give her that rumbling warning, I tap my tail hard, but when she squeezes me too tight, I scratch her. Twice I've bitten her. Mom was not happy with either of us. She scolded the little girl for not leaving me alone when I wanted space, she scolded me for biting. So the little girl and I, we’re working on it, we’re getting better. The father likes me, and I like him. He’s very happy, he whistles a lot. But he also doesn’t know how to pet in a gentle way, he’s very strong, so I only stay for a moment, then I bolt.

You also share your home with two very large dogs. What has your family learned about how to help cats and dogs peacefully co-exist?

The canines and I, we have an understanding. They can smell me if they do it every so slightly. And when I’m on their dog beds, they go somewhere else. The male is afraid of me a bit, the female won’t let me push her around. It’s all very subtle, I don’t need to hiss, they don’t need to growl or bark. In fact, I don’t think I’ve even heard either dog growl, ever. They are both happy dogs, peaceful. They’re both ten but the female is still like a puppy whenever people come to the house. So when she’s celebrating in hysterics, I go find a quiet place. I like to tease a bit, whenever the dogs come in from outside, and I’m stretched out on the kitchen chair, I reach out and jab them slightly with my protruding claws. Once, the female yelped in surprise. I laughed. The three of us have never fought, I think because my mom kept us separated for two months and then slowly let us meet one another. She used a lot of treats, the turkey was our favorite.

What is life like for you today?

It is hearty and cozy, and I purr a lot. I roam around the house wherever I want, I sleep wherever I want. My mom didn’t like me drinking out of the faucet so she bought me my own fountain. Only a few things annoy me—Mom doesn’t like me on the kitchen counters or the kitchen table. She scoops me up and places me on the floor. But she always gives me a kiss when she does it, so that’s all right. The other thing I get mad about is they still won’t let me outside. They tell me they know I’m tough, but they say the coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, and bears are tougher. Ha, they really don’t know just how tough I am. I’ve bolted out the back door many times, but I only make it to the bottom of the deck stairs before someone grabs me and takes me back inside. Truthfully, I stop at the bottom and let them catch me. I don’t think they would ever let me go, ever push me out forever, but for those of us who were abandoned, well, it’s hard to develop full trust.

What shelter have you chosen to receive your proceeds from the book this month and why?

There are many amazing rescue organizations in Colorado, which made it difficult to choose, but I’ve decided to select the Larimer Humane Society because they are the ones who took care of me while I waited to be rescued. It was cold and sad there, but mainly because at the time, I was cold and sad inside my soul. They gave me what I needed while I was there, so I think it will be good to give back to them.

What do you hope people learn from your story and what would you like your lasting legacy to be?

That there are too many amazing cats being discarded. That even though it may seem like we came from the gutter, we are remarkable little beings who have much love to give. Hopefully, my legacy will be that others understand that even though I needed a home, the family who adopted me also needed something. The little girl still has the masses in her brain, I still move my energy into her to help heal her, even if that healing is only warm, loving conductivity. It may not make the masses go away, but it will fill her with something useful. It’s the connectedness I want humans to remember, the larger meaning of taking care of small creatures. We cats and humans, we’re good for each other.