Meet Freya, a 2yo Cornish Rex. (Not to be confused with Freyja, our 8mo old Lykoi.) We drove 12.5 hours to pick her and her step-sister up, through the tornadoes and storms that crossed Texas and Louisiana last week. We got Freya last week from a woman in Texas who had to rehome her beloved cats, Freya and Valkyrie (Valkyrie is a 2yo Sphynx that I haven't been able to get a good photo of yet). Their former caretaker felt she would be unable to take care of them because she was about to become a single mom. As in, she is due in about a month.
My partner and I don't know her exact circumstances, because it was't our business. However, this is exactly the kind of choice no one should have to make. Either it's a failure of healthcare--in Texas specifically, but also the US in general--to provide options for women, or it's a failure to provide adequate social safety networks. Regardless of why, she didn't feel able to take care of herself, her baby, AND her cats.
It was emotionally devastating to her; I can't imagine having to give up any of our cats, for any reason.
Both cats are still adjusting. Valkyrie is an outgoing, energetic, busy cat. Freya is quite a bit more fearful, but very friendly once she warms up; it took her two days before she stopped hiding and would even approach u. Now six days later, her playful and affectionate side is just starting to come out. I'm sure that they both very much miss their mom.
This brings the total number of cats we care for up to 8 again.
Oriental shorthair. They sound very unusual too.