When Rebecca and her daughter (Johnna), son (Ian ), bunny (Lyric), and their pit bull (Mylee) moved into their rental home, they did not realize they were intruding!
A seemingly ageless feline (Ms. Purrl) adopted years ago by a previous renter considers the home hers and she has
outlasted the last three renters. Purrl’s first owner packed up the household goods, the cat, and moved two blocks away. But, the woman had to continually return and retrieve the cat; over, and over and over!
It was obvious, Purrl was not happy about the move! She had a purr-fectly paws-ible reason for staying. She was not leaving her self appointed street-greeter-job so she repeatedly took the short cut through back yards to her old home to purr-form
her daily “meet and greet” and infuse lives with sunshine and joy. This was her kingdom, and the reining queen was not leaving!
Everyone who walks by the rental knows Purrl because she approaches mother’s pushing carriages, students on their way to school, men walking small dogs and well ... everyone who strolls by. If you don’t know her name, someone passing, as you bend to pet the demanding cat, will formally introduce you.
I have been
petting and talking to Purrl for years. The gracious queen expects it and I enjoy it! Purrl must have a degree in psychology, because after everyone’s brief interaction with her, she has them walking away smiling. She intentionally lifts her subjects’ moods.
“We’ve never met this beautiful-social Himalayan cat’s original owner,” said Rebecca.
Our dog had to adjust to Purrl. Mylee sits on one side of the screened door and gazes at Purrl on
the other. Mylee doesn’t growl and Purrl does not hiss. They actually entertain each other. Mylee shows a little jealously when we feed Purrl.”
The cat initially caught Rebecca off guard. They’d been living in the house for three weeks when she phoned the landlord worried about the friendly “homeless cat” hanging around. The landowner explained that the cat “Comes with the house!” and that all the previous renters have cared for her.
Purrl’s name
changes with each renter. Currently she is known as ‘Fuzzy Boots’ because of her Persian fluffy pantaloons that look like she's wearing boots,” said Johnna.
The family is fully aware that their shameless purr-fessional street walker solicits food and love from neighbors; shockingly “... all the way down to the church!”
“Our friends also love our rental cat,” said Johnna, “because she happily greets them just like she does the people walking
down the street. One friend who does not like cats admitted, ‘This gorgeous cat is awesome and loaded with charm.’ He’s right!
Once Fuzzy Boots sees an approaching subject, she jumps off the porch, walks down our side walk, then down the street’s sidewalk for her royal greeting! She thinks everyone is here to serve/pet her...and they do because she rules our street! As ‘queen’ of the neighborhood, Fuzzy rules with a soft paw, but if you don’t stop to pet her,
she reminds you of your duty by playfully nipping innocent ankles.
One time a little girl walked by and, of course, Fuzzy went to give and get her love. The little girl asked, ‘She's so beautiful and nice - can I have her?’ I said, ‘Sure’ but 20 minutes later, Fuzzy was trotting back up our sidewalk, (just as I knew she would!). I greeted her with, ‘Welcome home, Boots!”
The family enjoys watching Fuzzy waiting, as they drive into the driveway,
then running up to greet them. They just wish that at night she wouldn't leave her prestigious paw prints all over their car!
The family’s white and black spotted family bunny, Lyric, is not bothered by Fuzzy’s presence. (On a fun note, Lyric’s spots are shaped like perfect musical notes! )
Rebecca laughed when asked to be interviewed about her rental house’s Fuzzy accessory because, “We have our own pets and this article is all about our
notorious stray!”
A whymsical fact is that when the Angel Scibe family adopted a rescued-ancient Himalayan cat, they named her Mini Purrl in honor of our neighborhood’s fur-endly Queen.
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