Ash- One of Our Longest Kitty Residents

Are you looking to make a difference in a cat's life and save a kitty that has been passed over time and time again, and who has been dealt an unfair hand in life? If so, please read on because Ash may be just the girl for you!<br/><br/>Ash is a beautiful gray girl with piercing eyes, strong opinions, and absolutely no interest in pretending she's easy. She has been in foster care the longest because, frankly, she has a brand to maintain. Ash is a stunning blue queen with a personality best described as "aggressively selective." She is equal parts affection and contempt, often delivered simultaneously. One minute she'll demand pets and purr like a tiny engine. The next, she'll stare at you with such disappointment that you'll find yourself apologizing for things you did in 2017. Some days she's as sweet as pie. Some days she's a little sassy. Some days she's both at once. Personal growth is a journey, and Ash has chosen to make that journey everyone else's problem.<br/><br/>It is estimated that Ash has been giving the side-eye since the beginning of time, but possibly closer to 2/8/19, making her either 7 years old, or 2 million years old. The jury is still out on that one.<br/><br/>When Ash first arrived at her foster home, she hated everything under the sun, probably INCLUDING the sun. Over time, however, she's made what we in the rescue world call "significant personal growth." To be fair, we suspect life wasn't always kind to Ash, and she's still figuring out how to "cat" appropriately. <br/><br/>Ash firmly believes she should be placed on a pedestal and treated with the respect due a furry little dictator. She expects her staff (that's you) to anticipate her needs without being told. Does she want pets? Maybe. Does she want you to leave immediately and start a new life on another continent? Also, maybe. Sometimes she wants cuddles. Sometimes she wants you to leave her alone. Sometimes she wants both at the same time. The trick is figuring out which answer is correct before she does.<br/><br/>Ash has opinions about everything and living with other cats is no exception. Can she live with other cats? Yes. Will she love their company and romp around your home with them in sheer delight? Actually, MAYBE.... she as made HUGE strides over the last few months! She still wants to make it clear that she is the boss of her personal space (planet Earth) and other kitties are just lucky to be in her presence. She would likely prefer if they packed their bags and moved to another zip code, but she's also learned to deal with the presence of other cats. In fact, she's occasionally been caught playing with other cats... and has even been spotted entertaining foster kittens. (Please don't tell her we told you. She has a reputation). When irritated by other cats, she will hiss dramatically at them from a safe distance. While she does consider herself to be the boss, if she encounters a cat with bigger boss energy, she immediately remembers an important appointment, tucks tail and runs for the hills. So yeah, she's more talk than action. Her foster home is a busy place with lots of kitties, and she has been doing remarkably well in it, but she would much prefer to be in a more quiet home with a more reasonable amount of other kitties. <br/><br/>Ash has had a couple of UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections) since landing in her foster home, and we suspect that they are due to stress. Again, her foster home is a busy place with a lot of kitties, and is a big ask of any kitty to deal with. She will likely need to be kept on a Urinary Care Diet until her little bladder calms down, or it could be a lifelong need. She may be ok with store bought urinary tract care food, or she made need prescription food. As mentioned before, Ash never claimed to be easy, but she is deserving of proper care and love nonetheless.<br/><br/>Ash's opinion on dogs remains a mystery. We honestly have no idea. Ash declined to answer questions regarding canine relations and requested legal representation. But her foster mom thinks that as long as she has vertical spaces (cat trees and towers), that she may be fine with a gentle, cat-friendly dog. There is a very real possibility she will appoint herself the dog's supervisor, steal its bed, eat first, and occasionally ride it around like a tiny furry cowboy. It's just part of the mystery and adventure that is Ash!<br/><br/>Despite her prickly exterior, Ash has a playful side that shines through once she feels comfortable. Wand toys are her absolute favorite, and she'll happily unleash her inner hunter in pursuit of feathers and strings. Watching her play is one of the best ways to see the softer cat hiding beneath all that attitude. Her expectations are high and a firm belief that wand toys should be in motion at all times. If you stop playing before she's finished, expect a formal complaint. Ash is always ready for her next hunting mission. She's looking for a home with someone willing to take their wand-toy responsibilities very seriously.<br/><br/>The ideal adopter for Ash has a sense of humor, a sense of adventure, and perhaps a slight masochistic streak. In return, you'll get a cat who loves and hates you simultaneously, keeps your self-esteem appropriately managed, and occasionally rewards your devotion with affection that feels genuinely earned. Ash likes men and women equally, which is to say she is suspicious of everyone. She may dislike men a tiny bit less than she dislikes women, but don't let that inflate your ego. Nobody is truly safe from her judgment, or unexpected affection!<br/><br/>Despite all this, she will love you fiercely in her own deeply confusing way. You'll become her person, her servant, her emotional support human, and possibly her hostage. And when she curls up next to you after a long day of judging your life choices, you'll understand why she's worth the extra work that she may need.<br/><br/>If we haven't scared you away yet, then hot dog, you may be just the right adopter for her! Live on the wild side and fill out that application so that you can bring home your very own furry CEO, life coach, HOA president and drill sergeant! Even though Ash has spent several months in a foster home, she is currently at the shelter, where she is hoping to get more exposure and can hopefully find her forever person. Could that be you? If so, please complete an application and help this girl find the loving, permanent forever home that has so far evaded her. <br/><br/>West Jefferson, Ohio<br/>#hsmcohio<br/><br/>A Petfinder inquiry is not a substitute for an application. For detailed information about our adoption process, including fees, please visit our website www.hsmcohio.org<br/><br/>Our adoption fee is $100.00 for kittens up to 6 months of age and $80 for cats 7 months and older. It includes: a microchip, spay or neuter, set of shots, de-worming, and a 1-year rabies vaccine (if old enough). Fees can be made by cash or credit card. Please go to our website, www.hsmcohio.org to fill out an application.

Are you looking to make a difference in a cat's life and save a kitty that has been passed over time and time again, and who has been dealt an unfair hand in life? If so, please read on because Ash may be just the girl for you!

Ash is a beautiful gray girl with piercing eyes, strong opinions, and absolutely no interest in pretending she's easy. She has been in foster care the longest because, frankly, she has a brand to maintain. Ash is a stunning blue queen with a personality best described as "aggressively selective." She is equal parts affection and contempt, often delivered simultaneously. One minute she'll demand pets and purr like a tiny engine. The next, she'll stare at you with such disappointment that you'll find yourself apologizing for things you did in 2017. Some days she's as sweet as pie. Some days she's a little sassy. Some days she's both at once. Personal growth is a journey, and Ash has chosen to make that journey everyone else's problem.

It is estimated that Ash has been giving the side

Are you looking to make a difference in a cat's life and save a kitty that has been passed over time and time again, and who has been dealt an unfair hand in life? If so, please read on because Ash may be just the girl for you!

Ash is a beautiful gray girl with piercing eyes, strong opinions, and absolutely no interest in pretending she's easy. She has been in foster care the longest because, frankly, she has a brand to maintain. Ash is a stunning blue queen with a personality best described as "aggressively selective." She is equal parts affection and contempt, often delivered simultaneously. One minute she'll demand pets and purr like a tiny engine. The next, she'll stare at you with such disappointment that you'll find yourself apologizing for things you did in 2017. Some days she's as sweet as pie. Some days she's a little sassy. Some days she's both at once. Personal growth is a journey, and Ash has chosen to make that journey everyone else's problem.

It is estimated that Ash has been giving the side-eye since the beginning of time, but possibly closer to 2/8/19, making her either 7 years old, or 2 million years old. The jury is still out on that one.

When Ash first arrived at her foster home, she hated everything under the sun, probably INCLUDING the sun. Over time, however, she's made what we in the rescue world call "significant personal growth." To be fair, we suspect life wasn