Meet Buddha!
Buddha as you may imagine is as sweet as can be. He is a curious little kitty with a soft demeanor. He was quite the shy boy when we first got him, but quickly figured out we were his best source of snuggles, and became attached. He rolls over instantaneously for belly rubs while purring his soft purr. Getting his Buddha belly scratched is his Most favorite thing. He is ebony black with bright sparkling green eyes, giving him a majestic look and often times making him difficult to spot.
Buddha was a feral kitty that was a member of the barn buddy program at our local Humane Society, similar to Pearl. He was adopted out to a family with his sister who was much more courageous and adventurous than he was. She, unfortunately, was taken by a dog or coyote once in her new home leaving poor Buddha behind, alone. The family knew Buddha was quite nervous and sad without his sister and he wouldn’t leave his spot in the barn, so they wanted to find him a new home where he would be happier. They asked if we would be willing to take him in and since Yodi had tried befriending all the other cats and animals when we brought him home, but none of them were too fond of him, we decided maybe Yodi would like a buddy and we’d give it a try! Maya and Yodi had been great friends from the beginning, but ever since Sukah arrived, Maya decided she was too cool for cat friends and turned on poor Yodes.
So, we gave it a go and with less than a week the two boys were buds. Buddha has never once hissed or growled at Yodi, Ever. They hunt together, wrestle and play together, groom each other and sleep together. These two boys are completely bonded and it is so heartwarming to see. Buddha was not a very agile kitty when he arrived…jumping over the bottom section of the goat door was out of the question, he wouldn’t even try, he would just look up at it. I was wondering if he would be able to keep up with Yodi since Yodi is capable of getting anywhere in a flash and did hike multiple miles with me and Maya on a hot summer day by choice. I thought, oh dear, Yodi is going to get him into some predicaments. Buddha didn’t follow Yodi out initially, he was smart and stayed in the safe warm barn where all his needs and wants were met. I thought maybe he will be an “inside” cat, just in the barn. But, a couple mornings later I came into the barn and there was no Buddha. Uh, oh… I so hope he is ok, I thought. After calling and searching we found him in the old goat barn where Yodi used to sleep, up in his loft. So relieved, I carried him back into the new barn to reassure him this was the spot to be, warm and with his food, bed and water. He was content and slept all day snuggled in his bed. Then, the next morning he was gone again. And this time he wasn’t in the old barn. Ahhh, now is he ok?? I was so worried. Calling and looking for him, we couldn’t find him anywhere. We were confident he knew where his house was, how to get in and out and all the things, so we just hoped he was off galivanting somewhere and would return. It was a worrisome day and a half or so, and then Eric came in the house after a quick drive somewhere saying that the dogs were really interested in the car and kind of freaking out. So, we got the dogs inside and popped the hood and there he was, hidden in the dark of the engine compartment with his bright green eyes looking up at us. It was many days/weeks of every morning checking under the hood of any car before we went anywhere, because he was likely there. He visited all the cars and would change up which one he would be in. He was saving the wires from the mice and it was a safe place to be, so we understood and thanked him for keeping the wires from being chewed.
He seems to be over the car hoods lately and now he prefers to be up high in a comfy spot in the back of Eric’s shop, in the straw and hay piles (lots of mice there) or curled up in his heated bed. Now jumping over the goats door is no problem for him and he seems to be quite the clever, intelligent boy. Hopefully Yodi has taught him some of his ways. Buddha is not fond of the dogs, but he keeps clear of them and has all his safe places where they don’t’ even realize he is there. He enjoys visiting Tulips now that we keep the split door between their rooms open for the heat. He is a wonderfual addition to the Sanctuary fam and its hard to remember Yodi without his best bud around.
~ Namaste