Ever since Daddy died, Mom has been lonley. She mentioned several times in the past few years, how she would love to have a cat. I thought, what a simple thing to make my mother happy! My husband found an article in the newspaper about President Clinton signing a bill that would allow people in Federally assisted housing to have a reasonable pet.

This started me thinking...there must be a way!!

While searching the net I found a 1982 law saying the elderly can't be denied a pet in any Federally funded housing. I downloaded and printed the law. Next I got the name and phone number of the building caretaker.(Mom lived in a different state, a 4 hour drive away) From him I got the name and phone number of the building manager

I spread my "ammunition" out on the kitchen table.(There is a "NO PETS ALLOWED" sign in the lobby) Within reach I have the newspaper article, the 1982 bill, articles stating how having a pet is healthy for the elderly and the lonely. I also have pen and paper to jot down any resistance for further arguements.

Nervously, I dial the phone, when the manager answered, I introduced myself and then went immediately into my practiced speech. When I paused for breath, the manager said, "Sure, she can have a pet." WAIT A MINUITE!! Here I was "loaded for bear" and all I needed was a pea shooter!

Later I realized, my husband was right (again), all managers and landlords know this, they just aren't telling anyone!

I thanked the man profusely, then went into the next step of the plan.

I called my four kids and told them the what I wanted to do and asked them to gift Grandma with the necessities, litter box, litter, food, etc. Chris even gave $$ for insidentals. I told them to e-mail each other with there choices so we didn't get too many duplicates.

My youngest, Melissa and I were going to do the kitten shopping. We debated...purebred? domestic?...newspaper?...humane?..Finally we decieded she would like to rescue a kitten the best

The next step was alittle tricky, we would have to tell a white lie to get a kitten as a gift. Almost always, giving a pet as a gift is NOT a good idea, but this was a special case, and we had a back-up plan, Melissa would keep the kitten if Mom didn't want it

We deceided to go to Animart, I called ahead to make sure there would be kittens available. We set a date close to our Christmas, (We work around so many schedules, that we don't always have Christmas on the 25th)

The clerks are so nice and are obviously animal lovers, we went into the "get aquainted" room and viewed every kitten,

It was "hands down" choice, A darling black and white that preferred to sit in our laps and PURRRR... to exploring the room.

These kittens also has their shot, declaw(Indoor cats don't need claws and outside cats live on the average of two years, we never wanted a two year cat) and neutered( this is SO VERY IMPORTANT, only reliable breeders should have litter capable animals)

also this gave Mom no extra costs.

Melissa took the kitten home to "hide" it and when she and husband Joe came, I met them at the door and put a bow on the kitten

I announced that there was a gift that couldn't wait and brought the kitten in. "Merry Christmas, Mom", I said. and handed the kitten to her."I can't have a kitten", she exclaimed and backed away. "Oh, yes you can, and I have proof!", I said and brought over the folder of laws and the reciept of deposit I paid for the kitten. She hugged him to her as I explained

We put him in his travel case in a back bdroom to avoid the noise and confusion of a 15 person Christmas and Mom "checked" on him every few minutes.

For fun,Mom issued ballots to suggest a name for the kitten, even mailed then to all the family members, and their girl friends. The name ended up being Zappa Alexander Kittycat or Z.A.K. for short.

I can only tell you what wonderful happiness this kitten has given Mom and how all of us can hear a difference in her, a happiness, something you can't discribe, but is so much better.

If you read this and know someone who would benefit from having a pet, please help them find a way, the joy and health benefits are endless.

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