Tomorrow is Pierre’s eleventh gotcha day. We published his gotcha story for his ninth gotcha day, and we are retelling it here today.
Once upon a time in June 2005, there was a litter of cats born on a boat, under a tarp. The mother cat didn’t know that it was nearly summer, and that’s when boats start to be used more often. She just saw a sheltered location for her kittens and took advantage of it.
The boat’s owner didn’t know about the kittens, and moved the trailer. By the time the boat’s owner discovered the kittens, the mother cat was nowhere to be found, and the kittens had to go to a local rescue group to be raised. Every kitten in the litter got nautical names, and when they were old enough, the whole litter went to a pet store adoption event.
A little gray tabby kitten, named Pier, was looking out of the cage at the pet store when his eyes locked with a strange woman’s eyes, and it was love at first sight. The woman hadn’t planned to bring home a kitten that day, but when it is love at first sight, you have to do something about it. She talked to the adoption volunteer, who happened to be the foster who had raised the gray tabby kitten, and little Pier came home that day. He was renamed Pierre.
He was kind of a timid little guy and spent a lot of his first week under the sofa, but quickly learned to come out for food and playtime.
(He still plays with that same Christmas mouse toy to this day, eleven years later!)
And pretty soon he was hanging out on the sofa like a big kid, showing off his spectacular kitten tummy.
He quickly showed a special talent for getting inside things.
Including getting into trouble.
He started to grow up, but he didn’t grow out of that tummy exhibitionism.
Or grow out of getting inside things.
And under things, too.
He may be a senior kitty, his reflexes are as fast as ever.
And let’s just say that he never has outgrown being just a little bit goofy.
So happy eleventh gotcha day, Pierre!
Thank you to all of our friends in the blgosphere for sharing his big day with us!
Happy gotcha day, Pierre! I didn’t know you were born on a boat! That’s kind of awesome.
Happy Gotcha Day Pierre – you were such a tiny kitten and now just look at you.
Happy Gotcha Day, Pierre!! We loved reading your story and seeing your baby pictures.
Happy (almost) Gotcha Day Pierre!!! You got pretty lucky along the way….
Yay! Momma always tells people that even though she gave a home, food, and love to a homeless, starving, and terrified kitten, it’s Bear that’s saved HER every single day of the ten years since. No doubt, Pierre is another special guy who changed everything just by being there. Another reminder that every single life matters and should be celebrated. Happy Gotcha Day, Pierre <3
dood !! we R sendin best fishes, perch pie wishes & mice creem dishes two ewe fora most happee 11 and heerz ta 11 mor….we N joy yur storee N yur fotoz rock de houze…hope ya get ta due sum way kewl stuff two day N we hope yur mom & dad get ya a new cat tree…heerz two a yeer a head filled with happee nezz & health N heerz two a stoneroller minnow kinda week oh end two all ♥♥♥
Happy Gotcha Day!!!
HAPPY HAPPY 11TH GOTCHA DAY to one of my most FAVORITE mancats in the Blogosphere!! You KNOW I am madly in love with you Pierre! You looked sooooooooooo much like Cody did as a kitten!!!!! I hadn’t planned on adopting him when I did either, and at the adoption event at Petco where he was, the woman I spoke to was HIS foster Mom too!!!! You have such a wonderful home Pierre! So happy for you! Much love!
Pierre, you are such a handsome guy! And I love your leopard-spot tummy. Happy Gotcha Day to you and your Mom!! 🙂
Happy Gotcha Day, Pierre!
We never knew your special story before today. And we’re so grateful you and that lady locked eyes.
xo
Pierre, happy Gotcha Day! We’re so happy it was love at first sight. We enjoyed reading your story and these pictures are great. Enjoy your special day!
Happy Gotcha Day, Pierre! What a little darling you were, full of beans.
We hope you have a wonderful celebration, and we wish you many, many more Gotcha Days to come!
Yes indeed happy 11th gotcha day Pierre!! What a darling wee kitty turned into a most handsome and loved man cat!!
Hugs madi your bfff
Happy Gotcha Day Pierre from all of us!
Happy gotcha day, Pierre! We don’t think we knew your origin story–what a start you had, and what a happy ending! Oh, and our mom goes totally mental over spotted cat bellehs! (You might have heard the squee! all the way to your house!)
What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it with us. Happy Gotcha Day, Pierre!
Happy Gotcha Day Pierre! You grew from a very cute kitten into a very handsome mancat.
Happy Gotcha Day, Pierre! You are one lucky cat to have got gotted into a great home.
OMC were you ever a precious little baby, Pierre! And now an extraordinarily handsome mancat. Happy Gotcha Day…have a purrfect one!!!
Happy Gotcha Day, Pierre! You were one cute kitten. And of course you’re so handsome now. Love that kitten tummy.
I didn’t know his story, that is cute that he went from Pier to Pierre. Those kitten photos are adorable, especially in the basket. Happy Gotcha Day handsome boy!
Happy 11th Gotcha Day Pierre! We never read your Gotcha Day story before!
The Florida Furkids
Oh happy day, oh happy day, when Pierre was gotchaed and now 11 years later. Have a great time tomorrow. We are sure you’ll get some extra treats and cuddles and maybe even some new toys. Your mom is correct…you are a little goofy. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Happy Gotcha Day Pierre! You’re still a kitten. Your fur seems to be lighter now but that’s prolly the lights. You really stepped in it that day at the pet store.
Happy Gotcha Day, Pierre! You sure hit the jackpot when you found your forever home! I
Happy Birthday Pierre. Such a cute kid you were and now a very handsome mancat
Happy belated Gotcha Day Pierre ! Purrs
Happy Gotcha Day Pierre.
Happy Gotcha Day! Sounds like you were made for each other. I love when kitties show off their tummies–Soth does a lot of that, too. I think he enjoys belly rubs more than his dog sister does!
Happy 11th Gotcha Day Pierre. You have a wonderful gotcha day story and I love the photos of you as a kitten and how you still do some of the same things and that you have the same Christmas toy.
What a lovely story Pierre! You would have stolen my heart too! Purrs from Deb and the Zee/Zoey kitties
A very happy (belated) 11th Gotcha Day to your Pierre! All your dreams came true for sure!
Happy belated birfday Pierre! You had quite an adventure finding a home. Strange things happen when momma cats find what seem to be good places ta raise kittens. The Beins often mess that up. We hope yer furblings found good homes too.
a belated Happy Gotcha day! you have a spectacular belly Pierre
Faraday: *suspicious look* WAIT. An elebenty year old MOUSE TOY?????
Happy Gotcha Day Pierre!!!