Hudson & Quinn at their new home with the Ogren Family in New Hampshire
[photo credits: all photos in this post thanks to Jen, who is our Guest Blogger today]
People have asked about our cats, Hudson and Quinn, who some remember from posts about them on our blog. The kitties had been with us for almost a year when we moved. We had raised them as indoor/outdoor cats before we realized that we would be moving. We did not have the heart to keep them because they’d be forced to be indoor cats only (our current space does not have an exclusive door to outside, so they would not have been able to go in/out). We felt it would be cruel to force them to become indoor-only in SUCH a very small space after what they had become used to. Plus, where would we put the kitty litter in such a small home? It was a super hard thing to do but we decided early in our moving-decision-process that we’d have to let them go. They went to my parents’ house in NH at first (on a “vacation in NH!”), but then my mom found a great family with 2 young kids for them (family friends of ours). They have a good life– with a family, with kids, and able to be indoor/outdoor cats. However, it has been sad for us to have them go. The only other time that Braydon and I haven’t had a pet was the one year we went between when our cat Cooper died and we got Hudson and Quinn. I really miss having a pet! And Meera, especially, terribly misses Hudson and Quinn. We know it was the right decision for the CATS, but WE miss them a lot. Letting go of Hudson and Quinn, and missing them, has been one of the hardest parts of moving to campus for us.
Today we have a Guest Blog Post from our friend Jen Ogren. Her and her family have taken in Hudson and Quinn to their home/family in New Hampshire.
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When Janet (Mormor) called and asked if we were interested in having cats again, I was not sure. We had a cat that had come to an unfortunate end a year ago and it was hard on my boys. Janet explained why she had Hudson and Quinn. I am a long time reader of the Johnson McCormick Blog and had knowledge of Hudson and Quinn. I knew they had been well cared for and loved. When I asked the boys what they thought, they were all for it. So, off we went to meet the kitties. I have to say for the boys it was love at first sight. No matter what my husband and I thought, the boys were sold and the cats were ours. We had a few transitional bumps in the beginning. Growing pains I like to call them. Now though it is like they have always been here. Quinn loves the boys. She sleeps near them and is always around them. Hudson is the man. He prowls about and definitely protects us from all real or imaginary threats. They are sweet, funny, loving cats. We adore them. We hope they are as happy with us as we are with them.
Meera came to see them at Christmas when she was up visiting MorMor and MorFar. Our family has been friends with the Johnsons for a long time. We live in the same town as MorMor and MorFar. It was clear that especially Quinn knew who she was. They both seemed happy to see her. We let her know she was welcome to visit with them anytime. We are very grateful to have these two as part of our family!
Yeah Ogrens! We’re so happy you all love Hudson and Quinn. You are perfect for them! Thank you!
Hi Heather and Braydon,
I know how hard it is not to have pets… I always grew up with a house full of animals in Australia and then I moved to London and have been petless for the last eight years. I’m not sure it gets easier and I definitely look forward to a time when I can get a dog and a cat again. Until then, I try and get over enthusiastic (mostly to comfort myself I think!) about how nice it is not to de-hair before I leave the house. Quinn and Hudson sure do look content in their new home and the Ogren boys look positively in love with them!
I was just wondering if you would be writing any more about how you helped the kids come to terms with the idea of letting Quinn and Hudson go prior to the move? Given how you described it, “We know it was the right decision for the CATS, but WE miss them a lot” did you feel there were parallels to adoption and if so, did that impact how you discussed it with your bambinos both at the time and now?
Glad to hear a happy update on the kitties new home. Sorry you had to lovingly place them in a new home, can imagine how much you all miss them. A very sweet update from Jen.
– Kate
Phew!! and !
Thankyou for this update. I’ve worried for so long about those sweet kitties.
I was bereft very early in my life about a couple of pets ~ one, a rabbit, which was eaten for dinner (I ate her, too); another, a very special breed of dog (Samoyed) who one day just disappeared: “left with a wonderful farmer to tend his flock,” was one account; “used in an important breeding program,” was another…
I never recovered and never forgave my parents when I over-turned the lie.
Note to self: tell the kiddies the truth at the outset; they’ll eventually hear it one day, anyway, and it will work against you for all time if you concocted a story.
Huggies to all
Hamster? guinea pig?