‘Snuggle Buddy’ Raven searches for home

Ventura—Raven, a seven-month-old all-black Kitten, is featured at Cassie's Cats and Kittens in September.

CASSIE'S CATS and Kittens, a Cat Lounge, provides respite, a healthy environment and ensures a safe home as Cats await the purfect parents under Founder Jennifer Thomson's careful eye.

Thompson said Raven is a healthy, petite little Kitty, but she noted he's probably still growing and is currently about seven pounds. He is an excellent eater and really enjoys wet Cat Food as well as dry food.

"Raven came to us along with his two brothers from Apple Valley Animal Services," she said. "I don't think they were at Apple Valley long because we got them as relatively young Kittens. I think they came in as stray Kittens."

She said all three brothers are solid black, and people have superstitions about all-black Kitties, but Thompson adores black Kitties.

"I think black Kitties are so beautiful and wonderful, and it's a shame they get overlooked," she said. "Honestly, it was a thrill to bring three all-black Kittens in all together and get them out of a shelter environment."

Raven has playful moments but is not hyperactive and runs around endlessly.

"He's a much more Chill Kitten," she said. "He has his playtimes, and I think that's one of the reasons he's still here," she said. "During the daytime, he naps a lot."

Raven plays with other Cats at the Lounge and with potential parents while visiting.

"I think he gets a little bit intimidated with big-energy, rough-and-tumble Cats," Thompson said. "That makes him a little nervous."

Jennifer noted that Raven really loves people and will make a great Lap-Cat who likes to sit and be petted.

"He would do well in a home that's a touch on the quiet side," she said. "A lot of activity and unpredictability might be a little bit harder for him."

Raven enjoys chasing around little toys on the floor and recently developed an affinity for finding a little, tiny toy mouse and putting it in his mouth while walking around the Lounge.

"He'll jump on things and show us he has a little mouse," she said.

Raven is cautious when potential parents visit and won't walk right up to someone and make acquaintances.

"He'll be an observer at first," she said. "He'll interact with visitors as long as the Lounge is not too busy. Some days, it gets a little loud in here; maybe there's a lot of people or Cat activity, and he might find his favorite Tall Cat Tree and sleep."

Jennifer said the three all-black Cats arrived together, fostered briefly, and Raven transitioned into the Lounge smoothly because of his brothers.

"We always encourage adopters to set aside a separate room when they bring a new Kitty home, particularly if they already have other pets at home or if the Kitty in question is a little bit on the cautious side," she said. "They'll have a smaller space to get used to, and from there, they can explore the rest of the house."

Thompson said Raven will need his own room, but it might only last a couple of days.

"He's a young Cat without any trauma in his background other than not knowing about his time before he arrived at the shelter," she said.

Raven will not wreak havoc throughout the house if his parents are out for the day.

"He does seem to enjoy the company of other Kitties," Thompson said. "In our ideal world, Raven wouldn't be all by himself all day. It would be nice if another human is around, a nice mellow Cat or a nice Dog that's okay with Cats. He missed his brothers when they were adopted. He noticed their absence."

Thompson said Raven would take a few days to bond with a new Cat, which wouldn't happen overnight.

"It will depend on the Kitty or nice Dog that's welcoming him home," she said. "Raven is a normal Cat, not aggressive, and might want to assert himself to a Dog and hiss. If a Dog doesn't back off, he might give the Dog a little swat. That's how Cats teach Dogs. You have to introduce Dogs and Cats slowly."

She thinks Raven wouldn't do as well with a child's lessthan predictable energy but noted that teenagers and older Kids are "totally fine."

"If someone recently retired and looking for a real nice companion, Raven could be that Cat," she said.

The Cat Lounge has another event coming up at 2:45 p.m., Sunday, September 29, that helps people learn to bond with their Cats on a deeper level with a $25 donation.

"It's beyond the simple levels; you should brush your Cat every day or offer treats," Thompson said. "This event is about the energy someone has with their Cat and knowing yourself and Cat on a deeper level.

Raven's adoption fee is $150 minus money paid to visit the Lounge.

"He's neutered, has a microchip, been dewormed, received a flea treatment, and vaccinated," she said. "He's ready to go home."