Pearl is a 6 yr old pure white, blue-eyed Oriental Shorthair. She also happens to be deaf...and psychic. When we met she was residing at a no kill shelter where she had been placed by her former owner. I am sure they meant well, but for a cat who hates other cats and is frightened of strange people, it was a horrible place. She had been at the shelter for an entire year. She had a reputation for a nasty temper and they were a bit at ends at what to do with her as they only showed cats by taking them to local stores and vets, and trying to get Pearl into a travel crate was best attempted with an ambulance standing by. Once at the viewing, her snarls, hisses, slashing claws and over all nasty temper hardly made her the first choice for adoption, even though she is an exceptional beauty.

They just didn't understand her.

When I first started volunteering at the shelter I fell in love with this gorgeous tragic femme fatale and determined to win her over. Her temper was mercurial, one moment she would condescend to be petted, the next any attempt to touch her was answered with slashing claws. I perservered. I tried to explain to the other volunteers that they frightened her terribly by waking her up or touching her when she didn't expect it. Because she is deaf, she obviously doesn't hear people approaching or feeding and was frequently startled by a well meaning volunteer.

It wasn't long before I was allowed to take her home with me. They even waived the adoption fee. I think they were glad to see her go.

Even though at the time I had a multi-cat family, I managed to arrange things where she had her own room, a quiet place that was only invaded at predictable times by me or my husband. In fact, she was in my art studio, which was off limits to cats for fear of them damaging work in progress. Pearl never damaged work, but I did discover she has quite a paper fetish. She spent many joyous afternoons shredding a sheet of 18x24 newsprint loosely wadded and tossed to her for her enjoyment while I sat working at the drawing table or computer.

Four years later she is still very shy of people and not too fond of other animals, but she has grown to rule her domain. She loves the computers and one is set up just for her with a white cat on the wallpaper and screensaver. I put a dog on once and it infuriated her! And she definately isn't shy about expressing her opinion.

I also have discovered she is psychic. You cannot call her, of course, but if you think at her, she will at least turn and look at you. She may still decide you aren't currently worthy of her divine presence, but she'll take a message and maybe get back to you. Then again, she might condescend to reward her lowly human servant with a few moments of her beautious presence.

A few years ago, I caught her doing a tarot reading with my cards! Its true, I have pictures! Since then she has combined her pyschic talents with her computer hobby by creating her own website, Pearlie the Psychic Kitty. She even lets me help.

This winter, she has decided I should create for her a tarot deck of her very own. So far I only have two cards done, but I'm working on it!

Grumpy and standoffish and rude as she is, I love her. I've actually had friends ask why we put up with her (most of them have never seen her, because she runs and hides the instant a "stranger" darkens our door). I tell them it is because she is "decorative" - chuckle - but the truth is that when she does finally condescend to socialize, its like a precious gift. I feel honored that she chose us as her humble servants.