Stardust hasn’t had a magical life so far. In fact. The powder-gray tabby, at just nine weeks old, has likely used several of her proverbial nine lives already. Stardust, her mama and sister were shivering, huddled together outdoors, when some kind-hearted people noticed them. Mother Nature had given Mama kittens in the wrong season, a season when kittens freeze.

Mama was trying to save Stardust, but, without help, she would have failed. Now the grateful little family is in the shelter, warm and safe but still homeless. Of course, this is the season of hope. Maybe, somehow, Mama and Stardust sense that.

And maybe the out-of-season, tiny miracle, Stardust, survived for a reason. Maybe she’s meant to bring magic to a family who needs her.

The seven-month-old, 27-pound, Australian Shepherd/Border Collie puppy is too young, too trusting and too little to be out straying on his own. But eye-catching, tri-colored Beef Cake was. Then, Beef Cake must have bounced up to strangers. After all, that’s what he does in the shelter. The little guy loves humans and other dogs. Beef Cake just wants a friend.

Someone noticed that Beef Cake needed help, but they couldn’t give him the home he needs and deserves. He’s the ideal lap dog, just big enough to warm someone through the winter, both body and heart.

Beef Cake is also the perfect age to join a family forever. He’d learn the house rules quickly, and he’d add joy and inspiring energy to a dreary winter.

Kai is a beautiful, brilliant boy, and the shelter staff is amazed that no one seems to notice that. This well-behaved fellow, with alert, perceptive eyes, one glacier blue, one soulful brown, has been in the shelter longer than any other animal. Yet, puzzlingly, no visitor has even asked to meet the friendly Australian Shepherd – black Labrador one on one.

The volunteers and staff, who’ve not only met but know Kai, adore the three-year-old, housebroken, neutered pup. They love that he remembers them, no matter how long they’ve been away; that he smiles and wags all over to greet them; that he joyfully waits for his walk.

Kai’s waited patiently for any chance to feel joy. Admirably, he never seems to resent so much waiting.

There’s magic in having a secret friend. Turtle, a four-month-old, spayed, multi-colored, tabico kitten, prefers to be hidden from everyone. In the Shelter’s Friendly Feline Room, Turtle stays in her hidey hole, watching the other cats, the visitors and the activities from a safe distance.

While other kittens are toddling toward people, turning on the charm, Turtle hides. So, she never gets noticed. Overlooked kittens may never go home. Yet, Turtle is taking the risk. It seems she’s waiting for the person she’s destined to love.

Turtle is still a kitten. She may become more confident. However, Turtle won’t be a party animal. She’ll love her person quietly, secretly. Of course, receiving such selective love and trust would make Turtle’s chosen person feel very special.

Cranberry wants someone to notice that she’s the ideal holiday cat. She already seems covered in snow. Her muzzle is especially cute. Cranberry appears to have fallen face first in a snow drift. And she has an expression of wide-eyed wonder whenever she sees something nice. That wonder would become dazzlement when Cranberry glimpsed the Christmas tree.

This affectionate little lady would be completely happy, more content than she ever dreamed she could be, if she could rest on a lap, gazing at that lighted tree. Of course, for Cranberry, the tree would be nice, but it’s the lap and the chance to love someone that matters most.

Christmas and the long, gloomy days of winter are better with a cat. Cranberry can prove that.