NATCHEZ — Lori Isbell knew what she wanted — a calico cat — and she knew where she wanted it from, the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.

So, much like a restaurant, Isbell put in her order and the humane society delivered.

“When I moved to the country two years ago, I could finally get a cat,” she said. “So I called the humane society and told them what I wanted. They said ‘We’ve got a calico kitten right now’ and brought it over.

“When I saw her, I said ‘I’ll take it’”

Isbell works across the parking lot from NACHS at Natchez Veterinary Clinic so it was easy for the shelter to hand deliver her cat. But Isbell, said the shelter goes out of its way to accommodate its adopters.

“You can call like I did and tell them what you are looking for and if they have it, they will tell you. And if not, they will put you on a waiting list for that particular animal,” she said. “I got lucky that they had a calico when I first called.

Isbell was already the owner of a blue heeler dog who doesn’t like sharing his space with cats, but after the move Isbell and her husband Kenny had room for everyone.

That was a year ago and both Isbell and her cat, Sunshine 45, are happy with the new arrangement.

Sunshine 45, got her name because of her color and the fact that not long after being adopted by Isbell she jumped off the back of a trailer when it was moving 45 mph.

“We didn’t know it but she had climbed on my husband’s lawnmower trailer,” Isbell said. “She held on for a while before jumping off a little ways down the road.”

Sunshine, spent a full day away from home after the excursion, she recovered to be a when-I-want-to-be active cat, Isbell said.

“You can wad up a piece of aluminum foil and throw it to her, and she likes this laser mouse toy that has a battery in it with one of those red laser lights,” Isbell said. “That’s pretty funny to watch.”

While Sunshine and the dog keep their distance from each other, Sunshine isn’t alone. Sunshine has two other cats, Peppa and Tommy Two, to play with. Isbell said the other cats just showed up at the house but she couldn’t turn them away.

But, possibly because she was the first, Sunshine isn’t always as accepting of her feline friends.

“She thinks she is a princess, and she is,” Isbell said. “Sometimes she is a snob and will walk around the other cats like she is better than them.”

But there is one time when all the cats are sure to be together — supper.

“When you pull into the driveway, they’ve been looking at their watch,” Isbell said. “They will run to the bowl. They expect to be fed and if you don’t feed them right away they look really confused.”

For Isbell three cats and one dog is enough, but she knows there are many more to be adopted. And the large number of animals waiting for a home is the main reason she decided to adopt her furry friend from NACHS.

“Why go and pay all that money to buy an animal when you can go to the humane society and save a life?” she said.

The Natchez-Adams County Humane Society’s month-long fundraising campaign ends today. NACHS needs to raise $350,000 needed to build a new animal shelter.

To donate, send checks to the NACHS Building Fund, P.O. Box 332, Natchez, MS, 39121.