The Adventures of Tiffin the Kitten

Skip and Christine Shaffer became part of the Tiffin family in 2019 with their first class A motorhome.  They are now in their third Tiffin coach! They love their 2016 Allegro Bus 45 OP and have spent more time living in it than in their house.  They have traveled the most in this past year, going further west and south than they ever had before, and as a result, they have all sorts of stories!

This story is about a furry hitchhiker they picked up in Milton, Florida. This was a one-night quick stop to rest. When they were packing up the next morning, Skip asked Christine if she had heard a cat in the distance during the night. She hadn’t, but she made sure to look around when she took the dogs out. She figured if there had been a cat, their three pups would be enough to chase it off.

Skip and Christine traveled five more hours east along Route 10 to their final destination.  Once they finished setting up, Skip thought he heard a meowing noise again. As Christine walked around the bus, she heard it too. After looking under the bus and in the basement, they opened the generator compartment. She stuck her head in and did her best cat impression. Lo and behold, a grey kitten’s head popped up from behind the generator! They were in complete shock that the kitten had ridden in that compartment at highway speeds down Route 10 without getting injured! Christine got water and food out for the kitten and started coaxing it out. 

They called the Milton KOA to see if someone had lost a cat. They said there was a litter nearby, and they were close to calling animal control. Fortunately for this little one, that wasn’t going to happen! It took a few days of coaxing and convincing for it to get closer and closer without scampering off. After a few days of hand-feeding, it decided she was part of the family and had no intention of leaving.  We decided to name her Tiffin the Kitten.

Tiffin would hide under the stairs and bat at our feet and the dogs’ legs as we went in and out. She started following Christine and the dogs on their walks.  One night, Tiffin got lost in the dark, so Christine had to go out and meow for her. She came running back to her home.  While she got along great with the two smaller dogs, Christine and Skip weren’t willing to risk her safety with their big dog, who wasn’t too sure about the kitten. So, they had to find her a new home. After about two months of searching and screening for a good home, they found a new owner they felt would be great for her. The pups did miss her and kept looking for her, but as the weather turned colder, they were glad she had a more permanent home. She was one amazing kitten!

Tiffin the kitten is one story out of many, but she will always hold a special place in Skip and Christine’s hearts.

Thanks Skip and Christine for sharing your many adventures, and we hope you have many more to come in your Tiffin!

Share your Many Adventures. One Dream. story with us for a chance to win a gift card to the Allegro Club and be featured like Dennis and Janice.