crandc
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My feral cat Margot is the sole surviving member of the Orlando Family. Now 12 years old, she shows no sign of taming and in fact got more feral after the rest of her family died; I have fed her since she was weaned but she still won’t eat if I’m in the room.
Not being sure how long she had to live, I wanted to keep her stress level down by not bringing in any new cats. But she looks like she could keep going for some time. I knew I was cracking when I posted on Facebook a request for a cat for my birthday. My cousin in Santa Barbara was ready to get a cat and drive up here! I told him no.
The next weekend Dusty Paws Rescue had a pet adoption event at the local Pet Food Express. No harm in looking.
There was only one adult cat, the rest were all kittens.
I moved into my house in 1997 with two cats. The lease therefore read two cats. The landlord rarely came around and never counted tails; on the rare occasions he was here I just made sure only two bowls were set out, the cats themselves hiding in the yard. At times I’ve had as many as four cats. But last month a management company took over the lease. They are much more hands on and I was afraid would check. The kittens were adorable, they are kittens! – but also sad, cats just keep reproducing due to irresponsible humans. As I am out all day kittens would get bored, unless there were two. The management company knew about Margot so I could only legally get one new cat.
I went to speak to the sole adult. We talked for a time and I asked if I could pick her up. The humans were unsure if she liked being held but she let me hold her. We decided she would adopt me conditionally. Dusty Paws always places animals for a 2-week trial period after which, if both parties agree, the adoption becomes permanent. The human then pays $100, which sounds like a lot, but the cat has been examined, tested for infectious diseases, vaccinated and spayed, which together cost more than the $100 at any clinic.
The cat was one of a litter of four, who had all been placed, but her first humans had a dog, and the dog attacked her. She ran away and returned to where she was born. She also apparently did not like the fact that they had young, noisy children. She seems to have the W.C. Fields attitude towards children and dogs, with which I am in sympathy.
When the Leakeys found the skeleton of a million year old Australopithecine woman they named her “Lucy” from the Beatles song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. It seemed a good omen for longevity, and I love the Beatles. With so many bad things happening to my cats lately I wanted a good long-life name.
But the cat just did not look like a “Lucy”. I pondered, considered other names, and settled on Lucia.
So far she is staying indoors but once she is acclimated I will show her the yard. She has already shown she has good homing instincts.
Welcome Lucia.
Not being sure how long she had to live, I wanted to keep her stress level down by not bringing in any new cats. But she looks like she could keep going for some time. I knew I was cracking when I posted on Facebook a request for a cat for my birthday. My cousin in Santa Barbara was ready to get a cat and drive up here! I told him no.
The next weekend Dusty Paws Rescue had a pet adoption event at the local Pet Food Express. No harm in looking.
There was only one adult cat, the rest were all kittens.
I moved into my house in 1997 with two cats. The lease therefore read two cats. The landlord rarely came around and never counted tails; on the rare occasions he was here I just made sure only two bowls were set out, the cats themselves hiding in the yard. At times I’ve had as many as four cats. But last month a management company took over the lease. They are much more hands on and I was afraid would check. The kittens were adorable, they are kittens! – but also sad, cats just keep reproducing due to irresponsible humans. As I am out all day kittens would get bored, unless there were two. The management company knew about Margot so I could only legally get one new cat.
I went to speak to the sole adult. We talked for a time and I asked if I could pick her up. The humans were unsure if she liked being held but she let me hold her. We decided she would adopt me conditionally. Dusty Paws always places animals for a 2-week trial period after which, if both parties agree, the adoption becomes permanent. The human then pays $100, which sounds like a lot, but the cat has been examined, tested for infectious diseases, vaccinated and spayed, which together cost more than the $100 at any clinic.
The cat was one of a litter of four, who had all been placed, but her first humans had a dog, and the dog attacked her. She ran away and returned to where she was born. She also apparently did not like the fact that they had young, noisy children. She seems to have the W.C. Fields attitude towards children and dogs, with which I am in sympathy.
When the Leakeys found the skeleton of a million year old Australopithecine woman they named her “Lucy” from the Beatles song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. It seemed a good omen for longevity, and I love the Beatles. With so many bad things happening to my cats lately I wanted a good long-life name.
But the cat just did not look like a “Lucy”. I pondered, considered other names, and settled on Lucia.
So far she is staying indoors but once she is acclimated I will show her the yard. She has already shown she has good homing instincts.
Welcome Lucia.
