My Cats

 


“On the third day of May we adopted a wonderful rescue kittie named Yeti Bear. Here is Yeti's story.

"Yeti Bear, born 1/1/20 (best estimate), is a large portly kitty with an old man soul. He was caught up in a TNR (trap-neuter-return) project and the colony caretaker discovered that he is actually a very sweet kitty, not feral at all. Initially we thought he was older- he has a gravitus about him, and a serious demeanor, and had several damaged teeth. He also had dreadlocks- despite the colony caretaker trying to brush out his hair, some of the matts just couldn’t be tamed.

So off to the vet he went to get his dental issues addressed and get a good grooming. Imagine our surprise when our vet informed us that the cat we thought was ten was in fact no more than 3 years old! Clearly he had been living rough for some time, and that likely resulted in the damaged teeth and poor coat. After having several tooth extractions, a dental cleaning and a good bath and shave ( this was found to be the only way to tame the matts so he got a modified lion cut) Yeti is looking for his forever home.

His main requirements are a Sunny place to stretch out and nap, plenty of food to eat, wet food once a day, and petting. He would not object to being spoiled a bit. Yeti would probably do best as an only cat- he is fearful around other cats and can be territorial, but in his foster home he has coexisted peacefully with a female and a male kitty, both non- alpha and very laid back- so he may do ok with other very mellow cats after a proper introduction . He has not been directly exposed to dogs but does show anxiety when he hears dogs barking. Yeti Bear is neutered, up to date on all vaccines, dewormed, microchipped and ready for the perfect Sunny window sill."

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For those who may not know, "Yeti" is a mythical beast purported to inhabit the Himalayan mountain range in Asia. In western popular culture, he is commonly referred to as the Abominable Snowman. Modern tecchnology gives evidence that the legend of the Yeti is probably related to sightings of the Himalayan brown bear. Our Yeti Bear probably looked like this mythical beast when he was found but he is really just a Teddy Bear.

On Yreti Bear's first day he played Hide-and-Seek as we found him among Joan's dolls, on a shelf in the TV console and behind the venitian blinds in the office window. The next day he hid all morning under a small cabinet in my closet and the rest of the day under the bed. That night, though, he joined us in bed on his own accord and stretched out for belly rubs.



 
“Once I had a comfortable home. Then one day my family began packing up their belongings but instead of taking me with them they opened the door and let me out into the backyard. I was confused as I watched them drive away. After a couple of days a neighbor noticed me and occassionally gave me food and water. I stayed close to my house thinking they would come back but they never did. As time passed I learned to live outside but I missed my warm bed.

One day a couple ladies came with metal boxes and placed them under the patio. Something smelled delicious inside the boxes. I was so hungry I stepped inside one of the boxes where I found a banquet of wonderfully prepared tuna. But then, just as I reached for the last crumb "slam" the door shut and I was stuck. I was very scared.

When I woke up the next day I was in a warm and safe home. There was a nice lady talking to me. She scooped me up and held me close. That was nice. During the time I was loose and wasn't vaccinated I got Feline Imunodeficiency Virus from another cat. FIV cannot be passed to humans or other animals but it can be passed to other cats.

I had been with my foster mom for several weeks when, on February 3, 2015 a very nice couple came to visit me. The next day they adopted me and took me home with them. But I was scared that first night and hid under the bed. In the morning, when the patio door opened, I darted out, scaled a 6' wall and disappeared before anyone could get to me.

My new humans searched everywhere for me but I stayed hidden. Charlie thought I was lost because he put my litter box outside along with one of those metal boxes and some food in a small box near the front door. That night I got so hungry I decided to take a chance on the food near the front door. I must have bumped something. There was a noise. I ran. Charlie came out with a flashlight. When he came around to the backyard he found me sitting on the wall. I wouldn't let him come close. Instead I ran down the wall and hid in some vines.

Soon it was quiet again and I had an idea. I grabbed a bite of food and "knocked" on the front door. Sure enough Charlie opened the door to find me sitting on the front walk looking very curious. But when he tried to reach me I ran away into the night.

It was late when I came back to the house again. It was quiet except for a hooting owl. Charlie had moved the metal box to the backyard patio. Again he put some of that wonderfully prepared tuna in it. During the night I got so hungry that I stepped into the metal box where the delicious tuna was waiting for me. But just as I was enjoying my feast the door "slamed" shut. I was so scared that I knocked my food and water dishes over and all that delicious tuna and my water spilled outside of the box.

Charlie didn't hear my meows until early in the morning. He brought the box in the house with me inside. When he open the box he hugged me and brushed me. He gave me a breakfast of tender beef. My new daddy and mommy love me very much. I have a warm bed again and I get brushed every night. Charlie even lets me go ouside with him. At first in a harness and leash but now I am a very, very good kitty. I love to be outdoors. I love sitting up on that wall but I would never run away again. The scars on my nose show I was stronger than wahtever tried to hurt me but now I like to stay in my nice safe yard.”

“Just call me Lucky!”

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On May 1, 2023 Lucky was euthanized after a three-month battle against an intestinal tumor. He weighed just 6 pounds, down from 16 pounds. You are truly the smartest, most gentle, loving cat I have ever known and you will be in my heart forever. I will miss our hugs and sitting with you out on the patio every morning after you checked out the yard. I will miss my beautiful cat with his little gray goatee. R.I.P my precious Lucky.



 
One day in October 1994 someone found a tiny gray kitten lost on the side of the road. When I saw that cute little face peeking out of the carrier, I knew she had to be mine. I named her Brandy and for the next 20 years and 4 months we were inseperable.

Brandy was a purrr-fect pet. She was a small, tidy cat with a whisper meow. Always independent, she reserved a stern hiss for any stranger who came to close. Although Brandy had spent over 20 years with me, she barely seemed to age. My fondest memories of her will always be her sleeping between my legs at night and laying on my chest in the morning purring for her breakfast. These were special times for me because it was the only time Brandy allowed me to pet her.

Then, in December 2013, a diagnosis of constipation would, instead, prove to be a colapsed colon. Rest in Peace my precious little cat. You are loved and greatly missed Brandy. This is your story memorialized in the many photos I have of you.



 
“There was a box of rags on a wooden desk sitting on the patio. I slept in the box before because the patio was covered and the rags were dry. Tonight it was bitter cold. There was a hint of snow in the air so I snuggled into the box fluffing up my fur to keep warm.

When Charlie came out on the patio I didn't run. Other nights I had bolted over the back wall and disappeared. Tonight, I was too cold to run. He picked me up and hugged me. It was nice. He took me into the house where it was warm and gave me some food and water. Then, to my surprise, he set up a liter-box and a bed for me.”

That is the beginning of Chubby's story. But, in the spring, Chubby found a fur-ever home and a nice warm bed. His story goes like this. Brandy might be territorial so I put Chubby in the basement. I had five tenants that used the washer and dryer in the basement, so I put a note on the door so they would not be caught off guard if they found a cat roaming around in the basement.

My next step was to find "Chubby's" owner. I posted flyers and contacted the local SPCA. I took Chubby to Brandy's vet and she gave him a clean bill of health. Months passed and no one claimed Chubby. The weather was warming and Chubby was always happy when someone came into the basement. I thought the poor cat was living a miserable life but he refused to leave.

There was an outside door to my basement on 27th street and I often brought my groceries in through that door. Cubby would follow me out to the car and then come back in with me. But I had decided he needed a better life than the basement and he needed a lot more attention.

I posted several ads before a charming young couple called about Chubby. We arranged to meet at my house and I explained to them that I kept him in the basement because of my cat and that I had called him "Chubby" because he looked like a "fat cat" the night I found him. He had puffed up his fur because it was so cold outside that night but he was anything but chubby. The minute they saw Chubby they fell in love with him. They sat on my basement steps holding him and petting him. He liked the attention. That night they decided to adopt him and to keep the name Chubby.

I shared the expense of the vets visit, Chubby's shots and neutering with them and they took Chubby home. I have since lost track of their names over the years but I have never forgotten them or Chubby. For several years they sent pictures of Chubby's progress to me and they truly loved this cat. The three photos I have of Chubby are here in this article.

It was a very sad day when I received an email from them that Chubby had passed away. Chubby had brightened so many lives and deserves mentioning in my autobiography. Although I only fostered Chubby, he was missed and will always be remembered by me.