Monday 30 November 2009

Muggins here



I need to confess something. I know you'll roll your eyes, tut, point, laugh jeeringly, but I shall tell you anyway. With a face that reads: Stupid but Defiant.


When Scooter was still just the fostered-until-rehomeable kitten, there had been another scrap of a wild kitten caged in the same foster-carer's outhouse, a sweet little ginger called Evan. I hardened my heart when I spotted him, and took the black kitten only, as my first-ever foster case. You know the rest. Evan was quickly re-homed, and is thriving, happy, and tame. The black kitten stayed with me, morphed into Scooter, and is thriving, happy, and thinks humans must be avoided at all costs unless they are offering food or under the duvet wriggling their toes for him to pounce on.


Two weeks later, Evan's ginger brother was also captured in the woods, and since then has been living with Karen the foster carer. Those two additional weeks of living wild have made him much harder to socialise, jeopardising his chances of successful rehoming. He has remained very fearful of physical contact, and puts up a violent struggle when handled, but seems happy living in a house full of cats and dogs. 


Today Karen rang me, somewhat overwrought and tearful, asking if I could help. She has recently been inundated with rescued neglected cats - a mother and her two youngsters, with another brood imminent. There has been little time to spend with the young ginger, and she wondered if I would take over his care and socialisation till he was ready for re-homing. 


And I said yes.


Of course I did.


I'm saying nothing either about fostering or keeping-for-ever; I know I'm not to be trusted in such matters. I know I said I wouldn't want another feral kitten, because they were just too much work. I know I said three cats were enough. 


He'll be moving in after his boy-operation on December 7th, and we'll see how things go.  At best, he'll be a playmate for Scooter, and free Millie up from this often-unwelcome task. At worst, I tell myself, I'll have two silly little cats who flee under the furniture and avoid physical contact with humans... 


(Actually, the Lovely Son says it could be a lot worse than that, and reminds me about the old easily-washed calico curtains that were all I could use in the house during my years of having seven cats; territorial spraying was endemic then. And the stair carpet was clawed into tatters. Somehow, I'd forgotten all that.)


There will be pictures; there will be updates. It will be nice to have a ginger cat in the house again. I miss my old Kevin and the way his fur could light up a room:





But I'm starting a new mantra: 


Four Is Enough.... 


Four Is Enough... 


Four Is Enough...

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am not surprised! A completely white kitten would make my furry beastie family complete but one hasn't made itself known. Yet...

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

I'm saying nothing ! Certainly not to the Mia Farrow of the cat world !!
I hope it all goes swimmingly !

Gretel said...

(Awards halo)
We have four, and it works, even in a tiny cottage. Gingers are wonderful (we have two) they have so much personality and there is never a dull moment, they are also very affectionate, almost dog like in their loyalty. I would rate gingers over all the other mongrels.

rachel said...

But in my heart of hearts, I'd happily have seven again, as I did for many years... my pension-budget might object though.

I love gingers... and tabbies... and black cats with white bibs and ties... and fluffies... oh dear, time to shut up!

Susan said...

Hooray for ginger cats and kitten angels like yourself. Perhaps a new video camera is in order. Cannot wait for the action to begin. Speaking of which Oliver is quite distressed as he has yet to receive his romantic lead script from Newcastle Upon Tyne. He's here beside me now on my desk, task master Buddha Boy pose. Eyes closed and meditating on on earth how he will ever visit his true love Miss Millie with the Black Nose.

Crazy !!! about the name Evan - almost as great a name as Kevin (rest his handsome ginger soul).

You are correct I must pass on the adrenaline and say Uh Huh to les Seratonin, Dopamine and of course Cowboy's soothing love voice.

Rockin' On at Black Street
hugs to all S & les Gang

Rattling On said...

The stair carpet scenario sounds like my house.
Four is a nice round number, but I'm a soft touch as well so I understand only too well the need to leave one's options open...

Marcheline said...

I think you are an excellent human being, and your cats would say so too if they could speak English. If they had opposable thumbs, they'd make THANK YOU MOM! signs and walk around the living room in a conga line.

We've gotta look out for the wee creatures that can't take care of themselves, and you're doing a great job.

Anonymous said...

How lovely!

Keep us posted!

Jan

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

I don't blame you - so cute... but will it stop at four? mmmm

Don't feel obliged, but you have been tagged:
http://smitoniusandsonata.blogspot.com/2009/11/7-things-you-didnt-know.html

BumbleVee said...

awww... you old softie.... they are a lucky bunch.. and ..maybe in time they will actually allow some hugging....or at least come to sit by you... who knows....

Amy McPherson Sirk said...

Aww, you're a gal after my own heart. I also said "four is enough" but that was 10 cats ago. I also can't turn away a purry monster in need. The summer before last my daughter caught 4 feral kittens and set about the task of taming them. We found the best teachers are our other cats. The alpha male, Yeti, does a great job of teaching new cats the ropes and getting them integrated into the herd.
Good luck with your new guy. It's okay if he doesn't want human contact. You've done your good deed giving him a home even if it isn't forever.

Pam said...

Ah, it's just as well no one has offered me any kittens.

I felt the same about children - that four would be enough, ie take me to the very end of my tether. (But that was my own children, not adopted or fostered ones; I'm not a good enough person for that, alas.) However, I didn't get my husband persuaded past three. I could probably persuade him to get more cats, though.

Looking forward to the photos...

judy in ky said...

I, for one, can not roll my eyes or laugh jeeringly, because I am considering adopting number four myself. One of the little black kittens outside has stolen my heart.

Linda said...

I don't suppose that you happened to mention to the cat lady that you once had seven cats, did you? She now has you in the filing cabinet of her mind as someone with vacancies!

Lots more fun and photos, though. Good Luck!

Val said...

You are truly a good person and cats have a way of seeking such people out. Gingers add their own vibrant personalities to the mix and I don't think you will ever regret the new addition.

_lethe_ said...

I knew when you took Scooter in you wouldn't be able to let him go, and I'm not surprised you couldn't stop there.

Does Evan's brother have a name yet?

Charlotte said...

OMG I can't believe your getting another cat, fantabulous, I love it! HYP said you were getting close to being a mad cat lady and that your house would be wrecked. He's expecting you to turn into the cat lady off the Simpsons. Loving the pic of Kevin, I really miss him and his megaphone MEEEOOOOWWW! xxx

Sweet Virginia Breeze said...

How could anyone say no to such a sweetie? Four is a nice even number - but so is six and so is eight......

Those kitties are so lucky to have found you

Related Posts with Thumbnails