Last night, one lost, bewildered little old cat, placed in a hastily-assembled puppy crate rather too small for its needs.
But it made do. Better than a night wandering in an icy back lane, amongst the wheelie bins.
Someone else made do too. The Big Sulk was carried on all night. At 4.30 a.m., unable to sleep and rather worried, I got up and tried to coax Scooter off next door's shed. Nothing doing; all I got was the evil eye over the wall.
This morning, he had moved onto the wall itself. Progress. I tried again: Come on, Scooter! Come in, sweetie!
No, not coming in.
Breakfast! No, not coming in. Can stay out here for ever.
And I hate that creature in the crate! Yowoooooo!
But eventually, the crate creature was moved elsewhere, and Scooter's resolve disappeared. He needed to catch up on his sleep. Indoors, beside the radiator.
The old cat was moved into the big dog crate today, and seems happy enough there, unaware of the daggers being looked at it by Millie, princess of outrage. Leaflets and posters were distributed round the neighbourhood, vets were phoned. No success so far. The cat will stay with me for now; he/she (I haven't taken the liberty yet of checking under its fluffy, if matted, tail) is stiff and bony, stone deaf and completely blind. Experience of caring for elderly cats suggests kidney disease and age; I also think (hope) it has simply wandered from home, and hasn't been lost for long.
It purrs like a little motorbike when stroked, and prefers tuna to expensive cat food. Later I shall try to snip off the worst of the matted lumps in its fur, and tomorrow we shall go to a local vet to scan for the (unlikely) possibility of a microchip. But today we are being quiet; yesterday brought quite enough excitement and upheaval.
And like Scooter, it needs to sleep too.
Zzzzzzzzzzz.....
23 comments:
What a kind lady you are. That poor old cat couldn't have find a nicer person to rest with. I do hope that you find its owners. We have an aged puss who refuses to groom so all we can do is snip off the worst and brush her when she allows us to (she bites hard for an old cat). The old cat you've found looks so serene in that puppy pen.
I'm glad to read that things have quietened down to some extent. That poor old dear is so lucky to have found you! Let's hope there's a happy reunion with a worried human soon.
we love you
and we L-O-V-E old cats
bless you sweet cat lady
much love to the accommodating Team
xo Les Gang
Lucky litle thing to have fetched up with you, even if the tribe do not agree - yet.
I do hope Old Puss can be reunited with her owners soon . She can't surely have been wandering around blind for long ? The alternative , that she was just hoofed out to fend for herself , once her eyesight totally failed , is too awful .
And I'm glad Scooter feels that he can sleep peacefully now , having registered his strong disapproval of your indiscriminate offering of hospitality to all who wander past . A chap has to make his feelings clear , after all , but it wouldn't be gentlemanly to hold a grudge .
I nearly wept when I saw the photos of that poor old cat. Somehow, when you've nursed an elderly cat right up to the end, the sight of an old, uncared for kitty like this is heartbreaking. You really are a good person, Rachel, that little cat couldn't have arrived at a better place.
He/She looks like my dear departed Smokey who showed up on my doorstep in the middle of an ice storm full of fleas, ear mites, worms, matted fur and so skinny and small due to not having anything to eat that the vet thought him to be a five week old kitten, not four months old as he actually was at the time.
I think God knows what she is doing when she sends us the unwanted and unloved.
I'm so glad to see things quietening down. I hope you sleep as soundly as that old cat who looks very cosy and happy to have some respite care. Now perhaps you can have some too.
Poor old lady! I would give her a home like a shot if I didn't already have four spoilt little furballs eating me out of house and home. What a pretty thing she is and how frightened she must have been. I hope no-one dumped her because she was getting too old and ill.
I want to cry, thank goodness he/she has safety, warmth and care. Hope you've had a better day today.
Just found your blog from Frayedatheedge.....
Anne is knitting you socks too.
Great blog and lovely lab...
Julie x
You are a very kind softhearted person
Which is rather nice as the World needs kind soft hearts and is all the better for each one.
Your visitor looks very content..aren't cats great for dramatic histrionics..they'd have every Oscar going if they had the chance.
They seem to specialize in "I am seriously Affronted" and " Mortally offended" (very Beatrix Potter)
Oh my - you have a big heart to take the poor old thing in and give it so much care - not being a cat person I would have taken it to the animal rescue centre to be looked after (although I might have given a donation for its care).
Poor puss, but how clever of him/her to find exactly the right doorstep! I hope you find it's home, Scooter was doing very cross ears. Good luck, you are a hero! Penny x
another gorgeous old soul
http://thecatorialist.blogspot.com/2010/03/giorgio-armeowni-milan.html
Poor thing! I have just lost my very old boy. He was totally deaf. Good for you for sheltering her! I hope she gets the care she deserves.
Good job, you!
A true Good Deed.
This brought tears to my eyes. You're a kind person, Rachel. The poor old kitty...it is so sweet to see him/her sleeping.
Bless you for taking in that poor kitty. You have a kind heart and are a good person.
Oh I am so glad the old cat found such a safe house.
Love the Scooter side plot!! I don't know how I'd cope with a sulking pet....cocker spaniels, like labs I'm sure, are unable to sulk......no time, there's fun to be had!!!!
Good luck with finding a home for Old Cat. It looks content in the crate so better than the cold. It makes me happy knowing there are warm hearts out there and also makes me promise that I would/will do the same if and when required.
I did look after a lost scared collie one night around 5 Nov but she was very quickly reunited with her owner so no biggie....
Lesley x
And in the midst of all this high drama, what do you bet someone comes and views your place and makes an offer?? And I don't just mean to take home your newest sweet cat. Although that would be nice too! You are one special person that's for sure!
xo
It warms my heart to see that poor old cat snoozing in a safe, warm place. Thank goodness he/she found his/her way to you. I am so glad Scooter finally came home (he's no fool).
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