July 3, 2004
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A Tale o’ Nine Cats (more or less)
I was a lonely little kid. My folks were poor, my dad was a drunk and I talked funny–had a high IQ and used big words, plus I had a North Carolina accent which did not go over well with Pennsylvania kids. Oh, and I was uncoordinated and had thick glasses. Anyway, at one time, my best friend was this orange kitten. We got along great until the little guy got up into the engine compartment of dad’s 1949 Pontiac and sustained a broken neck when he started the car. I remember holding the furry little corpse, marvelling at how its head rolled around, and something inside me died. At some deep level I decided never to love again, if loving hurt so much. Between the poverty and the parental neglect and abuse, I hurt enough as it was. In the following years, mostly all I loved was money and expensive toys (stereo sets, designer clothes, a Porsche, shit like that). Oh, and drugs.
Since moving to Alaska, I have been getting many lessons in loving from my sweety and god and rocks and my shamanic power animals. I need all the help I can get. Recently, I have fallen in love with three grey girl kittens. Someone dumped them off at Felony Flats, the place where I spend the summer, rent a cabin and sell stuff at the flea market there. I noticed them, started buying food for them, and named them–Smoky (the aggressive one), Spooky( the shy one), and Silky( the grey and white dink). Smoky and Spooky play together down by my stand, and Smoky comes into the car and sits on my lap. Silky stays down by my cabin, starting coming in and sitting on my lap while I watched TV.
A week ago, I left for work, not knowing that Silky was hiding under the bed. I came home and she was at the door, and calmly strolled out when I slid it open. (The cabin doesn’t have a proper door, but a set of sliding glass patio windows I secure with a padlock when I’m away.) She didn’t make any messes or destroy anything, and I was mightily impressed. After that I started leaving her in the cabin for short periods of time. She made a comfy spot under the table on top of a salesman’s sample case full of Kathy’s jewelry (her work, not her personal stuff).
At the latest Wasilla farmer’s market–where I rent a table and sell knives and rocks and Alaskana–I got a live catnip plant for Silky. I tore off a few leaves and she really got into it. She didn’t know what to make of them at first, but then got to biting them and rolling on them–really got a nice buzz on, it seemed to me.
Our relationship went to another level the other day when I retrieved a discarded litter box from the local dumpster and put it in the cabin, along with a food and water dish. Now she stays over in the cabin at night, and I wake up with her at the foot of the bed. She is a sweet little thing, and intend to take her with me (I don’t know why I’m getting ital all of a sudden, I didn’t ask for them–shit, the more I use computers for writing, the more I miss my old Olivetti) back up the valley when I move back home.
I don’t know what to do about Smoky and Spooky. I can’t take just one–they play together, and Spooky would be desolate and I assume so would Smoky, if I broke up the set. If I leave them both there, they both may freeze or starve this winter. I am hopeful that Spooky will get less afraid of people over the summer, so that I can take all three home with me.
Then we would have six housecats–okay, eight, if you include the two local feral cats who come in sometimes. That would be fine with me, but I don’t know what the dog would think of the situation.
Comments (5)
If you’ll proofread that sentence where you turned on the italics, you may notice that you left out the capital I. What you did was hit control instead of shift, and turned on italics.
Koji will probably love having a few more furries around acting like prey for him to chase. Granny cat is the one I’m worried about.
Awwwwww, you gotta take em with you!!! I tend to do the same thing. If you’re a cat in my house, the rule is, you gotta get along with the rest of them and expect more. Even my grumpy butt is getting along with the rest now.
From one friendly recovering person from the Keystone State to another, Have a great 4th! Looking for the Capt. anytime soon?
they sound so wonderful…I am glad they found you…I hope too Spooky isn’t as skiddish soon so he doesn’t give you too much trouble when it is time to leave…you must take all of them…freezing is awful…and they have left little paw prints on your heart now…kittens are so cute…thanx for sharing…Sassy
I’ve had some experience getting close to strays and ferals. Your best bet is to rely on two things: food and play. Try to tempt the more skittish one onto your lap with food, so you can pet them while they eat. If they won’t go for that just yet, sit by their dish while you feed them. If they’re hungry enough, they’ll ignore you and go for the food. Over time, you can start to reach out at stroke them while they are distracted by eating. They may startle at first, but they’ll get used to (and start to enjoy) the attention as contact progresses. And don’t forget to talk to them. They need to get used to the sound of your voice.
I also recommend luring them with play. Get some string tied to a small pinecone or a feather on a stick and tempt them closer with it. The natural playfulness of kittens should overtake them and bring them closer to you, helping them slowly overcome their feral skittishness.
I know (from reading previous blogs) that you’re not a fan of neutering, but it may help everyone get along a little better once you move them to your permanent home come winter. Unneutered males tend to get competitive in close quarters. But that’s a personal choice – I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of playing god that way, myself. I wish you good luck with your new brood. They sound adorable and I hope they enjoy their new family.
rosabelle