The Southwest Voice

All > News
Of cat-astrophic proportion
Topics:
Posted by funeralsinger Wed Jun 20, 2007 15:39:28 PDT
Viewed 263 times
0 responses 1 comment I have reoccurring nightmares of becoming an old “cat woman.” There is nothing I can do about the old part… that’s in God’s hands, but you can help with the cat part. You know who you are. You pick up a precious little bundle of kitten fluff, cooing over how cute it is and what a wonderful pet it will make. You buy all the right food and toys, and for a while everything is wonderful.
Then something dreadful happens: your kitten grows up. For some reason, the very things you thought were so cute are now an annoyance, and one day you decide you’ve had enough. But instead of doing the humane thing and trying to find a new home for your pet, you just put it out to fend for itself. Your little sweetheart wanders neighborhoods, dodges cars and dogs, and paws through horrible places for a scrap of something to eat. If it’s lucky, it will find someone who will take it in, someone who will love the now somewhat thinner and less attractive animal.
That someone might just be me. Oh, we already have enough cats of our own, some by choice, others by chance. They come to our apartment, led by their little noses to the food that we keep on the back porch for our own babies. They find shelter from the elements under the cover of our large table umbrella, and companionship in their new cat family.
Our most recent addition was purposely deserted when its family moved away, taking one cat, but leaving the other. Funny how the one they took was the male — the less troublesome of the two because, of course, the female is now pregnant.
Therein begins the building of the second story of my soapbox. If you make the decision to take home a little darling, do the responsible thing and have it spayed or neutered.  Very few cats are money-makers, yet they are allowed to breed unchecked, thus causing the circle to swing around time after time. When the next homeless cat pokes its nose under my gate looking for sustenance, I will at first try and shoo it out, just in case it has only temporarily lost its way. However, when it becomes evident that it has nowhere else to go, I will take it in, feed it, love it and, yes, spay or neuter it. Our latest count is six… three of ours and three of yours.

Send to a Friend

Report a Violation

Comment From: funeralsinger

Just to update... the little "left behind" female had her kittens on Saturday. Unfortunatly, as she had no home to go to, she chose our outdoor litter box as a labor and delivery room. After a good cleaning and relocation to a cozy bed indoors, she and the three babies are doing very well. I will be looking for homes for them when they are able to leave momma. If no one comes forward, I will be forced to look into alternate solutions. Shame on the family who dumped this sweet thing rather than care for her in her time of need.