I used to think I was rescuing cats. Now I’m starting to think they rescued me – and possibly my sanity. Though with nine cats running around the house, “sanity” might be a generous word.
It all started at a Petsmart many years ago. While coming home from shopping, my youngest son needed to use the restroom so we thought for some unknown reason that a pet store would be the best option. While in the store, he wanted to look at the kittens they had for adoption through Petsmart Charities.
And Then There Were Two
Like most children, my son wanted a kitten, but my husband spotted two adult cats whose owner had recently died of pancreatic cancer. The man’s last wish was for his cats not to be separated and to be kept indoors. As an animal lover I understood and who could say no to a dying man’s last wish, so the next day we adopted two adult cats: Spiffy and Sunny Cat.
Spiffy was white with black spots, kind of like a Friesian cow, while Sunny Cat had long black hair. They were great together. Spiffy, the oldest of the two, was outgoing and cuddly, while Sunny Cat tended to be quiet and shy. He seemed to live in the shadow of Spiffy.
And Another One
Several years later a young grey and white male cat showed up at our house, so we started feeding him. And of course, he decided our house might be a smart place to hang out since we provided food and shelter (in the garage). He was neutered and friendly so we thought he must belong to someone in the neighborhood, but no one claimed him.
One day for some unknown reason the cat bit my husband’s hand, yep the one that fed him. Cat bites are notorious for causing infections, because bacteria in their mouth can be injected deep into the tissue with their needle-like teeth.
And that’s exactly what happened. My husband’s hand got infected, and he was concerned – momentarily – about having rabies. So as a joke I initially called the cat “Rabies.”
I can hear your screams now, “Who would name their cat after such a horrible virus!” Apparently, me the crazy cat lady. Sorry to everyone. Of course, that wasn’t his official name at the vet and now we call him Ray-Ray.
After about a year living outdoors, Ray-Ray’s living arrangement changed due to a neighbor threatening to shoot him. I know, there’s always that crazy neighbor in every neighborhood. Anyway, instead of risking it, we brought Ray-Ray into our house and provided him with an adjoining catio so he could still enjoy the outdoors whenever he desired.
Enter Cat Four
In the meantime, Spiffy sadly passed away due to a heart condition, and we took in another stray cat that we named Squeaky. Squeaky was an older beautiful American bobtail. She was microchipped but no one answered our emails or calls, so she became part of our family. Squeaky was very loving but tended to be a loner. Sadly, she only lived with us for a few years and then passed away from lung cancer.
Updated Total = Two
So up to this point in the story, we had taken in four cats: two had passed away and one was threatened with bodily harm. The story will continue in my next blog because two cats is a long way from nine!
I will let you know that at present Sunny Cat (age 19) and Ray-Ray (age 14) are still doing great and enjoying life to the fullest. I hope that Sunny Cat’s original owner is smiling down from heaven, knowing his babies have been well loved and taken care of as he wished.
For all you cat lovers, let me know how many cats you have and any fun stories. Also don’t forget to donate to an animal rescue charity to show your love for our furry four-legged friends.
In Love and Light,
Denise