A few days ago, a friend of mine called. Kim has the misfortune of owning a home that is snug up against the worst trailer park in Sweet Home. We have met many times because she feeds those that land at her door. She told me about 6 months ago, the evicted some tenants who were meth heads and the people moved out in the middle of the night and left one of their two cats behind. She had been feeding “Squirrely McGee” ever since but her husband told her she needed to find other arrangements for this kitty and could I take him? I told her I could and I went and picked him up and in the first 20 minutes after he was released from his carrier- I knew there was something really wrong with this beautiful flamepoint. He was either blind or neurologically damaged. I called her back and asked her if she had known he was blind- and she had no idea. She said he used to always pal around with the second cat all the time, so there you go- Squirrely had a guide cat.
I took him in this morning to get him neutered and thankfully he is not feral- just scared, terrified as any cat would be that was blind and in new surroundings. One of the head techs fell completely in love with this beauty he is about 9 years old- and not only is she going to adopt him, but she is going to pay his bill in full! YAY!
Being that he is blind- I was going to have to do some more building on an existing cage to give him more room to roam around but now, I don’t have to. I was so happy for him and when I told Nettie when she asked me about his history that he had been owned by drug addicts- she was really quiet and then she said- well, we will just have to make up for all of that now won’t we? I could have kissed her, but we were on the phone.
I got off the phone and was sharing with Mike that no, we did not have to add another cat to the count- when my phone rings yet again. This time it is an elderly woman and she is angry beyond words. She has a 2 year old black Siamese/Manx mix and she “has had it!” She is tired of this cat (never even gave me the name) tearing up the tissue paper and paper towels, running in and outdoors. She just “wishes the damn cat would stay outside!” On and on her list of complaints went- I don’t take owner surrenders, I really don’t but I was so afraid for this cat if someone didn’t step up and take her- so I will pick her up in the morning and see what happens from there.
So I guess we are adding another cat- just not the one I thought might be staying with us for awhile.
The drug-trash just took the cat who wasn’t a bother to them. For the cat’s sake, I wish they had left him, too. But now, the little blind one will learn to navigate his way around a new home. It’ll be stressful, but probably much less then living with rubbish. Good for him.
And as for the old woman, she is learly one of these people who expect a ‘pet-ready’ cat, with no problems, no issues. One wonders how a person like that gets through life. These are two cats whose lives have just gotten better.