This grey fluffer was found on our porch yesterday morning.
After this video I was able to pick it up and do a bit of investigation and I believe this is a female though I could be wrong with cats this furry.
At any rate I think we are dating now! LOL!
Her belly fur is as curly as Tula's and she has all of Tula's mannerisms.
Jeff said he saw her coming out from under the old general store.
I posted this to Facebook - and I also posted and DELETED a follow up. She came meowing to the QPO studio door. I was just leaving. I couldn't take her in.
And people were MAD and saying I was cruel for not taking her in.
She is not my cat. I don't know where she came from (if she is a she?!) and we are down to one vehicle and I didn't have a way to get her to a vet (nearly an hour away) to have her checked for a chip or to shave her belly to see if there is a spay scar.
Before Hubster Dave picked me back up in the afternoon I had fed her. She was starving. Flash doesn't seem to mind her. (if it is a her?)
And honestly - I don't think she is as feral as Flash is. She was quite trusting and lovey.
I thought about it all night. Do I need a 5th cat? NO!
But can I really consider Flash as a pet? NO! He gets food - because I'm not cruel, but he is not a pet. He will not let anyone close.
I don't know if she'll be there this morning.
Maybe she is just on her journey home and needed some fuel in the form of food and she will have gone back to where she came from by the time I get there.
Or is 64 the age where we really bloom into our full Crazy Cat Lady chapter of our lives?
I tried talking to Ivy about it. But she wasn't listening as I tried to also work on this binding.
Talk to the paw and leave me alone....
As long as you don't bring her here, I don't see a problem?
Tula is doing well - I think? I know she is healing. She loves pets and purrs. But any time I bring her downstairs to roam around and get some exercise - along with trying to accept some lap relaxation and pets - after 10 or so minutes she begs to be put down and takes herself right back upstairs to the bathroom she calls home.
Lola didn't have an opinion either - she just stuck her head in the quilt and said "Whatever. Just don't bring her here."
Things are thawing finally. It got to 42 yesterday and snow is melting at a rapid pace. We will be in the 50s by next week.
When I can safely get the van back down (and have the ability to get back up) the drive if she is still around I'll see about a chip and go a bit further.
I've put out messages to people in the area that I know to help get the word out.
As for the rest of yesterday -
I spent the entirety of my time at the QPO at my desk working on contracts and pattern writing.
Other than sewing some of the binding down last night - it was a new sew day.
Those are always so disappointing! LOL! But things need to be taken care of as we prepare to kick off retreats starting next week.
Let's hope there is some sew time today!
And I know there will be incoming comments telling me what to do with this cat situation.
Please be kind. Take into consideration that it is a 45 minute drive the a vet AT LEAST in any direction. I have no one near who has a chip scanner. I know its cold, but there is shelter on the porch, under the porch, under the general store or wherever she came from.
I can't rescue them all. There are decisions to be made.
I couldn't bring her into the QPO or garage with no litter box or supplies and I could not bring her home here. I wanted to give her the chance to go home if she chose.
I'll let you know what happens today.
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
I'm all about yellow and quilts these days. Isn't this a gorgeous one?
When I lived in North Carolina the forsythia would bloom bright yellow in February.
It'll be a long time before they bloom up here but the yellow brings me sunshine even while we are snow covered.
When they do bloom, I'll be ready!
Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone-
36 comments:
Thanks for all you do for all the kitties - I think there is some "transmission" system around you that kitties are loved at your place!!
Your new kitty visitor is beautiful. 😻
Best wishes for a lovely day of sewing.
Bonnie- I follow your blog and enjoy your posts and appreciate the beauty in your work. It’s really uplifting.
And, I want to say: you’re a kind and generous soul. To us, your blog followers and to the creatures you encounter in daily life. You really don’t need to explain yourself and your decisions. I’m sorry some people make you feel like you need to justify your decisions. Oy!
I think you're doing wonderfully with what you're doing. Flash is feral and I applaud you for leaving him be. My grandmother always said, "do the best you can with what you have.". Lori Lively
I soooo feel your pain! They just keep showing up here too. And when they are long-haired like that, I always think....they must live inside! That fur will just be a mess if they are left outside - haha. If any more show up here, I just have to close my eyes and pretend they aren't here. But, like you...I just can't do it. They just passed an ordinance in a nearby town that if you feed feral cats you get a $50 fine. What in the world!? Are we supposed to let them starve?
She's a beautiful kitty, wish I lived close by. Hopefully she found her way home.
Bonnie, as I get older I’m finding it easier to just say no. Except for the new kitty that found us in September! LOL Good luck with whatever you decide is best. Fran in Washington
Cats of Rekavik Iceland too! 🤣
My sister has a similar problem with cats being drawn to her. I kid her that in the cat social world, the word is out that if you are down on your luck or pregnant, here’s where you go for help! Every time she gets one or more adopted, another shows up to take its place as though they know there’s a vacancy.
My dad always told us about the hoboes who used to get off the train near his house in the 30’s and walk directly to the back door to get a handout from my grandmother. It was not the only house on the street. He swore it was marked as a good place for a handout, but they could never find anything. Your cat story made me think of this. Maybe the cats have marked you as a good way station. 😆. Connie Taylor
She doesn't look like she's been out too long or isn't getting fed, so I think she's fine. As you said, she has food and access to dry and warmer shelter. I have a few outside cats that I feed and I have shelters out for them. Sometimes, the cat distribution link sends me too many but the cats have been known to double up in the shelters if need be.
Hoping when the weather gets better, you are able to find that she has a chip or can find her a good place to call home.
I think you are doing the right thing with the new kitty. I just so love the yellow quilt! So bright and happy! What type batting do you use? The quilt seems so fluffy and not stiff at all.
I work at an animal shelter, and I'm here to tell you that you are doing everything absolutely correctly. You're unerringly kind to your feline visitors (and yes, maybe the word is out in catdom). You are not obliged to adopt every stray that comes your way. The cold hard truth is that there are many cats who, for a variety of reasons, are homeless; you are doing so much to provide respite and comfort. That may well be all this puss needs. Pat yourself on the back and do NOT feel guilty about any of it. Your grey fluffer is not feral, you can't pick up a feral kitty, so it may be that someone is missing her. Or dumped her. Or...? In any event, good on you, and keep up the good, kind work.
thank you for sharing your vacation cats! what fun
Thank you for looking out for the animals out there. I would like to say, however, we live in the country and there were times when the pets would wonder off and were taken in by well meaning people. This makes it very difficult for them to find their way home and for the family to find them. You are doing the right thing. I had a friend who took in strays and ended up with 20+ cats! Laurie
I also wish I lived closer. Grey kitties are a favorite, second only to calico.
Cut some forsythia branches and put them in a vase with water…you will have a beautiful display of yellow flowers in no time!
I travelled to Croatia a few years ago and saw the same thing with cats as you did in Morocco.
You will need a go fund me page for vet bills if this continues!
I would just leave out food and water and leave them be (unless they are injured). Cats own you, you don't own them. They "let" you care for them. I love cats but the last one we had ......the hurt went deep when she passed and it took my husband a long time to mourn. She was his baby.
Lol, on the Side eyes from the Cat gallery. Don't bring here here, they say. No worries, your decision totally. Happy Hump day. Heading down to Stitch something. 50 degrees and No Snow on SE PNW.
I went to the Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos last fall. There are cats everywhere! The locals all seem to take the responsibility of feeding them and I think also getting them fixed.
My understanding about crazy cat lady is that it is only crazy when you have more than one cat per decade. So you still have room for two more.
There was a time that I thought there was a cat erected sign at the end of my driveway that said, "Animal suckers live here... with lots of food......"
I took them in, even though my Dad said that if I leave food outside it will attract more. He was right! Then came the time that one came, then came inside, all was well for a few weeks until it attacked my 6 year old daughter's treasured cat!! That was followed by nightly fights with any cat or dog that crossed her path. I called animal control and they came and got her and two others we were caring for but hadn't been able to find home for. They checked for chips, vaccinated and found homes or for the more feral one, a farm to live on. Now, if I can catch them, I call animal control. I love them but didn't want the vet bills that were caused by the strays! I do try to find homes if friends have asked but I don't keep them anymore.
Also, we have a dog that was running in the woods on a 'walk'. She turned to see if the others were gaining on her and turned forward and crashed into a tree.
Blunt force damage to the eye that eventually had to be removed! Except for when she gets excited and forgets to turn her head to have more scope of vision, she's fine. She recovered quickly and lives a joyous life.
Bonnie,
You are a wonderful kitty mom. Do not feel bad if you can't help every kitty that comes to your porch. The vibrations that cats make when they purr in suppose to be healing. In Georgetown, South Carolina they have a tea/coffee house with lots of cats to pet. In the evening when it is closed you can watch the cats, through the large store front window, wandering around the place.
Hope your kitties eye heals.
I'm not a cat person at all, dogs all the way for me, so I can easily say no to a cat. We do have one, that also just found us, but he lives outside due to spraying inside, even though he is spayed. I could never be cruel to an animal but if people got their pets spayed we wouldn't have so much of a problem with strays and dumped animals.
The new fluffer doesn't really look like a stray, it's in pretty good condition. I'm following this story with amusement, good luck to you and I hope you get her/him sorted.
Shaz in Oz
I had to smile when I read today's post. My grandmother was known as the cat lady because she took in every stray in the neighborhood. She even took in a Russian Wolfhound who was neglected. Somehow, they seem to know who cares.
Agreed 100%!
A lot of the comments above have said what I wanted to say. You are a kind and gentle person & cats ( & dogs apparently ) are drawn to you and your crew. Take care of them the best you can & let go what you can't. Hopefully you get a good sewing day! Happy cat-whispering too! :-)
I support you with whatever decision you make. Your kindness to pets has been proven, no need for more justification. My husband helps me in that he is strictly a "ONE" cat person. So, I have Winston and give him all the kitty loves.
No I don't think you are mean. I personally would be careful of feeding stray cats. Someone dumped off four here several years ago and we felt sorry for them and fed them. They wouldn't even let us get near them so we couldn't catch them. And $50 per spay was way out of my social security budget anyway. We ended up with 15 within a couple of years as they kept multiplying. They came charging at us and tripped me several times. We are disabled and in our 70s. The Animal Control just told us to slowly decrease their food and they would move on. Some did and some didn't. One came back with two new kittens. Now two toms are here after them!
Exactly this 😍
Living on a farm, I feed all the kitties that turn up. I spay them as I can catch them. (No kittens for years - Amen!) I do not try to bring them inside. We have barns and shop buildings. There are cat houses and nests in each building. They are happy to have a steady supply of food and warm shelter. And a livestock guardian dog who hovers to keep them safe. I am happy to have mousers. Not all feral cats want to be lap pets. You are doing a great job Bonnie!!!
You are the kindest person - so many animals have been rescued by you, loved and cared for to the highest degree. With the world the way it is, it may be time to limit what details you put on your blog - there are way too many people who will attack others for their decisions and yet cross the street to avoid a starving animal without any qualms. What you are experiencing is unacceptable - I hope the people who were criticizing you READ this & think next time before they open their trap to attack....but I suspect that won't happen. I like animals far better than people - especially now! Deb / CA.
I agree. Our nearby county seat has a thriving Trap, Neuter, Release program going with help from a nearby vet school. Many feral cats are brought in. I think that is what should be done. Feral cats definitely have a role to play, but controlling population size is important.
I always think of the Starfish story. Can't save them all, but putting this one back in the water? "It made a difference for this one". Just like giving to charitable causes. I won't accept the guilt of "but weeee really need your $". Nope, I'm not a gazillionnaire and can't help them all.
Cheers to the cats you've saved!!!!
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