One year ago today, I drove home from my parent's late at night with a tiny, scared furball in my lap. He had been abandoned by his feral Mom and siblings, was terrorizing the birds at my Mom's feeders, and was going in the river the next day if I didn't take him (my 82 yo Dad is old school). I didn't have cat food or litter, just a tin pan with dirt from the yard.
This would be my first fur baby in almost 21 years. My last cat, a registered Persian from my late husband, was run over and died the exact same day we brought our son home from the hospital after his birth. When I realized that every cat that I ever had died because of cars, I decided indoors only. He was named Java because he's black, I love coffee, and my son's a computer geek.
Fast forward one year and OMG how my life has changed! My house looks like one big cat playhouse with toys and comfy beds in every room, never ending fuzz balls in the corners, an always available, outdoor tent and tunnel connected to a garage window, half the freezer overtaken with frozen raw, a kitchen taken over by cat food cans in the cabinets, refrigerator and trashcan and a UPS guy probably wondering how much does one cat need!
Then there's the neighborhood tomcat who's slowly adopting us. We don't know his name but we call him Tom (yeah, original). Last winter, I raised and enclosed a small dog house and added a pet heating pad just for him. We took him to the vet for an exam and vaccines, treat him for pests monthly, and have taught him to eat wet food (kibble addicted). Once I can convince him to use a litter box, he'll become a neutered, indoor only cat too.
I've almost given up TV and the mystery and thriller library books changed to books about cats. Now, my free time is consumed with playing the 'big cat' with Java and Tom, taking Java hunting outdoors every evening on his harness and leash, and learning all I can about cat food, health, and behavior.
The TCS Behavior forum is full of posts about the strange or bad behavior of our beloved fur babies. But what about the behavior of us fur baby guardians?
My husband and I want to take a vacation in August and here I am searching for hotels that allow cats. No way I could kennel my Java! A friend could feed come by and feed both of them but could I enjoy myself without my fur babies?
Do you find yourself 'educating' people in the pet food aisles? When you go out in public, do you look down and suddenly realize that you have healing scratches on your hands and fur covering your clothes? Can you have a conversation with a friend without mentioning your cat(s)? And, are you wondering if they think you're now some weird, obsessed feline lover?
In just one year, my life has been completely transformed by a fuzzy ball of fur with claws and attitude.
I confess. I have become the crazy cat lady. I am a cat addict who probably needs an intervention.
Are you addicted too? Is there a tipping point where we've gone too far? Maybe if I changed my will and left everything to my cats....
This would be my first fur baby in almost 21 years. My last cat, a registered Persian from my late husband, was run over and died the exact same day we brought our son home from the hospital after his birth. When I realized that every cat that I ever had died because of cars, I decided indoors only. He was named Java because he's black, I love coffee, and my son's a computer geek.
Fast forward one year and OMG how my life has changed! My house looks like one big cat playhouse with toys and comfy beds in every room, never ending fuzz balls in the corners, an always available, outdoor tent and tunnel connected to a garage window, half the freezer overtaken with frozen raw, a kitchen taken over by cat food cans in the cabinets, refrigerator and trashcan and a UPS guy probably wondering how much does one cat need!
Then there's the neighborhood tomcat who's slowly adopting us. We don't know his name but we call him Tom (yeah, original). Last winter, I raised and enclosed a small dog house and added a pet heating pad just for him. We took him to the vet for an exam and vaccines, treat him for pests monthly, and have taught him to eat wet food (kibble addicted). Once I can convince him to use a litter box, he'll become a neutered, indoor only cat too.
I've almost given up TV and the mystery and thriller library books changed to books about cats. Now, my free time is consumed with playing the 'big cat' with Java and Tom, taking Java hunting outdoors every evening on his harness and leash, and learning all I can about cat food, health, and behavior.
The TCS Behavior forum is full of posts about the strange or bad behavior of our beloved fur babies. But what about the behavior of us fur baby guardians?
My husband and I want to take a vacation in August and here I am searching for hotels that allow cats. No way I could kennel my Java! A friend could feed come by and feed both of them but could I enjoy myself without my fur babies?
Do you find yourself 'educating' people in the pet food aisles? When you go out in public, do you look down and suddenly realize that you have healing scratches on your hands and fur covering your clothes? Can you have a conversation with a friend without mentioning your cat(s)? And, are you wondering if they think you're now some weird, obsessed feline lover?
In just one year, my life has been completely transformed by a fuzzy ball of fur with claws and attitude.
I confess. I have become the crazy cat lady. I am a cat addict who probably needs an intervention.
Are you addicted too? Is there a tipping point where we've gone too far? Maybe if I changed my will and left everything to my cats....
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