A miracle happened today! One of the two little cats who have been living in my backyard decided it was time to come in out of the cold.
For two months, he has been shy as could be, running whenever he saw me. Yesterday, he was still running--but when he reached a "safe" distance, he turned around and talked to me. First time he'd made a sound.
Today, he was sitting outside the sliding door, talking a blue streak. It took him a few tries to work up his courage, but when I opened the door for him, he came in. (OK, I cannot tell a lie: the dish of kitten food I put just inside the door probably helped.)
Of course, I immediately bundled him into a carrier and had my vet check him out. Heartbreak! He has a chip! His previous owner says he has health problems, including diarrhea; and she couldn't handle the expense and mess anymore, so she gave him to someone who owns a farm. But when I asked her if I could keep him, she wasn't sure she could bear to give him up again! She is supposed to call me tomorrow with her decision.
This poor cat has lived in my backyard for two months! This is Wisconsin--we have already had two stretches of sub-zero temps, with windchills of 20 and 30 below, and we're supposed to have more within the week. She gave him to someone she knew was going to make him an outdoor cat! In addition to the fact that I already am totally smitten with this sweet little guy, how could I possibly bear to return him to an owner with that kind of track record?
I wanted to vent... and also to ask for your prayers, thoughts, and support that she makes the right choice and lets me keep him.
For two months, he has been shy as could be, running whenever he saw me. Yesterday, he was still running--but when he reached a "safe" distance, he turned around and talked to me. First time he'd made a sound.
Today, he was sitting outside the sliding door, talking a blue streak. It took him a few tries to work up his courage, but when I opened the door for him, he came in. (OK, I cannot tell a lie: the dish of kitten food I put just inside the door probably helped.)
Of course, I immediately bundled him into a carrier and had my vet check him out. Heartbreak! He has a chip! His previous owner says he has health problems, including diarrhea; and she couldn't handle the expense and mess anymore, so she gave him to someone who owns a farm. But when I asked her if I could keep him, she wasn't sure she could bear to give him up again! She is supposed to call me tomorrow with her decision.
This poor cat has lived in my backyard for two months! This is Wisconsin--we have already had two stretches of sub-zero temps, with windchills of 20 and 30 below, and we're supposed to have more within the week. She gave him to someone she knew was going to make him an outdoor cat! In addition to the fact that I already am totally smitten with this sweet little guy, how could I possibly bear to return him to an owner with that kind of track record?
I wanted to vent... and also to ask for your prayers, thoughts, and support that she makes the right choice and lets me keep him.
