Yes, my life has not yet slowed down. As a matter of fact, and as unbelievable as it seems, it has continued to be even more insane and harried.
And in the middle of it all, my mother evicted the tenants from her property. They failed to pay rent...and were having extraordinarily loud/violent/drug filled parties on a regular (er, nightly) basis. So they got booted by the Sheriffs two weeks ago today.
I went over there to clean so the cleaning crew could get there. Dried vomit on the floor, what appeared to be blood on the carpet (yes, ripped and tossed...) spoiled food all over the kitchen, old food rotting in the stove...yeah, well...so I cleaned. Opened all the doors and windows, and just went after it all.
As I was working on a pile of dried vomit, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye...a sweet, small, cat was wandering through the house, sort of lost looking. A moggie, silent and skittish. I laid down on that nasty floor, trying to be as small as possible so she'd come over or at least stay inside the house, but no joy. She bolted, and I didn't see her for the rest of the day.
For two weeks, I fed her inside the same kennel I used to trap Penguin. Every other day, I went over there and put out more food, and backed off, hoping she'd come by and eat while I was there, and hopefully associate me with food and thus safety. It never happened.
Knowing the painting, landscaping, cleaning, and carpeting crews are due this coming week, I bought a Havahart trap today. Even though that would strap me for the rest of the week, it was important that I get this sweet cat and soon; the noise, smells, and activity would likely chase it away...and then it would be a huge problem, if not impossible, to get it.
I set the trap, and hunkered down for a wait. I had brought snacks, water, and a thick book in case it was going to be a wait; I was prepared, you see, for her to now come around until the night fell.
After about an hour, I laid out on the now-bare cement flooring. I figured I'd take a nap, and then reconsider my options...as I laid there, eyes closed, trying to relax my mind, I heard a bangthumpyooooooooowwwwwwllll, and realized the cat had triggered the trap.
And as these things go, it had...and was inside the cage. I laid out on the patio and just watched it indirectly for a bit. Then I coated my hand with Feliway spray, and laid it outside the trap but right on the wire. The cat came over, sniffed it, sat in the food, looked at me, and if it was a human I would swear it burst into tears. I stroked the chin through the bars, and this sweet cat pushed against my hand. We stayed like that for a while, me scritching and it pushing, and then I moved the trap inside, took this poor sad, tired, hungry, skinny cat into my arms, and just held it, crooning and purring into it's ears. It was filthy; all oily, several cuts on it's face, and just skin and bones. It had a collar, and as I transferred the cat to the dog kennel, I took it off and called the number. It was disconnected, and was my former tenant's cell phone number. So I loved on the cat some more, sprinkled Feliway all over the kennel, and loaded up the car.
I have discovered that this cat is a girl. I think she's about 4 years old, from what I can tell (teeth, coat, and attitude). She needed a bath desperately, so she got one, and a blow dry. She is now happily ensconced in the kennel which is tucked under the dining table, and all the other cats have come by to say hello.
She is a gentle, sweet soul. At no time - not once, including while bathing her in the tub - did she hiss, or swipe, or growl, or scratch me, and she had ample opportunity to do so. She's voiced objections, but they were not accompanied by any action. Her ears have not laid back at all, the tail has been in appropriate places, and she seems to like sleeping in the cat litter.
Likewise, with the exception of Simon, all the other cats are fine with her in the kennel. Simon, otoh, just wants to play and keeps reaching through the bars to "shake hands" I think. He wonders why she moves off, but then just looks at me as if to say "well, she'll play later."
I have a home for her, should the need arise...but if all goes well, I might consider keeping her. She laid in my lap getting the blow dry, and not only didn't she fuss or even wiggle too much, she laid her head down on my arm and just rested there.
Abby. Short for abandoned. I could cheerfully run over my former tenant, you know? Cheerfully. He took his pitbull, and left the cat.
Just thought I'd make the intros...pix will follow; although at the moment, i think she could use some "down" time.
Best-
Michele
And in the middle of it all, my mother evicted the tenants from her property. They failed to pay rent...and were having extraordinarily loud/violent/drug filled parties on a regular (er, nightly) basis. So they got booted by the Sheriffs two weeks ago today.
I went over there to clean so the cleaning crew could get there. Dried vomit on the floor, what appeared to be blood on the carpet (yes, ripped and tossed...) spoiled food all over the kitchen, old food rotting in the stove...yeah, well...so I cleaned. Opened all the doors and windows, and just went after it all.
As I was working on a pile of dried vomit, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye...a sweet, small, cat was wandering through the house, sort of lost looking. A moggie, silent and skittish. I laid down on that nasty floor, trying to be as small as possible so she'd come over or at least stay inside the house, but no joy. She bolted, and I didn't see her for the rest of the day.
For two weeks, I fed her inside the same kennel I used to trap Penguin. Every other day, I went over there and put out more food, and backed off, hoping she'd come by and eat while I was there, and hopefully associate me with food and thus safety. It never happened.
Knowing the painting, landscaping, cleaning, and carpeting crews are due this coming week, I bought a Havahart trap today. Even though that would strap me for the rest of the week, it was important that I get this sweet cat and soon; the noise, smells, and activity would likely chase it away...and then it would be a huge problem, if not impossible, to get it.
I set the trap, and hunkered down for a wait. I had brought snacks, water, and a thick book in case it was going to be a wait; I was prepared, you see, for her to now come around until the night fell.
After about an hour, I laid out on the now-bare cement flooring. I figured I'd take a nap, and then reconsider my options...as I laid there, eyes closed, trying to relax my mind, I heard a bangthumpyooooooooowwwwwwllll, and realized the cat had triggered the trap.
And as these things go, it had...and was inside the cage. I laid out on the patio and just watched it indirectly for a bit. Then I coated my hand with Feliway spray, and laid it outside the trap but right on the wire. The cat came over, sniffed it, sat in the food, looked at me, and if it was a human I would swear it burst into tears. I stroked the chin through the bars, and this sweet cat pushed against my hand. We stayed like that for a while, me scritching and it pushing, and then I moved the trap inside, took this poor sad, tired, hungry, skinny cat into my arms, and just held it, crooning and purring into it's ears. It was filthy; all oily, several cuts on it's face, and just skin and bones. It had a collar, and as I transferred the cat to the dog kennel, I took it off and called the number. It was disconnected, and was my former tenant's cell phone number. So I loved on the cat some more, sprinkled Feliway all over the kennel, and loaded up the car.
I have discovered that this cat is a girl. I think she's about 4 years old, from what I can tell (teeth, coat, and attitude). She needed a bath desperately, so she got one, and a blow dry. She is now happily ensconced in the kennel which is tucked under the dining table, and all the other cats have come by to say hello.
She is a gentle, sweet soul. At no time - not once, including while bathing her in the tub - did she hiss, or swipe, or growl, or scratch me, and she had ample opportunity to do so. She's voiced objections, but they were not accompanied by any action. Her ears have not laid back at all, the tail has been in appropriate places, and she seems to like sleeping in the cat litter.
Likewise, with the exception of Simon, all the other cats are fine with her in the kennel. Simon, otoh, just wants to play and keeps reaching through the bars to "shake hands" I think. He wonders why she moves off, but then just looks at me as if to say "well, she'll play later."
I have a home for her, should the need arise...but if all goes well, I might consider keeping her. She laid in my lap getting the blow dry, and not only didn't she fuss or even wiggle too much, she laid her head down on my arm and just rested there.
Abby. Short for abandoned. I could cheerfully run over my former tenant, you know? Cheerfully. He took his pitbull, and left the cat.
Just thought I'd make the intros...pix will follow; although at the moment, i think she could use some "down" time.
Best-
Michele
