Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Saved Kitty

This kitty almost died. Well, he almost almost died. He was roaming loose in the neighborhood, uncared for, with a gash in his side. My friend feeds strays sometimes and was leaving food out for him. When she saw that the gash was bigger instead of healing up, she trapped him and took him to the vet. She paid to have him stitched up and then kept him inside while he healed. She put up "found cat" posters and notified the local animal authorities. One woman actually came and looked at him, but her missing kitty was a she. When my friend took this unclaimed cat back to have the stitches removed, she had him 'fixed' and kept him. He is beautiful! He is sweet. He is intelligent and curious but otherwise well-behaved. What a great cat and what a great person to rescue him. She has rescued other cats and one case in particular is dear to my heart: A pair of kittens would have been neglected and probably died horrible deaths over a winter abandoned outdoors, but she saved them. I can't say more until I am sure any applicable statutes of limitations have run out. There are those who overdo the animal thing with silly grooming and painted toenails and silly coats and fancy beds and toys and expensive unnecessary foods and taking them in their cars and to public events. There are those who get puppies and kittens and neglect them when the novelty wears off and abandon them or turn them loose outdoors to fend for themselves. And there are people like my friend who see a need and respond to it in a caring rational reasonable way to give a home to an animal in true need. Balance, in all things, is the key.

4 comments:

Gene said...

I like tabby's. Eb was a tabby. We had him for 18 years.

goprairie said...

Get another one, Gene. A soft furry purring kitty would be just the thing for your cranky irascible demeanor. Better yet, get two so when you and Peggy are busy, they have company. Stop by the animal shelter today. We got our Tinker the calico at the DuPage shelter on Deihl Road just east of 59. I might be able to talk to you again after the calming influence of kitties.

Mom Cat said...

What a lovely friend! I have a friend who does TNR (trap, neuter & release) for feral cats. Even though she knows it's an endless job, every cat she has treated means probably hundreds of unwanted kittens. As you know, I have 3 cats from a rescue organization. I wonder what their stories are but you know cats, they'll never tell you!
To your friend, keep up the good work!

goprairie said...

Yeah, I have SEVERAL amazing friends who rescue cats, this one in Batavia for example - who has adopted several from shelters.
i wrote this up cuz i got a photo when i stopped by her house for art . . .
was that one you tried so hard with with the tinfoil a shelter rescue? you worked hard to make that one work . . .

And kitties are so wonderful, but my kids is SO allergic . . .