Stories

Christmas Message from a Friend

Tail-Less Wonder

One day I took my goddaughter to a friend’s house that had a park behind it. She went to play on the playground with a bunch of neighborhood kids. About 30 minutes later she came running in the house crying hysterically and saying “The boys are being mean to it! Make them stop!”. She couldn’t tell me what “it” was but I gathered it was an animal of some sort. So off we went, running through the park. As I approached the playground I could see a group of boys standing around the slide, taking turns going to the top and throwing something down. I saw it go shooting to the end, I ran over to see what it was and have never been so angry in my entire life. A tiny, TINY kitten that was maybe 2 or 3 weeks old. They were having a contest to see who could shoot it off the slide the farthest. I grabbed the baby, put it in my sweatshirt pocket and informed them that boys, that hurt animals, all turn into serial killers and I was telling their parents immediately. They were young (about 8 years old) so the tears started pretty immediately. I ran back to the house and took the tiny little thing out of my pocket. She didn’t make a sound and just stared at me with the biggest eyes. She actually seemed fine but I obviously had to take her to get checked out. The vet said she had no injuries, was slightly underfed and just needed to be kept warm and safe. Then he said, she might be a pure bred Manx. I hadn’t even realized she didn’t have a tail because the only cat I ever had as a kid was a Manx and that was really quite normal to me. The vet thought that was hilarious. I never even considered not keeping her. I brought her home, introduced her to a new sister cat and named her Emma. It has been 15 years now and she is just the most delicious thing that ever happened. Rachel...

Scaredy Kitty

Before my husband and I bought a place of our own, our rental home was not pet friendly. As soon as we moved, I began my quest to find the perfect kitty. I stopped by our local shelter many times during the course of several weeks just waiting for “love at first sight”, with no luck. Our shelter has a Facebook page which they use to upload pictures of new animals, and that is when is saw her. I called my husband and asked him to meet me at the shelter. When we got there we went straight to her cage and we didn’t see anything, and my heart sunk thinking someone must have taken her. I asked around and they said: “She is still there, probably hiding under the bed”. And so she was. When we got her from underneath the bed she gave us the mos frighting look, like we where about to hurt her. I remember my husband saying “She is a scaredy cat. She might never change”. According to the shelter’s story, a litter was found on the side of the street with no signs of the mother. Only her and her brother where taken (probably the only ones alive) – he had been adopted earlier that day. I didn’t even think about it and took her home. When we got home, as soon as we open her cage she ran underneath the couch and did not come out for hours. This went on for days. She would just hide under the couch, and the only way to get her out was to be still and very, very quiet. But as soon as she heard the tiniest little noise, she would run back underneath. Days went by and with a lot of patience, and a lot of love, I got her to come out and start exploring here new home. It took us some time, but it was worth it! She is the most amazing, loving cat. She is part of our family and has made our new place feel like real home. – Anto...

How Bandit Saved Us

One night at our house with my mother, sister, 4 cats and 1 dog, we were fast asleep, when one of our cats came next to my bed and started to scream loudly; which he does when he plays with his favorite ball so I thought nothing of it and went back to sleep. Two minutes later he screamed again and I got worried about him, and I sat up and looked at him and said Bandit are you o.k. bubba? He just stared at me like I should know something, about that time I smelled smoke and looked out my bedroom door and saw our living room in flames. The first thing I did was panic, what you’re not supposed to do. My family had just installed storm shutters on our bedroom windows, after all, our Louisiana hurricanes and we had to tried them out, but they lock on the outside, thats when I realized we could not escape from any windows. I ran to the other bedrooms screaming for my mother and sister to get up and call 911 then looking in our living room from the hall, I knew that was our only way to get these animals and us out safely. We did just in time, ran through the flames, my sister running back in and out getting every animal out, that is the fire fighters jobs, but it was our first fire and we had no plan (everyone should do a fire drill, trust me it saves lives). I do want to thank our cat Bandit, who without him we would not have made it out, so thank you our brave cat that we love so much! My only question is: aren’t dogs supposed to bark and wake you up when theres a fire? lol, well we still love our dog, bless his heart he was scared and I guess all 5 of the animals voted Bandit to do it !   Hazel Hebert Hayes Lake Charles,...

Meet Minnie

About 5 months ago, my mom passed away after a long 2 and a half months in the hospital. She was my only parent, and really my only family. Her passing hit hard and so did my 21st birthday a few months afterwards. About two weeks ago, a friend of mine decided to sober up, so I offered to clean his house. His ex had a few cats, and in a drugged out haze, she kicked them out and tried to run them off. One found a home with a healthy friend, but the other was hiding. Day 1, a heartbreaking cry comes from the bushes, and I spot this malnourished but adorable black cat. I found a can of tuna inside and left it out for her, but she stayed away. The next day I came back, this time with a bag of cat food. She was crying as we drove up, and she ran straight for the food. After she ate, she came right up to me mewing and rubbed up against my leg, allowing me to pet her. She was so grateful. I decided that if she was meant to come home with me, she’d be there when I finished. A few hours later, I opened the door and she was sitting on the steps, waiting. As soon as she saw me, she started meowing again, timidly coming up to me. Decision was made. She was not terribly happy in the carrier, but the more I talked to her, the more she calmed down. It’s been about a week now, and she’s getting healthier by the day. I’ve also come to realize she loves to steal my pillows at night! Shes so cuddly, and so playful. At first, I thought that I saved her. Which I did, I won’t deny that. But she saved me, too. She’s given me unconditional love and affection, and has helped me grieve. She is amazing, and I am so grateful she chose me! I know my mom’s looking down on me smiling. She always said I’d become a rescuer. Shay Vernon, BC,...

How McKenzie Rescued Me

McKenzie wandered into my small back patio 3 years ago starving to death. I took him to the vet, and low and behold, he was micro-chipped. His owner was contacted by my vet, but they told her that the cat was unwanted. McKenzie also showed signs of some serious health issues. Apparently in his adventures in the outdoors he must have been grazed by a car. His entire left side exhibited injury. After viewing his x-rays we could see that not only did he have a dislocated left hip, but he also had a pelvis fracture. His left fang was chipped at the tip and he had an injured left ear. The main problem with McKenzie’s injuries was that the doctor also detected that he had a heart condition and he could not withstand any sort of surgery. After about $900 and many vet visits McKenzie is now on daily heart medication. He runs through my apartment as if there is absolutely nothing wrong with his hip or pelvis. His left ear looks a bit different from the right one, but he is the most loving, cuddling, and sweet boy. I am so glad he rescued me!! Jean Irvine,...

Foxy Lady

Our eyes met when she was bravely crossing the busy road on the bridge across the Fox River. A semi actually went over her before he could stop. But she came out right in front of our car. We stopped and I jumped out. I meowed and she answered back. She was safely in the bushes down by the river. My husband reminded me of all the traffic we were holding up so I got back in, intending to come right back to get her. I told her I would be back to get her and to wait for me. But he wanted to go to the dance and fireworks we were on our way to, but I had time to change his mind. Five hours and many beers later we went back. I found her immediately remembering where her meow was. I meowed again and she came out. I put my hand by her to introduce myself and she popped back into the bushes. I realized my mistake so I meowed once more and again she came out. I quickly grabbed her this time, almost falling into the river. My husband said he will never forget me holding her high up over my head trying not to fall in. She is now a healthy five year old after starting out with ear mites, worms, eye infection and cold. She rules over her two brothers (they get along well with her). We named her Foxy Lady because it was the Fox River she was crossing when we first saw each other. She comes to both of us when we are depressed sensing when we feel bad so we call her our therapy kitty. We are all truly lucky for having each other. Victoria Omro,...

How I met Johnny B

It’s 11:30pm, and my roommate is picking me up at the airport, her first words: “You’re not going to believe this, there’s this cat that’s been meowing at all the windows and doors for the last 2 hours. Doesn’t seem to care at all that there are 3 barking, snarling dogs on the other side of the screen.” I thought about it for a second, and replied “Well, if it’s that desperate, and it’s still there when we get home, we’ll bring it in.” That was almost 4 years ago and Johnny B has been with me ever since. When we first brought him in, we could tell he’d been well taken care of, he even had clipped claws. He was about 10lbs, but you could feel every single bone. We thought he was a little old guy that had probably escaped, and with that bell on his collar he couldn’t have even caught a meal… A cat really didn’t fit in with what I had planned, and a cat this sweet – someone had to be missing him. I was determined to find his family, or if I couldn’t do that a nice new home. So while the flyers went up, he spent every night sleeping with one paw touching me at all times. My roommate even convinced the husky not to eat him, and the little pom-hua and he were completely in love with each other. Needless to say, 2 months later when I still hadn’t found his family I knew I would be keeping him. There wasn’t any chance I’d be able to give him up, I was just as attached to him as he was to me. That’s when I took him to the vet to get him fixed and all his shots and I got a real surprise: He wasn’t an old guy, he was about 8 months old! He was just a kitten. Johnny B, my sweet little boy, is now a healthy 18lb boy that I can’t imagine not being in my life, and yes, he still sleeps with me. Lydia Los Angeles,...

Cat and owl playing – Fum & Gebra – Perfect friendship!

Fum & Gebra, two stars in the open country, an special couple. Fum is a lovely black cat and Gebra a kind barn owl. This bird of prey fly far away but lands every time near Fum, its faithful friend. Fum and Gebra started playing like this since they were about a year old and they have known each other since both were babies of one month old. This is a tribute o Fum, who passed away on May 14 of FLUTD (Feline lower urinary tract disease). Fum was only 3 years old. We’ll miss...

The curious case of my Halloween black kitty

By Christina Chow I bought this little black kitty on Halloween because she was beautiful. Her makers made her extremely realistic; one could see even the smallest details of her fur. Yet the feature that caught my attention mostly was that she had an attitude. Her green eyes shone with contempt and passion, but her poise was regal. She was a perfect New Yorker. At first I placed her on my desk, and I kind of shuddered at her gaze every time I turned on my computer. I felt that she was watching me from behind my back and I could not concentrate on my work. So, I placed her in my studio, on top of my books. I said to her, “Guard my books and all the wisdom in them”. She did a great job, so much that I rarely took a book out from the shelves anymore, as I felt almost guilty to do so, when I saw her powerful bright green eyes staring at me, as if saying: “books would not do any good, if you do not discipline yourself and write” “S-sorry, I just wanted to read that book…” I apologized. This morning I got a brilliant idea. I gave her a pair of glasses. Now she is transformed into a very interesting character, an intellectualized New York black kitty still with an attitude but more mellow, even empathetic: she is not only guarding my books, she is also reminding me of the knowledge contained in my books. What a transformation, a radical change of vision, of perspective…and all for a pair of spectacles! © 2013 Christina Chow...

A special friendship

Every day – at the same time – she waits for him. He comes… and they go for a walk…together 🙂

Semiramis

She’s Semiramis. And I’ll give you the story behind it. We wanted an Egyptian name, but Bast wasn’t quite cutting it, it doesn’t lend itself well to cuddly calling (or at least, that’s what we thought then). And earlier cats in our families had used up a lot of the Egyptian queen names. However, there’s a great hotel in Cairo named Semiramis (and it saved us one day, when we were walking across the bridge from Gezira island, and noticed a tummy explosion approaching), and she was a fabulous queen (though not in Egypt, she created the hanging gardens of Babylon). So Semiramis it was, and it fits, she’s definitely got a royal attitude to life. Or Cattitude. And, she just turned 16. Here are the two big cuddlerers in my life – my cat and my son – cuddled up together. Usually either the one or the other or both are cuddling me, but this day my son was worn out, he had a slight concussion, and when he stretched out on the sofa to take a nap, Semiramis jumped up to him. She usually only does that with me, but he’s obviously been approved as he’s calm enough. (And yes, that implies that my daughter is not). I would love to contribute to a cool kitties site, but not right now. Both my neck and right arm is acting up at the moment, so I don’t get as much computer work done as I would like to. But soon, hopefully. By Berte...