Thanks For The Cats
I would like to thank who ever it was (whether you were from my town, or a passerby)
for leaving me your unwanted cats. You see, now I know Lilly will have a healthier,
and hopefully, happier home than the alternative that could have been awaiting her.
Let me tell you what has happened since
that April night that this young cat arrived in our dark driveway, meowing for any sign of acceptance when once again, the
car drove away.
With a scheduled two days to go until we were to put Kitty down due to her many years of chronic
intestinal problems and old age. Kitty accepted this new cat, much to my surprise
and our daughter then named her ‘Lilly’.
Lilly has now chased away our male cat John, he now lives in the woods at the end of
our field, where we cater to him and sometimes catch him, sneaking him into the house for food, milk and rest. Lilly had also been getting noticeably fatter and fatter with each new day, and now I would like to advertise
five ‘free’ kittens. But, I learned several years ago that there
is a price tag behind every free animal. I am sure that a person could drop a
hundred dollars on a new kitten, this would ensure the first set of shots and leukemia test.
Then, plan on another bill when spaying or neutering occurs, and because you are responsible for your pets this is
something you would want to do for many reasons, and it prevents unwanted kitties and this next scenario.
It was approximately, thirteen years ago after my husband (who really has no use for
cats) and I agreed to never own one. To our surprise, one afternoon in August
a car pulled up to the brook by our house, and tossed something into it and sped away.
Wondering, but not really giving it any effort, until we heard the screeching out-cries that came soon afterward. It was a kitten, maybe 6-8 months old in very poor health and now cold, wet and to
scared to come to us.
I would sneak to the woods and leave food for it, trying to lure it closer and closer to the barn and hoping it would
seek shelter with the winter months coming. Finally, she did overcome her fear
of us, and my husband who had given up his fight, brought her into the house at the end of that October, and we brilliantly
named her ‘Kitty’.
This sounds like a nice story with a happy ever after for all- but, during those three
months there were many discussions over the cat situation between my husband and I and they were mostly unpleasant ones. With Kitty, came the unexpected medical bills for her poor health, spaying and normal
maintenance. Also, with her, came her sweetness that caused much heartache and
grief when we realized, after all the arguments, thirteen years of care and expense that she needed to be put down. Her bill for euthanasia would be our last and hardest to pay.
So when you go by and think that a little farm looks like the perfect place for your
unwanted cat-think of what you are going to be putting that family through with all of the expense and heartache.
However, even after all of this, I would still like to thank you for dropping your
responsibilities, giving me the loving experience that these cats have given me. But please don’t do it again. I will, also, thank you for them, I believe that Kitty had a wonderful life here and
would tell you so, if she could. It is too early to tell about Lilly, but if
your wondering, she is alive and well and seems to be very content being a new mom of five.
John will be okay, he is a survivor. Thanks
Barbie Tilton-Someday
Farm
