Wow Nina! I feel like I've just read one of the stories from Chicken Soup for the Soul for Cat Lovers! That's how I know that Matilda's story will have a good ending. She can't help but win with you on her side, so in-tune to her needs. Bless you for helping another little one! Matilda is truly blessed. I hope you can find her previous owners if they are worth being found, and if not, a wonderful home for this little angel.
:) Wendy --- Nina <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > As happens so often, my latest little refugee from > the street found her > way to me. One morning about 2 weeks ago, I went to > pick up the feral > food dishes in my front yard and noticed a little > tuxy/tabby gray and > white kitty sitting, pretty as you please, watching > me from across the > street in my neighbor's front yard. Now, I know > almost all of the cats > and dogs in my neighborhood by name, and I'd never > seen this little one > before. I went over to introduce myself. She > didn't run, she just > cautiously stood her ground, sitting in that 'good > kitty position', and > watched with huge expressive emerald eyes to see > what I was up to. My > neighbor came out and the little one took off into a > back yard. That > night, she showed up at my food dishes. I went out > to talk to her and > saw that she was VERY pregnant! Aaggrh! I brought > her a dish of wet > food and she hungrily gobbled and growled. She > wouldn't let me touch > her, but I knew she wasn't truly "feral", only a > stray would eat in > front of a stranger like that. The next morning she > was back at her > post across the street. Determined to catch her > before she had her > litter, I marched over there in my pajamas armed > with a carrier and a > dish of food. She struggled valiantly against her > capture, but she > didn't purposely try to scratch, or bite. That > night, a kind vet told > me that she was emaciated, jaundiced and in danger > of losing her life if > she delivered her kittens. She was spayed, given > fluids and a shot of > antibiotics. Sadly, her five little ones never got > to see the light of > day. The first week of her recovery she barely > stirred from her bed, > she'd growl everytime I approached with a plate of > food, but somehow she > still made it to the litter box to relieve herself. > It was touch and > go, I didn't know if she'd make it, it seemed she'd > lost the desire to > live. Exactly a week to the day after her surgery > she came alive and > displayed all the indications of someone suffering > from Post Traumatic > Stress Disorder. I can only imagine the horrors > she'd faced on the > street. It's so obvious that this little darling > was loved, protected > and cherished at one time. She was ill equipped to > deal with the > overwhelming task of fending for herself. Can you > imagine finding > yourself in such a hostile world? Tom's attacking > her to mate, > terrifying encounters with dogs out for the sport of > her blood, and all > the time searching and mourning for the comfort and > safety she had so > recently known. It's no wonder the poor little > thing was terrified of > any being with four legs and that it took a bit of > persuading for her to > see that she had finally found a friend in me. My > sore back can attest > to the hours spent cuddling with her on the bathroom > floor. Her need > for affection and a feeling of protection was so > great that she'd howl > and yowl everytime I left her side. I was so > concerned for her! By the > second day of this behavior, she had cried herself > hoarse! None of us > got any sleep, unless I was with her. In recent > days we've been seeing > slow improvement in her ability to view the world as > a safe place > again. She no longer hurls herself in fright with > claws and teeth bared > at the screen door that separates her from the rest > of my household when > she spots one of my other animals. She's still > growling under her > breath at the dogs, but she's begun to allow my > little cat Pistol to > keep her company when she sits vigil outside the > door. I've been doing > my best to reunite her with her former guardian, but > so far, no luck. > My home, as loving as it is, is crowded with animals > and not an > appropriate placement for one so emotionally > fragile. Please pray that > I find her an understanding home that will suit her > special needs. One > that can lavish love and compassion on this > deserving little soul. This > little one has so much to share, if only we can find > her true forever home. > Nina > > Kat wrote: > > >Okay - make that "we 6" - > >I'm still hear - just up to my eyeballs in work. > >Nina, I'd love to hear about Matilda aka Atila the > Honey. > >Kat (Mew Jersey) > > > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
