A lovely story. I know how you both felt when Rheis dissappeared. Sometimes
one of my babies stays out longer than the others and I become a basket case.
Then they show up at the door, meowing (demanding) to get in. Or sometimes
they come up behind me and quietly sit, waiting for me to turn and discover
them. I say I am going to do all kinds of things to them when they finally
come home, but I just pick them up and love them to pieces.
czadna sacarawicz czadnasacaraw...@hotmail.com wrote:
Jean Feraca of WI public radio uses a word unremembered by me which describes
people unknown to each other involved in a work on behalf of God.
The recent Purina Rally to Rescue magazine featured an article Loved and
Found about volunteers using animal allies to find strayed beloveds.
with that . . .
Rheis, a petite, long-haired talkative tortie had lived outside for some
months. Sherry fed this cat who had arrived in the rough neighborhood by
unknown means.
Peggy Satterwhite of Vance County SPCA and I trapped this likely-to-be
pregnant cat on March 5. Rheis came home with me. Rheis went to SNAP - NC
and was aborted and spayed; we visited the vet, visited Sherry who was
certain she did not want Rheis as a dependent, and visited the Wake County
SPCA who put Rheis on their waiting list for their adoption center. Rheis
lives with us in a one bedroom apartment - - separated for health reasons - -
from the heart of the home i.e Scrumptious and Mama and Pookashay and Shallie
Marie and Luscious. There is usually a temporary, non-paying feline house
guest in what seems to be a convalescent center.
Karin who lives in the same apartment building as we but on the back side and
above ground level wanted Rheis to meet Toby. Toby, her 14 year-old rescue,
might be willing to have an additional housemate. Karin picked up Rheis
Saturday afternoon. No fur flew. I went up late in the afternoon to pick up
Rheis before Karin left for mass. Rheis wanted no part of being caught. I
left and revisited after Karin's return. Rheis was much more social now.
She moved back and forth from the cat-safe patio where Toby was hanging out.
She allowed herself to be petted. The revised plan was that Rheis would
spend the night. She had been sharing food and the litter box.
11:17 p.m. call from Karin. Rheis had exited the patio to the ground. I
dressed and went to . . .Karin had spoken to a visitor who went for a
flashlight. (the vistior called me by name, recalling an incident with a
kitten at the dialysis center). The visitor saw eyes staring back at her
from the dark woods. Karin and the visitor went into the woods. Harold and
James, the outside ferals, knew something was going on and monitored the
activities. Toby was talking from the patio.
Rheis had shown herself to be tame with a big motor. She lived in a double
cage unreachable to her housemates and at night in the bathroom. No Rheis.
I went home and turned out my heart. Yahmuna (FIV+) and I went to bed. I
pondered what I was going to say to the SPCA and search strategy for Sunday.
12:46 p.m. I heard a meow at the door and opened to see Rheis and Mama. I
put Yahmuna into her bedroom and went back and opened the door and Rheis came
in.
I called Karin.
Rheis had never been outdoors at my home . . . had lived the free life of an
outdoor cat.
HOW AND WHY?
Karin is a woman of great faith.
cz
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