Hello All,
This Easter has brought a homecoming, of sorts, to Shadowood. As you who have read the story of The Babies on my website already know, back in 1995 I rescued a mother cat (Tommy) and five kittens (Tommy's three and her littermate, Sister's, two) from a drug addict who went into a drug-induced rage, killing Sister and injuring Tommy and one of Tommy's kittens. I kept Tommy and the five kittens until weaning age, then had Tommy spayed and gave her to an animal-loving friend because I didn't have enough room in the old house to separate Tommy both from the kittens and from my resident cat, Pea. Although I knew my friend would give Tommy a good home, it was an extremely difficult decision to give her up because I had never before (or since) given away an animal under my care. I continued to feel very connected to Tommy, though I didn't see her often.
I did, however, see Tommy yesterday, and her condition threw me for a loop. My friend, though a fine woman and devout animal lover, was raised a farm girl with a bit too much farm girl philosophy about companion animal care. She tends to allow nature to take its course, particularly with aged animals, and rarely takes an animal to the vet. So when Tommy started to lose weight, she didn't address the problem. When I saw Tommy yesterday after not having seen her for many months, I was greatly dismayed at how extremely thin she had become. Mind you, Tommy had always been prone to morbid obesity (as has been her daughter, BooBoo), so seeing her so emaciated was shocking. I came home, had a good cry, and decided I had to approach my friend about reclaiming Tommy so that I could resume responsibility for her care in her latter years.
I had that talk with my friend this morning. Actually, I had that talk AGAIN with my friend this morning. I have told her several times over the years that I would be happy to take Tommy back when she reached an age and condition that required more intensive care than my friend has time to provide. So my friend was expecting this request and was very gracious in sending Tommy home with me today.
Tommy is now behind baby gates in my master bedroom/bathroom, lounging on the bed and being fed a smorgasbord of tasty delights. She will go to the vet this week for a complete exam and bloodwork to determine her current health status. She has less than no interest in coming to the gates and interacting with the other animals at all - not even her own babies and nephew from whom she has been separated for 14 yrs. Perhaps she is just happy to sleep. My friend has more than a dozen cats of her own, half a dozen dogs who bark incessantly, several parrots who seem to scream ALL THE TIME, and some fish. Compared to that household, mine is quiet as a tomb.
I certainly didn't need a 16th cat, but I DO need to do right by Tommy. She was my responsibility when I babysat her as a kitten. She was my responsibility when I rescued her as a young mother. Now she is my responsibility to care for as an elder cat.
Welcome back, Tommy.
Laurie
