17 years ago, a cat-rescue friend of ours insisted that we take a pair of feral cats, half grown kittens actually, that she had rescued and had neutered and shots administered at her own expense. That's just what she did....maybe still does for all I know. I don't really like cats except when they had a purpose on our farm, which was to live in our barns, fending for themselves on the rats and mice therein.
I agreed, very reluctantly, to take these two brothers. They were totally wild and unapproachable, which was fine with me. My missus had a raised "cat house" built so we could feed them in a safe and sheltered spot but they were otherwise on their own outside.Our mouse problem disappeared practically overnight. An awful lot of small birds did too...a small pile of feathers here and there bearing mute testament to their untimely demise.
Fast forward 15 years. Both cats became "petting addicted" but only by a very few people. One of my employees even got one to the point he could pick one of them up and put him in his lap. The other one was much more stand-offish and only became friendly in that last couple of years. With me, mostly. He'd meet at the door of our house every morning and walk with me over to the shop to be in the cat house when I dumped the cup of cat food in his bowl. Every morning..regardless of the weather.
Feline leukemia got both of them eventually. Brother #1 had it first and disappeared about 2 years ago; we think a feral cat that was invading our place was at least partially responsible. Brother #2 obviously came down with it soon after and when my missus took him to be euthanized today, he was skin and bones and barely able to stand up.
And dammit...I cried when she put him in the little box to head up the road. So did she. Just a darned ole cat...darn it.
The pair of them...in better times.
I agreed, very reluctantly, to take these two brothers. They were totally wild and unapproachable, which was fine with me. My missus had a raised "cat house" built so we could feed them in a safe and sheltered spot but they were otherwise on their own outside.Our mouse problem disappeared practically overnight. An awful lot of small birds did too...a small pile of feathers here and there bearing mute testament to their untimely demise.
Fast forward 15 years. Both cats became "petting addicted" but only by a very few people. One of my employees even got one to the point he could pick one of them up and put him in his lap. The other one was much more stand-offish and only became friendly in that last couple of years. With me, mostly. He'd meet at the door of our house every morning and walk with me over to the shop to be in the cat house when I dumped the cup of cat food in his bowl. Every morning..regardless of the weather.
Feline leukemia got both of them eventually. Brother #1 had it first and disappeared about 2 years ago; we think a feral cat that was invading our place was at least partially responsible. Brother #2 obviously came down with it soon after and when my missus took him to be euthanized today, he was skin and bones and barely able to stand up.
And dammit...I cried when she put him in the little box to head up the road. So did she. Just a darned ole cat...darn it.
The pair of them...in better times.
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to you and your lovely wife.
