Conference misery::feline

650.0. "Just an update on "The Black Witch", Peppurr..." by POWDML::MCDONOUGH () Thu Nov 11 1993 06:27

    
      Three days after we lost our little FeLV+ cat, "Cookie" this past
    summer, my wife---the person who sometimmes remarks about havint too
    many animals---sez to me: "It seems sort of EMPTY around here!! I think
    we NEED a Kitten!" (EMPTY???? With 13 dogs and 2 other cats??? But I
    have a tendency to go along when it comes to critter adoptions...)
    
      So I asked "Just what do you have in mind? Do you have one stashed in
    the garage, or what?" "No, but I saw this ad in the paper...and the
    person who is rescuing and placing kitties is right here in town."
    So....that afternoon we went to "see what was available." We were
    pleasantly surprised at the place... The owner had refurbished a garage
    by insulating it, putting carpet, paneling and numerous cages, a
    pot-bellied stove, desk complete with a PC, and there were numerous
    cats of all sizes up for adoption. We had a really good time playing
    with a couple of 7 wee old kittens that were only available to a
    no-other-animal house, because these were "special needs" kids....the
    only two surviving members of a litter that had fought a battle with
    distemper. These 2 were 'wobblers', who, though happy and playful, were
    unsteady and unco-ordinated as they walked. If you could picture them
    starting to walk across the floor and suddenly they'd walk sideways and
    then fall overr...but right up and continuing to amble along. 
    
      However, we looked at the others, because these two kids were not
    possible in our menagerie! After seeing some really nice cats, but not
    having that 'light' go on, Sandy Graef, the rescuer person, said: "I
    have one other possibility..come with me". And she led us to a basement
    room under the building, to a room full of empty cages. This was the
    "overflow" area.. Before we got to this room, we could hear the most
    plaintive cries. Sandy reached into a cage and took out this little
    black girl and handed her to me. She immediately began to purrr VERY
    loudly and snuggled against my chest with her nose under my chin...
    Well, she came home with us. 
    
      After thinking for a few days about names, we decided on the name
    "Peppurr", since it sort of fit her from a color standpoint as well as
    the enormous 'motor' that she has. She took over almost immediately,
    with htose little golden eyes sparkling in anticipation at everything
    she encountered that was new and strange. NO problem with
    dogs---they're nothing more than large, furry 'toys' for her to play
    with.  
    
      She's grown by leaps and bound, and is now bigger than my Miniature
    Dachshund, who she loves to play with. She EATS like a hog, and knows
    where her food is and how easy it is to coerce me into getting a can
    out and opening it for her... Shhe gets into everything,as a teen-age
    brat usually does, but whe's loads of laughs too. Last night we heard
    some noise and looke up to see her at the top of the windo, climbing
    the curtain, and then hopping over to the top of a bookshelf that has
    about 6 inch clearance from the ceiling. She stayed there for about an
    hour, and then decided that she'd come down the same way she got up...
    
      I got a neat 'toy' at BJ's Wholesale Club... It looks like a rather
    normal Kitty Bed...the round, cushioned 'pocket' type that are fairly
    common. This thing though, has a plastic ring inside the outer part
    that has a slot in it that goes completely around it. Picture a donut
    with the inner circumference split open and the donut hollowed
    out...inside the hollowed out part is a ball that is too big to take
    out through the slot... Peppurr spends MUCH time playing with
    this...and she goes back at odd hours...like 3:00 in the morning. It
    fascinates her, and she can't seem to leave it alone. Another of her
    favorite 'toys' is the srairway. She has a ball playing and chasing
    your hand...leaping from step to step to grab and bite fingers...but
    not with any damage..
    
    
      WHile nothing could ever replace Cookie, this little witch has found
    HER spot in our hearts and home...
    
      John & Julie McD

    So glad you found a kitty to fit the spot in your hearts and house.
    
    We have just acquired a new kitty in need.  Right now she is finding
    her space in a house full of 4 other cats (only 4 but they are big
    cats).  They are not completely comfortable in each others company 
    yet but getting there.)  We started by calling her Emily, but as she
    got better we had to rename her to Ninja, or Madam Nin.  She was
    pregnant when we she was found by a group of homeless women who pooled
    what little they had to feed her.  They asked my sister if we would
    take her, so we did.  The vet kept her until she gave birth (to 6 
    kittens) and the kittens old enough to leave their mother.  Then they lived 
    in a cage in his waiting room until they found homes (they didn't wait 
    long I can tell you.  One couple took a kitten each as a secret gift to
    the other as they had just lost a 14 year old kitty friend; when they 
    found out they kept both anyway).  After feeding 6 kittens Nin had a 
    touch of mastitus that needed treating but she is fine now and
    is blossoming out with good food.  She shiny black with a touch of 
    white and is so small I can hardly believe it, her nick name is micro dot.
    
    I know what you mean when you say empty.  Each kitty who has left us
    has left a hugh hole in our lives.  I have one cat who is getting
    to the end of his life and he is going to leave a hole the size of the
    Grand Canyon when he goes.  The other 4 won't ever be able to fill the
    gap that Guido will leave.  
    
      
                                                   

    John...I love your stories and I'm so happy Peppurr found a place
    in your heart. (like you would toss her back out...right!!)
    
    Anytime Ernie and I feel overwhelmed with our crew at home...I
    always comment about the number of animals at your house and I
    can picture you and your wife walking down the road each holding
    multiple dogs on leashes or all of them trying to pile in your
    car for a Sunday afternoon drive (the thought makes me smile!!)
    
    Even with multiple animals...I know exactly what you mean when you
    say that EMPTY feeling!!!
    
    Sandy ...