Me...a meowmie in the making?

[popcornbird]

Now...I'm not sure if any of you remember this thread...

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=94365

...but, I just have to post a little uppiedate, along with more stories and pictures.

Okay, here goes.

It all began with me getting married to a major cat lover. I don't know WHAT the connection is, but we *never* had cats come to our garden until my marriage. Never. All of a sudden, after a cat lover joined our family, somehow, it seems the local kitties have sensed that, and they too want to join our family. Problem is, I'm falling for them fast, and wasn't quite ready to take on the responsibility of more pets yet.

About 3 months ago (immediately after my marriage), a beautiful kitty showed up at our house. This kitty, whom I introduced in the linked thread above still comes every single day. Sometimes 2 - 3 times a day. Sometimes s/he sleeps in our backyard at night. Actually...its possible that it always sleeps there. Everytime I go out at night, it is there, but I'm not usually outside late so perhaps I don't notice most of the time. It did knock several times at 11:30pm though...to ask for food. Freaked me out the first time, but now I know its just the cat.

Anyhow, we've had a lot of progress. This precious kitty started out as a scaredy cat. Very scared. S/he would come, and sit on our fence. The moment s/he'd see me, s/he'd run away. Slowly, s/he started coming closer, but still running away if I tried to approach him/her. I *still* can't pick him/her up without it getting upset (yes I tried...and it was so nice and soft and cuddly that I didn't want to let go, but it was upset so I had to), but you'll notice the amazing progress in the pictures.

It started out as this...

A quiet little kitty who suddenly found a liking to our backyard, and always sat there, minding its own business...


After sometime, it declared the backyard as its own, and started taking over the nice, comfy chairs...


My mom noticed the cat and thought it might be hungry. We didn't have cat food at the time, so my mom offered it some sardines. It came running after we went back into the house, and ate...with a scared look on its face.


I started putting its food right in front of the sliding glass door so that I could 'make friends' with it through the window. Everytime I'd come too close, I'd get this reaction...

"AHHH...scary human!"

It would run away after seeing me.

Slowly...little by little, the kitty started gaining some confidence, and started sticking around even when it saw me. I could manage to get a few shots of him/her sitting pretty, as long as I didn't get too close.


As time went by, s/he would come even closer, but if I tried to touch him/her, s/he would run off.

[popcornbird]

Fast forward three - four months. We've had steady progress. Kitty got a name. S/he has such lovely green eyes that look like emeralds, so I call him/her Emerald, or Emmy for short. The kitty could *possibly* be a boy, but I don't know for sure, so s/he is Emmy for now. The following pictures are all from today. Its amazing how some food and love can change the heart of an animal.














I'm pretty sure you can all tell why I'm falling for him/her so fast. Such a lovely kitty.

That isn't the end of the story.

[popcornbird]

Two weeks ago, we had another cat show up. This cat, who we're calling Brownie, also seems to be a homeless stray. I get the feeling s/he was formerly a pet and dumped. S/he was scared at the beginning, but I'm beginning to notice that s/he is very friendly. It just seems to be that way, because s/he was sooooooo hungry and thin when it started coming. It seems to be better and more healthy now that its eating here everyday. Its actually possible Emmy's a dumped pet too. Ugh...why are people so cruel? I just don't know, but what I do know is...these two cats do not live with someone. They're outside fulltime, and seem to fill their tummies at our place.

Emmy's reaction at first sight of Brownie...
"Wah...who the heck is that cat in MY backyard?"


Brownie is so sweet. S/he has scratches on his/her nose and ears, which seem to be the result of a cat fight to me. This is Brownie 2 weeks ago...







And here's Brownie today.





S/he has the CUTEST meow. I swear...one meow from Brownie, and the whole family's heart melts. In fact, my heart is melting just remembering his/her voice. SO cute.

I am still getting to know Brownie...s/he is so new here. I wonder if these two are going to stay. I wonder if they're going to end up becoming a part of the family. I wonder if 'gasp'...I'm going to be an unplanned meowmie. We weren't prepared for cats yet, didn't plan to have them yet, and don't exactly know what to do. All I know now is that I'm falling for them, my mom's falling for them, my brother's falling for them, and even my dad, who I thought doesn't like cats much gets soooooo happy when they come to visit and eat and rest. My husband adores them, of course, being the cat lover he is. So...what do you all think? Am I becoming a meowmie? He he he. I'm not sure how the tiels would feel about that. They LOVE watching the cats from the window, and its quite amusing, seeing their expressions while they're safe in the house, away from the kitties. The cats don't seem to have any interest in them at all (when they see them through the closed windows).

Surprisingly, this is not the end of the cat stories.

[popcornbird]

A few weeks ago, we had ANOTHER cat. This story has a happy ending. The cat was a 7 month old kitten...someone's pet with a collar. It came meowing at our door. My mom opened the door, and it walked right in. It was a very friendly, playful, hyper cat. It walked right in, ran up the stairs, walked into my room, and decided to lie on the bed. Then, it hopped on my computer desk, then onto the shelf, and then jumped down. I immediately thought, "Johanna's Monte must be just like this cat! SO naw-tee!" He he he.

I ended up holding the cat, and reading the number on its collar. When I called the number, the lady who answered was thrilled and said her indoor cat slipped out, and was missing for two days. She came immediately to pick her pet up, and was so grateful. The kitten's name was Toby. I told her Toby is always welcome to visit again.

Here are some pics of Toby.





I guess that briefly sums up my recent kitty adventures. Just wanted to share the stories/pics with you all. I can't bring the cats inside...I have birds and they hated it when I *did* bring them in, so I'm planning on buying a covered plastic 'box' or something, with an opening, and filling it with blankets, etc. to keep the cats warm when its cold. My mom and I will be going shopping together tomorrow to look for something like that. Jeez. Does this mean they're going to end up joining the family? They have names, we bought tons of cat food for them, they get treats, they get love and scritches, and now some shelter to keep them warm. What's next? Popcornbird is turning into a meowmie? Wah! Can I join the cat club on PT? LOL!

[jenluckenbach]

WOW! Such adventures. And such beutiful kitties.

You have obviously been chosen by these cats.

(p.s.) Toby is the spitting image of my little Kim)

[orangemm]

Such a story! These homeless babies obviously need food, loving, and a safe home...and it looks like yours is IT! They have become pretty trusting of you and your family, that's a lot to accomplish in a few months! Bless all of you for looking after them.

You just have to wonder what miserable so-and-so just dumped them to fend on their own.


Too bad people who do that can't be plucked up by a giant hand, unceremoniously dumped into a jungle with no defense, no one to help, and nowhere to go..

[CalliesMom]

Smart kitties!! I think cats can sick suckers a mile away and know which house to go to for food/love. I hope that everything works out with the kitties. Being a meowmie is one of the greatest adventures!

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

WHAT A GREAT STORY Pops!! I have always known that you wouldn't stay a "birds-only-mom" !! Those cats have chosen you, what an honour!! It is trus, Emmy looks like Eddie's twin sister/brother !
Congrats are needed, here!!

[K & L]

What a wonderful thread and story! Another one hooked on cats! My husband was just like you and look at him now! I loved the pictures and reading all of this.

[catnapper]

Welcome to the Cat Side (bwahahaha) Once you are in the know with cats, you'll never turn back. Congrats to our newest cat lover!

Both kitties are amazingly pretty/handsome. I'm sure Emmy will come around - their progress is great in just a few months!

Em is a fine name if he turns out to be a boy - thats what I called my last male foster.

[Felix]

Amazing adventures!

[kb2yjx]

First, let me commend you on your efforts and making such progress with Emerald and Brownie!! They both look much better and much more trusting , and loving since you have been feeding them!!! GREAT WORK!!! And how lucky that the baby kitty had a COLLAR with ID on!!!
Cats seem to know where to go for help, despite the fact they may act like they do not need it!! We have a few of those that are now very happy inside with us!! Will you be keeping these lovely creatures??
PS: I also married a cat lover, me, the little girl that live next door to 50 unneutered cats that roamed all over the neighbourhood, who would throw pebbles at the cats to keep them out of the yard!! Nothing like the love of a good cat to change all that! Thank you Miss BooBoo Kitty!!! Now we have "only" 8!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

[anna_66]

As you know I rarely get over to the cat side, but this morning I'm so glad I did

It really looks like these cats are choosing you, maybe you are meant to be a cat meowmie as well as a bird mommy!
I'm so glad that you and your family has taken it upon yourselves to take care of Emmy and Brownie, I'm sure they both thank you for it.
It's always nice to hear that someone has helped out the homeless, people or furries.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for being such a kind person and helping all these beautiful (and wow they ARE beautiful!) kitties out

[Laura's Babies]

I LOVE it when they choose their own home. To me, that means you were hand picked by God to take care of them and become theirs.

My sister has 4 cats and birds. It is tricky but it CAN be done. After awhile, her cats don't even notice the birds are there anymore.

Em and Brownie are both beautiful babies and I would agree, you are becoming a Mommie, YOU have been choosen!

[Catty1]

I love those shots of Emmy getting head scritchies! What eyes! And Brownie is gorgeous!

I have heard on PT that a simple warm shelter can be made from a large Styrofoam cooler turned upside down with the lid on, and a door cut in it. Depending on your climate, add wool blankies or a bit of hay!

Would be interesting to hear from people that have cats AND birds and how they did it.

Bless you - they sure chose you!

Catty1