Introducing the kitties! - Orchid Board

camille1585 · #1 03-06-2012, 03:51 PM

I realized that I never presented our cats here! They are not really mine since they live with my mother (and not really hers either, story below), but since I see them every time I go home to visit, they feel like my cats too.

So meet Doof (because he's silly) and Mounette (Doof's mother), She's the white one.

Their story is a bit sad. They belong to a neighbor who moved in 2 years ago, with these crazy ideas of being the typical farmer type. So he has chickens, a (failure)vegetable garden, 2 dogs, and the 2 cats. But to embrace the 'farm' mentality, the cats live outdoors, and are supposed to fend for themselves, with an occasional bowl of food. They were scrawny, underweight and miserable looking creatures. He loves his dogs, who live indoors, and takes them with him as soon as he goes away for a weekend or vacation. Meanwhile the kitties have no food, and no shelter other than a shed he leaves open.

So we started feeding them, then letting them in the house during the day when someone is home. We slowly gained their trust, and their appearance really improved. Now they have beautiful coats, and are well fed and happy. My mother took pity on them this winter when it was below freezing (and down to -5°F!) at night and let them stay indoors. Doof is still an outdoor cat at heart, he loves to be out roaming. Mounette is perfectly happy to spend all her time either on the sofa or at the foot of mom's bed.

But Doof is much more cuddly, his mother tends to have a bad attitude if cuddling is not done on her terms.

Sadly they are not officially 'our' cats, but the neighbor really doesn't give a sh*t about them. Either we watched them starve, or took care of them. It'll be sad the day he moves...

They LOVE sleeping on the hot radiators!

Leafmite · #2 03-06-2012, 04:38 PM

Poor kitties. At least they have your family to provide them with love.

The Mutant · #3 03-06-2012, 04:45 PM

Hmph! Some people shouldn't have cats... They are just as valuable as dogs. As soon as you get yourself a pet you are responsible for it for the rest of its life - they can't fend for themselves and they did not choose to be had by you. I can't stand people who think like your mother's neighbour.

Outdoor cats might be independent in contrast to indoor cats, but they can't make it on their own. They need proper care, just like any pet do.

I'm very glad to hear your mother caring for these beautiful cats and next time you are visiting home, give them both a pat from me.

fotofashion · #4 03-06-2012, 07:21 PM

There are people who think that just because it is a cat, it is also a mouser and can, therefore, feed itself. The problem is that unless the mother cat teaches her kittens how to mouse, they will not know how.
I'm glad you had the heart to feed these neglected animals. I live in the sticks and the people around here tend to throw away cats and dogs, thinking others will take them in and feed them. We have done that with a feral male cat we call Bubba. He is not a cuddler in any way but does appreciate being fed. Our "official" cat Cali is an indoor, outdoor cat and she is 8 years old.
Beverly A.

JaneEyre · #5 03-06-2012, 08:18 PM

Such beautiful kitties! Im glad they have your family to call home. The cats choose your family; the way I see it they are your cats.

We moved into our home last September. There was an old abandoned cat living in the garden (house was vacant for at least 3 years). We think she belonged to a previous owner that just left her there. We couldn't take her in as we already had two indoor cats but didn't feel right leaving her outdoors in the rain. My mother in law adopted Daisy. She turned out to be such a sweet good natured kitty.

sweetjblue · #6 03-06-2012, 08:28 PM

Those are two very beautiful & lucky cats to have both you and your mother to take care of them.
I bet your neighbor doesn't even realize that their missing! Such a shame that people will do this to their pets!

Judi

silken · #7 03-06-2012, 08:37 PM

Lovely cats and I would suggest he let your mother keep them if he ever moves away. He likely won't care either way. We have 3 cats at the moment and all my adult life with hubby have had cats because of hurt or orphaned ones needing a home. I doubt it will ever end either. they just seem to have a knack for finding us and if the SPCA can't find their owners, they become part of the family!

WhiteRabbit · #8 03-06-2012, 09:41 PM

They're beautiful! And I'm so glad they have your mother looking out for and loving them.

I agree with silken - should they neighbor move, they probably wouldn't even take the cats, but the cats could 'disappear' into your home beforehand to be safe

- or could make an offer to buy them - I'm sure the neighbor's aren't attached to them at all.

gerneveyn · #9 03-06-2012, 09:46 PM

Your family is so nice to help the cats. Three of my parents' cats came to us from neighbors who seriously neglected them.

greenbean · #10 03-06-2012, 09:52 PM

That is so great that you and your mother are taking care of them! Really, if that guy doesn't care about his cats, he shouldn't have them in the first place.

I love their expressions in the first picture. It portrays their characters so well. Doof, the wide-eyed, silly child, and Mounette, the knowing and patient (if slightly weary, lol) mother.

I really love grey cats like Doof. So beautiful.