Reply #10: The shop cat who came home....

[anti_shrub]

My dad was a welder, and the shop he worked at had a near forest in the back, chock full o' critters. One cat in particular showed up to get scraps of food off the workers, get some shelter from the weather, etc.

One day the shop cat turns up pregnant, and the workers - brave hunters that those guys were - decided the proper course of action was to kill the mother and the kittens. My dad thought they were just busting his stones since they knew he wasn't a hunter, but indeed the drowning bucket was prepared and the mom cat was bonked on the noggin with a piece of metal. That made it clear to my dad that they weren't kidding so mom and the 6 kittens were scooped up and brought to our house.

12 years later, mom and most of the kittens are still here and healthy however one of the kittens was Sidney, the cat who's battle and recent passing from hyperthyroid disorder was documented here.

The ironic part? My (hugely Catholic) dad's given name was Francis, and St. Francis is the patron saint of animals.