Probably saved a kitten today

[Mythsaje]

Who says fate doesn't take a hand in some things? An amazing string of coincidences and odd correlations came together today when UPS delivered a package to the wrong house (very strange, because we get UPS packages all the time and got one today, actually delivered to the RIGHT address at the same time. Very odd. But the other package belonged down the road and when my wife got home, she took it down to the house where it belonged and found a tiny, half-feral kitten sitting on the lawn.

Apparently the neighborhood cat lady, who'd collected some sixteen felines, recently died, and the person whose package had come to our house by mistake has been attempting to do what he could to take care of these kittens, even going so far as to have a nurse acquaintance come by and clean the eyes of the larger kittens. The runt, a tiny little thing half the size of her sibs, gave them a merry chase, despite not being able to see. Try THAT with YOUR eyes closed.

My wife, whose connection with cats borders on the "supernatural" anyway, looked down and the little girl was sitting at her feet. She noticed the eyes crusted shut and showed up back at the door calling my name. I walked outside, took one look in her hands, and sighed. Well, she'd wanted another kitten, since mine has now become a full grown cat.

The kitten has no fear of humans, no fear of our dogs, and no fear of our two male cats. She is thin, but not painfully so, and once my wife went out and got her some kitty formula, ate quite happily. Apparently the kittens are supposedly on solid food, but I have to wonder about this one.

Our dogs have all gone into protection mode and even the two cats are understandably wary (male cats see kittens as a threat, generally, even if they ARE fixed--I have no idea why).

So we have a new addition to our household, small enough to fit in one hand, and fragile as anything. We'll be keeping her in a crate when we're not home or unable to keep an eye on her, just to protect her from over-solicitious canines...and in case one of our males gets his tail in a knot.

So a series of unlikely events culminated in the arrival of a new member of the family, a tiny calico tabby who wouldn't let anyone else near her until my wife came around.

As skeptical as I am in general, I can't help in times like these to remember that my wife's a witch whose "matron" is Bast. Wierd, that.

The other thing? Arriving today with the mis-directed package was a new book in Anne Bishop's "Black Jewels" series, a dark fantasy saga that centers, among other things, around the responsibility those with power have to those with little or none. Truly, in my opinion, one of the best fantasy epics I've ever read. I was halfway through the book by the time my wife got home.

Odd how some things work out, isn't it?

[Muttocracy]

1. good for you - I think animals find those who can help them

Once I started volunteering at a shelter, and especially after I adopted a dog of my own, I started having strays trot up to me which hadn't happened before. Perhaps I just smell like dogs now!

I'm intrigued by the male cat -> kitten thing. I don't know much about cats, but I do know that male lions, when they take over a pride, will kill the existing lion kittens (not their genes) - I wonder if it's the same thing.

[man4allcats]

2. On behalf of all cat lovers, may I say that

I salute you and that witch you're married to. :D

[DesertFlower]

3. great. i love animals.

several of my cats "found me".

[lonestarnot]

4. So are there still other cats left behind?

Poor things.

[Mythsaje]

6. He's apparently been trying to round them up and take them to the local no-kill...

But, yeah. Some of them aren't going to make it easy.

[freeplessinseattle]

27. by "not going to make it easy"

do you mean they are hard to get, or are they sick? it sounds like the departed owner didn't even do basic spay and neuter, and probably didn't even get them their vaccinations. the kittens with crusty eyes should be rounded up first and all should receive medial attention, including yours. cleaning the eyes out is good, but there is something going on that needs more attention. the kttens might very well need to be trapped, if I recall you live in Seattle area (?) and I believe most shelters here, including no-kill Animal Talk and MEOW loan out traps.

also, very important, be sure to wash your hands after touching your new kitten! it is probably too late, but just be aware in case you or your wife help out with the other cats, it is vital to your own cat's health and your health to wash your hands, or use hand sanitizer, after handling any other cats, especially unvaccinated. It's not an insult to the cats, just essential safety sense. I feed some semi-homeless semi-feral cats down the road every day, some which love being petted, and while some are current on vaccinations (some wouldn't go into a trap or carrier for their next annual) I always slather on hand sanitizer afterwards then wash my hands as soon as I get home, even tho my cats want me to pet them as soon as I walk thru the door (they are so nice to come home to!)

Your wife sounds very cool, and the kitten is very lucky:)

[freeplessinseattle]

28. oops, sorry about the dupe

that was weird. I get "oops, we can't find the webpage youre looking for" when I tried to reply, then it posted anyway, twice. get the same thing when I try to edit this, we'll see if it posts anyway.more trippiness!

[mrs_p]

5. what's her name?

our calico is named marigold. congrats on the new addition and lots of cuddles ahead!

:loveya:

[Mythsaje]

7. Cleo...

My wife announced it about half an hour ago...

[Contrary1]

8. Give your wife a hug from me.

The husband tells me I have a sign on my forehead, visible only to animals in need. Everything from a starving, almost hairless mutt; who hopped into my car at Kmart, to a homeless, starving, also almost hairless, tom cat; who showed up at my back door with a
broken femur.

Your sweet wife must have one of those signs on her forehead too. :)

[Mythsaje]

10. Oh, my wife "speaks" Ailurin as well as any human can... n/t

[buddysmellgood]

9. I applaud your efforts, but how do we reconcile this with the fact that

every time someone votes for a republican, God kills a kitten?

[Mythsaje]

11. Not THIS kitten...

:evilgrin:

And if one does not hear the tones of a Warlord Prince in that statement, they're not listening with the right ears.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

12. B R A V O!

Congratulations and best wishes to you all!

[cliffordu]

13. Yeah, I have five that are the direct result of the little deadbeats showing

up for a snack and a place to live...

We had 12 at one point, as neither my lovely wife or I can say no to a stray.....

If I were wealthy we'd have a no-kill shelter.

[Contrary1]

15. It ain't cheap, that's for sure.

Two years ago, I was feeding fifteen of the little beggars. One harlot gifted me with seven kittens, just hours after showing up. Luckily, I was able to find good homes for them. Two of the adults came to me sick, one with FIV, the other, FELK. They didn't make it.

But, then I gained another. So, now I am down to eight...knock on wood.

[emilyg]

19. I can spare 2 of my 8.

Actually wouldn't part with them. All strays.

[Mythsaje]

20. My cat came to us through a friend who'd adopted a pregnant stray...

He adopted ME as soon as we met. Weird, because cats don't usually do that. That's the wife's department. I'm the dog guy.

[Mythsaje]

16. If I ever am so fortunate as to become a famous author

I'm sure we'll end up with something of the sort. My wife will take it on as a Holy Order.

[EFerrari]

14. Now she's done it. Now they know where you live.

:)

[Mythsaje]

18. And I sure hope they stay away...

Once we bring a kitten in the house, it becomes "pack." But woe to any who show up uninvited. The neighborhood cats all know to stay out of our yard. It's just not safe. One of the downsides to having primitive breed dogs. Any animal that isn't "pack" is prey.

[rumpel]

17. synchronicity

many happy years with your newest family member.

:)

[Lorien]

21. Aw, that story made my day

thanks for looking after a little one who couldn't look after herself. And post a pic when you can!

One of my rescues say "bravo"!

[Mythsaje]

22. Will do...

Lost the cable for my camera some time ago, but thankfully my new-to-me laptop has a card reader on it. I'll have to take some pictures of Cleo once she's settled in. Of course, I don't know how to upload pics to DU, but... I'll have to work on it.

Glad it brightened someone else's day too. :)

[travelingtypist]

29. I second the "post a picture when you can, please?"

I love these kind of stories. Kittens seem to sense at that age who will take them. They're hard to resist.

[BlooInBloo]

23. You didn't masturbate today?

[AndyTiedye]

24. PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRR

[Raster]

25. Your wife is Wiccan. Her matron is Bast. And you're surprised she comes bearing kitten?

Wierd, that.

Blessed Be.

[Mythsaje]

26. Just to be clear...she's not Wiccan. Hereditary Witch.

And, though I'm neither witch nor wiccan, but more "pagan by default," a merry meet and blessed be to you as well.

[dipsydoodle]

30. I herebye declare that henceforth

July 16th will be known as Mythsaje Day.:toast:

[comtec]

31. Thank you.. i really needed a happy story like that

with all the crap going on irl, and other stuff...
**HUGZ**
thank you so much for sharing:)

[Biscottiii]

32. Thx, you and your Wife Made my day!

Nice story but I'm not surprised the kitten instinctively knew where hope and survival might come from.

[eShirl]

33. the darling of our hearts, Morpheus, sends your household purry blinky-smiles

:loveya:

[Mythsaje]

34. Just wanted to add:

This tiniest of kittens, barely longer than my hand and nearly weightess, can purr. Unlike many little kittens I've known, it loves pet and rumbles away. My wife doesn't know that yet, btw. She's in bed and I'm tending the baby. She doesn't seem at all feral.

[dipsydoodle]

38. doesn't seem at all feral

would that be the wife or the baby ....lol ?

[sandyj999]

35. That was definitely meant to happen.

And keeping her protected from the others is a good idea for now. One of the greatest cats I ever had was one found in a field by my daughter. She brought him home and he was so tiny. We had a spayed Airedale at the time and she took that kitten over, produced milk and fed it until it was able to eat solid food. Nature can be cruel but it can also be a wonderful thing. Good luck with the new addition!

[HCE SuiGeneris]

36. Cool deal. My little 3-4 week old calico adopted me on a fire-cracker ridden Halloween night.

Curled up, she was barely the size of a tennis ball, but utterly fearless when she decided I would be her new feeder/groomer/slave.

I salute you and your wife for your kind hearts.

[litlady]

37. Great! I rescued my kitty in a similar way (cute pic alert!)

And he also seemed to know that I would help somehow. He was left in the street and his mother killed. He was the one left but meowed his way right into my heart! He still knits me daily like I am his real mother. :) Thanks for rescuing the kitty and try to take it to a vet to get it checked out.

My rescued kitteh:

[MichellesBFF]

39. Male Cats and Kittens

That's odd. We have three Himalayans (all rescues), when we got the two kittens. Our first Himalayan, a large male took the two Himalayan kittens under his wing. It was as if he had given birth to them himself! We have a great picture of them all piled up in the same box.

We do have one cat from a breeder (a Norwegian Forest Cat), but she's special needs (deaf) so I don't feel so bad about that. There's also a stray moogie my MIL gave us, that the pound was going to put to sleep, and the antique Persian male we adopted last February who had been hit by a car and left for dead. A couple of more hours and the hypothermia would have killed him, he's by my side right now, sleeping.)

Check www.petfinder.org, that's where we found 3 of our masters...

[leftynyc]

40. Your wife (and you) are angels

I rescued two about a year ago (tuxedo brothers). Please make sure Cleo gets to the vet quickly - she may have something that your other pets can catch (even something as simple as fleas or ear mites). She's a very lucky kitty to have found your family.

[smokey nj]

41. Congratulations on the new addition to your family!

Mr. smokey and I took in a kitten last week. Her name is Edie.

[Vinca]

42. Animals who come to you that way are always the best.

I'm so happy your wife was in the right place at the right time. The little kitty has just won the lottery.

[Rockholm]

43. What a beautiful story. Thank you.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

44. My kitties and I thank you for taking this baby into your heart and home!

[EnviroBat]

45. That's sweet...

Kinda like this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW1S2a3GML4

[Maat]

46. Good for you, and blessings to you!

Our Dexter, about a month or so after our adoption/rescue of said feline:


He's a year old now!

[undergroundpanther]

47. Heyyy Bast!

You come through so fiercely magickal,sometimes,and so sublime at the same time as only a feline goddess can...Gotta love her..