I cheated on my cats last night.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 02-26-2005, 01:01 PM

I was walking to a local restaurant to pick up a hat I'd left behind after breakfasting there with my pops. Like my father, I lose my stuff a lot. Usually it's reclaimed, sometimes it's stolen, and sometimes stuff makes its way to the Land of Lost Things all on its own. I'd like to daytrip there, someday, visit my old things - my favorite sweater, my walkmans, this or that, and your things too. We could have a tea party.

Anyway, my walk was interrupted when I came across a new business operation: MARRIAGE OR DIVORCE IN ONE HOUR! Ah, a Vegas-like love chapel right in my neighborhood. Filed that away under: Convenient for Me NEVER.

As I was about to continue my walk, I felt something brush up against my leg, and instead of finding a giant sized sewer rat, there was the prettiest, strong bodied cat bumping up against my calves and twining it's tawny-taupe body between my ankles. Reminded me of one of NA's cats. Adorable critter. I've never met a friendlier...stray? Couldn't be a stray, this cat being so well fed, attended, and friendly. I took some time to pet the animal before keeping to my course, but the cat began to walk with me, just like a dog. I'd never seen anything like it. The cat stopped when I stopped. The cat increased its pace to keep up with my own. I picked up the cat and stroked it's face and nuzzled him a bit. Purr of contentment. Already I was beginning to wonder if he'd fit in with Tessercat and Wembley. I didn't turn the cat upside down to investigate it's privates. If it was a girl cat, that would be a problem. Two boys and a girl; I'm just not sure I wanted to deal with a potential catfight central. It took Tesser and Wembley months to acclimate after I forced them together, and their both fixed males.

Still, this cat was tugging at my heartstrings. A cat I could go on walks with? Are you kidding me? We could be a neighborhood duo: That girl who walks around with her cat, did you see her? Cat follows her wherever she goes!

I thought about His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman. Could this animal be my long lost soul? My daemon? My little Pantalaimon? Pantalaimon. Yes! Already I was giving him a name and making up adventures for us to go on. Then was as good as time as any to start. I had just a couple more blocks to go before reaching the restaurant so I picked him up and took him with me. He seemed to react as though he was being pulled away from a home and an invisible cord was trying to snap him back. Didn't claw at me or completely freak out, but I could tell he was anxious to get back home.

After picking up my hat, I walked him back the same way we came and put him down near to where I'd found him. Letting go of my little new cat friend dream, I followed him to a building a bit hidden away from the street, and he seemed to mill about one door in particular but the apartment was dark as pitch inside. It was still pretty early so the owner must have been out and about. A couple of neighbors were home and they confirmed that the cat usually hung out around there, and that it possibly belonged to someone downstairs.

I cooed to my kitty pal a bit more and then decided to write a note to the suspected owner, begging their pardon for any unsolicited advice, but suggesting they get a collar for their critter because I very nearly took it home with me. The cat's very friendly, I wrote, and may follow someone else home.

Made me think about my own Tessercat, who appeared at a friend's doorstep one day in Pennsylvania. No one came looking for the cat and he was pretty mangy, but he was friendly enough and de-clawed, so obviously he'd belonged to somebody. Somebody CARELESS and UNDESERVING. So I came from NYC to pick him up and gave him a new home. He got less mangy, filled out, and still talks up a storm. But every once in a while I worry that we did take him from someone's loving arms.

Someone loving, perhaps, but who didn't care enough to put a collar on their outdoors cat. I admit, mine don't have collars either, because they weasel their way out of them. But my cats stay indoors.

I just hope I did the right thing. I really think the cat belongs to that residence and it's obviously well taken care of, but he did follow me for another block or so when I walked home. I turned around for one last glance, and could see his eyes gleaming bright red as he stood hidden in a bush. Then the traffic light turned to green, which reflected ever so brightly in his huge nocturnal peepers, as if giving me permission to go.

Edited to add:
For some reason, if I don't know the gender of an animal, I automatically call it a "he". All my stuffed animals were "he" too. As a child, when I imagined them talking to me, they always had male voices. Chris, what does that mean?

Heh.

BarTopDancer · 02-26-2005, 01:48 PM

I think you did the right thing. I also think that if said kitty isn't inside or with a collar the next time you trek down there you should take him home and love him and hug him and kiss him and love him[/elmira]

Boo appeared in our yard one day and never really left. He was well cared for and had the fur pattern of what looked to be collar markings. I wanted to take him home with me, he was sooooo cute and friendly and I couldn't bear the thought of him being outside.. alone... with no one to love him. We put up fliers, waited a week and decided he had a new home.

blueerica · 02-26-2005, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

I think you did the right thing. I also think that if said kitty isn't inside or with a collar the next time you trek down there you should take him home and love him and hug him and kiss him and love him[/elmira]

Boo appeared in our yard one day and never really left. He was well cared for and had the fur pattern of what looked to be collar markings. I wanted to take him home with me, he was sooooo cute and friendly and I couldn't bear the thought of him being outside.. alone... with no one to love him. We put up fliers, waited a week and decided he had a new home.

I don't think anyone other than Boo decided that one...

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 02-26-2005, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

I think you did the right thing. I also think that if said kitty isn't inside or with a collar the next time you trek down there you should take him home and love him and hug him and kiss him and love him[/elmira]

Boo appeared in our yard one day and never really left. He was well cared for and had the fur pattern of what looked to be collar markings. I wanted to take him home with me, he was sooooo cute and friendly and I couldn't bear the thought of him being outside.. alone... with no one to love him. We put up fliers, waited a week and decided he had a new home.

I'll be sure to walk by that street more often, check up on the furry buddy.

And maybe one day Pantalaimon will follow me all the way home.

Not Afraid · 02-26-2005, 03:59 PM

Lyra chose us. She just showed up one day and started looking forlorn under our bushes.

Jack, on the other hand, made a FIRM decision he wanted me. He had two mommies and 4 brothers already, but he wanted ME. Cats just do things like that sometimes.

blueerica · 02-26-2005, 04:47 PM

Awww... Lyra (scraggly-reow!)

Not Afraid · 02-26-2005, 04:55 PM

Yes, but Jack has a belly button and we know where it is!

blueerica · 02-27-2005, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Yes, but Jack has a belly button and we know where it is!

And he LOVED every minute of it!

Cadaverous Pallor · 02-27-2005, 12:39 PM

You were good and didn't take him. I'm sure it was hard to resist your very own Pantalaimon.

If he's meant to be yours, he'll follow you home someday.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 02-27-2005, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

You were good and didn't take him. I'm sure it was hard to resist your very own Pantalaimon.

If he's meant to be yours, he'll follow you home someday.

Thanks. I didn't want to thieve him away. I just don't want someone else to nab him if he really is happy where he's at. And his apartment is off of a very, very busy street. I worry about outdoor house critters who live by the open road. I've seen too many house dogs dash across the street (some of my own have been hit by cars after escaping from the house). And once this cat actually darted in the street before returning to the sidewalk. I'll be sure to check up on him from time to time. Maybe he'll have a collar. It'll probably read: The the nosey bint who tried to seduce our cat, we got him a collar, now LEAVE US ALONE!

Heh.

02-26-2005, 01:01 PM	#1
Eliza Hodgkins 1812 Sputnik Sweetheart Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,685	I cheated on my cats last night. I was walking to a local restaurant to pick up a hat I'd left behind after breakfasting there with my pops. Like my father, I lose my stuff a lot. Usually it's reclaimed, sometimes it's stolen, and sometimes stuff makes its way to the Land of Lost Things all on its own. I'd like to daytrip there, someday, visit my old things - my favorite sweater, my walkmans, this or that, and your things too. We could have a tea party. Anyway, my walk was interrupted when I came across a new business operation: MARRIAGE OR DIVORCE IN ONE HOUR! Ah, a Vegas-like love chapel right in my neighborhood. Filed that away under: Convenient for Me NEVER. As I was about to continue my walk, I felt something brush up against my leg, and instead of finding a giant sized sewer rat, there was the prettiest, strong bodied cat bumping up against my calves and twining it's tawny-taupe body between my ankles. Reminded me of one of NA's cats. Adorable critter. I've never met a friendlier...stray? Couldn't be a stray, this cat being so well fed, attended, and friendly. I took some time to pet the animal before keeping to my course, but the cat began to walk with me, just like a dog. I'd never seen anything like it. The cat stopped when I stopped. The cat increased its pace to keep up with my own. I picked up the cat and stroked it's face and nuzzled him a bit. Purr of contentment. Already I was beginning to wonder if he'd fit in with Tessercat and Wembley. I didn't turn the cat upside down to investigate it's privates. If it was a girl cat, that would be a problem. Two boys and a girl; I'm just not sure I wanted to deal with a potential catfight central. It took Tesser and Wembley months to acclimate after I forced them together, and their both fixed males. Still, this cat was tugging at my heartstrings. A cat I could go on walks with? Are you kidding me? We could be a neighborhood duo: That girl who walks around with her cat, did you see her? Cat follows her wherever she goes! I thought about His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman. Could this animal be my long lost soul? My daemon? My little Pantalaimon? Pantalaimon. Yes! Already I was giving him a name and making up adventures for us to go on. Then was as good as time as any to start. I had just a couple more blocks to go before reaching the restaurant so I picked him up and took him with me. He seemed to react as though he was being pulled away from a home and an invisible cord was trying to snap him back. Didn't claw at me or completely freak out, but I could tell he was anxious to get back home. After picking up my hat, I walked him back the same way we came and put him down near to where I'd found him. Letting go of my little new cat friend dream, I followed him to a building a bit hidden away from the street, and he seemed to mill about one door in particular but the apartment was dark as pitch inside. It was still pretty early so the owner must have been out and about. A couple of neighbors were home and they confirmed that the cat usually hung out around there, and that it possibly belonged to someone downstairs. I cooed to my kitty pal a bit more and then decided to write a note to the suspected owner, begging their pardon for any unsolicited advice, but suggesting they get a collar for their critter because I very nearly took it home with me. The cat's very friendly, I wrote, and may follow someone else home. Made me think about my own Tessercat, who appeared at a friend's doorstep one day in Pennsylvania. No one came looking for the cat and he was pretty mangy, but he was friendly enough and de-clawed, so obviously he'd belonged to somebody. Somebody CARELESS and UNDESERVING. So I came from NYC to pick him up and gave him a new home. He got less mangy, filled out, and still talks up a storm. But every once in a while I worry that we did take him from someone's loving arms. Someone loving, perhaps, but who didn't care enough to put a collar on their outdoors cat. I admit, mine don't have collars either, because they weasel their way out of them. But my cats stay indoors. I just hope I did the right thing. I really think the cat belongs to that residence and it's obviously well taken care of, but he did follow me for another block or so when I walked home. I turned around for one last glance, and could see his eyes gleaming bright red as he stood hidden in a bush. Then the traffic light turned to green, which reflected ever so brightly in his huge nocturnal peepers, as if giving me permission to go. Edited to add: For some reason, if I don't know the gender of an animal, I automatically call it a "he". All my stuffed animals were "he" too. As a child, when I imagined them talking to me, they always had male voices. Chris, what does that mean? Heh. Last edited by Eliza Hodgkins 1812 : 02-26-2005 at 01:16 PM.
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02-26-2005, 01:48 PM	#2
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	I think you did the right thing. I also think that if said kitty isn't inside or with a collar the next time you trek down there you should take him home and love him and hug him and kiss him and love him[/elmira] Boo appeared in our yard one day and never really left. He was well cared for and had the fur pattern of what looked to be collar markings. I wanted to take him home with me, he was sooooo cute and friendly and I couldn't bear the thought of him being outside.. alone... with no one to love him. We put up fliers, waited a week and decided he had a new home. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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02-26-2005, 03:59 PM	#5
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Lyra chose us. She just showed up one day and started looking forlorn under our bushes. Jack, on the other hand, made a FIRM decision he wanted me. He had two mommies and 4 brothers already, but he wanted ME. Cats just do things like that sometimes.
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02-26-2005, 04:47 PM	#6
blueerica Nueve Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,497	Awww... Lyra (scraggly-reow!) __________________ Tomorrow is the day for you and me
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02-26-2005, 04:55 PM	#7
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Yes, but Jack has a belly button and we know where it is!
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02-27-2005, 12:39 PM	#9
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	You were good and didn't take him. I'm sure it was hard to resist your very own Pantalaimon. If he's meant to be yours, he'll follow you home someday. __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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