That cat was a lot of help.
It didn't change diapers or anything but it kept the kids entertained for a long time.
We fed it leftovers to keep it hanging around so the kids would be able to stare at it.
So, now the 'miracle cat' is hanging around a lot.
We believe it is our neighbor's cat. We think it rode here in my cowboy's pickup somehow.
Since it's tamed down we could catch it and return it to our neighbors.
Except some facts:
It's female (we assume that because it's calico)
It's spring
ergo
It must've had kittens because that's what cats do in the spring. We haven't seen them but still...........it stands to reason.
So, just in case.......we can't return her because her kittens would starve to death. Kittens are born here sometimes on the old ranch, but we pay no attention to them. They're more feral than tame so we don't really get involved.
Still, we don't want to STARVE BABIES TO DEATH BY STEALING THEIR MOTHER!
Egad!
(*Note---the neighbors are fully aware of this situation and aren't pushing for their cat back....go figure!)
So, we can't return the cat until the Kitten Question is answered.
So, anyway, regardless of the Kitten Question, my cowboy the other day said to me, "Get some cat food."
I said, "No, you give a cat a serving of cat food it eats for a day. You teach a cat to catch mice or starve it eats for a lifetime."
But then later, in Decatur
(wow, that's a rhyme)
Later in Decatur I weakened and bought some dog food because Decatur didn't have cat food. (small town)
I actually phoned my cowboy and he reminded me of my cruel plans to make the cat hunt or die. Honestly, it's not THAT cruel........................if the cat can hunt.
But anyway, we debated nonexistant cat food vs existant dog food and I got the dog food.
So, then, I put out a tiny dish of
That was three days ago.
This morning I looked out and saw BOTH DISHES EMPTY.
I said, (cheerfully for a woman who's not of a generous heart in the feeding of semi-wild pets who have moved into my home without permission) "The Cat Found the FOOD!"
To which my cowboy said, "Yeah, or something did."
Something? What something?
Like skunks and possums and raccoons? Like rats and weasels and...and...and MOUNTAIN LIONS??
(you'd never guess it but I have a really terrific imagination...thus the novel writing!)
All of a sudden I remember that my policy of not feeding cats had a few more aspects to it than just being philosophically inclinded to teach a cat to hunt.
Thank you for letting me share this slice of life.
Mary Connealy
http://www.maryconnealy.com
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