Aftermath

2000

May 8, 2000
Well, LittleBit has spent one day outside - hiding from us. This after I went to the vet and we discussed options for untameable cats. My hand was lightly scratched but my older son's was far worse.
Declawing was out.
Putting her down I didn't want.
Turning her loose in the yard sounded best.
There are mice and rats and the occasional squirrel.
"That will keep her busy," said the vet.
So I choose that.
I put food out.
I put water out.
I put this up on the table so the dog wouldn't get it.
Of course, my Sheltie used to climb up on the tables and eat cat food anyway - which led to her having problems. Dogs aren't supposed to eat cat food and visa versa.
Of course, LittleBit ignored all this when I put her out and joyfully ran into the bushes.
We spotted her from time to time in the dog house or under a plant.
But she was mostly absent and not spotted for the bulk of the day.
I was beginning to wonder if, as the vet had said, she would take off and we would never see her.
But by nightfall, she was at the door.
I let her in.
Ranger, noticing that she smelled different, hissed a bit.
This was after he had scratched at the glass and demanded that I let her in. He cries when he wants something.
The sliding glass door was stuck - I had to go out, around the house to the side yard in my nightgown and bare feet and shove on the screen to open it.
Then trudge back in so I could, after LittleBit appeared again (she hid when I went outside), then open the door and convince her I was far enough away from her for her to come in - before every bug in the neighborhood joined her.
She and Ranger got reacquainted.
I opened the garage - she ran in there.
So did he.
They remained out of sight for the rest of the night.
The next day it was misty, so LittleBit refused to go outside. (They show up for breakfast.)
She did, however, charge the stairway to the attic when I tried to catch her.
Bam. Bam. Bam. Up the stairs. Heavy-footed kitten. She is about 8 lbs now.
So I left her there. All day long.
Ranger spent the day wandering around and mewing - looking for his partner.
But on rainy days, the big orange cat (12 lbs) prefers to be warm, so he refrained from chasing her into the attic.
Besides, on rainy days my younger son loves to cuddle the cat. When he isn't cuddling the dog.
Ranger sleeps a lot. But when he does dain to wake up, he spends his time trying to figure out which direction I am walking in - so he can run between my legs.
One of these days he will get air born - or I will.
He is also sometimes rather funny. Pathetic.
He tried mewing and yawning - at the same time.
He got a very strange expression after that. Like he wasn't sure what had happened.
LittleBit meantime is wilder than ever - afraid that if we catch her she will go back in her cage. But she also has decided to chase every computer cord I have.
She unplugged the phone.
She was trying for the scanner.
I shut her in the file cabinet. (By accident.)
Ranger is faster.
I learn to keep the draws shut.
LittleBit does like to rub herself under my feet - I sit at the computer barefoot.
She goes back and forth under my foot - but runs like a bat out of hell if I should move my hand toward her.
Of course, we will have to catch her in the next day or two - to put Advantage on her.
It's that time.
For now, she gets a good pat from my feet.
Strange cat.
Very strange cat.
I still have to baracade the cats from the bedroom.
So the dog and I can get some sleep.
And if I cook chicken, never ever put a plate down unattended.
Or leave the lid off the frying pan.
Feral. These cats are feral.
They stalk things.
Now, if I could talk them into an occasional mouse hunt.......