June 5, 2017

I’ve always been a cat person. I love my have five grand-dogs but deep down, I’m a cat person. I found Libbie outside the Library and had her for thirteen years. Our daughter, Heather, found Sheeba – yes, the same Sheeba in Dreams Fulfilled – and she stayed with us for nineteen years.

Being retired, I decided not to replace Sheeba. Then came Pretty Girl. She was solid black and decided she was going to adopt us. She “blessed” us with three kittens – Sweet Pea, Trouble and Oreo. A friend adopted Oreo for her grandchildren but the two males not so.

Then Pretty Girl had Screamer, Skedaddle, Scooby and Squirt.

These kittens and I have had an interesting journey. A week after they were born, Pretty Girl became ill and disappeared. We were sure something had happened to her so I grabbed a baby bottle and “kitten formula” and fed them every three hours. Screamer would always let me know when it was feeding time. It was like having an infant in the house and I was very relieved when their feline parent returned and resumed her motherly duties.

Last Friday was bittersweet for me. My four kittens went to a “no-kill” shelter where they will be adopted by a loving home. I’d posted their pictures on Facebook but had no takers.

Seven is too many. If you can imagine opening the Florida room door each morning and three large cats plus four frisky, curious, adventurous kittens bopping in. I would often look down and one of the kittens would be sitting beside my foot, waiting for me to finish fixing their food.

I hated sending them to the shelter but like I said, seven is too many. Wayne and I are retired now. We want to travel. I need to concentrate on my writing.

I remind myself that it was the best for the kittens. Sweet Pea and Trouble are like old bachelors and would be great “mouse-warriors”. I may have a home for them. Then it will just be Pretty Girl – and the vet.