There has been a cat meowing around our house for about 2 weeks. At first i thought it was a tom cat looking for a mate, but when i had an up-close look it’s very skinny and it’s bones are sticking out. My mum and sister had told me to befriend it and give it some food but i thought i shouldn’t as Yasu is very much against getting a pet.
This morning it was raining and thundering and i heard it meowing in the backyard. The humanitarian part of me just couldn’t ignore the poor thing any longer. I got a small saucer and put some milk in and crept out the back to the side of the house. It wouldn’t come near me, and skitters away at any move near it, which leads me to believe it may have been abused.
I crept as near as possible and put the saucer of milk down and went away. It furiously lapped all the milk up, but wouldn’t respond to my “here puss puss”, so i got some more milk for it, but it started to rain so i went inside. When the rain stopped i went back out and the milk was all gone, but so was the cat.
I didn’t think anymore of it, but while i was typing i saw the cat creep past the window, it came to the side door and sat there meowing.
I went and scrounged around in in the pantry but the only tuna i had was some lemon and cracked pepper flavour. I put a spoonful in a saucer and moved it towards the cat, and lo and behold it came up and devoured it. It was licking the bowl like it wanted more so i put the rest of the can in the saucer and watched while it ate it all. It kept licking the saucer (this is more like a Japanese sauce bowl, so not a big saucer), so i found the other can of tuna with lemon in the pantry and emptied it into the bowl. I left the cat to eat it alone, and just now when i checked, the saucer only has a little bit left and the cat is sitting very satisfied under the patio table.
I’ve put a box out there, laid on its side with a folded up towel inside, just incase the cat wants to get in. I’m not sure if it will, but i want to let it know that it’s safe here.
Yasu will be none too pleased when he finds out, but my concious won’t let me be if i ignore the cat any longer.
I would say i’m not a “cat person”. I’ve always been surrounded by dogs, and have had my own pet dog who passed away 2 years ago. I wanted to get another dog but Yasu wouldn’t hear of it. Somehow this stray has come into my life…
I will keep you posted on what happens with the cat. It will be a slow process if this cat really has been abused. I don’t think it will ever trust humans again. The only thing i can really do is give it food and love but keep my distance.
I’ll have to get Yasu to take me up the shop tonight so i can get some proper cat food and biscuits.
Have you ever taken in a stray cat or dog? Do you have any advice or comments?
