About Me

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I'm retired and a freelance writer.

Check out these books, by me and my family, available for Kindle:

A Front Porch Trilogy
Where Do Socks Go?
We Count
My Brother's Plot

I have also published two more books on kindle but am currently unable to get the links to work. They are: The One Little Pig and Who Killed Freddie Mouse? Also check out other blogs and websites by me and my family:

My Life With Cats
My Life With Dogs

Saturday, May 11, 2013

A Tribute


             You could never prove it to me that there are millions of cats out there. Until I started feeding cats in winter 2009, I never saw any. They apparently hide from humans. But it all began for me when my son came in the house saying there was a mother cat and her kittens in our hedge. What shelter she had found as it had been snowing. My son lay down a paper plate with food. We hoped the cats were the ones who ate it. The mother cat and her kittens disappeared as well as the food shortly after.
            Perhaps there is something to that, that cats tell other cats,” There’s food down there!” Slowly but surely; the number of cats increased. People say, “Don’t feed strays.” They are God’s creatures. They get hungry and need to eat. Once you start; then how can you justify stopping?
            In the four year span, I have seen many come and many go. I have seen them die. I look; and they discontinue coming. I figure they met their demise somewhere out there. It is said they have a life expectancy of two to five years. I think maybe that is true. So, why is it reported to be so many strays out there?
            A cat is an independent animal. He comes and goes as he wishes. And to feed them does not make them yours. If I could bring every cat indoors, I would. But I know my limit of how many I can feed and take care of with routine vet visit. I EVEN ASKED THE VET’S OPINION ON THIS. How many I can have and maintain sanitary conditions. I know how many keeps me from being a hoarder. To those cats that remain outside, I do give names. This way I ask myself, “Where’s such and such?” I give a tribute now to many I have seen go.

Skillet               Rags        Hope             Joyce              Neil
Illa                    Calico      Little Calico   Cotton Tail       No Name
Devil Eyes        Moe         Lucy              Ethel               Waco
Ugly                 Buddy      Tangerine      Moth Ball         R.J.
Midnight           Bushel     Scared           Fred

                The Seven Dwarfs were brought by their Mother so she could teach them to eat solid food. But bits and pieces in the yard showed they had become some predator's lunch. So many kittens have met their demise in the same way. They never reached the naming stage. I do see this. But the internet prepares one when feeding stray cats telling you that you will see this. It becomes obvious to me that it may well be what is called the “Circle of Life.” It still hurts though to see any abuse of animals whether predator, or whatever. Starvation could have them meeting their demise sooner. So, I continue feeding.

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