[Elysium]

K...so I know I posted a thread about Matilda and how I didn't think it was the right time for a new kitty....but do you all believe things happen for reasons we don't know? Sometimes the Universe works in mysterious ways!!

For the last couple nights, after getting home from work, I've been taking my dog out so she can take care of her business. Well, my apartment building is built on a hill, so immediately behind my building there is a little flower bed, a retaining wall, then a hill that climbs up about 20 feet or so.

While my dog and I were outside, the last couple of nights, I could see a pair of eyes following us while we were out there. They were crouched low to the ground, sitting at the back of my building right outside my bedroom window. At first, I thought Raccoon, Skunk, Possum? Then on the second night when I saw them again, I realized, although I couldn't see the animal cause it was too dark, the eyes were glowing yellow in the light from the parking lot, just like cat's eyes glow.

So this morning, I'm doing my chores at home and I hear this howling coming from outside. My dog starts to go nuts so I go out and look. Standing out on the sidewalk in front of my apartment is this small calico cat. She's just howling and when I come out she stops and just looks at me. I spent almost an hour outside talking with her and looking her over. Her paws are a mess. The white parts are dirty grey colored and the pads are dry, cracking and dirty. You can feel her ribs, although she didn't look malnourished. She had a couple scabs on her ears where it looks like she may have tussled with another animal and her ears were a little dirty inside, but no sign of mites. Her eyes did not have any crusties and other than having a thin coat of dirt on her she was a very sweet and affectionate cat. I checked to make sure she wasn't a Mama kitty on the prowl for food and her little teets don't look like they've been in use. I don't see a scar on her belly so I don't think she's been spade either. Her belly seems a little full, but not overly so, so I guess there's always a chance she could be pregnant, but I doubt it at this time.

So this is the little one who's been spying on me the last couple of nights!!

I've decided to take her in. She's now residing in my bathroom and living an indoor life of luxury. I'm going to be on the lookout for fliers through my complex over the next few days and post something on craigslist about finding her. If no one responds, I am going to start integrating her into our family. She's very sweet. It takes a good week or two for a healthy integration, so if it doesn't work out, I have decided that I will take her to the NO KILL Cat Shelter I volunteer with and they will help her find her forever home. They will also spay her there too. I just couldn't release her back to the outdoors though. To dangerous for her and not good for the cat population.

Anyway...just wanted to share about our new guest. I'm hoping things work out and she integrates with us all well. I would love to keep her. I don't think she belongs to anyone who really cares for her as she is so coated with dirt and her paws and ears are so banged up, but I'll keep my eyes out just in case.

Oh...BTW, I've named her already!! Her name is Abbi MoE. Abbi, cause I love the name, and MoE which is short for Mother Earth, because I think she is a gift from nature!!

[Yoda]

Bless you. I hope things work out well for you and Abbi MoE.

[notz]

Sweet kitty found her a sweet lady...

[splitimage]

I think that's really nice that you rescued a cat. I hope she integrates well and becomes a part of your family permanently.

[Elysium]

Sweet Kitty kept crying being in the bathroom, even though she has a supply of toys, cat food, water, and a home-made litter box. Not to mention I turned my shower into a cushy motel bed. LOL!! But she missed having windows to look out of so she now has the run of one bathroom and one bedroom!! I'm such a pushover...she's already workin' me.

My two other cats can't decide if they want to come hang with me or if they want to hiss at me...so they are doing both at the moment and looking at me like I just ran over their pet mouse!! LOL!!!

[Elysium]

Oh, and did I mention that when I brought her into my house the first time I, stupidly thought this kitty would love my 75 lb Shepherd who greeted us at the door!! LOL....Oops!!!

Umm kitty didn't like it and got squirmy and bit me hard. I'm now in the ER waiting room because it's extremely painful and swollen all the way up to the joint where my finger meets my hand. It's red and my finger tip is numb. Even though it is hot and swollen, there is this ice cold burning feeling that is traveling up my finger.

In my county, all cat bites get reported to the Health Deparment. This means she will have to be quarantied for 10 days to monitor for Rabies. The good news is that since I am going to keep her, if i don't find he owner, I can keep her quarantied in my house and she doesn't have to go to animal control.

I think we were meant for eachother!! Isn't it kind of funny that I named her Abbi, before she bit me, and Abbi was a
main character on ER, and now I'm IN the ER because sweet kitty tried to NOM my finger!!

Life...it makes chewing through the restraints every day worth it!! LOL!!!

[Sabrina]

Oh wow - bless you for taking her in though I am sorry she bit you. Good luck to you and Abbi and the rest of the family.

[splitimage]

Ouchies. I'm really sorry she bit you. I'm glad you went to the hospital though, as cat bites can be nasty. My T rescued a stray kitten and he bit her and she wound up getting a really bad infection. But now the cat is the biggest suck in the world and is her therapy cat, and sits in sessions with clients who like cats.

I hope things go more smoothly for you and Abbi in the future.

--splitimage