Pet Stories—Or, how you and your pet came together

a reply to: Sillyolme

One cat we had went to live with the neighbors when we brought a new kitten into the house. Just went out one day and started sitting on their steps. Wouldn't come home even though I saw him around all the time he never even came into our yard.

That's so sad.

As I mentioned in the OP, something similar happened with the cat I had before Toby. His name was Roger, and he's also another story, but he was about 10-12 when I brought Toby home, and was very, very chill. He was an indoor cat most of his life and nothing phased him. Toby, as a kitten, would jump on him playfully, and Roger would never do anything back, even though he hated it, and I'd have to go get Toby off of him. A couple of years later his health started declining, and the vet could never figure out exactly what it was. I think, to this day, he was broken hearted because of Toby, even though I never gave preference to Toby but always to Roger.

But Toby was meant to be with me, too.

originally posted by: Sillyolme
a reply to: intrptr

Oh yeah I'm a sucker for whiskers and a cute face. Dogs too. All animals.
I kid napped a duck when I was a little girl with a bag of cheese doodles as a lure.
My mother made me give it back.

Pet people are real people.

originally posted by: Sillyolme
a reply to: intrptr

I hope your own experience has improved since then.

Those periods of my life were the best. Don't knock it till you try it.

a reply to: intrptr

I'm a softy. When I used to go camping I slept on a cot in a tent. In a camp ground with showers and electricity at each site. You're made of tougher stuff. This girl needs her blow dryer.
I don't go camping any more but I still go hiking in the woods.

Plus I was an unwed teen mom I had to do everything I could to take care of my child. I had a good support system my parents helped me beyond measure which made me strive even harder for independence to show my appreciation.
I had to do well for my boy. I got lucky. I know it could have been very different.

To get back on topic we used to take our husker camping with us and he patrolled around the tent the whole night. He was a runner but he never left that tent site at night. Big boy who looked like a timber wolf. Gentle as a lamb but very protective. His name was Nikita.

a reply to: Liquesence

Awww. Maybe he was just old? Was he ever aggressive to the other cat? Was Roger a playful cat with you before Toby came? It's sad to think he was depressed. It's easier to spot in a dog. You did everything you could do. Giving your heart to an animal is rewarding. Losing them is a heart break.

The Tom we took in when his family moved away was here when we got Mia. She was such a spit fire with him but funny enough he would lick and groom her all the time. We weren't sure how he was going to react to her so we introduced them with her in the cat carrier at first. He was a big cat and she was so tiny. Three inches at the shoulder back then so we didn't want any injuries. But he surprised us. He adopted her . They became good friends but sometimes she aggravated him I could tell. He'd hiss but never swatted at her.
He was like a limp rag sometimes. Just all loose. You could pick him up and pour him onto the chair. We got him when we still had William and he got along with him too. They "met?" when Whitey (that was his name) came to our back door begging. They kind of low growled flat earred at each other at first. We fed Whitey outside on the back steps every day and every day they would eye each other and do that low almost yowl almost growl sound and once in a while one or the other would jump at the screen that separated them. But eventually that stopped and one winter day when the snow was very deep ( I know it sounds melodramatic) we brought him into the house. After that he was in and out until animal control came through the neighborhood and swept up about five cats. Whitney was one. He probably walked right up to them if they offered food the big lug.. anyway a neighbor told us they saw them take him so we went down to the shelter and paid $35.00 bail to get him out of cat jail. After that we decided we owned him and tried to make him an indoor cat. He was dumb but he was an opportunist too. He'd wait by the door where you couldn't see him and run out when you had an arm load of groceries. Or by the basement door because he found out he could get out a window that didn't latch down there. The house is 104 years old. Funny aside, Mia can claw the door to the basement open. Really it's a hatchway under the stairs a small door that just pushes closed but tight. And she would pull it open and then jump up on the back of the soda and watch Whitney run down. It was like they were in cahoots. Mia likes roaming around down there. Dark damp creepy. We tried for seven years to make him an indoor cat and we were mostly successful. But in his heart he just wanted to be an outdoor cat. I figured I kept him alive seven years longer than he would have had alone and homeless.

a reply to: tinner07

That's an awesome story, too. Any pics?

I wonder if he considered that home 'his' and was just checking you guys before he decided he would share? That's interesting he immediately sat with you so I wonder if he was left behind.

There's nothing like having a purrball keeping you company and warm. I'm glad he and you are well.

a reply to: Domo1

Wow, how long did you go to the shelter, and what was the place you lived that had the breed ban (apartment, HOA, ordinance, etc)?

At first I wondered why he wouldn't walk up the stairs, but that's a lot to spend on a pet. Of course, I'd do the same, and have, and almost did something similar with Toby (oral surgery and extraction), but the vet recommended against it because of the nature of the surgery. That's cool how smart he is, though, and I wonder where he came from. That's also interesting he would never get into the trash.

That reminds me of my dad's late dog. My dad has always been a dog person (not always owning one, though), but has also always owned cats. After his beloved cat disappeared on day he went to get a rescue dog, which was a rather large boxer/pit/something mix. That dog loved him from day one, and was so loyal to him, but it was CRAZY. Not aggressive, even though it barked a lot and wanted to go after everything it saw, since it was actually a sweet dog, but it was always hyper and crazy. It took him forever to try to train that dog.

It was a pretty big dog, and it used to sit in his lap like a little baby or puppy, almost suffocating him. It wouldn't just half lay on him, or put his head on him, that dog would plop his hind end right on top of my dad's lap and sprawl across him. It was hilarious.

I should stop, I could keep going for hours. I love my boy. He calmed me down a lot, he's my best friend, i love him more than I can express, sleep better with his head on my leg, don't get in trouble because I want to go home.

Wow. That's sweet

a reply to: Sillyolme

You're tougher, you raised a son. I never did that.

Living outdoors is camping, hotels provided the occasional relief.

Heres to Nikita, you, your son and parents.

a reply to: Liquesence

I’d have to dump out the old water (bonus was that I watered my house plants), wipe the bowl out and fill it back up with cold water. All the while she was staring me down, lol! She really was a princess.

a reply to: Sillyolme

Yeah, Roger was getting older, but he and I were very close. He was never aggressive in any way, ever. He didn't care about squirrels or birds. The only time I ever saw him react against another animal was not too long after Toby came to live here. Our neighbor's Collie got loose and came onto the deck, walked over to Roger (not aggressively trying to chase him or anything) and Roger went nuts slapping at his face. Mind you, Roger was declawed when he was a kitten (not my choice) but that dog turned around, ran off, and never came back. I always felt his reaction to the dog was something along the lines of "Oh hell no, no more other animals are gonna start hanging around or living here. You better get yo ass away."

Roger was the kind of cat you could do anything to, and he wasn't afraid of anything. Took baths, the vet, everything without any fight. The vet even commented they had never seen a cat who'd let you do anything to like that. Wouldn't flinch if someone acted like they were going to strike him (and he was never, ever hit for any reason, even though I knew someone once who *tried* to scare him like that). I used to bury my face in his big fat stomach and he would just purr and purr. He loved it. Wouldn't bite, wouldn't do anything. He was aloof and basically didn't give a damn about anything because he knew he was safe.

Your Tom sounds like Roger, just a limp rag, lol, and that he would just walk right up to anyone (even the pet police, lol). Sounds like he got just what he wanted from you guys, and had a nice life, and made some friends (both you and Mia haha).

Good stories.

a reply to: Lolliek

That's awesome, haha.

Reminds of Toby in a way. Toby wanted his water on the counter, by the sink. There could be a fresh bowl of water on the floor by his food and he would sit right by the sink, look down at the water bowl on the floor, then look at me. Look at the water bowl, then look at me. So I'd pick it up, put it next to him on the counter, and he'd immediately start drinking, lol.

Sometimes with his food, he would come inside and do lay by the A/C vent on a hot summer day. He'd lay there and look at me, and do a very short 'maw' as if to say, "You know what I want." I'd fix him a plate of food and set it where his dry food and he'd Just look at me. He wanted me to bring his food over to him, so he wouldn't have to get up, because no way was he going to drag his fat ass over there, lol. He was hot and so tired, lol. So I'd bring it to him, and he'd start eating it immediately—without even getting up and while still laying down.

Talk about freaking spoiled.

a reply to: Liquesence

It's just a slavery and mind-control test . Cats like to test people and not everyone makes the grade. I'm glad you passed the test because the alternative does not bear thinking about.

"Slave, the door needs to be opened, again. And again. And again. And again. Now, feed me. And stroke me. Then let me out again and then back in, only when I say, mind you1 And don't stroke me too much!"

a reply to: LightSpeedDriver

It's just a slavery and mind-control test . Cats like to test people and not everyone makes the grade.

That's pretty much it. They seek out someone they can control and do their bidding, just like....

"Slave, the door needs to be opened, again. And again. And again. And again. Now, feed me. And stroke me. Then let me out again and then back in, only when I say, mind you

That reminds me of Toby. When I was out of town, he was the biggest pain in the ass, wanting attention. Run to the door, scratch to go on the porch. Go on the porch (but didn't actually want outside) for a few minutes, then run back to the door scratching to come in. Run to the kitchen wanting food. Open a new can, but he wouldn't eat it. Run back to the porch door and do it all over again. Over. And over.

Just attention (and missing me).

I spent my youth surrounded by pets of all kinds like many rural kids...I trained Magpies and Crows to talk slept outside in the snow with new puppies and their mother helped babay kittens be born pulled Calves when needed helped chicks hatch and all the other great animal related things kids do in the country.

I never had indoor pets on the Farm...I wnet to town and never looked back.

Thirty years later my friend was talking about some Cats in a local vets office that were free to a good home...I didn't want a pet....then I heard there was only one kitten left and if no one took it the Mother and this single Kitten would have to be destroyed.

Well when I got to the Vets office to inquire.....lol...it turned out there was in fact one Kitten and a Mom left.....and they were in fact doomed.....problem was the Vet was a caring one and asked me lots of questions related to animal husbandry.....then she dropped the bomb.....LMAO....the Kitten was the last one taken because it was a BITER...like its Mother...the Vet explained to me that some animals were simply naturally inclined to bite more than others and both these Cats were like this....lol....well I didn't care...I took the Kitten home....sat there for 2 hours feeling not right....got back in my car and drove BACK to the Vets and asked to have the Mother cat...well the Vet would not let me have her because she claimed the personalitys of the Moma and Kitten meant she would fight with him when he grew bigger trying to drive him away which is natural.Well I went with it.

Franky is the most intelligent most loved pet I have ever had....he is a massive Tabby...he has never meowed in his life....only meurks and chatters and now word simulations....he is trained better than any dog I have ever had or seen...he sits...he fetches...he does tasks for treats...he opens cupboard doors and balcony doors....he enjoys eating corn right off of the cob ON A SMALL PLATE row by row by row like a kid.....he is a guard cat...bug hunter supreme who has learned to bring em to daddy before he gobbles them up except for bees which he just snaps up....I could go on and on....as all animal lovers vcan.

Thanks OP for the chance to share how I met Mr Franky....named After Frank Sinatra because of his blue Kitten eyes.

P.S...when they gave me Franky in his box they put his favorite toy inside which I found when I got him home....it was a RED SHOELACE....lol...and he was a convicted so-called BITER who no one would take home....LMAO...yes yes yes he was a nipper but it was ALL PLAY.....he has NEVER BITTEN THRU SKIN ON PURPOSE and he is VERY BITY IN HIS PERSONALITY...like an OVER-KISSER....lol....he enjoys wrapping your feet up and putting your big toe in his mouth well ALL of your toes but especially your big toe....lol...and if you wiggle it like a dieing mouse..something he has never experienced...he will do what Cats do and give a little kill bite and then hold it until you wiggle then he gives another little kill bite....lol..he has never killed anything bigger than a bug and he doesnt know to sink his big choppers in because he is good spirited...he can however sink those teeth just through my socks till they gently touch my skin where he stops.

a reply to: Liquesence


At one time I had 3 cats for many years,Molly,Max and Missy.I had
to put Max and Missy to sleep in 2016 and just had Molly.We had
a sweet 16 party for Molly in mid-november,a couple of weeks later
we had to put her to sleep.
Max and Missy were my cats and Molly was my husband's cat.I had
been searching for a replacement cat for sometime on Craigslist.
A few days after Molly passed away I found our new kitty.My husband
and I talked it over,called the lady and then picked her up.My new
kitty is a young cat and full of energy.She is taking a nap on top of
my CPU as I am typing.We named her Mollyann and I am teaching her
what NO means.She also has the cutest meow and has taken to me!

a reply to: mamabeth

That's awesome!

I lost my most recent cat a little over a year ago, and I have yet to get another. I'm about to start looking again.

Sixteen years is a pretty long time for a cat. I have never had one live over 12, but my grandmother had one live to 19.

I'd love to see a pic of Mollyann!

originally posted by: Liquesence
Oscar

One summer evening I was sitting on the porch with a cocktail, relaxing to nature's tranquility with some music and the sound of the birds. Toby was outside, laying in the sun, when all of a sudden he jumped up and ran after something. It was another cat, a male cat. They tussled a bit until I ran over and pulled them apart, tufts of fur flying, and put Toby inside. For some reason, the other cat was not afraid of anything, he just sat there looking at me like an idiot, and he keep hanging around.

I immediately noticed something strange about him and took a liking to him. The next day or so, I knelt down and started petting him. He jumped onto my knee, and would not stop purring. So I kept him.

He was a weird one. First, he was mute. All he did was purr and purr, but never meowed or hissed—ever. He would try to meow, but only a squeak would come out. Even on the few occasions I accidentally stepped on his tail or foot (hard), no sound. Nothing. He was never aggressive in any way, not even playfully. Every day I came home from work, he was there to greet me just like a dog. He would brush against my leg then just sit there and look up at me like a child. As soon I sit down, he was in my lap. Every single time. If he was in another chair when I sat down, he would immediately get down and come get in my lap.

I'm not sure what kind of life he had before he wandered on my property (or escaped from somewhere else), but he was one of the most lovable and appreciative furballs I ever had.

And I miss him dearly.

My little gal picked me. We just moved to Wisconsin and I was just about to walk out my sliding glass door and this little furball walked in. She was so small. I fed her and petted her and since it was October I thought she had escaped from one of my neighbors so I sent my son around to find her owners and nothing. I could not believe anyone would abandon this precious girl in the cold. She looked like she had makeup on like a movie star so that is what we called her Star. She is really short in height and really long; like a weiner dog, long hair on her back and belly and tail but short hair on her legs. While I have been going thru treatments she has comforted me. So I have her designated as my comfort pet by my doctor and she is every bit a family member to me and my son. I love her.

So, it's been about 2 years since Toby got sick and disappeared, and now we have a new addition to our household. I have not yet formally named him, but I'm leaning on Zeus.

He is the sole survivor of a litter at my dad's house. Since they have two indoor dogs, one that is HUGE, and since his wife doesn't like cats, they have been feeding and taming it but can't keep him. I took him home and saved this little fellow. He will get the best and most spoiled life ever. And he is the absolute sweetest little kitten, very affectionate and appreciative.

Say hello:

a reply to: Liquesence
He's GORGEOUS!!!

Looks like he might have some Siamese in him?

I must tell you about our Cat [16 now].
We got her from a rescue centre. Our former cat [R.I.P] came also from one.
Anyway, we got there and there were only two cats present [Kittens]. My husband had already cleared that we would tale the ginger little girl but I was smitten with a blue furry boy, whilst our one walked clumsily past.
She was far too young to be rehoused because she had been from a barn cat litter and was only 4 weeks old.
Anyway in the end we chatted to the woman when our little one comes up to me, climbs up my jeans leg, sits down on my knee and promptly falls asleep, head dropping down.

Of course I couldn't say 'no' now, I had never experienced anything this cute. So we picked her up 2 weeks later and she walked happily into our carrier as if she had been waiting for us.

Needless to say that she has not been sitting on my lap ever since [or anyone else's]. We can cuddle with her when she's sitting somewhere and she touches us with her clammy bean fingers and licks our elbows, but she is semi feral and very skittish and totally doesn't do other people.

All I can surmise is that she really, really wanted us and did her best to convince me that fateful day. Which worked a treat. She is our teenage fur-daughter and we love her dearly.

Can't post a picture because I am on the naughty chair for using mmmm-blocker.