Filling Empty Slot

Komnena · Mar 18, 2008

A stray has turned up at friends of a friend. Their sub branch of the Humane Society is full and they have asked us if we will give the cat Red's slot. I think God is getting back at me for those flippant remarks about how if He wanted me to have another cat He would send me one. I've never filled an empty slot this quickly. It feels disloyal to give Red's slot away this soon but this cat needs a home now. I worry about the reactions of the others too. We've agreed on condition the cat passes the leukemia test. If it doesn't, well, I don't want to think about that.
Nature definitely seems to abhor a vacuum when it comes to empty slots in private sub branches of the Humane Society.

tallus83 · Mar 18, 2008

Well, they do say the squeeky wheel gets taken care of first.

Soccer Mom · Mar 18, 2008

Somethings were just meant to be. There is no "right time." I once replaced my beloved Fred dog after only seven days. I didn't mean to, but this puppy came into the rescue and my older dog--who was mourning Fred terribly--bonded instantly with him. So he came home with me and stayed.

You have an enormous heart and the kitty is lucky to have a safe and loving place.

Komnena · Mar 18, 2008

The cat in question is an unneutered male and an applehead Siamese, according to report. The unneutered part will change ASAP. I hope he's a fairly young animal. He has an injured leg so I'm going to try to get him tomorrow morning and get him to the vet before I have to go to work in the early afternoon.

Appalachian Writer · Mar 18, 2008

I've recently had an experience with a stray. Although in heat and yowling all over the place, she's really quite nice, and I have to say, I'm beginning to like the little rat! I hope the new one passes the test. Fingers crossed.

Komnena · Mar 18, 2008

How to Choose A Cat is one of my favorite fantasy novels.

heyjude · Mar 19, 2008

Aw, Komnena, that's awfully nice of you. There are so many desperate animals who need a home. I'd never look at it as "replacing" an animal. It's giving someone else a chance at a nice life.

I hope it goes well. Let us know?

writin52 · Mar 19, 2008

Filling Red's slot

Komnena said:
A stray has turned up at friends of a friend. Their sub branch of the Humane Society is full and they have asked us if we will give the cat Red's slot. I think God is getting back at me for those flippant remarks about how if He wanted me to have another cat He would send me one. I've never filled an empty slot this quickly. It feels disloyal to give Red's slot away this soon but this cat needs a home now. I worry about the reactions of the others too. We've agreed on condition the cat passes the leukemia test. If it doesn't, well, I don't want to think about that.
Nature definitely seems to abhor a vacuum when it comes to empty slots in private sub branches of the Humane Society.

I think Red knew you needed to fill his slot, so he sent you the new cat. He knew how much he was loved. God knows your heart and helped Red pick the new cat for you.

Komnena · Mar 19, 2008

Last night the cat failed to turn up at his usual place. Hopefully he'll turn up tonight. If not, well, he was an unneutered male left to run loose. Their lives tend to be nasty, brutish and short. If the acquaintances can't corral him there's nothing to be done. Maybe he found another home on his own.

Komnena · Mar 19, 2008

The acquaintances have just called. They have the cat secure. We will be picking him up after work and taking him to our vet.

Soccer Mom · Mar 19, 2008

Good luck. I'm very partial to Siamese. Even a big applehead.

Komnena · Mar 19, 2008

The cat has passed the leukemia test and is now neutered. We will bring him home tomorrow. He is a year to a year and a half old. He weighs 12 pounds 2 ounces. He will require antibiotics for a while for the damaged leg. We have named him Slim after the Slim who liberated Burma.

Komnena · Mar 20, 2008

Slim is now secure in our bathroom. The vet revised his age up to four. He will no longer contribute to overpopulation.

Soccer Mom · Mar 20, 2008

How have the other cats reacted? I have one who is like the official greeter whenever a new pet arrives. She purrs and rubs the carrier. I have another who is the official hater. She hisses, growls, and hides when a new pet arrives (except she likes the new baby bunny we just got, which is odd. She hates everyone.)

Komnena · Mar 20, 2008

They've not hissed. They've shown tense curiosity. Right now they seem to have him on ignore except for occasional sniffing at the door. So far it's been surprisingly easy. I expected hostility from the two territorial ones. Hopefully when his week of quarantine ends it'll go smoothly. C'Mell is actually showing what looks like positive interest. Perhaps dimly she remembers being Siamese among Siamese and senses that here is another of her kind.

Komnena · Mar 21, 2008

Morning progress report. Slim is anxious to explore. He escaped from the bathroom this morning and got as far as the kitchen. I hope he'll be content to stay in the house. It may just be he doesn't know this is permanent yet. He's had to endure a lot of changes in the past two days and lost the people he chose. In uncatlike fashion he is actually using the bed I bought for him.

HeronW · Mar 21, 2008

Red knows you'll always love him. Our hearts are infinite, able to love as much as we let ourselves. Oh, C'mell! I love that story by C. Smith. Slim is in good paws! BTW, what is an apple head siamese?

Komnena · Mar 21, 2008

Ever seen the Disney movie That Darn Cat? Slim looks a lot like that except for his scars. Applehead is a nickname given to the traditional Siamese. They do not look anything as delicate as the Siamese you'll see at cat shows today. C'Mell became my cat eleven years ago. She was the only cat at Animal Control the first time I went there.
If you do a search for applehead Siamese you'll find all kinds of websites featuring appleheads. C'Mell is a lynx point. Slim is a chocolate point.

BarbJ · Mar 21, 2008

This is good to read. Thanks for sharing. :Hug2:

Komnena · Mar 21, 2008

Tonight's progress. He is eating. The roomie reports he has escaped the bathroom and gotten to the living room before roomie could retrieve him. Bad leg or no, Slim can move fast. Luckily none of the others were downstairs at the time. The two males are decidedly territorial and it's far too soon for them to meet. I have no idea how Slim reacts to other cats, except that he seemed relaxed with others when I first met him.

Komnena · Mar 23, 2008

Gem has finally realized he will have to share us with the stranger. He hissed at Slim's smell for the first time.
Slim's leg looks much better today. He nipped playfully today. I think he is beginning to feel at home and perhaps to feel that we are not too bad substitutes for the people he chose.

Soccer Mom · Mar 23, 2008

It's a great feeling when they start to settle in and realize they are home.

Komnena · Mar 23, 2008

The past week and a half has been a real rollercoaster. First I had to end Red's life. Then while I was still grieving Slim entered my life. His arrival gave surprising closure.
It's been a bigger roller coaster for the cat, though. He surely must have thought the acquaintances were now his people when they brought him into their house. Then we came and dumped him at the vet's. We returned and took him from the vet. Under the circumstances it's natural he would be uncertain of us.

Komnena · Mar 27, 2008

Slim is now enjoying the freedom of the house. There has been some hissing and bullying of him but not an excessive amount. He is definitely not aggressive with the others. I had worried some about that with his having been so recently an intact tom. The damaged leg seems to be healing well. It is still unsightly and he's shown signs of stiffness with it.
He is very vocal,even more so than Elf who died on Labor Day 2006. His trill definitely brings back memories although his voice is different from Elf's. His is not as high pitched. I've been waiting to discover the flaw in his personality that got him dumped. So far he's shown a personality as sweet as Red's, if more curious and exploring. There's real intelligence in those extraordinary eyes. I think he has now accepted us as his people. The other cats are beginning to settle with him now. It will be okay now, I believe. Felines and humans are adjusting nicely to their new life.

TheIT · Mar 27, 2008

Congratulations on the new addition! Glad to see Slim's making himself at home.

:e2cat:

Filling Empty Slot

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