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A cat adopted me. |
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Being kind to the animals is part of the culture in this area of the country. There are always a few feral cats hanging around the apartment complex where I live. Up the bike trail about 10 minutes is feline alley where there are usually a dozen or so. They are taken care of with food and plastic crate shelters. It's very nice part of the trail between two ponds, with Palm trees and thick foliage on the ground. Soon after I moved here I started leaving water out. It's hot. A couple cats would have a drink during the day and a possum would drain the bowl at night. Last summer a pregnant cat starting sleeping on the lawn chair on my patio. I bought food for her and the couple who lived upstairs put a box out for her to sleep in. Most are happy to be fed but not much on human contact. Amazing to me was that the cats and the ducks get along. More than once I've seen ducks and ducklings hanging with the feral cats in feline alley. I've never been a 'cat person' but now I have a new guest that I'm increasingly fond of. I'm sure that Goose, the cat that has started to share my apartment sometimes, is more likely an abandoned house cat than feral. After 4 years and maybe a dozen or two cats, she is the only one that seeks attention. After a few days being fed on the patio while I sat nearby, she jumped on my lap. That was last week and we've been friends since. I started letting her stay inside in the afternoon and a few times overnight. Goose has found her spots under the bed and on the couch and is absolutely not in a hurry to leave. She slept lightly the first couple times inside then a few days ago she came in, ate and was out like a light for hours. I'm glad to see her comfortable. I call her Goose because once when I was feeding her outside one of the local ducks came by with her ducklings. I was throwing bread for the ducks while Goose the cat was eating from the bowl. It reminded me of a grade school game called, you guessed it, 'Duck, Duck, Goose', hence Goose the cat. I'm not sure she understands as she likely came from an Hispanic home and I don't speak Spanish cat. The trouble is I live in an apartment complex where pets are not allowed but then, neither is feeding the ducks.  I have to decide what to do. Goose has made herself at home and I like her around. The trouble is they'll charge me a penalty and I'll have to get rid of her if I'm caught. Since they come in and spray for bugs once a month, it's likely Goose will be discovered sooner or later. If anyone reading this has advice or thoughts please pass them along. I'm thinking of putting an ad on Craigslist for a good home. |
| Goose and I are settling into a routine. She stays outside nearly all the time. Some days I feed her in the morning and then don't see her at all until the next morning. The last few days she has stayed close, sleeping in the lawn chair most of the day. Yesterday it was much cooler in the afternoon, I think it was below 80 for an hour or so just after the rain! I put dry food out and left the door open, Goose ate some and came inside. In a few minutes the ducks were there and Goose and I watched the ducks eat her food. Goose just sat inside the door and stared. The word is out around the neighborhood! Free food! Worm and Flea treatments are on the way. I'll have them in a couple of days and give them to her. I figure it's a safe precaution. No progress on re-homing. The cat's in feline alley aren't back like I hoped. There were a couple new ones but I couldn't see clipped ears so not part of the catch and release Humane Society program. |
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