Throughout the countryside I travelled
searching for a place where I could winter.
Often I slept on branches that had fallen from trees.
I found a dead bird, and ravenously ate it! Another experience I had
was in a park where boys caught me...then swung me round and around
and round by my long furry tail...and laughing as they did so, until
an adult man, told them to stop being so cruel.
Then a farm house came into view ~ ah! Here's an opportunity! I
pruned myself to look respectable and visited the kitchen
door...hoping...just hoping...the lady of the house would offer me
food and water. Smelling senses told me she had a dog and a cat.
Seeing me daily outside her door, she placed food and water for me ~
but never invited me in.
Desperate for a house and home before winter set in,
I inquired from her by sitting on her kitchen's window ledge ~
and meowed ever so gently to get her attention.
Finally, after several days and snow beginning to fall, she opened
the door, saying to me, “Here, here, kitty, kitty ~ come in from
the cold!” So elated I was ~ promising to behave as a good cat
should.
But, I had a problem!
Her house cat was really upset with a feline intruder
and the dog chased me around and around, upsetting her tranquil
household.
Kind, she was, not forcing me out into the winter's cold, she gave me
a room to myself so her pets, dog and cat, would be content. I was so
grateful to have a 'home for the winter.'
Unknown to me, she contacted the SPCA
to advise them of her plight in Flamborough's rural country.
(She'd had a happy, peaceful home until this stray cat appeared.
Please find a home for this rare-looking cat: big in
stature...like a huge 'tabby'
but she's frightful of humans who have possibly mistreated her.)
I'm so leary of strangers ~ I cannot trust them; at first, they want
me ~ then abuse me ~ always casting me off, unwilling to love me ~ so
my plan is to 'accept what I can get' and not depend on their
personal love for a cat like me. I must be strong, independent ~ and
not 'fall in love' with insincere attitudes.
The SPCA came to fetch me and was taken away to their shelter
with hopes that some person would claim me.
My home at the shelter was a small lower level cage; I was let out
occasionally each day
for some exercise...and daily supplied with water and food.
Although most humans I did not trust, the kind manager showed me she
cared.
Here at the shelter through December, January and February ~
finally, my 'lucky day' arrived.
A
lady came to the shelter and looked around for a cat. She asked, on
bended knee, seeing me caged, and enquired to see ME! ME-OW! I
said to myself...perhaps this is my Lucky
Day.
The staff sent for the manager, since she was the only person
to whom I would relate...to all others, I would hiss and show my
growling teeth.
Manager
woman informed the lady that I was unfriendly...not wanting to be
held...due to unhappy experiences with humans who failed to
understand me...and not accustomed to being held or cuddled.
Wearing gloves, the manager removed me from the cage,
setting me on the floor so 'lady' could view me.
“Because
of this cat's history, “ she informed the lady, “that being
unfriendly.
this cat couldn't be held more than a minute or so...and would howl
with displeasure.
By now I was hesitant to trust strangers,
so I donned my 'protective armour 'so I couldn't be 'just had' for
the payment
to be made upon purhcase of me.
She admired my furry coat...my tufted paws and ears...my long furry
tail...and stature size.
Surprise! Surprise!
On
the way to her home, I yowled and yowled and madly yowled at being
caged in a box! I didn't know what would befall me! Showing
displeasure, I continued to madly yowl ~ the woman ignoring my
plight. Arriving at her apartment facing the lake, she carried me
(still yowling) up in the elevator to the 18th
floor which overlooked Lake Ontario. In the elevator, she tried to
soothe me...(everything will be alright...you just wait and see). Her
voice, so kind, as she opened the apartment door. Gently, setting
down my wooden cage, she softly spoke to me. Opening the cage door
so I could amble out ~ there before me was a dish of cool
water...nibbles in a blue bowl...and a toy or two for play.
My anger appeased...her kindness to me with gentle voice...
the whole scene gave me an aura of comfort...so I let down my guard
as I looked around.
Maybe! Maybe this is my home!
Because of my proud strut out of the cage, her gentle voice of care
and concern,
I put my furry feet forward as I faced the ready meal prepared for
me...
and
of course a 'litter
pan' for
my body necessities.
She
said to me, “I shall call you Sheba.
You
strut out of your cage like a long-ago Queen
of Sheba.
Reluctant to trust her for a length of time, I would not sit on her
lap...nor would I let her hold me for more than a minute or so...we
needed time to respect and trust each other.
My mothering human understood me and could read my mind.
So, I'm going to trust her and hope she trusts me.
WOW! A NEW LIFE! A NEW ENVIRONMENT
Still, I yearned the outdoors...nature's wonders of smells and
aromas...rain...windy days and sunshine.
Then one weekend, she fastened a collar around my neck
to which she attached a leash. What? Oh, what is she doing? I
gestured.
She
led me to the balcony door to the outside fresh breezes. Then,
offering me a dish of niblets upon which I would feast. I know what
she feared because I'm an overly-bright-minded cat. (She feared I
might jump to the upper railing and be 18 floors up from the ground
below...perhaps, falling, becoming badly injured or even dead.
I know a good thing when I see it!
I'm not going to jeapardize my assets!
Instead, I lay down on the balcony floor and with just enough room
for my head,
I pushed it under the lower railing...crouched...
and pushed with my back legs so my head reached the outer edge.
My first fascination was the white swans searching fresh green
grasses for food
and the gulls, flying above over the lake water, hunting for a fish
or two!
And beyond them were waves and more rippling waves lapping on to the
stoney beach.
This new habitat for me, far surpassed my past neighbourhoods.
My human chatted with me ~ although I couldn't understand her
language.
She was warm and friendly and seemed to enjoy my company.
After several journeys (on collar and leash) to the balcony, one
Sunday morning, she removed the leash. My innate nature was to trust
her and not get myself into trouble.
Be
sure to read Part 3 about Sheba,my
new lease of life.
Written by Author...Merle Baird-Kerr...April 8, 2019
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