Calliope-No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Today, Calliope ripped a hole in a second story screen and got out. That was the least of the problem.

Once I confirmed she was gone, I quickly went to Jacky’s, the nice lady who had been feeding her. Yup, there the little girl was, after eating a tin of tuna fish AND more cat food. And yes, she had been fed already and I was looking for her in the first place to feed her another meal.

It was on the short way back the trouble started. A little boy insisted she was his cat. I told him she wasn’t and if I would have to talk to his parents before I would release her. This cat came bone thin and with all of her hair pulled out. Jacky said when she first saw her she was even smaller and her fur had something in it that made it stiff. Calliope probably groomed it out, she is meticulously neat. Also he said this would be her second litter of kittens, she’s not even grown yet!

I talked to the parents who first said she wasn’t theirs, then said she was but they didn’t want her. I took Calliope home.

Then a disturbed boy who loves to cause trouble (the reason I took Calliope in so quickly) started claiming he knew who’s cat it was. Then the second kid, evidently an older brother, knocked on my door, claiming the cat. He claimed is cat was gray. I told him it wasn’t his cat, and anyway, his parents had told me they didn’t want her (their cats have been busy having kittens, obviously). I checked with Sandy who said that yes, when Calliope turned up she was still very small and has grown. NOT a two year old. The vet put her between 7 to 10 months. And quite frankly, I wouldn’t return her to that home anyway.

No one looked for Calliope when she first came. I asked everyone I saw, hoping she was someone’s kitten who had just gotten lost. For almost two weeks, what ever cat lived at that kid’s place, she never went home. Calliope spent a couple of weeks on Jacky’s patio, and that’s right where she goes if she gets out. Why not? Jacky gives tuna!

Still, it’s left me shaking. The older boy swore at me when I said I wasn’t giving her back. I told him to call the police if they wanted their cat back. There are laws here about animal abuse. Then the problem kid came knocking on my door claiming another child said it was HIS cat. I told problem kid to get away from my door and never talk to me again. There’s a kid who could use a good foster home himself. I retired long ago from doing human rescue.

I hope the weather stays cool as obviously I’m not going to be opening any windows. Now worried about the kittens. She is obviously ok, but I’m a worrier. And somewhere out there, is a lost, probably pregnant cat who’s home is not worth going back to. For having all these kids who say they want a kitty, they aren’t the ones who feed and take care of them. Jacky says there is another cat, the same age, also pregnant that is probably a littermate to Calliope.

I’m pretty peace-loving. I never start fights, although I don’t back down from them like I used to. But I never, even in my mousey childhood days ever backed down from rescuing an animal that needed it. The next person who knocks on my door next had better be a cop, because then I will file some charges of my own. Plus a vet certificate saying Calliope is still a kitten.

Some of the super stressful situations I’ve been living through have resolved themselves in the last few days. I was planning on getting some packing done and chilling.  While this re-enforces my desire to get the heck out of here, it hasn’t dampened my joy in fostering. If anything, it just makes me aware all over again how much rescuers are needed.

Calliope is purring softly, full of tuna fish. In a couple of hours I will feed her again. I will also make sure that jump didn’t hurt any kittens and they are still active. I will of course, worry like any grandma until I see those babies come out all healthy. And all this could have been avoided if just one person along the way had spayed their cat.

 

Calliope Explores

Are you SURE there isn’t anybody waiting to pounce on me from the other side of this wall?

Outside of an upset tummy, probably just from food changes, Calliope has been healthy and happy. I’ve put Major Tom in with her a lot, and occasionally Willetta. The only kitty I worry about is Majyk. He can be positively rude. But today I let him in the room and they ignored each other. She wanted to explore the house, so, with me as a worry wart escort, we explored. Meaning I just followed her everywhere to make sure there weren’t problems.

 

 

My apartment isn’t big, but on the other hand, Calliope is small. After a brief trip into each room, she settled down on Majyk’s favorite perch, the back of the recliner. She could see all the room from there and peek outside too. She also noticed my two oldest kitties, The Princess and Jazz. I didn’t bother to introduce them first, as they are so familiar with new fur kids they don’t blink an eye.

Calliope meets Jazz. Neither one cares!

Calliope peered down at Jazz, over at The Princess and obviously decided she had nothing to fear there.

Majyk tromped downstairs, saw her on HIS perch and pretended to ignore her. She watched him, but didn’t look worried, plus she had the higher ground. After he made sure his wasn’t missing out on any treats he left the room.

Keeping a close watch on me, she walked over to where I was sitting. Her path took her across a table filled with slippery papers and my keyboard, and over the top of sleeping Princess. These are forbidden areas to my cats, but she has guest privileges for now.

I feel at home here!

All is quiet now. Calliope has settled in another forbidden spot, my shelves. Perhaps she thinks my lion bookends will offer shelter. More likely it’s just a good vantage point to keep me and any other cats in sight. I hope it stays this quiet, but with Majyk around, I’m not counting on it!

 

Calliope: Interspecies Understanding

I stayed up way too late last night. When I finally thought I could sleep, I went to do a final check on Calliope and say goodnight.

There were puddles of sick all over and she hadn’t finished her food. She greeted me, but obviously was still suffering. I soothed her and let her know she was ok and not in trouble. When she seemed better, I started to leave the room to get her a clean blanket. This little cat, who cheerfully rode in the car and let the vet manhandle her let out a quiet wail of misery. It was absolutely heartbreaking..

How awful it must be to still be a kitten and have a tummy full of babies yourself. In cat years, she’s just a teenager. I can’t tell her she will be alright, that she will have a home with me as long as she needs it. I can’t explain all the changes her body is going through or that I’m trying to introduce her to my cats so she can have the run of the house most days, that she isn’t being punished by keeping her in one room.

I’m not sure what this thing is, but I’m trying to please you!

So there I was, flat on the floor, instead of being in my comfy bed, talking to an anxious little cat. She doesn’t know the words of course, but she understands the tone and the love I have for her.  After only a few days, we are bonded, she looks to me for help. Finally she felt better and even ate a few bites of food. I already know she is going to be one of those cats who will want me to hold her paw when it’s time to give birth.

I put Major in with her for today. She is very relaxed with him in the room, even though they don’t make contact. Major is second in command of the cat kingdom here, so not only will he give her love, he can protect her a bit from Majyk’s more boisterous advances. She even rolled over so I could tickle her round little tummy. She played for the first time today. Progress!

Update: YES! When I checked on the kitties a few minutes ago, Calliope was lounging on my desk instead of hiding in the window sill, while Major was curled up on the chair. Callie happily rolled over for tummy tickles. Major hopped down to give me my chair. (Yes, he’s a gentleman) I put a feather on a wire for Calliope to play with, Major, who is making up for  his traumatic kittenhood, forgot himself enough to jump up on the table right next to Callie. She just rolled over so her tummy wasn’t showing, but didn’t move away. She seems more relaxed with him in there. Girls can’t resist that sweet face and those baby blue eyes. Willetta inherited her charm from him. He’s a sweet talker too, makes the same prrrt, rrrrr sounds like a mommy cat talking to her kittens. He rarely actually meows. It’s so darn cute!