So my wife and I closed on a house 2 weeks ago. |We are really happy with it and enjoying planning what changes we are gong to make etc.
From the day we moved in there was a cat who turned up at the door every morning. Lovely little thing but had a very big section of matted fur on its back (looks like another cat on its back) but other than that was well feed and had a nick out of its ear which indicates it’s been fixed. My wife is a very very big cat person but we’ve been renting for the last 5 years so couldn’t have an animal in the property.
We asked around and it seems that “Gismo” was an old woman’s cat from two doors up who died and the family just rented the house out and didn’t do anything about the poor cat. He’s being living in the area depending on the kindness of strangers.
Once this was confirmed the wife kicked into action. We’ve got the vet booked for Saturday for the matting to be dealt with and anything else that needs to be done will be done. A carrycase has been bought and the make friends with the cat operation is in full swing. It’s a very friendly little thing and just hangs around the room and wanders over every now and then for a rub.
Inside/outside cats are the norm here so we’ve been letting him go about his business as he wants but leaving a way in for him when he wants. He spent the last night like this (https://i.imgur.com/MIoNFL9.jpg) in the kitchen. A more permanent home is ordered and on the way.
So my first house that I own and a first cat (for me) all in the same timeframe. The cat is going to cost but seeing how happy my wife is when she walks around with Gismo following with his tail up high is worth every penny.
Our house came with a colony of about 6 cats, all ferals as far as we can tell. They’re all living underneath the neighbor’s deck, but there’s one little yellow guy in particular that likes to nap in our big planters and sun himself on our deck. When we first moved in he befriended one of our house cats through the window screen and he seems to be the friendliest, to us (the others want nothing to do with us, other than our food). He always greets us when we come home, lets us pet him, and walks us from the driveway to the door, it’s quite adorable. He’s still feral enough that I doubt we’d ever be able to bring him into the house; one time his ear was badly injured and we tried to lure him into a carrier, then pick him up with a towel, but he was not having any of that at all.
We put food out specifically for him, but enough that they can all eat; he appears to be either the runt or possibly a deposed leader, as he is smaller and appears to be older and will always defer to any other cats that are around to eat before he does. We try to look out for him if we hear any cats fighting but we’ll never alter their social order.
Anyways, thanks for taking in your new little friend. Looks like a good one.
Just about to leave from work and have a night ahead learning the way of cats. I’ve never had any form of pet before as my Ma and Da weren’t animal people so this is all new to me. This little guy seems like a very good way to start though.
Cats are pretty simple. Feed them, pet them, scoop the litter box every day. You will have to brush your guy once his mats are gone. Cats are funny and amusing. Ursala Kitteh has a string from my sweatshirt that is her toy. I refer to it as String (like it is alive). She carries String around the house and one morning I found String in my bed.
Which means it’s also the norm for them to win up as prey for other animals (or vice versa), or as street pizza in encounters with vehicles. I hope (for its and your sake) that you consider making it an inside cat (or one with a restricted outdoor run).
Congrats on your new house and kitty. Mrs. Gap and I have a kitty that we rescued (forced herself on us). She’s wonderful, and never lets us forget how much she’s grateful. Yours obviously knew quality people.
That’s going to be one beautiful kitty once the mat is taken care of. Heck, he’s beautiful already.
I like the name, too. It is somewhat like the name my son and his girlfriend plan to give their first cat (yes, they have that all planned out - they are both insane cat people): schismogenesis. Not only is it a great name for the cat of two super-nerds, it lends itself to a bunch of good nicknames: Skizmo, Jenny, Sissy, Mo…
Can you imagine how relieved and happy YOUR cat is now? I keep thinking how confused and scared it must have been after its owner died and it was left all alone. Two thumbs up for you and your wife for having such loving hearts.
