I could rant and rave, but in the interests of brevity, I will try to keep this short and simple. If not sweet.
About five years ago, I started working at a bar. About a year after that, I went to my manager’s house to take her “groom’s gift” boudoir portraits. (I moonlight as a photographer.) I went outside for a cigarette break, and a small fluffy tuxedo kitten basically attacked me. My manager said that he was one of the last of a litter that a stray cat had given birth to, and she hated him and his remaining sister so much she was thinking of either feeding them to her friend’s pit bull, or taking them to the pound to get euthanized.
I grew up with cats, but I was in no condition to have a pet. Of any kind. I was gone all the time; it would have been cruel to subject a social animal to my constant absences.
But the kitten was nothing if not charismatic, and I fell for him anyway, and a week later she called me to tell me he was about to meet a gruesome death. By dog or euthanasia.
I took him home, in spite of myself. He will be five years old soon. He is a fat magnificent catshark. (His sister was saved by my co-worker.)
Anyway, cut to this month…I find out that this woman (no longer my manager or even my co-worker, because she got pregnant and quit) has another kitten in her yard. Tiny, tiny tiger-striped baby girl with white paws. She refuses to feed this tiny kitty, because a.) she hates cats, and b.) she claims she can’t afford another pet, and c.) according to the City code, if you feed an animal for three days, it is considered yours. And you are responsible for it.
So she won’t even leave water out for it. Much less feed it. It’s so hungry it was spotted eating ants yesterday. ANTS. ANTS???
I found this out at work tonite, and I couldn’t help mentioning it to my boss, who also despises cats.
But even he–he of feline hatred–was incensed enough to call her and tell her that the kitten would be gone tomorrow if she’d feed it tonite.
Problem is, he was lying. He just wanted to get the poor starving baby some food. His pit bulls would eat it. He can’t take it. I have two cats in a tiny apartment; I can’t take it.
But I’m taking out messages on Craigslist and Facebook; I have offered to pay for the kitten’s spaying and shots, and even her food.
WHO THE FUCK CAN WATCH A TINY BABY KITTEN STARVE TO DEATH???
I don’t understand. I figured she’d last a couple days, and she’d break down and feed the little girl. Apparently she throws this kitten over the fence into her neighbors’ yards, hoping it will go away, and when she picks it up to toss it, it purrs like mad. She says she “feels bad.”
But just not bad enough to GIVE THIS KITTEN WATER?
I don’t fucking understand. I don’t fucking understand watching a purring affectionate little tiny baby kitten starve to death in your own fucking yard. It would be kinder to take her to the pound, where at least she’d be put to sleep without dying a slow horrible death. I don’t understand denying WATER to a tiny baby creature like this. I couldn’t do this to a rat, or a mouse, or even a feral raccoon. It would make me feel like an asshole. I would BE an asshole. And a cold-hearted bitch. Better to grab a hammer and kill this kitten. That would be kinder and quicker.
I’m fucking pissed. I am finding this kitten a home. I’m gonna paper the city. I’m gonna find this happy purring hopeful little thing a home, goddammit.
I just wanna know what the fuck kinda person can watch an animal starve to death–especially a tiny affectionate loving baby animal–and actually talk about it, like it’s nothing to be ashamed of. What the flying fuck???
:mad: