If there’s anything that I will be quick to admit to, the fact that I have a soft spot for stray animals will be the one that I will admit to first. That’s just the way I am. I can’t help it.
There’s not many stray dogs in the neighborhood, but there’s always a stray cat or two that comes though every once in a while. It seems like there has always been a stray around where I live at some point for the 20 plus years where I currently live at. I’ve gotten to where I keep dry cat food on had all the time.
One stray cat show up, stays for a while and then leaves, not to be seen again. Before long, another one show up for a little while. It’s like they’ve adopted a system that hobos used to have. An obscure mark left in an obscure place that means,”Nice lady lives here. Stop here for free cat food. Beware of the two terriers.”
Some stray cats over the years have stayed for months on end. They literally became part of the family to the point that I had straw bedding in a pet carrier by the back door for one. A few more made the shed home making the seat and hood on my Massey Ferguson a bed along with the seat o the golf cart. I didn’t mind. I figured if they were here then they were leaving any neighbors alone that were less than cat friendly. I was happy to see three of the cats laying by a neighbors back door several times. They had been feeding them too. I’ve even had two stray cats that got along with Jake and Buddy. Garfield and Buddy to daily walks with them. Another stray, Slick, enjoyed going for short rides in the van. When he got restless, I knew it was time to head back home.
Photo by Mel Boone
As it goes, the stray will leave and not come back. Once in a while, one will get hit by a car and somehow make it to my shed to die. It is unavoidable when you live next to a highway. I shed a tear for them, then grab a shovel and bury them in the back yard. I regret not making them a house cats, but I’m just doing good to live in a house where the owner lets me have the two dogs, no house cats permitted.
And so it goes. I guess I will forever be known as the crazy stray cat lady in the neighborhood.