I was telling The Mister that I saw a new feral cat cross through
our yard yesterday. Black and white. Wondered if he would
come back. It was almost exactly 2 years ago that the tiny
baby Cocoa was at our back door with Tiger, looking through
the glass at us. And it was one year ago this week that
I looked out and saw Slate for the first time, curled in
the chair with Tiger! That Tiger! What a kind heart he has.
It just occurred to me that he does this during RAK month. ha.
Later in the evening last night, The Mister called to me
from the family room.
"Hey, I think that cat is back! He's sitting in the chair!"
"Oh really? Black and white?"
"Yeah, but not as pretty as our cats. And his markings are odd."
(had to laugh at that!)
(had to laugh at that!)
"Oh, give me a few weeks with him and he'll be pretty.
Remember Slate after some TLC? Besides, with that
mark on his nose, I think I'll call him Smudge."
He doesn't look too ferocious, does he?
He watched us through the glass and when he decided that we
weren't going to chase him off, he snuggled down to sleep.
The chair has a heating pad on it, under a thick old bathroom rug.
He probably thought he found heaven on that cold night.
I didn't try to feed him. Just a warm bed was good enough for now.
He isn't too scrawny, but is scraggly and filthy.
I'm hoping that naming him didn't jinx his return!
That has happened with Freckles and Rocky! ha.
I need another cat to care for, you know. :)
And guess what!
It's my blog's 7th Anniversary on Thursday the 12th.
I love my little blog and all my bloggy friends.
Thanks for making it all so much fun!
You have a couple more days to do a random act of
kindness if you are joining in my adventure!
Click the sidebar for more info!
We'll all link up here together Friday.
♥
Congrats for your 7th anniversary in Blogland tomorrow,
ReplyDeleteLove little Smudge ~ nice name and I am sure he will settle in nicely . . . :)
He might not stay....we'll just have to see!
DeleteNice if he does . . . I think you like him a lot . . :)
DeleteOh, I haven't decided yet. Some cats are too mean...especially the toms...so we will see. :)
DeleteI'm not going to get attached to him and then be sad when it doesn't work out.
Yes . . understand . . .
DeleteYou were first tonight! I was busy with dinner and forgot to say!
DeleteForgot to tell me about the prize . . . . . haha!
Delete(Aren't I always #1 ? . . . . lol) . . . . :)
Oh, but that face denotes a real personality. Do you know that crows communicate as a group and notify each other of good stuff to partake of and bad stuff to avoid? I believe the feral cats in your vicinity have put the word out, so your numbers will probably keep growing. How sweet he looks in that chair. Feeling at home already. Lynne in NC
ReplyDeleteHe does have a sweet face! But Rocky and Freckles did, too. We'll just have to wait and see. I haven't seem him today. Maybe I'll leave a little treat in the chair.
DeleteWe've joked about the cats having a gossip line and they all know where to go for care. haha.
We live too far out in the country and too close to town for random cats to show up and decided to stay. I've seen them once in a while, and they've sneaked in for a bite of cat food in the night, but they don't stay. Maybe rough and tough Oreo scared them away. When we lived in town stray cats would show up; Samson, Squeak, Peaches, and Oreo. They were all nice cats except Samson. He was not gentlemanly and wouldn't use the litter box at all. He went to live n a friend's farm. We found Squeaker a lovely home. Peach stayed until he died of FIV and congestive heart failure, and Oreo? Well he's been hanging around for almost 16 years now.
ReplyDelete:0)
I seriously never intended any of the cats to stay here! haha. I fed that poor pregnant Tipper and thought she'd disappear when her kittens were old enough! Then I looked into some homes for the kittens and they were either homes that didn't care for their pets or they loved their cats but they live on a busy road and they kept getting hit. :( Then I got attached and couldn't give them up.
DeletePeaches...love that name. Might have to use it some time. This one doesn't look like a Peach, though., hahaha....
Our Peaches was a big peach colored tom cat. What a sweetheart he was with us, but he was constantly coming hoe with bloodied and nicked up ears. He was one of the best and Oreo loved him. One of my kids started calling him Uncle Peach just for Oreo.
DeleteOh, and Happy Bloggy Birthday! I'm so glad you're here.
DeleteI just passed my ninth bloggaversary. Can't believe it! I wouldn't trade it for the world.
:0)
Nine years? Wow! I didn't realize that! How fun. Has it always been the same blog with the same name?
DeleteYup. I've had others but "Lookin' Up" is the same one I started with nine years ago. I wasn't even a grandma yet.
Delete:0)
haha...I wasn't even a cat owner yet. :)
DeleteI love the name and how kind too provide heat out there... I bet That feels so good. I love your blog too, congratulations on 7 years. I don't remember when I met you here, but I know your boys were quite a bit younger. I was blessed to participate in a random act of kindness this past week...I thought of you, but cannot share,the details. Oh well, I look forward to seeing what others have been doing, thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYou could share very vague details here instead of on your own blog. Think about it for Friday's post. We'd love to hear what happened!
DeleteAwwwwwwwwwww - Smudge! He's perfect. I bet he was so grateful for a warm bed. I hope he sticks around. I swear there is a newsletter that circulates in your neck-of-the-woods, and beyond, that notifies feral cats of Betsy's Cat Haven. It's similar to the time of the Depression (my parents and I were just speaking of this the other day) when transients would come through town and they would leave "secret" codes on rocks and fence posts for other transients as to where they could find a free meal, or a job for a few days. My grandmother was one who would gladly cook a meal to anyone who came by at that time. They had a covered porch and the men were invited to stay for a meal and then they would move on. My Mom said that sometimes there would be four in one day, and then no one for a few days. But there was always a hot meal for them. And my grandmother did not have much at all... but they lived on a farm and they had food. Now that we are speaking of RAKs, she certainly did that all of the time.
ReplyDeleteI love that story....what a wonderful ongoing RAK she did for them! Sweetness runs in your family, Suzie! :)
DeleteCongratulations on 7 years.. I started 7 years ago with BrushStokes from the Heart. But I think we have been blog friends for at least 4 or 5 years. I do love you blog, and feel like you are one of my closest friends.
ReplyDeleteSmudge is adorable, dirty or not... I think if he checks the "review" section and sees all that is offered at the Betsy Zoo, he will be sure to stary.
I remember Brushstrokes! :) You are so sweet...thank you!
DeleteI wonder if The Zoo is on Angie's List or something similar. haha.
Aw - thank you! I wish I had known her. Both my mother's parents died when she was in her 20s - a month apart I believe. I don't know a lot about them but I found out that little story the other night and thought it was very special.
ReplyDeleteI agree...what a neat thing to find out about her. Everyone should take a lesson from that.
Deleteha. your zoo will be expanding by one very soon i imagine...
ReplyDeletei am pretty sure by now the cat underground is talking all about you...
lol
Well, my ears are itching....
Deletelol what's one more
ReplyDeleteThere at your shore
The cat whiskers tingle
And let all know where to mingle
Warmth and food
Smudge will join the brood
7 years is a long time too
Been around for 4 at your zoo
Whisker speak.
DeleteI think that's neat!
It's uncanny! Same thing happened to me. Earlier this evening I was visited by the black and white feral cat I told you about a few weeks ago. I always gave him/her some food in the yard, but he wouldn't come near me. This evening I put the food just inside the kitchen and left the door open. He actually came in after a while, cautiously ate the food and fled! Well it's a start. . . . .
ReplyDeleteHow cute that he came back! Gee...we're really having an uncanny amount of similar stories, aren't we? Kinda fun!
DeleteIf you say you had meatloaf for dinner, I'm going to start to wonder!
No, Spanish Omelette tonight.
DeleteTomorrow, Potato Haggarty and Tuna.
DeleteTomorrow, leftovers. ha.
DeleteIm looking up potato haggarty, though! Want to know what that is!
DeleteI bet Smudge is mighty grateful for a warm bed for the night. RAK apply to kitties, too. I would say you've done yours for the week. BTW, congrats on 7 years of blogging.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if he would come back...at least long enough for me to get him fixed and get his shots. We will see! Sometimes the cats here are accepting of a new one and other times they band together and fight them off....standing as a line outside and howling at the "intruder", sounding more like wolves than cats. Ha. I suppose they know their reputation better than I ever could.
DeleteLOL...I can hear them now. How kind of you to want to help by getting him fixed and his shots. This made me think about an area here where people apparently drop off cats...It's at a boat landing. I'm not sure why unless the thinking is that maybe the cats might get a fish treat once in awhile. Someone has gone into the woods and built them a little house. There must be 20-30 cats out there and I'm sure kitties are being born regularly. Unfortunately, the cats won't let you get near so there will be no fixing them.
DeleteOh dear...there will be more than 30 very soon! ha. That's kind of what started my little feline operation here...our neighborhood had quite a few strays and ferals roaming around. I've gotten 20 spayed and neutered in the last 3 years. Some that live here aren't totally domesticated yet and won't let me pet them but I've managed to lure them into a trap or carrier with a treat and whisked them off to the vet. Our problem is an elderly apartment complex nearby. They like to put food out for them but don't offer any care, so they stay for the food but continue to multiply. The vet told me that just 2 cats can multiply to 200 in a year if all the offspring reproduce and on down the line it goes. They're as bad as rabbits! haha. Anyway, all that to say, I can tell I've made a huge difference here and will continue to do it as long as they come looking for a home.
DeleteHappy Bloggoversary! I'm so glad you're here!
ReplyDeleteSmudge is cute and I like his name. Hope he sticks around!
Well, I'll keep you all posted. Didn't see him yesterday, though!
DeleteYour Valentine Kitty arriving right on time. Ha! Happy Blog Anniversary, Betsy! So glad you are here! blessings ~ tanna
ReplyDeleteWhat did I ever do to deserve a new kitty every Valentine's Day? Haha
DeleteMorning Betsy.....happy anniversary! So glad we got together...love reading your stories and enjoying your photography♥️
ReplyDeleteI hope Smudge comes back....I really like that face!
Enjoy your day!
Cheers!
Linda :o)
He does look loveable at first glance, doesn't he! Haven't seen him since, though, so we shall see what happens.
DeleteHad a lovely snow this morning and now the sun is out. How's that beach? Hope you're feeling better!
Not really....c'est la vie....
DeleteHappy bloggyversary. A chair with a heating pad sounds very inviting....
ReplyDelete