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Kitten, part two
Wednesday, 9 August 2006 19:05When I got up yesterday morning there was evidence that the kitten had eaten the food I set out for him. I didn't see or hear of him, though. I decided to wait until after work to see if he'd resurface.
...and he did.
I came home to a bunch of my neighbors gathered in my yard talking about the kitten and the previous night's adventure. They were waiting for me to see if I was still intent on catching it, and I was. The little guy was quickly running out of steam and had parked himself under Renee's new shed. Her cat sat outside the opening and hissed at it.
Renee's husband was reluctant to just reach in and grab the kitten because he didn't want to be bitten or scratched, but I wasn't so careful. He might swat at me, but he's tiny, exhausted, and starving. I had a hunch he wouldn't do much damage. With a little help (three fishing nets and some really long bamboo poles) we managed to get him out.
Oh my LORD he was filthy. Covered in dirt and tree sap from head to toe. He'd been busy! He perked up a little once he was in my arms and started purring. He cried a little bit more, but not too much. I brought him in, assembled Grady's crate, and stuck him in it. Grady was not happy at this (the crate is sacred), and made howling and hissing noises. Great. Well, we always knew Grady was a tad antisocial.
It was unlikely I'd be able to get the kit to a shelter so late in the evening, so I made a last-minute dash to the nearest pet store for some kitten food and a litterbox. He didn't need much more, really. He preferred hiding under the bed in there anyway. The plan was to keep him in the guest room until today, when I'd take him to one of the local no-kill shelters. The kitten ate (starving!), drank (parched!), pooped (mad litterbox skillz!), and then made himself comfortable. Grady stood guard at the guest room door.
For the first time in my life, I gave a cat a bath. Three different people told me to use Dawn dishwashing soap because of its miraculous flea-killing, sap-removing properties. My Kid Sista gave me some advice on how to bathe a cat, so I braced myself for a fight. I didn't get one. The kitten wasn't happy to be wet OR soapy, but he didn't fight me on it. I wrapped him in a big fuzzy towel and held him close as I dried him off the best I could. It was after this that he started to relax a little and beg for snorgles/skritches.
I tried to sleep in the guest room with him but was too worried about freaking our guest out to konk out. I left him in there and got into my own bed. I guess I'm a light sleeper -- I remember waking up a few times in the middle of the night because I heard him crying again. The whole experience guaranteed that I would be up and somewhat alert at 6:30 this morning.
So phone calls were made, arrangements fell through, and the kitten spent the day alone here with Grady. Of course, Grady was overcome with joy. I got home and everything was fine, though. No carpet was destroyed, no "accidents" anywhere, and both cats were happy. One shelter was full and told us to call the Humane Society, the Humane Society told us to take the kitten to animal control (he's a "stray"), and Hooterville said they'd take him once their vet checked him out tomorrow.
This means kitten stays with us another night.
Kitten has found some things to play with (like the blinds fob) and takes great delight in trying to play with Grady. Grady is a shithead and doesn't get it. He's warming up to it, though. Kitten is not fazed by Grady's shitheadedness. They remain quite separated.
Tomorrow I have to take time off of work to surrender the kitten, which sucks. I already have a doctor's appointment in the morning! Garret is useless, because he has a bunch of work stuff keeping him away. Everyone else I know nearby hates cats.
He is a cutie, though. ( Here's proof. )
...and he did.
I came home to a bunch of my neighbors gathered in my yard talking about the kitten and the previous night's adventure. They were waiting for me to see if I was still intent on catching it, and I was. The little guy was quickly running out of steam and had parked himself under Renee's new shed. Her cat sat outside the opening and hissed at it.
Renee's husband was reluctant to just reach in and grab the kitten because he didn't want to be bitten or scratched, but I wasn't so careful. He might swat at me, but he's tiny, exhausted, and starving. I had a hunch he wouldn't do much damage. With a little help (three fishing nets and some really long bamboo poles) we managed to get him out.
Oh my LORD he was filthy. Covered in dirt and tree sap from head to toe. He'd been busy! He perked up a little once he was in my arms and started purring. He cried a little bit more, but not too much. I brought him in, assembled Grady's crate, and stuck him in it. Grady was not happy at this (the crate is sacred), and made howling and hissing noises. Great. Well, we always knew Grady was a tad antisocial.
It was unlikely I'd be able to get the kit to a shelter so late in the evening, so I made a last-minute dash to the nearest pet store for some kitten food and a litterbox. He didn't need much more, really. He preferred hiding under the bed in there anyway. The plan was to keep him in the guest room until today, when I'd take him to one of the local no-kill shelters. The kitten ate (starving!), drank (parched!), pooped (mad litterbox skillz!), and then made himself comfortable. Grady stood guard at the guest room door.
For the first time in my life, I gave a cat a bath. Three different people told me to use Dawn dishwashing soap because of its miraculous flea-killing, sap-removing properties. My Kid Sista gave me some advice on how to bathe a cat, so I braced myself for a fight. I didn't get one. The kitten wasn't happy to be wet OR soapy, but he didn't fight me on it. I wrapped him in a big fuzzy towel and held him close as I dried him off the best I could. It was after this that he started to relax a little and beg for snorgles/skritches.
I tried to sleep in the guest room with him but was too worried about freaking our guest out to konk out. I left him in there and got into my own bed. I guess I'm a light sleeper -- I remember waking up a few times in the middle of the night because I heard him crying again. The whole experience guaranteed that I would be up and somewhat alert at 6:30 this morning.
So phone calls were made, arrangements fell through, and the kitten spent the day alone here with Grady. Of course, Grady was overcome with joy. I got home and everything was fine, though. No carpet was destroyed, no "accidents" anywhere, and both cats were happy. One shelter was full and told us to call the Humane Society, the Humane Society told us to take the kitten to animal control (he's a "stray"), and Hooterville said they'd take him once their vet checked him out tomorrow.
This means kitten stays with us another night.
Kitten has found some things to play with (like the blinds fob) and takes great delight in trying to play with Grady. Grady is a shithead and doesn't get it. He's warming up to it, though. Kitten is not fazed by Grady's shitheadedness. They remain quite separated.
Tomorrow I have to take time off of work to surrender the kitten, which sucks. I already have a doctor's appointment in the morning! Garret is useless, because he has a bunch of work stuff keeping him away. Everyone else I know nearby hates cats.
He is a cutie, though. ( Here's proof. )
