The Beauty Around Us

I wrote about Black Kitty earlier this year.

Black Kitty (a feral or stray cat) had been coming around our house at least twice a day since the end of July. We fed it twice a day. We went away on vacation in September for a couple weeks and had a neighbor feed Black Kitty and Patches, our indoor cat. On September 23, when we came home from vacation, our neighbor told us that Black Kitty came around at feeding time, but did not eat. Our neighbor assumed Black Kitty was being fed elsewhere. That wasn’t the case.

Before we went on vacation, Black Kitty would not allow us near him.  The closest encounter Black Kitty would allow was looking at each other, with a glass door between us.  Soon after returning home from vacation, we saw Black Kitty.  We stepped outside and called to him “Hey Black Kitty”.  In the past Black Kitty would just look at us.  He would not come to the porch, until we had gone inside and some time had passed.  This time was different.  Black Kitty came running to us.

I believe Black Kitty knew he was in trouble and put his trust in Bob and me to help him.  Black Kitty had been injured. His chin was scratched badly, and he had a broken canine tooth.  He had a very bad smell to him, and he was very weak.  We were able to capture Black Kitty in a cat carrier.  We took Black Kitty to our vet, where he was administered antibiotics and tested for feline leukemia.  At home we applied good dewormer and flea removal products. We later had him neutered, vaccinated, and the broken canine tooth removed. Black Kitty became a resident of our home in late September.

I took this picture of Black Kitty on September 26.  His chin looks better than it did, when we first caught him.  Where Black Kitty’s chin is scratched, it had been turning brown.  The antibiotic is working because his chin is looking more healthy.

I took this picture of Black Kitty on September 28.  He allowed Bob to comb his hair.  Doesn’t he look handsome?  He no longer smells.  Black Kitty prefers to be indoors, not outside.

On September 30, Black Kitty met Bob’s daughter and our granddaughters.

October 2
Black Kitty likes his new bed.

October 20
What a sweet kitty!

Unfortunately, we could not keep Black Kitty.  Patches, whom we have had since February 2011, was a brat.  She would not accept Black Kitty. We were told on numerous occasions that it takes time for cats to get along with each other. Neither of us had the heart to wait “enough time” for the cats to get along.

On October 31 I posted a plea on Facebook, asking for someone to please adopt Black Kitty.  Valerie, who lives about 45 minutes from our house, answered my call.   She has a 2-year-old male cat named Brutus, and she wanted a companion for him.  She wasn’t looking for a kitten as a companion.  Black Kitty seemed a perfect choice for a companion.  We re-homed Black Kitty with Valerie on November 7.  Black Kitty likes his new home.  According to Valerie, Brutus is having a hard time with Black Kitty.  Black Kitty doesn’t let much faze him. He loves Valerie’s son and spends a lot of time on his lap or follows him around like a puppy.  I hope in time that Brutus and Black Kitty will be friends.  Thank you, Valerie, for adopting Black Kitty!