Meet Collins Catpurrnip

Sugar: I think the neighbors got a cat.

YoursTruly: The same neighbors that set your property on fire?

Sugar: Yes, I’ve seen a cat in my yard, and I saw him at the neighbors.

YoursTruly: No. Way. Those. People. Have. A. Cat. NOPE.

Sugar: Maybe he’s a stray.

YoursTruly: (rolls eyes) You’ve only had 3 in a year. He’s probably a stray.

*****

We were headed out and about, just driving about halfway along Sugar’s driveway, when he spotted the cat in the neighbor’s yard, crouched down behind an overturned rusty metal bucket. Those people are yard ornament collectors of sorts, but none of their collectibles seem to have any value. There’s a deceased boat, and sections of chain link fencing, and assorted vehicles, and yard debris, and garden statues of dubious value, and the remains of their yard-burning extravaganza. There were plenty of places for a feral cat to hide, but this one was huddled by the overturned bucket

We stopped and put out a can of food, because doesn’t everyone carry canned cat food in the car? He scooted away, feral-style.

*****

Sugar set his trap one evening and caught the little guy almost immediately. I had offered to take him, because the little guy’s presence was making Sugar’s cats go nuts.

After being tested and neutered and vaccinated and ear-tipped, we let him go in my woods by the cat dormitory. He skittered away like a water bug, zigzagging out of sight through the trees.

Sometimes I don’t see cats again after release. I can only hope that they will return for food and shelter after their initial panic. I didn’t see the little guy for almost a week. I returned home from work after dark, and I thought I saw him at the feeding station on the picnic table.

A few evenings later, I heard a high-pitched mewing close by the driveway near The Treehouse.

This was definitely he and not the Scruffy Cat that has been hanging around.

He started showing up in the daytime. Sugar would ask about him every day, and I told him he was going to have to give the cat a name. He knows that I have a few cats that hang around that don’t have names. It’s not like they are going to come when I call them. But if I was going to have to give a progress report every day on this damn cat, then I wanted him to have a name.

Sugar drew a blank in the name game. He suggested that I name him. I rose to the challenge.

Alright, he was going to be Collins after my Collins family, and… hmmmm… and…

Catpurrnip. Collins Catpurrnip.

Mr. Catpurrnip managed to climb into The Treehouse. Sue is harmless and non-confrontational. (Sue has a name because she had to go to the vet, and Cat1000 seemed like a bad idea.)

So he’s not very feral. I would call him a “soft feral”, as opposed to “hard-core”. Soft ferals can be seen in the daytime, but can’t really be handled. There are varying degrees of feral-ness.

He’s not fully integrated into the group. He hasn’t figured out where his place is. Is it okay to be in The Treehouse? Is it okay to eat at the same time from the same dish with another cat? Which cat? Is someone going to chase him away?

The answer is no, no one is chasing Mr. Catpurrnip. But he’s the one that has to get that all sorted out in his brain.

He soon learned that he can’t eat out of the same dish at the same time as Georgia because she will purr and headbutt you and make happy feet on you, which is never good for the digestion.

Welcome to the ‘hood, Mr. Catpurrnip!

The Most Scruffy Cat in the ‘Hood

There’s a new cat in the ‘hood. He is super-scruffy.

I’ve seen him off in the woods in the underbrush. He never comes nearer than 30 feet when he can see me. Sometimes when he is in the Treehouse, he is so engrossed in eating that he can’t see or hear anything else except the food. I can be that way with food, too, but this guy is starving.

A week ago, I was preparing to head out to the Heritage Days festival. I had things to move out of the car, like bags of cat food, so I was walking back and forth from the car to the shed. I had already fed the cats at all the feeding stations, and Mr. Scruffy took his opportunity to grab a quick bite, not knowing that I was going back to the car for good. He hasn’t learned that when the hatch is open, I’m coming back.

Then he spots me.

And he’s off the platform into the woods, sailing out into space like a tiny super hero.

He’s learned to sit in the woods and meow at me, as if to remind me to make sure there is extra food in the bowls, enough to include him.

One early morning as I was preparing to leave for work, I had already filled the bowls before going back inside. Mr. Scruffy Cat had still not caught on that the car hatch was open.

How adorable is this?

The Treehouse Gets A Roof

Sugar had made a treehouse for the cats. 

It was perfect for lounging and feeding. 

The Butter in the Treehouse

There was one flaw in the set-up. It was a platform only, and, while the gravity feeder fit perfectly on the platform, rain would soak the dry food in the feeder’s basin. In the coastal heat, that rain-soaked food turned foul quickly. 

So Sugar built a roof. 

Mr. Friendly takes a bath

He used the same board system as the platform. I had a piece of metal roofing that a cat lady friend gave me years ago. It proved to be the answer to protect the feeder from rain. It was about 33″ wide so it didn’t completely cover the platform. Sugar pushed it to one side against the tree trunk which left about 10″ open to the platform below. The cats thought they had a hatch to the penthouse. 

Friendly went all the way to the end and lounged there. He is basically cantilevered over open space. 

Then he went to the other side and did the same thing. 

We considered putting the roof on at a slant for rain runoff. Now we’re glad we didn’t since the cats like the sun deck effect. 

I don’t have a problem with intruders. Anyone can see the property is protected by C. A. T. Surveillance. Lots of people are afraid of cats, and seeing one 8′ in the air over your head would give one pause. 

I think a “Beware of Cat! Owner is also Sketchy” sign would add to the fun. 

Another Cat in Sugar’s Backyard

The Sunday evening before Thanksgiving, Sugar called me on the phone to say that he had cat drama. 

Can I just say here that Sugar always has animal drama? The drama is of varying levels, but it’s always drama, at least the way he views it. 

He said that a young cat had showed up in his back yard at dusk. He could hear her meowing outside, and at first he thought that one of his cats had gotten out. When he went outside, he saw her and knew she was hungry, because cats are always hungry. She gobbled a bowl of food, and when he put a second bowl in a humane trap, she went right in. 

 By the time he called me, he had a cat in a trap and no plan. He had noticed she had what he described as a bad wound on her neck. Since most of his descriptions are of a dramatic nature, I brushed his comment aside. I sent a text to a veterinarian friend who told us to bring the cat in the day before Thanksgiving for a spay surgery and vaccinations and testing for feline hiv and leukemia. 

*****

I went over the next day to see the cat, and there was an open wound as big as my palm on the back of her neck. She had been digging at it with her back feet, and it was bloody and crusty. 

She went off to the vet as scheduled. Tests were negative, and surgery and vaccinations went well. Then back to Sugar’s to recuperate. 

Fast forward 6 weeks, and the wound isn’t completely healed. It’s better, but not healed. He goes to another vet who says to put an article of clothing on the cat so that she can’t scratch her neck. Now, I know this vet and she is not a crazy person, but this sounds like a crazy plan. The wound is actually up high on the cat’s neck, like between her ears, so how can a turtleneck protect that area, and when she scratches it, won’t her nails get hung up in the fabric? Sugar decided to use a small Elizabethan collar that he cut down to about two inches in height. She can still eat and drink without a problem. 

He goes back for a recheck today, and I tag along. 

The vet and her assistant were not particularly happy that the cat wasn’t wearing an article of clothing to protect her neck, but they weren’t pissy about it. So they devised a stocking-like fabric tubing. First they applied Neo-Predef powder which helped keep the wound dry, and slid the fabric tube over her head. 

So today’s visit had a happy ending, even though the first vet tech that came in the exam room was not happy that the cat was not wearing fabric protection and said the E-collar was too tight and we should be able to get 2 fingers under, and she demonstrated with 2 fingers and Sugar demonstrated with 1 finger, and it was an entirely academic exercise since her two fingertips were equal to his one, and he used to run a shelter, and he KNOWS STUFF, and if she had known how gentle and kind he is, she would have known that he would be careful and not strangle his cat. She hadn’t even seen the cat at the exam last week. Apparently we pissed her off and she didn’t return to the room. 

And that’s how it is with animal people. 

Here are some photos of Tabitha after her vet visit today. There’s one of the wound, but it isn’t graphic, and it is so much better than it was. 

Wonder where Tabitha will live when her neck heals up?

Because Cats

Miss Ella lives in a double-wide that I pass on my way out to civilization from my ‘hood. The trailer belonged to her Uncle John, and he left it to her when he died. 

Miss Ella doesn’t have a car, and so there’s an accumulation of trash and garbage at the tree line at the edge of her lot.  I thought I saw a cat there one day. 

Then I thought I saw another cat. Then I saw a kitten. Then I saw several kittens playing in her yard, as bold as anything. 

I don’t like to think that I’ll be driving along one day and find a run-over kitten in the road. That thought makes me cringe. Maybe you cringed, too. 

This means I have to do something, so I talked to her about TNR. She was agreeable to let me trap, have them fixed, then return them, even though she’s afraid of cats, because one tried to “steal her breath” when she was 11 or 12. 

It was very hard for me not to roll my eyes right about here, because she was absolutely serious. I think my eyes widened in disbelief, but did not roll out of my head. 

First round of TNR yielded nothing. I set up a trap by the garbage. Several cats went in and out and managed to spring the trap but not get caught. I didn’t have a towel in the car. to cover the trap, so I used a broken-down box from a 24-count box of 9Lives canned cat food. 

  
  
I spotted about 8 cats and kittens in and around the woods. 

The next attempt involved setting two traps since the numbers were higher than expected and called for the big guns. I trapped 2 females, probably about 5 or 6 months old. 

I set the traps again the following week. 

I earned two kittens, one female weighing 1.8 pounds and one male weighing 2.4 pounds, probably from the same little and looking suspiciously like the black and white male I tried to trap last summer. 

  
After surgery and during recovery, I sat with the female, who might only be 7 weeks old, to see if a little handling while she was highly medicated could imprint upon her that hands were good, not bad. Sometimes the window of opportunity for taming a cat is small, and sometimes even a big window is useless. It’s 

a big mix of nature vs. nurture. 

 
 And a few days later…
 

We photobomb ourselves.

I give myself a birthday present.  

Mr. Friendly

Mr. Friendly moved in here at the a Swamped! Plantation this past summer. He’s very friendly and quite comfortable here, and doesn’t seem to miss his testicles at all. 

Sometimes when I arrive home, I sit in Ole Yeller in the driveway and check messages and what-not. 

Apparently I didn’t get out of the car fast enough. Mr. Friendly is just that. 

  
  
He is so friendly that I tried adopting him out. They returned him because they said he wasn’t being nice to the resident dog. That completely baffles me. He’s so nice. He’s so Friendly. 

Maybe they kept him inside, which is good, but he wanted to be outside spreading around his Friendly-ness. 

Who knows with a cat? He’s not talking. 

Want to Help A Kitten? Donate Here!

 

Help! I don’t want to even admit how many cats I’m taking care of right now. ‘Cause y’all might still be holding on to one last hope that I’M NOT CRAZY, and that would kill the deal.

I have hungry babies and would appreciate your donation, however large or small…

Because Cat People Can Be Crazy

Three years ago I joined a FB group on aiding feral cats in the Savannah area. One day a woman posted a plea for help, all in CAPITAL LETTERS.

It seemed there was a group of cats living in her neighborhood that had taken up residence around her house. They would hang out on the front yard, the back yard, the sidewalk, under the vehicles, on the front porch, you name it, they were bold.

She pleaded for someone to help her. No one spoke up to help her. So Sugar and I did. She and I started a FB conversation on November 13, 2011.

We drove to her, about an hour’s drive each way, several times. We trapped the cats, and some I released here in my woods at the feeding station. One was young enough, and I found a home for it. We took care of all the expenses.

Then again last year, she asked for help. More cats were in her hood. I was only working part-time, but I scraped the money together to buy another trap and take to her.  I told her to call me when she trapped the cats. She didn’t seem to be capable of transporting the cats, or even arranging appointments for them to be fixed. She claimed that she was on hard times, but really, she was preaching to the choir. I was on such hard times that I developed a nutritional disease from such a poor diet. (Problem corrected now. I’m okay.)

I didn’t hear from her. I sent a message to her at one point asking for the trap back, because the mother cat and her five kittens had shown up here. I didn’t hear back from her.

Suddenly a few months ago, she’s begging me for help. At this point I’m pretty annoyed that she’s asking for help, but she’s taking trips and going out to eat with her husband. Apparently there’s money enough, just not for rescue efforts. So I told her to set the trap. And I pointed a few barbs at her for not returning the trap or letting me know that she wasn’t using it.

It got a little testy, this exchange of words. Sometimes her words would be ALL CAPS AND YELLING, and other times she was super-sweet and gracious. It occurred to me that someone who is so overly overwrought about an issue that she could help resolve, but does not, might just have a little mental issue going on.

Sugar kept saying, why can’t she do something? Why can’t she transport? Why can’t she contribute?

See what you think…

---

 

• Conversation started November 13, 2011

11/13, 9:29am

Ruth Rawls

Hi Cheryl, My cell phone number is (number removed) so that you know who’s calling you. Today is Sunday and I’ll call you in a bit for directions. Ruth

• November 17, 2011

11/17, 8:34pm

Ruth Rawls

Cheryl, here’s a link to a video that I made that I put on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhWlHAi_MQk

• May 30, 2012

5/30, 11:28pm

Ruth Rawls

How’s your new job?!

5/30, 11:29pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

Its great. I love it there. how have u been?

5/30, 11:30pm

Ruth Rawls

Good, but really busy. If I remember correctly, are you working for a car lot in Savannah?

5/30, 11:30pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

work at jc lewis ford in savannah.

5/30, 11:32pm

Ruth Rawls

That’s what I thought. My son needs a used car. But really cheap. He bought a used car from a private individual in January, and it died a sad death last month. It could have been fixed but it would involve a new motor…

5/30, 11:34pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

thats too bad. send him to jc and ask for me if he wants and i will get him a decent salesman to help him find something he can afford.

5/30, 11:34pm

Ruth Rawls

OK, I will! Thank you!

When are you there?

5/30, 11:35pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

ur welcome. take care and take care of our 4 legged family members!

• September 11, 2012

9/11, 9:19am

Ruth Rawls

Hi Cheryl, I’m looking for employment and would appreciate any leads you have for me.  Hope you and your family are well. Ruth

• September 11, 2012

9/11, 12:52pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

Ruth, I am sorry to hear that. I know times are bad right now for everyone. I don’t know of anything right now but I will be sure to keep you in mind for sure. I will ask around also for you. Anything I can do for you I will. I really wish I had some leads for you. What type of work are you lookiing for? Have you tried the vet hospitals around the area. I don’t know how far you are willing to travel. I will help all I can. You have been a great friend to me I would like to return the favor if I can. Cheryl

9/11/12, 2:22pm

Ruth Rawls

Cheryl, such nice words for me to read. Thank you so much! I have my degree in business administration, and have worked in a variety of positions, generally falling back on customer service type work. I’ve done office work, like admin asst., and I was a kennel manager for a luxury boarding kennel, and a store manager for a wallpaper store, and a restaurant manager. There are still a few vet hospitals left to contact, and I truly don’t expect any results there. Just knowing that you are keeping me in mind is favor enough. Thanks again! Ruth

• July 23, 2013

7/23/13, 8:12am

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

HI RUTH, IT’S ME, CHERYL. HOW ARE YOU? I AM MESSAGING YOU B/C I AM IN KITTY TROUBLE AGAIN. I REMEMBER YOU TELLING ME IF I HAD ANYMORE KITTIES YOU WOULD HELP. WELL, I HAVE 2 KITTIES THAT I JUST STARTED FEEDING B/C THE KIDS ACROSS THE STREET WERE FEEDING AND THE PARENTS FOUND OUT AND THEY ARE THRETENING TO POISON THEM. AND I DON’T HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW THE NEIGHBORS FEEL. I ONLY HAD BEEN GIVING THEM WATER UNTIL THIS WEEK. THEY COME TO MY HOUSE I THINK B/C THEY SEE MY KITTY IN THE WINDOW NEXT TO THE DOOR. AND YOU KNOW HOW I AM WITH CATS STARVING. IT COMES AT A BAD TIME FOR ME B/C MY HUSBAND IS SICK AGAIN AND IS HAVING 2 SURGURIES WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND WE MAY HAVE TO STAY WITH MY DAUGHTER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS OUT OF STATE. I AM STRESSING BAD B/C I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY AGAIN TO CARE FOR THEM OR MAY NOT BE HERE ANYWAY. I DO HAVE SOME MONEY THAT MY DAUGHTER GAVE ME THAT I CAN GIVE YOU FOR SPAYING AND NEUTERING AND SHOTS THAT CAN HELP. PLEASE, PLEASE CAN YOU TAKE THEM TO YOUR SANCTUARY IN SC?? I AM AT THE END OF MY ROPE AND I CAN NOT KEEP THEM HERE. IT HAS BEEN 2 YRS SINCE MY LAST CAPTURE OF MY KITTIES. I WONDER HOW THEY ARE? PLEASE LET ME KNOW IT YOU CAN HELP ME TRAP THEM AND TAKE THEM AWAY TO A BETTER PLACE, PLEASE….. THANK YOU, RUTH. CHERYL

7/23, 8:37am

Ruth Rawls

Hi Cheryl, Can you handle the kittens? Do they need to be trapped? I can get a voucher for their spay/neuter & vaccinations, I think, unless the shelter has run out of vouchers for the month. If there are no vouchers at the shelter, I know some other people I can call for help. Stop worrying about them. If those people poison them (and they probably won’t – it’s just a threat), we will prosecute them. Let them know, if you can, that the kittens will be removed from the area. I’ll help you. I have this morning and tomorrow morning off, and also all day Thursday. Thank you for your worry but don’t let it make yourself sick.

7/23, 8:45am

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

RUTH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF YOU CAN SUPPLY THE TRAPS THAT WOULD BE GREAT. TOMORROW B/C I HAVE TO TAKE JIM IN FOR PREOP IN SAVANNAH AROUND 10:30 AM AND SHOULD BE BACK AROUND AFTER NOON BUT I CAN CALL YOU WHEN I GET BACK. THURSDAY AND FRIDAY I WON’T BE AROUND EITHER BUT I WILL BE AROUND SAT. JIM HAS TO SEE 2 OTHER DOCTORS THOSE DAYS ALSO AND I DON’T KNOW THE TIME LINE ON THOSE DAYS. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS WILL HELP SINCE I MAY NOT BE AROUND TO EVEN TAKE CARE OF THEM. LET ME KNOW IF 40.00 OR 50.00 WILL HELP FOR THEIR CARE. I WILL LET THE NEIGHBORS KNOW WHAT I AM DOING SO THEY DONT HARM THEM. MY NUMBER HAS CHANGED SINCE LAST WE SPOKE. IT IS (number removed) IF YOU NEED TO CALL ME. IS YOUR NUMBER THE SAME? LET ME KNOW. IT LOOKS LIKE TOMORROW IS THE ONLY GOOD DAY FOR BOTH OF US AND SAT. THAKS AGAIN, RUTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHERYL

7/23, 8:48am

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

OH, I CANT HANDLE THE CATS, I WILL NEED TRAPS, PLEASE. THANKS.

7/23, 8:54am

Ruth Rawls

My phone number is the same. I’ll update your number in my cell phone. The vouchers cover the surgery, leukemia testing, rabies and FVRCP vaccinations. You can have them microchipped for an additional $8, which I have been doing, in case the kittens can be tamed and rehomed. So it you have 2 kittens & can donate $16 for the cost of the microchipping, that would be great. I have been getting food donations from Maranatha Farm who has access to a pet food bank, so I don’t need food. The lady at Maranatha said to call her anytime I need food. Saturday might not work for me b/c I work from 8-1. I’d only be available in the afternoon.

7/23, 8:56am

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

I AM AVAILABLE ALL DAY SAT JUST LET ME KNOW. ONE OF THE CATS IS A KITTEN I THINK HE OR SHE IS SMALL, TINY. THE OTHER IS AN ADULT CAT BUT THEY HANGE TOGETHER. IS THAT OK? LET ME KNOW IF TOMORROW IS GOOD FOR YOU IN THE AFTERNOON ALSO. THANKS, CHERYL

7/23, 9:14am

Ruth Rawls

Tomorrow (Wed 7/24) I work 2-9 PM. Thursday I am off. Friday I work 10-4 and Sat 8AM to 1PM. I’ll have to get some traps. I’ve loaned all mine out.

7/23, 9:29am

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

MAYBE SAT. IS THE ONLY GOOD DAY. I MAY NOT BE HOME UNTIL NOON TOMORROW,WED. I CAN CALL YOU WHEN I GET HOME BUT YOU HAVE TO BE AT WORK BY 2 SO IF SAT. IS BETTER AFTER 1PM THEN ITS OK I GUESS. MAYBE BY THEN YOU CAN GET THE TRAPS.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WE WILL BE IN AND OUT OF DR’S OFFICE AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TIME I WILL BE HOME. ITS HARD TO SAY.

YOU CAN LEAVE THE TRAPS ON THE FRONT PORCH CHAIRS TOMORROW IF YOU GET THEM. IF NOT SAT. WILL BE OK.

OR YOU CAN LEAVE THE TRAPS ANY DAY YOU ARE OFF ON THE FRONT PORCH CHAIRS IF WE ARE NOT AT HOME. THANKS.

7/23, 9:32am

Ruth Rawls

I’ll make a plan & then I’ll let you know. What’s going on with Jim?

7/23, 9:35am

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

THANKS RUTH. JIM IS HAVING KIDNEY PROBLEMS FROM THE SURGERY HE HAD 2 YRS AGO AND ALSO THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON THAT THE DR. WANTS TO CHECK OUT. WE DONT KNOW YET. HOPING IT IS NOT SERIOUS BUT I AM STRESESING ABOUT IT AND SO IS HE. THANKS FOR ASKING.I WILL WAIT FOR YOUR CALL. THANKS.

7/23, 9:36am

Ruth Rawls

Can you take your cats and dog if you go to your daughter’s?

I just left a message for the lady who borrowed my traps. She is a school teacher and probably won’t get the message until tonight.

7/23, 9:46am

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

YES, I CAN TAKE MY CAT AND DOG WITH ME. IT WILL BE TOUGH FOR A LITTLE WHILE SINCE SHE HAS 2 DOGS AND A CAT OF HER OWN BUT WE WILL WORK IT OUT IF WE HAVE TO GO. WE WONT HAVE A CHOICE. IT MAY ONLY BE FOR 2 OR 3 MONTHS. DONT KNOW YET. ITS TOO SOON TO SPECULATE.

OK ABOUT THE TRAPS. JUST GIVE ME A CALL OR MESSAGE ME. THANKS.

• July 26, 2013

7/26, 10:49pm

Ruth Rawls

I have a new trap. I can bring to you on Monday afternoon after I get off work at 3:30PM. Going to bed now. Chat more later.

7/26, 10:52pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

ok, see u then,,,thx.

• July 29, 2013

7/29, 8:19pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

Hi Ruth, I hope I didn’t get my days mixed up. I thought you were coming today after work. It’s ok. Just want to make sure you are ok. Let me know when you can come. If I’m not here my husband will be. Text me or message me here on fb. Thanks. I hope everything is ok. Cheryl

7/29, 8:57pm

Ruth Rawls

Hi Cheryl, FB is not showing your entire message. I sent you a text message this afternoon to say that I have to postpone for one week. Perhaps you did not get it. I’m sorry for the delay.

This area is having terrible phone problems, both land and cell.

Perhaps because of all the storms. Leslie’s house phone has not worked in two (three?) days. There was a lightning strike right by his house on Saturday during a horrific storm.

It’s thundering now.

7/29, 9:03pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

Sorry I never received that message, Ruth. Anyway, it’s ok. Next week is ok, just let me know. I tried earlier to send you a text message by cell and it wouldn’t go thru. about an hr ago. I will let u go now. thanks. we are getting some lightning and thunder right now too. bye.

Next week Jim is going in for surgery on Tuesday Aug. 6th and will be out on Wed. Aug 7th. I won’t be around Monday but Jim will be home. Let me know, I’m sure we can work something out. bye.

7/29, 9:09pm

Ruth Rawls

I checked to see that the text actually went through, and it appears that it did. Perhaps you will get it yet! I think that next Tuesday morning will be better for me. My schedule has changed slightly for next week so Tuesday morning looks the best for me to drop off the trap. If you decide to get a trap for yourself, you can find one at Home Depot, or sometimes the local shelter will loan one with a deposit.

7/29, 9:10pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

We will be home afternoon sometime on Wed. after I pick Jim up from hospital if that is better than Monday. Or you could just leave it on the front porch.

7/29, 9:18pm

Ruth Rawls

Unfortunately Monday won’t work for me. I’ll leave it on the porch regardless, and I’ll send you a text to let you know it’s there. Raining now. I’m starting to mildew.

7/29, 10:22pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

Hi, I shut down my computer and cells, the storm was bad…Just stopped a few minutes ago. My dog was freaking but finally got her calmed down now. Yes it would be fine to just leave it on the porch. One of us will be there. Thank you so much.

7/29, 10:24pm

Ruth Rawls

Still storming here. I’m working on a logo for a business card to attach to the trap to identify it with contact information. Hope your medical concerns are resolved soon. Take care!

7/29, 10:25pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

Ok. Thanks and you take care in this storm too.

• September 16, 2013

9/16, 5:09pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

HI RUTH, HOW ARE YOU? SORRY IT IS TAKING ME SO LONG TO TRAP THE CATS. WE WERE AWAY FOR OVER A WEEK ALSO. I ALSO TRAPPED MY NEIGHBOR’S CAT TWICE. THEY MOVED IN ACROSS THE ST. FROM ME A FEW MONTHSF AGO AND ARE LETTING THEIR CAT OUTSIDE NOW AND IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE 2 I AM TRYING TO TRAP. I THINK I CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM NOW. WHAT IS YOUR SCHEDULE THIS WEEK IF I SHOULD TRAP ONE OF THEM THIS WEEK? THE ONE THAT I WANT TO TRAP, HE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR AWHILE. HE CAME TO MY DOOR THE VERY NIGHT YOU PICKED UP MY MOMMY KITTY THAT I TRAPPED 2 YRS AGO AT THANKS GIVING TIME. I SAW HIM A FEW TIMES AFTER THAT THEN NOTHING FOR QUITE SOMETIME. HERE AND THERE BUT NEVER AT MY HOUSE. I REMEMBER HIM B/C HE HAS AN INJURY OR SOMETHING AT THE CORNER OF HIS EYE. I HOPE HE IS NOT BLINDED IN THAT EYE. ANYWAY THE OTHER ONE IS YOUNGER AND LOOKS LIKE HIM IN COLOR BUT HAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SKY BLUE EYES. WELL LET ME KNOW. OK? YOU CAN TEXT ME IF YOU WANT ALSO. THANKS.

9/16, 5:13pm

Ruth Rawls

I am available all mornings. I have to be at work – finally a job! – either at 10AM or noon. I just left 4 male cattens at Hardeeville Vet Clinic today for surgery. They are from the orignal bottlefed litter that I got back in April. Long story. The Hardeeville Vet Clinic will do a male surgery for me cheaper than the Spay/Neuter clinic so YAY! Let me know when to pick up. I’ll turn up the ringer on my cell phone.

9/16, 5:15pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

SO U ARE AVAILABLE ALL MORNING? ALL THIS WEEK?

IM GLAD YOU HAVE A JOB NOW. WHEN DO YOU GO INOT WORK?

INTO I MEAN.

9/16, 5:16pm

Ruth Rawls

Mornings I’m available. I might have to come super early like 8. I have to be at work at 10 or noon.

9/16, 5:17pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

17. OK. I WILL LET YOU KNOW. ALSO DOES IT COST 17.00 PER CAT TO SPAY/NEUTER AND SHOTS?

• Tuesday

10/28/14, 12:59pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

Hi Ruth! How have you been? Havent talked to you in awhile. Well I have managed to do it again. I have a Mommy, Daddy and 6 month old I think son. I wanted to get them spayed and neutered and keep them here. The 6 mo. old one she had while we were away in the spring. didn’t know she was pregnant. Didn’t see her for awhile but then she showed up several months ago and looked like pregnant again. She had 3 this time. She brought them to our house 2 wks ago to eat. I am guessing they are at least 8 wks old. She actually nurses them right on our front porch. I have tried to catch her in the past and kept catching the neighbors cat across the st. My husband is on me to get this taken care of before they have more babies or someone says something since they are in the front of my house. I am still having trouble and cant function making these decisions. I am at whits end. I am sick about this. The kittens are a little squeamish near me. I am so upset. I need help desperately. No help from anyone else. They only want to put them down. I have one trap that you lent to me last yr. I have no place to keep them once I trap them if I do. I am also having trouble doing this whole thing by myself. Please help. cant sleep cant eat. Just worry.

10/28, 1:11pm

Ruth Rawls

Can you handle any of them?

10/28, 1:20pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

No they run to their mom. They are little still and the cutest looking kittens.

10/28, 1:20pm

Ruth Rawls

Set the trap, and when you catch someone, call me.

10/28, 1:21pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

1. I will let you know. thanks.

is your # still (number removed)?

10/28, 1:26pm

Ruth Rawls

I have one here that I can’t catch, either. I keep catching my own cats. I understand that you feel responsible, and that your husband is not supporting you, but just keep calm and stop worrying and do the best you can. No one needs to give you any criticism if they are not helping. This is not your problem but you have chosen to take action and you are to be commended. I really have needed my trap back, and have asked you for it in the past but have not gotten a response, but I’m not being critical – I know that you are doing the best you can. Yes, that’s the right number.

10/28, 1:26pm

Ruth Rawls

If they don’t go in the trap, there are really very few options.

10/28, 1:32pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

Im am sorry but I didn’t get any messages from you about the trap. none on my cell and none here on fb. I haven’t talked to you in person so when did you ask for it back. Sorry. I thought you would call me when you needed it back but I didn’t hear from you and I just kept forgetting. its in my garage. out of sight out of mind. maybe you have an old cell number. again sorry.

10/28, 1:39pm

Ruth Rawls

I mentioned it once in a conversation. It looked like you weren’t using it even though you sounded desperate to get it in the first place. I’m not mad, I’m just not understanding why you needed it so badly but after I drove it over to your house, I never heard from you saying that you had trapped a cat. I thought that I was the only one helping you, and I didn’t know what was going on. I actually went to Home Depot and bought that trap just to bring to you. I had loaned out my other traps and have not gotten them back. I have the same cell, and likewise have not heard from you that you didn’t need the trap. Do you want to use the trap with this latest batch? Just tell me what you want to do.

10/28, 1:49pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

I tried to catch that cat when you offered the trap to me. I told you that I kept trapping the neighbors cat. You weren’t sure of your schedule at the time and we couldn’t settle on a time and you said you didn’t have any place to keep the cats either for me. I told you I was leaving to go away a yr ago this month. family emergency in NJ. I had someone coming to feed my cat inside and she also put food outside. I was gone for some time. When I got back the neighbor had moved and took her cat with her. Problem solved. I only had the one daddy cat then. Since this past spring I have the mommy cat and one 6 mo. old kitty of hers she had when we were away in June. Have been trying to catch them since July but no luck. Only catching the other neighbors black cat they keep outside now. Now mommy cat has had another litter. I need to catch them all and neuter and spay. Would like to get homes for the kittens if possible. I apologize about the trap but I don’t remember you asking for the trap back. I don’t remember the conversation after at all. we didn’t speak again until now. again I am sorry for the miscommunication.

10/28, 2:10pm

Ruth Rawls

I’m looking back through the messages and I see where I gave you my schedule, and told you that I was only available during morning times b/c I have to go to work at 10AM or noon. This is still true. I get my schedule on the Friday or Saturday before it starts the following Monday. I do not see where I told you that I didn’t have a place to keep the cats. I also do not see where you told me that you were leaving to go away a year ago this month on a family emergency. But that doesn’t matter. I have been the only person who has aided you. I didn’t create the situation, but I’ve tried to help you resolve it. I have never turned you down. The issue now is to set the trap EVERY DAY. Once you have trapped the one you want, call me, and I’ll figure something out.

10/28, 2:18pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

ok sounds good to me. I know you have helped me in the past and it is appreciated. I did tell you I was leaving to go away and that is when I didn’t hear from you again. I thought you just got angry at that time when you didn’t respond but I had to leave. I have not talked to you since that last message. I did try to trap that cat but no luck before I had left. .It doesn’t matter now only matters that I take care of this issue now. we could go round and round. again I appreciate your help and again I am sorry. I will let you know when I trap if I can trap. thanks again Ruth.

10/28, 2:20pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

I think I know what the problem was about all of this. You guys were having a bad storm at the time we were communicating back and forth and we both had trouble with the cell phones and messages if you go back and read some of the fb messages. maybe that’s what happened.

you will also see where I told you about me being away in the fb messages.

10/28, 4:30pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

You know what? I have thought about this and you can come and get your trap any time after tomorrow. I will figure something out. I may let the problem grow until the health dept. steps in and puts them all down. I don’t have any other options. Thanks anyway.

• Tuesday

10/28, 11:10pm

Cheryl Wescoat Melendez Rundio

Btw after tomorrow means Thursday. Want to make that clear. Wouldnt want you to make a trip here tomorrow for nothing.

• Today

7:42pm

Ruth Rawls

I will not be able to pick up the trap. If you would like to return it to me, you may, or you can keep it to use or to donate.

Seen 7:44pm

---

I donated the trap to her because she posted a FB status that I was stupid and that I had lied. Why would you call someone stupid in a public forum when the “stupid” person has access to it? Yes, after I sent a message that I would not be going to her house again to pick up the trap, I unfriended her. Life is too short. Game over.

I might be a slow learner, but I’m not stupid.  And the part about asking me if my number is still the same? My number is on a laminated tag attached to the trap.

 

 

 

Anybody Missing a Cat?

So a cat comes walking out of the woods.

This particular cat is INSIDE the fence, back behind the RV, in the woods.  This fact is important to know.

The way the cat was moving looked a little off, like she was skulking along behind the cat treehouse.  It looked like the black and white tuxedo Joey.

Except that Joey was on the feeding table, chowing down.

I looked right to the new cat.  Then left to Joey, then right again.  The new cat came walking along the path, mewling a greeting.

It was definitely a new cat, who looked alarmingly like Joey.

She went to the feeding table, looking Mr. Packett in the face along the way.

I scruffed her, checked her behind, and popped her into a crate.

*****

If you come in my yard, you’re gonna be fixed.

*****

Anybody need a nice cat?  Good with people, dogs, and cats.

 

With a cute little milk mustache.

 

Darlin’ Baby Goes Home

It’s time.

The Darlin’ has graduated to the point of weighing enough to be neutered, vaccinated, and re-homed.

He’s been playing with one of the Mother Cat’s babies, who is probably about the same age. His friend is Little Orange with the bad left eye. I’m treating him with medicated ointment applied directly to the eye, per the vet’s recommendations. It’s really not improving as hoped, probably because I just can’t apply the meds twice a day, what with my work schedule.

A plot was hatched.  We took Darlin’ Baby to his new home, and just happened to have Little Orange in a separate crate.

Introductions were made, and then I asked if they would consider taking Little Orange on, just so they could medicate him twice a day & so that Darlin’ Baby could have a playmate.  And if it didn’t work out, I would be happy to take him home, and if there were any doubts RIGHT NOW, Sugar and I would take him home with us.

See if you think this will work out…

 

I love happy endings.