(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



A Day in the Life at Casa Los Gatos... [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags']

Date: 2022-08-20

Some of you may be aware that I am a lover of Mustelids, aka domestic ferrets. I've had ferrets from 1999 to 2020. After my last two ferrets passed, in Oct 2020, I was sure I was done with the heartache of being owned by ferrets. However Covid hit and I was isolating with my grief. My Aunt in OK insisted I need a pet for my sanity. At least a cat. This coming from my Aunt, the crazy catlady. My mother on the other hand said I do not deserve a pet because I cannot even afford to care for myself. Nevertheless, for Xmas of 2020, my Aunt sent me $300 to adopt a cat and get the necessary supplies. It was the best Xmas gift ever.

During the pandemic, I found a place called Catopia here in ABQ. For $7 you could spend an hour in a room full of Cats and kittens. It was definitely an experience I needed during the Pandemic! All of the cats were available for adoption. I went there for my appt believing that you don't pick the pet you're adopting, they pick you. So I sat down at a table and waited. In about 5 minutes a very handsome Russian Blue mix came and hopped on my lap. It was love at first site. One of my first cats as a child was a Russian Blue I had named Blue Boy. So naturally, I was seeing signs in everything.

However, as I was being informed that this was Mason's first day at Catopia, he was not alone. His brother was hiding under the blanket on the couch. They also told me it was a twofer day. If I wanted, I could adopt both of them for the same price as one. And while I could not observe Madison, there was no way I would separate the two. So I left with two kittens, 9 months of age, thinking "How hard could it be? At one time I had 13 rescued ferrets, the ultimate in mischievous behavior!"

We will not go into the short sightedness of my rationale. These two boys have kept me hopping. Mason is my lap dog. He has to be with me always. Madison however, shows signs of having been abused. He would let me pet him but he flinched nearly every time. It has taking a very long time to gain his trust. I truly believed that went down the toilet this past Monday.

I live in a small triplex where I have have a 8' x 50' backyard with 6 to 8 foot walls. My boys love hanging out in the backyard and have yet to show an inclination to leave. Madison especially likes to go outside and sleep under a tarp all day long.

On Monday, when Madison decided he was ready to come inside for the day, I noticed that his tail, hind legs and backside where covered in pebbles. As if he sat in water and then the dirt. I was stumped as to what could have happened because there is so little in my backyard. So I let Madison inside and started freaking because as he sat, he began leaving bright reddish pink spots on my rugs.

I was definitely saying what the fuck MadMan? Are you bleeding? I ran outside looking for what could have possibly hurt him. I mean he was just so calm about everything. That's when I noticed that one of the paint cans I was using to hold down his tarp had popped its lid in the heat. Madison apparently tipped the paint can over and sat in it.

Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck! I ran inside while Madison made a point of sitting on every available rug I owned. My only concern was "Don't lick yourself Madison!!!" I had to throw some crunchies in their bowls because Madison would not let me touch him. Once they were eating I scruffed Madison (AKA Madman!) And turned on the kitchen faucet. Anyone who is a cat owner know the risks of doing that while holding an a 10 lb cat.

Yes, you are very correct in assuming this venture involved a great deal of pain. Madison sunk his claws it to my right armed and by the time I had surgically removed my arm from his clutches, I realized the kitchen sink was NOT an option. I ran with him still scruffed to the bathroom where I had a hand held shower.

I closed the bathroom door behind me so he could not escape. In hindsight, it probably saved me from having my body discovered at a much later date. While hosing off Madison, Mason planted his self at the bathroom door and started howling in duet with Madison's howls and I can only imagine what the neighbors were thinking. I swear Mason was screaming "Let Madison go before I kill you!"

After finally getting Madison cleaned upped and dried off, I went back to the kitchen to shut off the water I had left running. Only to discover that Madison had kicked the faucet back to the wall and I now had every utensil draw full of water while the rest of the water ran off the counter, onto the floor and out the back door.

Two years with cats has given more grey hair than 20 years with ferrets!

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/8/20/2117836/-A-Day-in-the-Life-at-Casa-Los-Gatos

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/