Stray Cat Goings-On in the Jail---Distraction post!
This is a distraction piece. Don't read if you're consumed by the election!
So today was my regular day at the shelter, where I volunteer in what we laughingly refer to as the Stray Cat Jail (or sometimes Hotel, depending on who you ask). It was only moderately eventful, as nobody got loose or did anything requiring band-aids or paperwork, unlike last week, when one of our residents bit one of our workers (not me, thank heavens!).
I got there and elected to start in the back, where we sometimes keep our more difficult cases, not knowing whether I'd be by myself all or most of the day. At least those problem children can (mostly) be shut up in their feral dens so they won't maul you while you're cleaning. Just like in nursing, you have to chart if someone hasn't peed or pooped or isn't eating, etc., so that takes some time. And of course these guys can't tell you if they don't feel good, so you have to guess a lot. So there's Rowdy, who hasn't been lately and wasn't today. Then Sassy McFrassy, who I was told to keep hands off. Maple, who pretty much doesn't like anyone and is destined for the Barn Cat program, was easy since she was shut up in her den. Then came Lilith, so named because she growls constantly like a demon from the gates of Hell, who was also shut up---a pity, really, as she is a gorgeous tortie, but oh, her disposition! Her downstairs neighbor, however, makes up for it---shy little Persis, who we are working on, a tortie kitten with potential to become a pet, but who hasn't quite decided yet if she wants to. Today she actually let me pet her! And on and on it went. There's Siren, a kitten so named because for the first few days all she did was scream, but who is now a siren of a different kind, delightful and sweet, but with unfortunate digestive problems. Avery, a new boy, 8 years old, who hadn't eaten at all until I gave him some wet food which he devoured; he's feeling pretty strange yet, but he's very affectionate and wants so badly to be petted and loved. Angus, another older boy, a big orange longhair of a rather retiring disposition, who came out of his corner when food was offered, sniffed and turned up his nose at the dry food, but scarfed up the wet food when it was offered; he hasn't quite decided whether he is going to be friendly but he was quite agreeable towards me. His brother, OTOH, is decidedly NOT friendly and prefers his feral den. There are several newbies, yet unnamed and in dens, some of which are half-grown kittens. Those are the ones I feel bad for as they are destined for the Barn Cat program before they're even grown. And then there are the two tricksters at the end of the row---Rory, a gorgeous big red and white boy who I named but won't clean any more because he bit one of the other workers (he's very bad about resource guarding) and Juneau. Juneau is a tuxie and the joke is that we don't know whether they are male or female because they have never let anyone see. This cat was so fractious on intake that they literally could not look and and so we refer to it using they/them pronouns. They're a little goofy and play all kinds of games with us about not wanting to go in their den before we clean, will literally shut the window to it after we open it so they can go in, etc. I finally got it open and got them in so I could take the den out and clean the kennel which was a MESS as usual (Juneau is the kind of cat we jokingly call a "frat boy" because they make such an unholy mess overnight) and when I put them back and opened the den I swear that cat was laughing at me! After I was done cleaning I went back determined to make friends with Persis, using a Churru treat, but she wasn't having any. I put some on my finger and tried to get her to take it, a tactic I've used before with shy cats, but nope, not interested. I left a little bit in her bowl in case. Then I tried Angus, but he didn't want any either. So I gave up and went to Avery's kennel, pretty sure he would like it; oh yeah, he said, gimme that good stuff, and wrapped his paws around my arm while he licked it until it was gone. Now THAT is the way to finish off your day! When he was done, he rolled over and came to me and nuzzled my face. I think he is going to be a pretty adoptable boy.
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