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When my husband came down in Sept 2016 to our new house we hadn't occupied yet he saw a cat on what was then our back deck. She sat there as if she had just taken possession of the house and he was an unwanted interloper. My husband, being a long-time cat dad went out and she hissed at him. Then, looked at him and hissed again. " Hello Hissy' he said. She marched disdainfully away. I didn't meet Hissy for a full month, but then, one day, when I was feeling displaced, lonely and a little lost, I went out onto the back deck, and there she sat. She hissed at me, then, as I went and got a plate of cat food, her ears perked up, and with trepidation and looking as though she weren't quite sure, she sniffed the food and began to eat. She ate with gusto, but I should point out she didn't look starved. I had the feeling and do to this day that she had another place besides ours she visited. Hissy became a regular visitor. From the start, we knew we had to TNR her because almost immediately we saw other male cats coming to visit as well, though Mr. Fluffy and the cat we believe to be Hissy's young adult daughter, Miss Adaelia Fluffykins came as well. We couldn't get near Hissy or her suitors, or the big fluffy cat that proved to be her husband. However, Ms.. Fluffykids was sweet as sugar and as nice. (She went on to be placed with a rescue and get a wonderful home.) Well, Hissy disappeared for a few weeks. When she next showed up, she was very pregnant. Our new vet felt she was too close to term to spay. (looking out through my back door he said 'any day now') We were dismayed and Hissy then disappeared again. Some month and a half later she came parading into our yard, with five little kittens following her who promptly disappeared under our deck. They looked as if we were going to eat them. Instead, she'd bought them for the dinner buffet where they (and their dad and mom) enjoyed three plates of food. She decided to stay awhile. The weather was nice and she and the kittens lived under the porch and we think in our shed. I'll never forget how one day a hawk flew over and she made a sound that meant 'take cover' and they dove under the porch as she stood guard. She taught them about snakes, too. They feared the water hose. We watched them play. When they were four months old we trapped them, and some weeks later her (she was tough to trap cat). They were neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped. Hissy was spayed on one of the stormest days-and then weeks-of the year. We set up a cage for her in my office. I didn't know how she'd react, but she took to it surprisingly well. On day three when I went to feed, nervous that she might be feeling a little feisty-she was hissing-I reached to ut her food dish in. She sniffed my hand, let me pet her, and then, surprise, surprise...she hugged me! Hissy was about as Feral as the man on the moon. She was a faker! Thereafter we began one of the greatest and most frustrating and wonderful friendships since Thelma and Louise. Did I mention Mr. Fluffy babysat the kittens til she was free again? You weren't 'my' cat, Hissy. I didn't 'own you. You owned me though, body and soul. You were my bestie. You had me at the get go. I will miss you my sweetheart. I will miss you forever. A WILD HEART BEATING FREE I love flowers, I love the rain I saw your tears and I felt your hand I loved you truly, you know I still do I lived life on my terms, I came home to you I know you saw me, in the twilight Dedicated to Hissy, Forever of the Ridgewood Clowder. Always in our hearts. Ruffy sent this for us. I wanted to tell you how much I love you and miss you my bestest friend. A MILLION POINTS OF LIGHT In the dark of early morning A year later, and I still miss you so very much. I love you, Hissy. Your sons and daughters do too, as does Mr. Fluffy. |
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