|eleven|

Kip and I are ADOPTED! I know this because a nice man came in, petted us for a long time, and then said, “How would you boys like to be adopted?”

It all started as a typical Saturday. We made a mess of our food and water bowls, played for a bit, and then fell asleep in the window. A group of school children came in midday and hung out with us. Most of them were nice, but one pulled Kip’s tail! When we tired of them, we retreated on to the highest window ledge and gazed down at them. I tried to give the mean boy a hard stare while flicking my tail just to show him how upset I was about the tail pulling.

When they left, I snoozed for awhile and Kip gave himself a bath.

In the later afternoon, a gentleman entered the room. He grabbed on of my favorite toys. I just cannot resist that catnip mouse on a string. I know it’s not real, but it looks so real and tastes so good! Kip and I had great fun chasing it around the room.

After playing for a short while, the man sat down. Kip and I turned on our feline charm. We hung around him and he scratched behind our ears. He left to talk to one of the staff members and then came back into our room. He told us about his house: he has one dog and one human; someone he calls “Wife.” Finally, he told us that we were being adopted. I wasn’t sure what this meant, but I knew it was a good thing.

Tonight we are in his house. This time, I’m not in a bathroom. Kip and I are in a giant room with a big fluffy bed. We ate dinner shortly after arriving, and now we are running around the room. It’s huge! Wife is nice. I like her already. She said we would meet the dog next week, after we’ve “settled in.” I’m nervous about that, but I’ve met more nice dogs than mean, so I’m sure Kip and I can put this one in his place.

I’m excited for my new life here. Being adopted feels great. I wonder if they have a faucet somewhere...

|ten|

I can breathe now. I’m starting to feel better. I’ve been moved yet again. Once more I’ve found myself in a small room, but this time I have a playmate and regular visitors.

My playmate’s name is Kip. I was wary of him at first, but he enthusiastically introduced himself and we’ve become fast friends. Kip also has Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Like me, he lived out on the streets. Unlike me, he was never scooped up by a nice lady with a dripping faucet. Instead, he found himself stuck in a trap. After getting caught, he was brought directly here.

Kip and I are having great fun. Every morning, we tip over our dishes. When the staff come in, they say, “Oh, boys, what have you done?!” Then they pet us and give us breakfast and fresh water. It’s my new favorite game.

I feel happy again for the first time in ages. There are giant windows in this room. In the morning, if I sit in the corner of the windowsill, I can easily soak up an hour of sun. It feels wonderful, and I can’t help but purrrrrrrr.

In the afternoon we have visitors. It’s hit or miss. Sometimes we have wonderful old ladies who coo to us with their deep, aged voices. Their laps are small and boney, but their touch is magical. Other times we have obnoxious children who pull our ears. Kip and I both retreat to the high window sills when they visit!

Everyone seems to like us. They tell us, “You’ll be adopted soon.” I’m not sure what that means, but it sounds lovely.

|nine|

I feel terrible. My body has been drained of every ounce of energy. I cannot breathe well, and my nose is clogged with mucus. I’ve been moved into a new room, but the kennel is the same size as the other one. This room is full of cats like myself: sneezing, hacking, tired.

They still clean up my habitat once per day, giving me food, fresh water, and a clean litter pan. They also force this disgusting liquid down my throat twice per day. It tastes like dirt and gives me a stomach ache. I hate it.

Most of the time, I sleep. I’ve been having strange dreams. Sometimes I’m back in the little bathroom, playing with the water faucet and trying to look out the window. Then I’m outside in the cold, looking for a trash can to find something to eat. Then I’m a kitten playing near a tree, but the tree is indoors. There are shiny toys dangling from the tree. I drift between these dreams, and reality. The reality is: I’m sick, I’m bored, and I’m trapped.

I’m beginning to feel hopeless.

|eight|

I went to the clinic this morning.

When I woke up from surgery, I felt horrible. I have never felt so sick in my life. The world was spinning. All I could do to keep from throwing up was to close my eyes and go back to sleep.

I think I slept all day. I finally feel a bit better this evening, but I don’t have much of an appetite. I had just a few bites of food and some water. I don’t even mind being in this small kennel because I don’t feel like doing much. I hope this feeling doesn’t last.

They tell me I’ve been neutered!

|seven|

It’s been a few days since I moved in to my new abode. I’m trapped in this tiny box, but they treat me well. Mostly, I’m lonely. When they fed me this morning, I was so starved for affection that before I even realized what I was doing, I began rubbing my face all over the woman’s hand. Fortunately she accepted my greeting and cooed quietly to me, smiling and scratching behind my ears.

Being here has been stressful. I don’t know if my muscles are aching because I haven’t  been able to walk around or if they ache because I’ve been so tense. I’ve had diarrhea for the past few days even though I haven’t eaten much. The worst part is that my litter box is inches away from my bed and my food. I try to cover up my feces, but I can still smell it.

I was poked and prodded again this afternoon. They took a blood sample and told me I have something called Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Apparently that means my immune system is compromised, so I can get sick more easily than other cats.

I am starting to feel a bit more at ease this evening. I know that every morning, my litter box will be changed and I’ll get fresh water, food, and blankets. I know that every evening my kennel will be tidied. I know that everyone who stops to say hello seems friendly. Still, I need to stay on alert. A smart cat never shuts both eyes, if you know what I mean.

This evening, after I ate dinner, they removed the leftovers from my kennel. I’m slightly uneasy about that. What does it mean?

|six|

I’m in a new place. I’m terrified.


This morning, she ushered me into a box. At first I was hesitant to go, but I was so desperate for a change of pace that I submitted.


I rode in the car. It was terrible. I don’t know how anyone rides in one every day. I threw up all over myself. I couldn’t even lick myself clean without feeling nauseous.


We arrived at our destination and entered a noisy, busy building. Peering through the holes in the box, I could see several dogs and a crowd of people. It smelled like there were more dogs and cats than the ones I saw.


I was frozen with fear. I literally couldn’t move. I sat and waited while she talked to a woman behind a counter.


Then she opened the door to the box. She patted my head and wished me well before disappearing out of sight.


They took me into a back room with a cold, metal table. I was poked and prodded and examined. They took a damp wash cloth and cleaned the vomit off my fur.


“Don’t worry, Zero,” said the woman who did most of the poking. “It’s not so bad here.”


Now I find myself in a much smaller space than my bathroom. It’s a metal box, about one body’s length squared. I’ve got food, water, a toy, and a cardboard box. My toilet is literally right next to my food and bed. I can hear that there are other cats in my same predicament. One of my neighbors is meowing just like I did the other night. I know how he feels. Another is scratching in her litter box. Scratch, scratch, scratch. It annoys me. She won’t stop.


I’m not sure why we’re all here.


I’ve been crouched in the cardboard box for hours now. They haven’t come to check on me. I haven’t been able to muster up the courage to eat or use my litter box. I’m really not sure what will happen next.


Even though the bathroom was small, right now I miss it dearly. I wish she would come back and take me home so we could play with the water from the faucet again.

[z]

|five|

How To Catch A Mouse

How To Catch A Mouse:


1) Sit quietly in a dark, hidden place and wait. Choose wisely. Places with previous mouse sightings are ideal. You may have to sit for hours, so choose a spot you like.


2) Keep your ears open. Rotate them as needed to decipher any sounds. Be sure not to make any sudden movements. The only part of your body that should be moving is your ears and your head. As difficult as it is, try not to flick your tail. Such movements will alert rodents to your presence.


3) When you hear the familiar sound of a rodent—the high-pitched squeaking; the short, repetitive scratching; and the scurrying of tiny feet—cock your ears and gather the sounds. Use this information to determine where the rodent is located and what type of surface he is walking upon. This information will allow you to locate him quickly.


4) Slowly stand up and turn toward the sound. Stop and listen. Do you still hear him? If so, creep quietly in his direction. Hide behind available objects. Surprise is your best tactic. Be sure to place each paw gently to the ground as you approach. Remember: if you can hear the pitter patter of his feet, he can hear yours.


5) Crouch as close to the rodent as possible while still securing an object to hide behind. Peer around the object to observe your prey. Can you see him? Does he see you? Observe your surroundings. Try to find a place where you think you can corner him. For example, if you chase him into a flower pot or under a set of stairs, his routes of escape will be limited. Keep this chosen location in mind.


6) If he does not see you, creep quietly toward him. Keep your body low to the ground and your steps long and silent. If you can snatch him up when he least expects it, you will have your prize. When you are close enough for an attack, lower your torso to the floor with your paws and elbows to the floor, and raise your hind end in the air. Wriggle your hindquarters back and forth a few times to get a good footing and then POUNCE. Did you catch your prey?


7) If he notices you prior to your attack and attempts to flee, you will need to chase him into the location you previously chose in Step 4.  Be sure to position your body such that he views your chosen location as the best route of escape. You may need to make quick, sudden movements to spook him into running toward the appropriate spot. Hopping and meowing loudly are completely appropriate.


8) Once you’ve got him in your chosen spot, capture is inevitable. You can play with your prey if you are certain that he cannot escape again. Use your paws and claws to capture him, and your teeth to do the deed. Dinner!

>^..^<

|four|

|three|

|two|

|one|

|zero|