My neighbor’s kitty died the other day. She was allowed to roam, and cats who go outdoors do tend to have shorter lifetimes, and we do have plenty of coyotes and cars around here, but this one just succumbed to a medical condition and bad luck. She was a very nice kitty that I would have preferred to admire posing on comfy furniture and sunny windowsills, but she really preferred to be in my garden, hunting. I don’t know how successful she was at hunting but I do know she had more than a passing interest. A series of her collars appeared over the years in her favorite stalking locations. She learned quickly to skedaddle if I showed up, especially if I was near a water hose, but she also knew I wasn’t around most of the time. Especially during springtime, when my birds are trying to make more of themselves, her presence was a splinter in my heart.
So although I felt bad for my neighbor, I was not going to miss seeing that or any other cat in my garden.
Well, that lasted a whole four days. Then one morning my crows lost their minds, worse than usual. I looked out. A small black cat was on my patio, getting the what-for from a group of pointy-faced birds. Did my Tater cat get out? Or did my neighbor’s cat get reincarnated that quickly? I ran out like an avenging angel. Charged the offending feline and clapped my hands and yelled. And that cat blinked at me and curled around my ankles. I picked her up and gently lobbed her into the alley. She shot right back to my ankles in seconds, purring like mad. That was one button-headed boomerang of a kitten. Well, shit. Let’s have a look at that tag on her collar.
“Lavender” had a phone number. Lavender followed me up the steps and tried to squirt herself into my house while I texted her mommy. I wondered if Lavender were lost, and might have pointedly mentioned in my text something about keeping my own cat indoors. Lavender’s mommy was actually apologetic rather than offended—you never know—and said she’d be right by to pick her up. When she did, Lavender was still on my porch looking for all the world like Cleopatra reclining.
Darn cat was over three blocks away from her home. That is a lot of territory for a city cat. That there cat is adventurous. And friendly. I liked Lavender a lot, and thought she would have looked a whole lot better on an indoor windowsill.
The next day my crows put out the word that she was back. Back and lying down in my flowerbox. I booted her a little more firmly. The geranium is crushed but the lantana will probably survive. She was all “Hey! Remember me from yesterday? Hi! Hi! Hi!” This is a kitty with healthy self-esteem. Next thing I knew, according to the crows, she had climbed fifteen feet up a lilac and was about to hop onto the roof of our rental. I planned to let her stay there in prime crow-bill stabbing splendor and then, maybe, after a while, call her mommy.
She got back down on her own, though, and the crows were of the opinion she had not gone home in disgrace. Sure enough, she was on the fence, although not about going home—she really likes it here. She was on the fence singing with the crows, and I honestly believe she wanted to play with them. Or with anybody. She doesn’t know when she’s not wanted because she could not imagine such a thing.
That’s when I realized: she is not my neighbor’s cat reincarnated. She is Tater. And Tater’s not even done yet. That’s how adventurous she is—she shows up early for her own reincarnation! I should have known Tater had that much juice. When we brought Tater home—“keep your kitty in one room at first, she will be shy and cautious about her surroundings”—she blasted out of the carrier at warp speed and left cheek fuzz on every corner of our house, three floors’-worth, within five minutes, utterly delighted with every little thing. She couldn’t have been tickleder. And even now, at something north of eighteen years old, she bounces to the front door if anyone knocks. Tater doesn’t hold back.
You get a spirit like that, you’re going to train up your replacement self before you leave, because you know the world cannot survive a moment without you.
What a cute kitty cat! Why, she wouldn’t hurt a flea!
Since she’s outside, we’ll soon find out if she could!
I wish the outdoor cat culture would die out like wandering dog culture did. Preferably before all the birds disappear.
ceci
Ain’t that something about how things have changed? I almost never see an unleashed dog. That certainly isn’t how it was when I was a kid.
Dogs were allowed to roam in my community until sometime in the 60s when a group of feral and owned dogs mauled a boy named Bruce Coulter. There followed a concerted effort to kill all the feral dogs and enforce leash laws. Neither was entirely successful, but feral dogs aren’t the problem they were into the 1980s.
Oh Lordie! She’s too adorable. I’m with you on the outdoor catdom. Mine are strictly indoor babies. All the ones I ever had.
Mine too, although when I got my first, Larry, I thought I’d be letting her out–but my vet said not to do it until she was older, because kittens are dumb and would get run over. Well, by the time she was old enough, I’d be damned if I’d let her out to get chomped on or squished or anything else. She was fine with it. My bird awareness came along later.
Remove her collar, adopt her, play dumb if her previous humans ask questions, and keep her inside where she can learn from her not-yet-reincarnated fmiliar.
I like this idea.
I always wondered how Tater would react to another cat. Seems risky!
Some years ago before I was invited to leave my position at a major New Jersey university, one of the faculty members in an adjoining building thought that what MY building needed was a Trap Neuter Release colony. He got the blessing of the idiot in charge of our branch of said university and proceeded to install cat houses and feeding stations around the HVAC equipment and dumpsters for MY building and about nine cats with clipped ears.
The nine cats proceeded to poop and pee on and around the HVAC equipment to the extent that our maintenance guys refused to work on the units, which constantly needed adjustment. We lost a wonderful custodian who quit after having a cat spring out of dumpster onto her.
Meanwhile the faculty member at the other building, blissfully unaware of the havoc he was causing, decided he should encourage more animal encroachment than just the cats and the rats that were attracted by the free food. He put out food that clearly was intended for raccoons and possums.
Now I’m in favor of wildlife, but where it belongs. Not hanging out in my dumpsters, raiding said dumpsters and attacking the custodians.
Facilities in an effort to keep the cats away from the HVAC equipment installed a locked chain link enclosure. Sometime later I learned that someone had given a key to the other faculty member. And sometime after that I was called on the carpet by my supervisor who refused to believe that I hadn’t swapped out the lock on the fence. I hadn’t, I swear. But I would have baked brownies for whoever did.
Ugh, TNR. So well-intentioned—if there’s only one species you care about.
TNR is inhumane to cats and the animals they prey on and also to the humans who have the TNR colonies thrust upon them.
Oh, I’m with Albatrossity. This cat wants to be with you and might not mind at all being inside. I don’t know about Tater though.
See, there’s the rub. She may very well consider herself not ready to be replaced.
Not replaced. Enhanced!
Worth an introduction.
What a lovely kitty! A sweet reference to your Tater too. I reminded my new neighbor of the city ordinance against letting cats roam. She said God made cats to catch birds and if the animal control picks them up they are her adult daughter’s anyway and oh well. A feral tomcat is responsible for my $150 vet bill attacking my Ginger in her own yard. She doesn’t jump well enough to scale the fence. If I see him again I’ll set out the HaveAHeart and let animal control take him. Maybe you can offer to adopt that amazing Tater Tot and make her an indoor soul. If real Tater won’t get too bent out of shape that is.
I will say Lavender’s human companion is a very nice person. So there’s that. Don’t really want to deprive her, and yes, Tater…
We have an orange cat and a gray cat that come over to our yard and stalk our birds and squirrels. One belongs to our neighbor 2 doors behind us and the other we think belongs across the street on a corner. They are the only indoor/outdoor cats in the neighborhood that I’m aware of. Luckily between the blue jays, squirrels, and crows sounding their alarms, they keep the other birds forewarned pretty quickly if a cat (or hawk) shows up. I agree, you should see if “Lavender” wants to be Tater’s apprentice and bring her indoors. Either that or urge her owner to keep her in! She has obviously adopted you.
Okay, I am NOT TAKING THAT CAT! Ain’t she cute though?
I read your blog very early in the morning, but am not commenting until now. The reason? My very first thought was “Murr should take in this kitty!” And I thought the others here would think, “Oh, how awful! Catnapping? Horrors!”
But I have read the comments of others who thought that, too, so I don’t feel as evil.
Now, I am going to play the Devil’s Advocate on why you should keep this cat. (Keep in mind that I never had a cat, and don’t even like them, so I am taking a giant leap of imagination here on the cat’s behalf.)
Reason 1: This cat CHOSE YOU!! Do you know how rare it is for any animal to actually choose a human companion? One day with you might have been a fluke. But it came back the next day! It remembered you, and how to get to your home! It reminded me of Canuck the crow and his chosen human Shawn Berman. And this was a wild crow!
Reason 2: You know as well as I the statistics about outdoor vs. indoor cats. Outdoor cats have a much smaller life expectancy. This cat will die before its time if it is let loose. And since you say that its current human lives 3 blocks away, it will have to cross traffic, no doubt? Also, there is the bird predation. Statistics show that more songbirds are killed by outdoor cats than ANY other factor. Not cars. Not windmills. Not flying into windows. Cats.
Reason 3: Face it. You’ve fallen in love with this cat. And it with you. Also, Tater is old and going to die soon. That’s just a fact of life, I’m not trying to be mean. Just direct. Lavender would not be a replacement for Tater, but Tater could be a “coach” on how to be a good cat at Chez Murr. Maybe Tater is even preparing you in some way. I’ve heard some weird shit in my lifetime that just can’t be explained. So I can’t discount the “Tater Factor.”
Reason 4: I feel it in my gut that this cat belongs to you. Bring it inside, change its name, put it in the witness protection program. Dye its hair or get it a fake mustache. Or both. If it doesn’t work out, you could always call that human and say that Lavender just showed up. Maybe if the cat is gone a few days, her current owner might get worried and finally keep her inside. But I wouldn’t bet on it. People are stupid! This cat is much more sensible than its current owner because it chose you. And you know it, too, I’m guessing.
That’s my case, your honor. Verdict?
You have thought about this long and hard. Verdict? Nopity nope nope! I appreciate the cat but if she’s anything like Tater she “picks” just about everybody. This is a super friendly cat and she likes my YARD. Yes, Tater has a favorite human (not me), but she’s fairly partial to almost anyone. And I like Lavender’s mommy and Lavender’s mommy very much likes her. Please everyone stop directing me to a life of crime!
hahahahahaha! I love this kitty. Love you. Love your crows. You really perk up my happy hours.
Good! Happy hours are supposed to be self-perkable but I’ll take enhancements any time!
Mimi- It’s someone else’s cat! You don’t just take things that don’t belong to you, especially a living animal companion! Hijacking blogs is bad enough.
I’m not the only one who suggested this. But apparently, I am the bad guy. Whatev.
I’m actually amazed so many people had the same idea. It never occurred to me!
Mimi Manderly, she may have been talking to me as well! There are two of us Mimis here. 😀
Vicki, yes, it is someone else’s cat and in reality I would not bring someone else’s cat inside. It’s just annoying that people don’t keep their cats safe indoors. As I mentioned above, I do have a couple of loose cats that come in my yard and one belongs to a neighbor I know well. My family let our cats outdoors when I was growing up but now I never would. One of our cats just disappeared when he was 5 and was never found. Another was hit by a car. Definitely not worth it to let them out. But no, I’m not seriously saying she should steal the cat since she knows whose it is.
Oops, our cat that disappeared was 15, not 5.
I agree you should remind Lavender’s mum that cats should be kept inside, remind her of the traffic she has to dodge to get to your yard and back home again. Don’t be putting Tater’s nose out of joint, at her age she might not be as welcoming as some might think, although I could be wrong on this.
My own cat lives inside and sits on the sill watching other cats roaming the gardens, there are no fences here in the flats and despite our laws, some people let their cats run free. Lola shows no interest in wanting to go out and join them.
I actually don’t know if it’s illegal to let cats roam here in the city. Your laws have to do with being on a big island with vulnerable critters, though, right?
You’re gonna need a bigger hose.
Speak for yourself!
🤣
Late as usual. In Butte in the past, dogs were unrestrained…literally. It was unnecessary to have a dog if you wanted one for walks…when you went out for a stroll, within a block or two a dog would join you, wondering where you were going and if you had any food.
Dogs having free reign, so to speak, meant there were few cats outside roaming, my neighbor’s cat being the notable exception. He disliked dogs, and would attack any walking by their house.
There were enough predator birds, eagles, great horned owls, etc around that cats outside had to be wary.
Moving back to Portland as I have, it’s interesting to see how things are different here than in a small Montana town. Many things are better, mostly people and politics. Others are…different.
I think you have to do things differently in a densely populated area. Which is part of the problem with outdoor cats. Three or four fully employed barn cats in the countryside are probably performing a service, at least from the standpoint of grain silo caretakers. Fully subsidized cats allowed outside to sport-hunt at a rate of six per block are a very significant destroyer of wildlife. We’re humans. We introduced this problem and we should be able to control it, if we’re aware. People who let their cats outside in the city think their pets’ behavior is natural. It is. Their presence in the ecosystem, at a density a real natural environment could never sustain, is not.
Yes and no, the cats do catch and kill, but if I remember correctly the original reason was because many people complained to their local councils about roaming cats using their gardens as toilets, killing birds was a second reason and then others jumped on the bandwagon about native wildlife, which I never did understand because most of the native wildlife is fast asleep somewhere far away from the city where the cats are.
I also disagree with TNR, if you’re going to trap and neuter, then go ahead and adopt that cat as well, or take it to a vet to find the owner via the microchip if it has one. Most cats here do have them as do many dogs.