First there was Ms. Put, the Bayou Queen who reigned over the Bayou with fairness and grace. She was a true queen who knew her place and put everyone else in theirs. As a "throwaway" pet, the tiny kitten crawled from the road, through the creek and meandered through the woods to come to the Little Bayou House. This was about 25 years ago and she never left until her reign ended. Some 20 years passed with the cat calling the place home. Ms. Put was a "Tuxedo Cat" meaning black with touches of white. She had a howl that could send shivers up the spine of any who were visiting the Bayou for the first time and did not know the sweet cat. Ms. Put left us heartbroken when she passed.
Then came Ms. Nycto, the Bayou Princess. At first, I tried to shoo this cat back home. From the looks of her, she was definitely "somebody's" pet. Nope, Ms. Nycto was another "throwaway" pet who had been discarded like trash. She was not as wily as Ms. Put even though she was a full grown cat when hurled from the car. Ms. Nycto was a princess that was not able to hunt for a meal so came to us as a 3lb cat. Skinny, flea-ridden and homeless...until she found us. The Bayou Princess stayed for 6 years before meeting an untimely death from bacteria in the marshes. Ms. Nycto was a longhaired, black cat.
Now, yet another black cat has been plopped upon us. The yet unnamed creature is, you guessed it, another "throwaway" pet. This tiny kitten was tossed out in a parking lot and my son-in-law just did not have the heart to leave it. The poor thing was nothing but skin and bones. He...yes, he...has made himself quite at home here even though I only consented to "fostering" the wee thing thinking surely someone would adopt him. So far...no takers. So far...the Little Prince is stealing our hearts. So far...I am ONLY FOSTERING. He is a shorthaired black cat.
What is it about black cats and the Bayou. For some odd reason, every cat that has come to stay here has been a "throwaway" pet that is black. In a way, it is sort of fitting, if you think about it. There is something mysterious about the Bayou and there is something equally mysterious about black cats. All in all, they just fit with the quirkiness of the place. Yes. there have been other visitors to the Bayou. All were in the same fix having been abandoned by their owners. Boo, the Maine Coon, was a beautiful creature that was here about a month. Blinky, the crosseyed Siamese, was led here by Ms. Put. Captain Jack was a smoky gray fellow that defended Ms. Nycto several times. We fed them all but only the black ones settle in for the long haul.
Also, what is it with people tossing out the pets as if they were trash? To my way of thinking, someone should put those people on the streets without any idea of where their next meal will be found. They should have to face the odds of being killed by predators, being without shelter and without a soul in the world to care about them. I have no patience with people like that. There is not an excuse good enough to warrant being so cruel. There are other ways, people. (Notice I am not referring to ones that do this as folks? "Folks" are kindhearted, genuine humans unlike "people".) Folks, be kind to animals. Don't toss them out like trash. There are other ways, I promise. Every town has rescue places that will either take the animal or who will help you find a new home for them. And, while we are talking about being kind...GET THE MAMA CAT FIXED!
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