Black Cats On The Bayou

   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!

Glutton For Punishment

  It seems that one of my worst traits is that I am a glutton for punishment.  Either that or I have a huge soft spot for critters.  For most of my life, I have taken in, taken care of or, generally, just taken critters that no one else wants.  Why?  Because of that stupid soft spot in my heart that tells me that someone needs to care for all of the throwaway pets of the world.  That someone is me, obviously.

  The old cat that was living back beneath the shed has now moved to the back porch.  Although he still limps, his overall health has greatly improved.  He was painfully malnourished, full of scratches. and had a mangled front paw.  Daily feeding, worm meds and kind words have all encouraged him to trust me a bit more.  Hopefully soon, he will allow me to check that foot but, for now, I feel as though he has a better life than a few months back.  

  The "punishment" part of this whole situation is that I will grow attached (already have) to this animal just like I have all the others.  It will become part of the family.  The cat is old.  The cat is injured.  It is obvious that he will not be with us long and, once again, my heart will be broken.  It is so hard to ever think of losing yet another critter friend but, facing the alternative of not helping them, I have no choice.  The poor animal needs to be helped and loved after being so mistreated by his former family.  People do indeed aggravate me at times.  So welcome to the family, Mr. Cat.  (Yes, I do need to find a suitable name for this friend.)

Bats and Black Cats!

Have you ever had one of those times when something has struck your fancy so much until you just had to have it? Something so pointless and inane that after you splurge on it, you wonder what ever possessed you to spend hard-earned money on it? At least I can honestly say, my point of weakness did not cost so much as to cause any hardship..it was only three dollars. But the point is, I did give in and purchase something that I did not need. I very rarely go shopping since I figure I do not need more "stuff". My house is sort of bursting at the seams with useless "stuff" that really should find its way to a charity drop box. But then..I made a trip to the store and right there staring at me was the most fabulous thing! It was sooo cute! I do believe it was actually "calling" me.."Buy me..please, please.. I so need a home!" It was sort of like the forlorn puppy on the side of the road. You know..the one with the big sad eyes that somehow wins over your heart with just a slight wiggle of its tail..now how can you pass up a lost puppy? And how could I pass up a purple-glittered bat welcome sign? Oh, no.. sigh... Who in their right mind would buy a string of purple-glittered bats that is designed to be a welcome sign? hehe..Well..it is sort of cute and I do like bats! Yes..I admit..a lovely, purple-glittered bat welcome sign will greet you at my front door if you come to visit. Just please do not bring me any sad-eyed puppies..I do not need any help with this!

This morning, I awoke way too early. It was pitch black outside and even the birds (other than the mockingbird.. who, by the way, I am beginning to think is part owl by the sounds it was making last night.) were not singing. I tried and tried to go back to sleep but that was not happening. I stumbled my way to the kitchen to make a pot of good strong coffee so at least I would be able to think straight even if my inner clock was catawampus. (And yes, that really is a word even if it is only in my vocabulary!) As I passed the stairway, I had to smile. Sleeping on the third step was Ms. Put. Not that this is so extraordinary in that she regularly sleeps on the stairs, but she just looked so cute next to the Halloween decorations. Ahh, now that is a picture worth saving..sleeping black kitty next to Halloween pumpkins! It could have been staged! I grabbed the camera and stumbled back to the stairs. Good..she was still sleeping! Carefully, I focused the camera and snapped a picture. NOT GOOD! Never photograph a sleeping cat while using a flash! At least, never photograph a sleeping Ms. Put while using a flash! A hiss and a low guttural growl let me know that if the camera and I wanted to survive in one piece, we had better make a hasty exit. Ms. Put is not one that takes kindly to bright lights and intrusive paparazzi disturbing her beauty sleep. Retreating to the kitchen, I made my coffee. I had avoided the flying claws that are attached to a very temperamental cat. Geez, I love this kitty!

The Ghost of Halloween Past???

Earlier today, I was looking through a bunch of catalogs that had come in the mail sometime over the past two weeks. I figured I would glance through them one last time before donating them to our garbage man. These were filled with Halloween decorations and costumes. As I flipped page after page, I began to wonder just when did Halloween change? These catalogs were filled with the most bizarre and grotesque things..enough to cause even a lot of adults to have nightmares. What has caused this trend of having so much visual gore as decorations? Isn't Halloween supposed to be a holiday of fun for..children??? I am not talking about ghosts or skeletons..these, children can handle and come to expect at this time of year. But my goodness! Some of these so called decorations go a bit too far! Where are the cute little pumpkins, ghosts, witches and black cats? The ghosts and goblins have far been replaced with gory visuals from twisted minds. I admit that I like to decorate for this holiday and love a good ghost story..but the "blood and guts" realism might be a bit much for little ones. When we were younger, there were "scary" movies, haunted houses and "fright nights" but most of it was "implied horror". Not much is left to the imagination these days..is it because there is a lack of imagination? Or is it that with the influx of it all through the movies, television and computers, people have become immune to it all and need stronger visuals to make a point? The costumes were not any better..if I see one more "dead bride" or another "half eaten zombie", I think I will become the wicked witch and scream.."No more candy! No more trick-or-treating!" Where are the ghosts, witches, ballerinas and cowboys? I know I am being stodgy about all of this and I should just "go with the flow" but I long for an old-fashioned Halloween party with apple-bobbing, musical chairs and "pin the nose on the Jack-O-Lantern"! This said..I dug through the closet and pulled out my mother's old Halloween decorations. Yes, I will keep my "haunted parlor" but her cute little ghosts and pumpkins will be scattered throughout the house as a reminder of Halloween Past! I vow to make at least one "true" Jack-O-Lantern and I will have a dish of candy corn sitting on the table! Oh! And popcorn balls..who can forget the ooey-gooey goodness of those and caramel apples! Yes!..Ghost of Halloween Past..I have not forgotten! I will try to have an old-fashioned Halloween! .......Nostalgia sometimes gets the best of me during holidays!