Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's cat
May. 23rd, 2022 08:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deemoyzaI grew up with cats. At any point during my childhood and young adulthood, there were three or four cats in the house. Eventually, though, as my parents got older and I moved out and the cats grew old and passed away, we never got around to getting more. But I am totally a cat person, and every day I rage at the ridiculous pet fees that prevent me from having a delightful floofball of my own.
Anyway.
Yesterday, I came home from the grocery store and saw a half-grown kitten lounging on the stairs to the apartment across from mine. I said hello to it, as I do to every animal I come across (yes, even the freaking chuckwallas that scare the crap out of me along hiking trails), and instead of ignoring me as most cats do, this little precious meowed, ran down the stairs, ran up my stairs, and trotted inside my apartment.
As much as I wanted to claim the cat as mine, I cannot afford it at the moment, so I escorted cutie-patootie outside, gave them a bowl of water and some torn-up turkey slices (not the best for kitty, I know, but I have no cat food on hand), and spent a bit of time acquainting myself. This little cat was already so socialized and friendly, they must belong to someone. After a while, they got bored of me and left, and I went inside; but when I went to take out the trash in the evening, they were on the same stairs of the other apartment again, and we went through our little meeting all over.
So, I assume they belong to whomever lives in that apartment. Fine. But I really hate it when people just turn their cats loose to run around outside. I mean, people fly through this parking lot like it's the freaking speedway, and other people insist on owning huge dogs that could swallow a cat in a single gulp. And then there are the birds; unsuspecting sparrows become quick meals for hungry and under-stimulated cats. Not to mention the heat: it's routinely hitting the triple digits here now, and it's only going to get worse for the next few months. So, basically, if you don't want to deal with a cat indoors, don't get one, instead of punishing the little creature that trusts you. (Alternatively, pay my pet fees, and I will gladly take it off your hands!)
I haven't seen kitty this morning, so hopefully, their people took them inside. Still, just spending time with a cat again after all these years brought back so many good feelings. Maybe after I find out how much my lease will increase upon renewal, I might be able to budget for a pet fee in the future.
(In the meantime, though, I've got to get off my ass and visit the local cat cafe!)
Anyway.
Yesterday, I came home from the grocery store and saw a half-grown kitten lounging on the stairs to the apartment across from mine. I said hello to it, as I do to every animal I come across (yes, even the freaking chuckwallas that scare the crap out of me along hiking trails), and instead of ignoring me as most cats do, this little precious meowed, ran down the stairs, ran up my stairs, and trotted inside my apartment.
As much as I wanted to claim the cat as mine, I cannot afford it at the moment, so I escorted cutie-patootie outside, gave them a bowl of water and some torn-up turkey slices (not the best for kitty, I know, but I have no cat food on hand), and spent a bit of time acquainting myself. This little cat was already so socialized and friendly, they must belong to someone. After a while, they got bored of me and left, and I went inside; but when I went to take out the trash in the evening, they were on the same stairs of the other apartment again, and we went through our little meeting all over.
So, I assume they belong to whomever lives in that apartment. Fine. But I really hate it when people just turn their cats loose to run around outside. I mean, people fly through this parking lot like it's the freaking speedway, and other people insist on owning huge dogs that could swallow a cat in a single gulp. And then there are the birds; unsuspecting sparrows become quick meals for hungry and under-stimulated cats. Not to mention the heat: it's routinely hitting the triple digits here now, and it's only going to get worse for the next few months. So, basically, if you don't want to deal with a cat indoors, don't get one, instead of punishing the little creature that trusts you. (Alternatively, pay my pet fees, and I will gladly take it off your hands!)
I haven't seen kitty this morning, so hopefully, their people took them inside. Still, just spending time with a cat again after all these years brought back so many good feelings. Maybe after I find out how much my lease will increase upon renewal, I might be able to budget for a pet fee in the future.
(In the meantime, though, I've got to get off my ass and visit the local cat cafe!)
no subject
Date: 2022-05-25 02:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-05-29 01:01 am (UTC)