The rather hairy gentlemen above are feral cats who have chosen to adopt my wife and I. It all started with a kitty not shown her, one we named “Mew“. He and his brother Crackles were part of a litter born in the woods by our complex, and who eventually showed up around our apartment looking for food. My wife is a life-long animal lover, and has worked for years in the veterinary business. She promptly had me venture out to get an extra bag of cat foot, and a friendship was born. This happened over a year ago, and both are still around. In the meantime, the fellows above were also born, again in the wild, and they heard through the kitty grapevine there was free food to be had around our digs. So, one day, much smaller versions of these fellows showed up outside our door. Out I went again, of course.
That’s been several months now, and as you can see, one and all are hale and hearty. They are fed twice daily (and I dare say are at our door waiting at the assigned time, morn and night), and both Hisser and Midnight enjoy getting pets and attention from us both – in fact, I think they could go inside someone’s place, but the local SPCA is so crowded, they give cats and dogs away, so our guys have little chance in being placed. We can’t take them, for we have two dogs and two cats (And are only allowed two pets total – SHHHHHHH). However, the SPCA does offer free spaying and neutering for feral cats, so my wife has spent her time over the last few months renting cages from them, and trapping each of our friends. They have all been spayed or neutered, received a full series of shots, and now we know at least more little furry fellows won’t be coming out of them.
By the way, if you noticed up above, I said “extra” cat food“, because shown below is the crew we feed in our place every day. They are also rescues, and suffice to say our home is filled with beings not wanted elsewhere (my wife has seen fit to include me in that number).
For all these many reasons, my wife and I strongly support organizations like our local SPCA, and the Lowcountry Animal Rescue, a completely volunteer group who have no headquarters, but whose members foster unwanted animals until they can be adopted, and who hold weekly adoption drives around the Charleston area. They are heroes, one and all, and their sole thanks in all this is the satisfaction of seeing homeless animals go out the door with a new family, and no who no longer have to live in a cage, or worse, the wild.
I urge everyone to support their local groups, and drop a bag of food by, or some old towels and blankets. They are always in need, and welcome any help they can get.
Additionally, you can help stem the flow of sometimes overwhelming numbers by simply spaying or neutering your pets.
Please! Do NOT respond to this by telling me what heroes my darling wife and I are. It’s not praise we seek. It’s a better life for creatures who deserve nothing less.
“Nuf said.
