So Ms. Mittens, now Zoe, has a new address.
It was obvious that the sweet stray wasn’t going to thrive outside when she made a break for Inside every time I opened the door this week to feed her. My friend S agreed to take her, so tonight after S got off of work she came over.
I knew things were going to be alright when she went right over to S and demanded pettins. She flirted with my sister, but ignores every other human who lives here. She won’t go near the landlady, and is pretty selective about who she gives her loves to. But she went right up to S and did that “pet me now or I will trip you up by winding around your ankles!” thing.
S got her in the carrier no problem, and off we went. She was pretty quiet on the ride over to the vet. And she’s almost totally healthy, which is a relief. The blood screen for those two feline STDs was negative. She had tapeworms, but that’s expected when she’s been hunting the mice that live around here. She also had some ear issue, but again, not unexpected given that she’s been living outside for five months or more.
Everyone at the vet wanted to take her home. And she was SUCH a love! Totally soaking up all the attention…they were having a hard time trimming her claws because she was so kneady with the tech. She was makin’ biscuits on the vet counter, and readily flopped over for belly rubs from the vet when she was looking for the spayed scar. She’s so fuzzy they had to shave her belly, but she is spayed, which is a relief. She’s probably no older than two years, and didn’t even protest her vaccinations. No microchip, which is good and bad. Good because there’s no dealing with a family that she got away from. Bad in that they may never know what happened to her, but what can you do?
She was a little more vocal when S drove me home afterward, but I have a feeling between the tapeworm meds and the shots she’ll totally conk out as soon as she gets to her new home. S has a new litter box and bed for her, and I sent some of her food, a t-shirt I’d been sleeping in and a towel that had my scent on it.
The only other hurdle is introducing her to the existing cat in the house, but I think it’ll go ok as S will be monitoring them very closely over the next few days.
Overall, while I’m sad to lose the unconditional love, I feel better knowing she’s in a safe home with someone who will adore the heck out of her, that she’ll be warm and dry and well fed and happy. I’ve never seen a cat more suitable to be a lap kitty, and I think she and S will bring each other lots of comfort and love in the years to come.
So, sad and sniffy and teary, but good. Thank you, Bast, for sending me some dreams these past few weeks and showing me that I needed to do what was best for her, not for me.
Plus, I have visiting rights, so I still get to see her whenever I want. :)
Now I’m down to just Ghosty, who won’t come closer than five feet, but it’s probably better for both of us that way.
UPDATE: Friend S says that Zoe is doing fine. She’s still hiding out behind the big stuffed chair, sleeping on my t-shirt and not venturing much farther than the litterbox. But she’s using that liberally and quite well, so S’s main concern has been alleviated. She also thinks Zoe’s just still recovering from her vaccinations, and that she and Ben will probably get to know each other a bit better in the coming days. She’ll be working from home this week, so it was an ideal time to make the transfer. Zoe does respond when S peers back there at her, and demands pettins when the Human is in view, but is content to chill in her new tiny immediate space for now.
Kinda didn’t help this morning when I got up and went outside to feed her, and was all panicky for a few seconds until I remembered why she wasn’t responding. :/ But I’m glad she’s safe, sound and happy.
