CATS

About six months ago I was in the front yard with Sigourney Weiner and Allie, our dogs.  We heard a meow and I spotted a cat walking across the street.  Sigourney ran into the middle of the road, tail wagging madly, and did her happy dance as she licked the strange cat's face.  The cat fell over, as though the love had weakened her knees and she wrapped her arms around Signourney's neck and proceded to lick her right back.  As far as I know, these two had never met before.  

How could I stand in the way of a love like this!  I began trying to tame the cat.  Things didn't go well.  I had a vet who would give me a great deal on getting her fixed . . . once she was tamed.  But before we reached that point, Sigourney's cat went into heat.  Every time I came outside, I would find her up in a tree.  Sometimes there were six or seven Tom cats keeping her company . . . all in the tree.  The cat-tree was a bit surreal.  Our lady cat always had her butt pointed AWAY from the Tom cats.  I was hoping she would keep them all at bay.  No such luck.  

About three weeks ago, she entered the house through our doggie door, marched herself back to the master bedroom, and jumped into bed with me, Cliff, and the two dogs.  She stayed until bedtime, and then she saw herself out.  It happened again the next night.  If we sat up, moved in the bed, or reached for her, she ran.  But as long as Cliff and I were still, she apparently liked being part of our "pack."  

On the third night as we shared the family bed, Sigourney's cat gave birth to three fat kittens.  I played midwife offering words of encouragement and pulling kittens out from under her when she landed on top of them.  The birth was a bonding experience and Ms. Feral Cat is now tame and demanding her fair share of attention.  However, she still loves Sigourney better than all of the rest of us put together.