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8:10:00 AM EST
Hearing Christmas Music
A Little More Heart
I need to take a course in how to understand people better.
Because, I am having a hard time understanding how the human brain works.
Yesterday, a woman called asking about kittens we have for adoption.
In the course of the conversation, the woman told me how she and her family had been at the local shelter the day before.
"There was a very nice cat there. She came on our laps, purred and was very gentle and loving with the children."
"It seems like you found the perfect cat for you and your family," I replied. "Why didn't you adopt her?"
"Well, she's two-years-old and my husband wants something younger."
A thought ran through the back of my mind that I hoped hubby doesn't one day feel the same way about women, but I did not voice that concern.
"I hope you're aware that the cat who was so friendly to you yesterday, stands a very good chance of being destroyed. Unfortunately, everyone wants kittens. What does that mean for cats like the one who was purring on your family's laps yesterday?"
"Well, the cat is a tabby cat and I kind of have my heart set on a Bombay. Bombays are very friendly, you know."
I didn't think that was an answer to the question I posed to the woman. It was as though she didn't hear me.
"But, wasn't the cat you're describing very friendly? It's not always easy to find cats who are loving and comfortable with young children," I pursued.
"I am sure someone else will adopt her, " the woman answered wishfully.
And it was at that point, she got a "call waiting" and it was from her husband.
"Can I call you back, later?" she asked.
"Sure," I answered and the phone call ended.
I did not hear back from her.
The thing that was hard to understand in this call, was why I received it at all.
Did the family not find the perfect cat yesterday at the shelter?
I didn't understand the thinking that although they didn't want the loving, tabby cat, "someone else will."
I don't understand my next-door neighbor either.
For almost two years "Sherry" has been putting food out for two black and white brother cats in our back alley. The cats, named, "Johnny and Mario" were born in the alley, but due to both Sherry and another neighbor consistently feeding and petting them, both cats are extremely friendly.
The other neighbor, Kevin, has a Shepherd dog who does not like cats, so it has never been an option for him to take the cats in.
But, Sherry doesn't have any pets, although she professes to "love animals."
Since the weather was getting very cold and one of the cats didn't look too robust, both Kevin and I begged Sherry to at least "foster" the cats until they could be vetted, neutered and put up for adoption.
"No one is going to adopt these cats while they are in the alley," I told Sherry two weeks ago in a phone conversation.
"I am getting a new roommate temporarily and she is allergic to cats," Sherry replied.
"But, it's your apartment, Sherry! Don't you call the shots? New York is a city of 8 million people. One would think you could find a roommate who isn't allergic to cats."
"My roommate is only going to be here a few months. After she leaves, I am thinking about getting a small, female dog."
I rolled my eyes when hearing this, but over the phone, Sherry couldn't see me.
"Johnny is very thin," I told her. "He doesn't have the body fat to sustain him over the winter. He's also very dirty and grungy. No one will take him until he can be cleaned up and vetted."
"There's a guy at my job who I talked to about the cats," Sherry answered, totally denying the facts. "But, he wants to see pictures."
Later, when relating this conversation to Kevin, he snapped.
"See pictures? I don't understand that! They're beautiful cats. Why does someone need to see pictures? That's ridiculous! It's not a beauty contest!"
"That's the way people are, Kevin," I answered somberly. "No one's going to take Mario and Johnny out of straight compassion. We have to make them 'adoptable.'"
"Johnny comes into the hallway, when I go down there," Kevin answered. "He's begging to be rescued - to find a home. I am afraid with the cold, he is going to die outside."
"Well, I have too many cats at the moment. It's a shame Sherry won't help on this."
Last week, when coming into the building hallway, I noticed Sherry petting Johnny and then opening the door leading to the alley and gently shooing him outside.
"Go go, now, Johnny! Outside!"
I was so pissed, I walked quickly by without saying anything to her at all.
Two days later I met Sherry again in the hall and in attempt to explain her actions, she beamed.
"Johnny likes to be outside, I think! I don't know that he'd be happy in a home."
I felt like saying, Denial is not just a river in Egypt, but instead, replied.
"I don't think that is true, Sherry. But, in any case, he isn't strong enough to survive single digit temperatures which will be coming soon."
Three nights ago, the temperatures in New York plunged to the low twenties and today they are in the teens.
When I went to put garbage out in the cans behind the building, Johnny and Mario came running up to me. Johnny was coughing loudly and repeatedly and it was then I decided I could not leave him there any longer.
I scooped Johnny in my arms and carried him into my home.
I haven't taken pictures of Johnny yet, because he is too filthy. I have been busy instead, trying to clean him up.
For a cat who was used to being the "King of the Alley" Johnny is having a slightly hard time being low cat on the totem pole. Two other cats have not taken well to this new unneutered tom coming into their environment and there have been a few scuffles.
But, all in all, Johnnny is very happy to finally be out of the cold. He is eating well and purring and rubbing against my legs. He found a little niche in the kitchen where the other animals leave him alone.
The cough is already dissipating and I hope next week to get Johnny to my vet for shots, testing and neutering. Hopefully, there can be a waiting home eventually for Johnny.
One where "age, breed and pictures" are not as important as need and lovingness.
As for the human brain?
Sadly, too often there is the attitude that, "I don't have to take care of this or that, because someone else will."
I too, was "guilty" of that thinking when I hoped that Sherry would take in Johnny when it became obvious the one brother cat wasn't doing well.
But, instead she told herself that Johnny "likes being outside."
I think that is called, "Denial."
A few hours ago, Johnny stood up on hind legs and wrapped his front paws around my legs purring. It was his way of giving what seems like a cat hug:
"Thank you."
I took one of the kitty wipesto try and get a little more dirt off of him.
"Ah, you are looking better already!" I told Johnny.
Almost ready for that "beauty contest," perhaps?
Nevertheless, there remains Johnny's brother, Mario, still outside in the cold.
No room at the inn.
At least, sadly, not now.
Perhaps by Christmas?
One can hope.
As one also hopes that the loving tabby cat rejected by the family at the shelter somehow gets adopted by "someone else" with less pretense and denial and a little more heart.
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Written by mandy787 Blog about this entry |
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