Tales & Tails of New York

The big, gray cat looked at me from behind cage bars and loudly growled.

I did not dare try to pet him.

A part of me now regretted telling Renee, the New Hope Coordinator for the Manhattan AC&C, that I would take this cat.

His name was "Greystoke."

I got into this mess by telling Renee that the "Russian Blue" cat we had rescued a couple of weeks before had just been adopted.  We therefore had room for another "blue" type of cat.

"Oh, I have this cat named Greystoke!" Renee told me, optimistically.  "His owner brought him in saying he had to move back with his mother who is allergic to cats.  He said he wanted to take Greystoke back when he finds his own place, but I told the man we cannot hold cats here.  Greystoke's four-years-old, neutered and been here a week. His time is about out.  Can you take him?"

I agreed to take the cat sight unseen.  But, now I was having second thoughts about that decision.

For one thing, Greystoke was HUGE!   I had never in fact, seen such a monster cat. While not "fat" per se, Greystoke had to be at least 16 or 17 lbs!

Big cats are usually very tough adoptions. 

But, more than size, what concerned me more was the cat's temperament.  He didn't appear to be too friendly.

It was the day after Thanksgiving. 

AC&C was officially "closed" to the public, but there was a skeleton staff on hand to care fothe animals and to release a few to rescue.

I was standing in one of the cat wards with a kennel worker, as the big grey cat continued to growl and hiss.

"Give me your carrier and I'll put the cat in," the short, older black man said to me.

I wanted to say, "I've changed my mind!" but instead handed him the carrier.

The man opened the cage, grabbed the big cat by the scruff of the neck and tried to stuff him in my Sherpa bag.

But, the hefty, muscular animal quickly bolted, got away from the kennel hand and ran under the bank of cages.

Great, I thought to myself. Now is my chance to back out of this!

"Wait a minute, " the kennel worker said to me.  "I have to get a pole to get 'im."

Before I could say anything, the man returned holding a long pole with a loop on the end.

"No, no, don't use that," I said to the man.  "Let me see if I can get the cat."

The cat was already stressed and angry.  I figured the pole would only make matters worse.   As much as I wanted to just leave, I didn't have the nerve to say that -- especially now that the cat escaped and was under the cages.

I kneeled down on my knees and peeked under the cages.

Greystoke's frightened eyes peered out at me from the darkness within and there was a low growl.

I recognized that growls and hisses were a sign of fear, not necessarily aggression. 

Nevertheless, one still had to be careful.  I didn't know if the big cat would try and defend himself.

I slid a hand under the cage embankment and after some maneuvering, was able to reach and gently stroke the top of the cat's head.

"Easy there, boy."

Greystoke didn't react.  That was a good sign.

Within a couple of minutes, I moved my hand from the top of Greystoke's head to the scruff of his neck and gently coaxed and pulled the big cat out from under the cages.

"Hold the carrier open for me!" I quickly told the kennel worker. "Hold it upright, so I can just drop him in."

Mission accomplished after a brief struggle, Greystoke was safely in my carrier.

I could barely lift him up.

"Wow, you're really good at that!" the kennel worker said to me.

"I should be." I answered. "I've had lots or practice over the years."

But, part of me wished I wasn't "so good" at getting this big, monster cat.

What was I going to do with him now?

It's been three weeks since I brought Greystoke home with me.

He's advertised for adoption on Petfinders and other adoption sites, but of course (I imagine due to his size), I have had no calls to adopt him.

But, Greystoke has turned out to be THE most marvelous, dignified and lovable cat!

A total LOVER!

Greystoke jumps on my lap and purrs. He follows me everywhere I go. He snuggles next to me at night.  He is great with the other cats, particularly acting like a "Popa" to the kittens.  He is even nice with my dog, Tina!

But, what is most appealing about Greystoke is the way he sits regally on one of my tables (or top of the sofa) waits for me to walk by and then stands up on his hind legs, gently wraps his paws around my shoulders (or neck) and gives HUGS!

The "big blue" cat then licks my face and neck in a torrent of light, sandpaper-like KISSES!

Greystoke is just like a little human -- or at least a very, very affectionate human!

I've never seen anything quite like this.

A cat who gives big, lovable hugs and kisses!

God, and to think I almost didn't take Greystoke!

I feel so guilty now.

Still, Greystoke doesn't know the doubts that ran through my mind that Thanksgiving weekend.  If he did sense anything then, he has long forgiven me.

Now, all I can do is give "thanks" that I didn't back out of this rescue.

So, if no one ever calls on Greystoke or if people say, the regal Russian Blue is "too big," that is OK.

Smoochy, lovable hugs are always a nice thing to get, any day of the week.

Especially when they are big, soft and furry.

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