Generally I have Mondays off and try to go to the beach, run errands or just hang out watching Netflix in the wonderful silence. This Monday was “play catch up day” after an awesome, very busy Sunday. I received a dinner invitation from a new friend that recently moved to town.
I was tempted to decline but I had declined the two previous invitations due to work commitments or just plain exhaustion. Keri Dawn, her husband Rick and their 2 young boys moved here a few months ago and are such a kind, fun couple and great little family.
They have been up to the restaurant quite a few times and are always so interesting to be around.
They are renting a home in a community not too far from me until they decide where they would like to purchase a home. They know that my only day off is Monday and that is the only time I can go.
I arrived at 5:15 and was immediately greeted by Keri Dawn, the boys and a nice glass of red wine. While Rick was busy cooking dinner, Keri Dawn gave me the tour of this very beautiful house. During the tour Keri Dawn tells me they have a house cat and house Pizote. The cat has been there since they moved in and evidently was there for at least a year with the previous renters. The previous renters actually drove it to town, TWICE, and he made his way back.
Keri Dawn told me he hadn’t been fed by the other people or the neighbors. That he was surviving on compost and whatever he could catch. She felt bad and began feeding him. I immediately thought of my cat, Mini, that disappeared 2 months after I brought him here from SC. December of 2016, Mini was chased away for the umpteenth time by the dog of an employee.
After a few months of calling his name, putting out food and litter all over the property, I assumed he had become a victim of one of the many wild animals who frequent the property. Every few months I would wonder if he was “out there”.
After a delicious meal, Keri Dawn and I went back to the porch to relax and finish our wine. She grabs the cat food and tells me the “house cat” should be here any minute for his dinner. Two minutes later this white/gray cat walks up onto the porch and walks toward the bowl. I immediately think of Mini as he looks JUST like him.
Mini was one of 4 kittens that a stray cat that was dumped at my house in Surfside Beach, SC gave birth to under the spare room bed. Mini looked EXACTLY like the Mama cat, hence the name. When the kittens were fixed, the vet notched their ears thinking they were ferel cats when brought in. Mini developed an infection and his ear slowly fell off piece by piece until there was just a small nub left. If it hadn’t been for that ear I may have thought it was just another stray cat.
However as soon as I saw the ear, I knew IMMEDIATELY. After almost 2 years, wondering if he was actually lost or was gone, there he was, right in front of me. As I called his name he came running over. Of course he was more interested in eating but he did give me a minute for a big ole hug! After eating, I wasn’t taking any chances. Scooped him up, said goodbye to Keri Dawn, Rick, the kids and Garee and got him in the truck as soon as possible. I’m sure he thought he was being dumped in town again so he was a bit nervous.
As soon as I got him home, I put him in his own room, food/water, litter box. I wanted to give him a few days before reintroducing him to his 3 siblings. He was skinny, patches of hair missing and light case of fleas/mites. Surprisingly he was in great shape for living in the jungle for 2 years. He ate 2 bowls of food, breakfast and lunch for several days. The first few nights he was home, I hung out in the room to calm him. He was his old cuddle bug self. Couldn’t get any closer to my face/chest and likes to be UNDER the blankets. If there was any doubt at all that this was Mini, all doubt was gone after spending 10 minutes alone with him.
It’s been 10 days now and he was given a full exam at Safari Animal Clinic. Other than the fleas/mites, for which Susanna gave him Advantage drops, he is in great shape. Skinny, yes, but that will surely change if he keeps eating the way he has been.
He is still very skittish when any vehicle pulls up or staff come in the house. His 2 siblings from the same litter aren’t exactly welcoming him with open arms but they don’t attack him either. The other, his buddy Coco, that wouldn’t ever leave his side, is not as welcoming. Hisses anytime he is a few feet away and has stopped sleeping in the room with the others. He actually looks pissed. He is NOT happy that this male is back in the fold. LOL
So with everything else going on, running the restaurant in a foreign country and everything that goes with it… we now have the “Psychology of Cats” Episode 1 happening. One thing is for sure.. Cats have 9 Lives is definitely fact and not fiction.
Have a great day everyone!
