Pansies and Puddytats

Dammit dammit dammit dammit!

I caught mamacat. Had her in my hands. And she got away. Now she'll be terrified of me. :(

I was about to take Beavis for a walk when my neighbor called me over. One of the cats was on the roof/in the raingutter of another neighbor's garage. I climbed the fence and stood perched on top of the fence to get a look. Wasn't sure if it was mama or a baby, since they're getting big and she's so small. She wasn't there, but she was in a small pine tree along side it. I reached in, she hissed, but didn't swat, and I scruffed her.

But then what? I'm standing perched on the top rail of a chainlink fence with a wildcat in my hand. I had a small tote bag in my pocket for collecting rocks by the creek, so I tried to stick her in there, just 'cause I know even the nuttiest of cats can feel safe in a bag. (My first cat, Rambo, could only be taken to the vet in a pillowcase.) If I had another arm, I would've had her. She was 3/4 of the way in the bag, when she squirmed and jumped, and took off.

But at least I know she can be handled, more or less, and isn't mean. I don't know what I'd have done with her if I caught her anyway. I can't bring her in the house. She's too big for the bunny cage, and too fast to keep in the bathroom with the kittens. I s'pose I could keep her in the garage until I can see if she's tame enough and can get her tested. She'd need to be spayed asap, since she's probably already pregnant again. :(

I also saw another neighborhood stray in my backyard later in the afternoon. I've seen him/her around before, but never in my yard. Cats don't tend to hang out in my yard since I got Beavis. ;) But if I hadn't just been petting Gracie in the house, it would have scared the crap out of me, because this one is marked almost just like her, white with tabby spots. Only half her size.

I hate that I care so much about cats. Seeing them outdoors, and thin, sick, injured or (worst of all) dead, breaks my heart. One of the strays I've taken pictures of was recently hit by a car and killed. Her body is at the end of the trail. I want to save them all, and know I can't. I know I should be satisfied that I've saved the lives of my four, and prevented more homeless cats by taking them in and getting them altered.

But I can see why some people become crazy cat ladies who smell like urine and eat cat food. I'd never do that, though. My cat's food is too expensive. They eat better than I do!