Stray Cats Are The Best!

That's one Contented Majesty

Chris Fedderson — MacroFine Musings
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“I got cat class and I got cat style”
            — Stray Cat Strut, the Stray Cats, 1981

Google up ‘stray cats’ (not the musical group) and you’ll find it is estimated there are 70,000,000 stray cats in the US.  They are wrong.  There are approximately 69,999,999 since we just adopted one!
 
Consider this: the area of the US, including land and water area, is only 3,700,000 square miles.  We have nearly 20 stray cats per square mile — including all the water, all the roadways, all the land covered by buildings, the middle of the deserts, the top of Mount Whitney, the bottom of Death Valley!
 
We already had Majesty, a senior female about 17 years old.  About a year ago, we had to euthanize her very ill house-mate, Nooni, and Majesty had been moping around ever since. She needed a “pet”.  We considered a hamster but figured that would be pretty much a one-shot-deal.  So we settled on getting her a cat.

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Mrrooow! Rrr-rr-rr! Prr-rr-rr-rr!

We’re still in the “sequestration phase” of introductions, and things seem to be going well.  They look warily at each other through the screen keeping The Newbie in her room.  Even so, they seem interested in each other and trust and a feeling of ease is growing.
 
The Noob was, for a time, nameless.  We don’t name our animal friends right off the bat; we wait a time to see what their unique personalities suggest.  Hence ‘Majesty” as in “Yes, Your Majesty”.  “Right away, Your Majesty”.  “Anything else, Your Majesty?”.
 
The Newbster has now given us a clue… Her name is to be Miss Chatterley.  Not because of the Miss C. of literary fame, but rather because she is constantly chattering!  She makes these little muttering, chattering, squeeky sounds quietly in her throat as she plays, investigates the nooks in her room, and whenever she sees us.  Sometimes, first thing in the morning, it sounds as though she’s saying, “heh-rrrow”.
 
Need help naming your new "Kid", or maybe you just want a good chuckle?  Look here, or maybe look here, or you could even look here!
 
Chatterley’s a friendly, calico female — spayed, of course — who’s not really a lap-cat but she is a cuddler when you lie on the floor with her.  She’s a little over two years old and a terror for any toy with either feathers or fabric.  We’re going to have to get her a rawhide chew to play with!  She’s also a knead-er.  We’ve seen her lie on her back to knead the air.  It’s hilarious!

I cannot say enough about adopting a dog or cat (vs. buying or breeding your own) when you decide to add to your family.  Our Chatt-ster came from a vet’s office that had an area of the lobby set aside with 4-5 [make that 3-4  :-) ] adoptable cats.  Our cat sitter, who is very active in feral catch and release programs, told us about this vet.
 
So when you and your family are ready to add a member… or two… ask your vet, go to a shelter, contact a private organization, call a pet day care company…  There are all kinds of sources out there, along with 69,999,999 cats to choose from!  And when you find your Chatterbox, you’ll just know it!
 
Thank You for visiting,
 
— Chris
 
P.s.      Have you adopted or rescued any cats or dogs?  What were the circumstances?  A happy outcome, we hope!  Are you a “Noob” to adopting and want some reader input?  Hit the comments section, and we’ll share stories and advice.

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