Oreo's Story (continued)
Saturday afternoon we went over to Teri's mother's house for a while. While we were there we talked to her neighbor; she was looking for a new cat. She was interested. Her name is Terri too, by the way. I'm not sure how she spells it, so I'll spell it with two "r's" to differentiate her from my wife.
We'd last seen Oreo a few days before. Teri had picked him up, and told me that he was getting very skinny. She was pretty sure he wasn't living with a family. And that night he certainly seemed famished. I brought out dry food, and he gulped it so fast that he choked - but still kept eating. So I brought out moist food, and a bowl of skim milk, too. By the next morning they were all gone.
Of course, there was no guarantee that we'd be able to capture Oreo. Sometimes he's around, sometimes he isn't. But sure enough, when we got home that afternoon there he was! Teri caught him rather easily and put him in a cage. Cage and all, we headed straight back for Terri's. On the way, I tried to explain to Sebastian that this was best for Oreo and for us; we couldn't keep him, and this way he'd be able to see Oreo every time he visited his grandmother (which is weekly at least). Sebastian spent the time patting Oreo in the cage next to him. In a very short time we were introducing Oreo to Terri.
Oreo's a pretty charming cat. No, strike that - he's extremely charming. A remarkably handsome kitten, mostly black with a bit of white here and there, clear eyes, a steady gaze, and a firm chin. Friendly, and very even-tempered - he's never hissed or scratched as long as we've known him, and he didn't at Terri's house either. Terri liked him, which wasn't surprising.
But...there were several children in the house (visiting), including Sebastian. The back screen door was opened again and again. It crossed my mind to say that the door should be locked, but I didn't say it. I did tell all the children that they mustn't let Oreo out, that he would run away and might never come back.
What can I say? The door was opened one time too many, and Oreo ran out and was fifty feet away from us in a split-second.
Fortunately this was the back yard, not the front; there was a long driveway in the back, but not a main street. The down side was that there was a lot of woods, perfect ground to escape humans. We got food (I suggested that Teri carry it, since Oreo was most used to her), and spread out. I shouted for everyone not to give chase, because then it was guaranteed that he'd run and we'd never see him again.
Quick word of explanation: when I was quite young my aunt gave me a kitten. Before we even got him into the house he got out (it was probably my fault, but I don't remember), ran away, and we never saw him again. You'd better believe I flashed back to that day. I started thinking furiously.
I walked around the front of the house, down the block, and started down that long driveway that cut in back of the yard. I figured that there was at least a small chance that if he made a break for it that way, I could try to catch him.
But I won't stretch this out: within a few minutes, Teri was able to tempt him over with the food, and picked him up. We brought him into the house, and he was quickly set up in the (locked) cellar. Terri will take him to the vet on Monday.
We called her today, and by all accounts Oreo is doing well. And Terri doesn't even plan to change his name.
We'd last seen Oreo a few days before. Teri had picked him up, and told me that he was getting very skinny. She was pretty sure he wasn't living with a family. And that night he certainly seemed famished. I brought out dry food, and he gulped it so fast that he choked - but still kept eating. So I brought out moist food, and a bowl of skim milk, too. By the next morning they were all gone.
Of course, there was no guarantee that we'd be able to capture Oreo. Sometimes he's around, sometimes he isn't. But sure enough, when we got home that afternoon there he was! Teri caught him rather easily and put him in a cage. Cage and all, we headed straight back for Terri's. On the way, I tried to explain to Sebastian that this was best for Oreo and for us; we couldn't keep him, and this way he'd be able to see Oreo every time he visited his grandmother (which is weekly at least). Sebastian spent the time patting Oreo in the cage next to him. In a very short time we were introducing Oreo to Terri.
Oreo's a pretty charming cat. No, strike that - he's extremely charming. A remarkably handsome kitten, mostly black with a bit of white here and there, clear eyes, a steady gaze, and a firm chin. Friendly, and very even-tempered - he's never hissed or scratched as long as we've known him, and he didn't at Terri's house either. Terri liked him, which wasn't surprising.
But...there were several children in the house (visiting), including Sebastian. The back screen door was opened again and again. It crossed my mind to say that the door should be locked, but I didn't say it. I did tell all the children that they mustn't let Oreo out, that he would run away and might never come back.
What can I say? The door was opened one time too many, and Oreo ran out and was fifty feet away from us in a split-second.
Fortunately this was the back yard, not the front; there was a long driveway in the back, but not a main street. The down side was that there was a lot of woods, perfect ground to escape humans. We got food (I suggested that Teri carry it, since Oreo was most used to her), and spread out. I shouted for everyone not to give chase, because then it was guaranteed that he'd run and we'd never see him again.
Quick word of explanation: when I was quite young my aunt gave me a kitten. Before we even got him into the house he got out (it was probably my fault, but I don't remember), ran away, and we never saw him again. You'd better believe I flashed back to that day. I started thinking furiously.
I walked around the front of the house, down the block, and started down that long driveway that cut in back of the yard. I figured that there was at least a small chance that if he made a break for it that way, I could try to catch him.
But I won't stretch this out: within a few minutes, Teri was able to tempt him over with the food, and picked him up. We brought him into the house, and he was quickly set up in the (locked) cellar. Terri will take him to the vet on Monday.
We called her today, and by all accounts Oreo is doing well. And Terri doesn't even plan to change his name.