My Cat Tigr
This is Tigr, my almost 20 year old cat. She's lying on a rag rug which is on top of me. I found her more than 17 years ago on West End Avenue near W. 95th Street on Manhattan's Upper West Side. I lived nearby. She was badly injured. She had some wounds that were bleeding and her tail was torn open so I could see the muscle. I took her home and applied antibiotic ointment and bandages. She didn't look well the next day, so I took her to the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital at the ASPCA. I explained that I had found her and patched her up as best as I could. They took her from me for treatment. Her tail had to be amputated and she spent a week in the hospital. A veterinarian called me every day until she was ready to be released. I went to pick her up and the chief vet told me that I could leave her there for adoption. That would not be a problem and she was confident the cat would be adopted. Then she looked at me and said, "I think you really want her." I looked at the cat who had no name at this point and agreed. I then had to pay some money towards her treatment. I didn't have very much money, but they were happy to get $400 from me. I named the cat Tigr, spelled just that way.
I had two other cats at the time, Tiny who I found in Sunnyside, NY and Lady a calico whose owner was going to take her to the ASPCA for adoption. Tigr did not get along with the other cats. She attacked Tiny frequently, but always out of my sight. I thought Tiny was to blame. She wasn't. She also attacked Lady in the livingroom one day. Tigr ran into the bedroom. Lady followed slowly and deliberately. She walked up to Tigr and looked at her. Then she struck. Fortunately, I was right there so no damage was done, but Tigr learned to respect Lady. They were never good friends, but they would lie near one another on the couch. Good enough!
Now my other cats are long gone and Tigr has been growing more affectionate every day. She sleeps on top of me or alongside me. If I'm sitting at the computer, she will want to be on my lap. She loves atterntion, cuddling, and being held. She's 100% sweetness. She has her "room," a space under the couch where she's stays most often during the day. She won't eat canned food or people food. She won't eat most dry food, as well. She likes to eat cat treats. They have served her well. One vet told me to feed her whatever she would eat because she's a very fussy eater. That's what I do. She's a healthy and happy senior citizen cat.
More later.