a real entry
I've been gone from lj for a few days now, mainly because I've been occupied with cats and a kid in the throes of college applications. Speaking of which, I need to give him the load of stamps I bought tonight, so he can get rec envelopes to his teachers and transcript envelopes to his guidance counselor.
We went to UDelaware on Sunday for a session geared toward prospective Honors Program students. The kids apparently were selected by their PSAT scores and their prior interest in the school. Got a lot of the same-old same-old information, but it was okay because Steve hadn't seen Delaware before. We also had the opportunity to sit in on a typical freshman-level lecture, interestingly enough on the topic of understanding terrorism, given by this guy.
It was a bit unfortunate that the program didn't feature the typical Honors-type seminar class, but if this class was even remotely typical, lectures at UDel aren't dry and boring affairs. Andrew came away saying he didn't really learn much, but as it was an introductory lecture - the first class session of the semester, for freshmen - that's not shocking.
What I thought was intriguing was that Denemark dived right in on reframing the issues and definitions of terrorism, from a paradigm he largely succeeded in keeping global and nonpartisan. Andrew did think that he'd have no trouble being motivated to go to classes that were that interesting, so that's cool. (I too vividly recall failing to drag myself off to class for non-Honors lectures by dry-as-dust professors, including one we nicknamed Dr. LoSominex, so yeah I value a prof's ability to engage a sleep-deprived student's interest.)
I have to say, after a couple of visits to UDelaware, there's nothing I *don't* like about the school. And Andrew seems to think the same - it's his third choice at the moment (although that ranking changes regularly). It could turn out to be the sleeper of all of his prospects - not a huge name, but plenty of highly-regarded programs and a beautiful, not-terribly-far-away environment.
In other news, we have another stray cat, and it is causing me a bit of ethical dilemma. I think I've written about the critter Andrew christened Cow Cat before - he's been hanging around for several months. He's an unneutered male, white with black splotches (hence the name), scruffy and scrappy but healthy-seeming apart from some scratches on his face and some goo in one tear-track (probably a kitty cold, I hope nothing very serious.)
His presence deeply offends Thomas and Leo, although Lady's not so put out by him - although she's cautious in his presence. (Pixie, who doesn't go out, is more or less unaware of his existence.) He hangs out in our area a lot - we'd see him every other day or so throughout the summer- and I started giving him some inexpensive cat food when he came around. (NOT the prescription diet the cats-in-residence get, but a decent brand from PetSmart.) I think someone else has been feeding him and possibly grooming him as well, because he doesn't look as scruffy as he did originally.
Deal is, I can't take in a fifth cat. First of all, there's the idea that five is TOO MANY. The township really only allows three per household, and besides, Steve will roll his eyes and announce that yes I really am a Cat Lady, and if he dies first he expects I'll have thirty or so. Then there's the fact that I'm allergic to the little dears. And that I have one chronically-ill elderly cat already, who needs daily medical care, and who bears a deep aversion to the interloper. And there would be the not-inconsiderable vet fees for regular care, and boarding when we're away. And ... and ... and.
But I won't call animal control or the SPCA on him either, because he's doing no harm just hanging out in the neighborhood, no matter what Thomas and Leo think. We've had problem cats in the area before, cats that have been fighters and caused major injury to ours - but he's not like that. He and my boys have done a lot of hissing and yowling at each other, and occasionally there's been a pounce or two, but they're not fighting, not biting and scratching. He's curious about them, but not vicious, and no one's getting hurt.
So what did I do? As winter is coming, I ***hangs head*** bought him a doghouse Saturday night. With a waterproof pad, and a doorflap to keep out various kinds of precipitation. It's sitting under the overhang of the back porch.
He was wary of it when I put some food near it Monday. I threw a few treats inside, and he didn't retrieve them.
But it was pouring rain yesterday ... and he took shelter in it. I went to take out some trash, and his head poked out to see what I was up to.
He also greets me regularly when I step outside, or return to the house from somewhere else. After not allowing any touching for awhile, in the past week or so he has started weaving between my ankles, bonking my legs with his head, and accepting petting, although he's prone to taking a nip occasionally if I touch some (unspecific) "wrong spot". He's figuring out that that gets him a stern "no!" and a prompt end to the socializing session, so hopefully the nipping will stop. He's also done the weaving/petting routine with Steve. And he talks to us. In other words, he's decided that as people go we're okay, and he gets food out of us, so he'll hang with us.
And he rather obviously wants to come in and check out the house. But that's not happening. Nuh-uh.
I feel a little irresponsible letting him hang around, knowing he's not neutered, and unsure if he's got any diseases ... but really. He's Not. My. Cat. I wish he was somebody's cat, but unfortunately he's not, and I'm not sure if he's really even suited to being a pet. He may be too feral. I haven't yet done more than accept his suggestions that I pet his head and front quarters - I have no idea what he'd do if I tried to pick him up, but I'm certainly not ready to try it. If I ever get a suit of armor, maybe then.
Also, there aren't any no-kill shelters in the area that will take in strays.
I know I can't pay for every stray cat in the neighborhood to be neutered. I can't pay every cat's vet bills. And I certainly can't house them all, or feed them all. But I wish that my providing this one with the basics, within household limits, didn't lead me to concerns that I'm just helping him breed more strays, or spread disease.
I wish he had a home, and an owner who could realistically take care of these things. But I really have no idea how to find him one. And I don't want to just send him off to the overwhelming likelihood of being euthanized, just because I can't commit to all the duties of being his owner.
We went to UDelaware on Sunday for a session geared toward prospective Honors Program students. The kids apparently were selected by their PSAT scores and their prior interest in the school. Got a lot of the same-old same-old information, but it was okay because Steve hadn't seen Delaware before. We also had the opportunity to sit in on a typical freshman-level lecture, interestingly enough on the topic of understanding terrorism, given by this guy.
It was a bit unfortunate that the program didn't feature the typical Honors-type seminar class, but if this class was even remotely typical, lectures at UDel aren't dry and boring affairs. Andrew came away saying he didn't really learn much, but as it was an introductory lecture - the first class session of the semester, for freshmen - that's not shocking.
What I thought was intriguing was that Denemark dived right in on reframing the issues and definitions of terrorism, from a paradigm he largely succeeded in keeping global and nonpartisan. Andrew did think that he'd have no trouble being motivated to go to classes that were that interesting, so that's cool. (I too vividly recall failing to drag myself off to class for non-Honors lectures by dry-as-dust professors, including one we nicknamed Dr. LoSominex, so yeah I value a prof's ability to engage a sleep-deprived student's interest.)
I have to say, after a couple of visits to UDelaware, there's nothing I *don't* like about the school. And Andrew seems to think the same - it's his third choice at the moment (although that ranking changes regularly). It could turn out to be the sleeper of all of his prospects - not a huge name, but plenty of highly-regarded programs and a beautiful, not-terribly-far-away environment.
In other news, we have another stray cat, and it is causing me a bit of ethical dilemma. I think I've written about the critter Andrew christened Cow Cat before - he's been hanging around for several months. He's an unneutered male, white with black splotches (hence the name), scruffy and scrappy but healthy-seeming apart from some scratches on his face and some goo in one tear-track (probably a kitty cold, I hope nothing very serious.)
His presence deeply offends Thomas and Leo, although Lady's not so put out by him - although she's cautious in his presence. (Pixie, who doesn't go out, is more or less unaware of his existence.) He hangs out in our area a lot - we'd see him every other day or so throughout the summer- and I started giving him some inexpensive cat food when he came around. (NOT the prescription diet the cats-in-residence get, but a decent brand from PetSmart.) I think someone else has been feeding him and possibly grooming him as well, because he doesn't look as scruffy as he did originally.
Deal is, I can't take in a fifth cat. First of all, there's the idea that five is TOO MANY. The township really only allows three per household, and besides, Steve will roll his eyes and announce that yes I really am a Cat Lady, and if he dies first he expects I'll have thirty or so. Then there's the fact that I'm allergic to the little dears. And that I have one chronically-ill elderly cat already, who needs daily medical care, and who bears a deep aversion to the interloper. And there would be the not-inconsiderable vet fees for regular care, and boarding when we're away. And ... and ... and.
But I won't call animal control or the SPCA on him either, because he's doing no harm just hanging out in the neighborhood, no matter what Thomas and Leo think. We've had problem cats in the area before, cats that have been fighters and caused major injury to ours - but he's not like that. He and my boys have done a lot of hissing and yowling at each other, and occasionally there's been a pounce or two, but they're not fighting, not biting and scratching. He's curious about them, but not vicious, and no one's getting hurt.
So what did I do? As winter is coming, I ***hangs head*** bought him a doghouse Saturday night. With a waterproof pad, and a doorflap to keep out various kinds of precipitation. It's sitting under the overhang of the back porch.
He was wary of it when I put some food near it Monday. I threw a few treats inside, and he didn't retrieve them.
But it was pouring rain yesterday ... and he took shelter in it. I went to take out some trash, and his head poked out to see what I was up to.
He also greets me regularly when I step outside, or return to the house from somewhere else. After not allowing any touching for awhile, in the past week or so he has started weaving between my ankles, bonking my legs with his head, and accepting petting, although he's prone to taking a nip occasionally if I touch some (unspecific) "wrong spot". He's figuring out that that gets him a stern "no!" and a prompt end to the socializing session, so hopefully the nipping will stop. He's also done the weaving/petting routine with Steve. And he talks to us. In other words, he's decided that as people go we're okay, and he gets food out of us, so he'll hang with us.
And he rather obviously wants to come in and check out the house. But that's not happening. Nuh-uh.
I feel a little irresponsible letting him hang around, knowing he's not neutered, and unsure if he's got any diseases ... but really. He's Not. My. Cat. I wish he was somebody's cat, but unfortunately he's not, and I'm not sure if he's really even suited to being a pet. He may be too feral. I haven't yet done more than accept his suggestions that I pet his head and front quarters - I have no idea what he'd do if I tried to pick him up, but I'm certainly not ready to try it. If I ever get a suit of armor, maybe then.
Also, there aren't any no-kill shelters in the area that will take in strays.
I know I can't pay for every stray cat in the neighborhood to be neutered. I can't pay every cat's vet bills. And I certainly can't house them all, or feed them all. But I wish that my providing this one with the basics, within household limits, didn't lead me to concerns that I'm just helping him breed more strays, or spread disease.
I wish he had a home, and an owner who could realistically take care of these things. But I really have no idea how to find him one. And I don't want to just send him off to the overwhelming likelihood of being euthanized, just because I can't commit to all the duties of being his owner.