TERRE HAUTE —
I’ve never been much of a cat person, mostly because when I was younger I was allergic to their dander. Also, I considered cats to be sneaky and annoyingly independent. At the time, I preferred dogs.
When my children were small, we lived in a large, two-story home and their bedrooms were upstairs. One day after work as I was getting out of my car at home, I saw something strange going on at the side of the house. A basket, with small, furry heads bobbing around inside, was attached to a rope and was slowly moving toward one of the bedroom windows. Lo and behold, my daughters had hoisted up several kittens in the basket thinking no one would notice. Needless to say, we had to find homes for the cats. Trying to appease my unhappy family, I got them a puppy.
Many years later, shortly after Thanksgiving last to be exact, a small, starving Orange Tabby cat appeared in our yard. Her meow and growl happened simultaneously. She had obviously been mistreated. We could see her bones and she was terrified of everything and everyone. We gave her food and tried to coax her inside to no avail. If we tried to pick her up and bring her in she immediately jumped out of our hands.
It took several months, but her meow became normal and she was growing rapidly. She spent her nights and most cold days under our neighbors’ deck out of the cold, but she ate at our house and was gradually becoming our cat. Ultimately, we purchased a small doghouse and put a rug and blankets in it to keep her warm. She was home. This is where the story teller would write, “and they lived happily ever after.” But wait, there’s more …
Thinking one cat showing up unexpectedly was enough, we certainly didn’t expect or particularly want another one to come our way. However, one morning about a month ago I went to the front door to get the paper and was surprised to hear a loud MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, and then a thud against our door. Standing there looking up at me was this young, dark cat.
Obviously hungry, (aren’t they all?) I hesitated, then grabbed a bowl and fed him.
After a day or two, we called Animal Control and sent this one to the Terre Haute Humane Society. They do a great job and find homes for many animals. But we both felt guilty and feared he might suffer an early end if they had too many cats. So, after much discussion, my wife and I decided to make arrangements with the shelter to adopt this mesmerizing feline. To say he has personality is an understatement. In his own way, he verbalizes everything he wants and usually gets it. He is unbearably cute.
Thankfully, I don’t appear to be allergic these days, but ME, a cat person? My daughter, Kate, is skeptical. After hearing we adopted a second one, she said to me, “Who are you and what have you done with my dad?” MEOW, MEOW, MEOW!
Ronn Mott, a longtime radio personality in Terre Haute, writes commentaries for the Tribune-Star. His pieces are published online Tuesday and Thursday on Tribstar.com, and in the print and online editions on Saturday.
Opinion
RONN MOTT: How I became a cat person
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