Last night, quite late, I receive a distress call from a concerned neighbor. Her neighbor of 50 years and her best friend had recently had a heart attack and died. (And I do mean recent.) Her relatives had converged on the house (in a pricey neighborhood of Springfield) and were grabbing everything of “value.” The woman was crying and I was confused? Why was she calling me?
Turns out her neighbor has had this cat since he was 2 weeks old. His name is Clayton. She was at the house getting her coat where she left it and she heard them discussing how they had called “everyone| ” shelters, etc and no one wanted the cat. The son had said he would go up into the mountains and drop this cat off! The woman who called has adopted from us in the past and she was seeing if I could help.
We have no room right now for another paw, let alone a full cat! But I told her I would help. (“God I know you taught me the word NO!”)
I left immediately and when I got there- I saw dozens of rigs as antiques and valuables were being carted off. The cat? He was sitting in a carrier on the porch guarded by Elsa (the woman who called me) I swear she had a shot-gun face! “You mess with this cat, I messa your face!” LOL. I walked over and took the carrier and Elsa hugged me. I looked at the scene of greed with all these relatives carting off valuables. Then I looked at this mack tabby and thought- “You are more valuable then they are.” I told Elsa, I don’t know the law but I think they might be breaking a few. There was apparently no will.
As I made my way back to my rig, I almost got mowed down by six burly men wrangling a baby grand through the driveway! no regards for this kitty who has been this woman’s constant for years. Now, Clayton is in an outside enclosure until I can figure out how to bring him inside. George built a warming room in there- so he will be warm and he will be safe. With his age, I don’t think I can place him, but I will certainly try. He is crying almost non-stop very quietly, I know his heart is broken and he doesn’t understand why all of a sudden his world isn’t his any longer.
When I was young, I used to make fun of people who lived with their animals and shunned people. More and more, I see their sense. They weren’t crazy, they had just had enough of people – probably their relatives. Poor Clayton. At least, he is safe; he won’t starve or be killed as prey in the wild. I would take him if I could; he’d be the sort for me: an old fellow, who would be a genuine rescue.
that is just so sad how someone can say i’ll take him up the mountain and drop him off. horrible my heart breaks for the poor little guy through no fault of his own his world is upside down. The one he loves is not there for him, so grateful for the neighbor who thought of you and bless you for stepping in to help him. Be strong, God will answer your prayer.
Vultures. I’ve seen it before. People who have no time for relatives while they live, descend upon the household the moment they die and pick it clean…
And not a thought for this poor cat’s loss by any of them.
Thank God for the neighbor and her shot gun face!
But don’t think that just because Clayton is older he won’t find a home – we had a similar situation with a man who died and left being FOUR older cats – the youngest was 11, the oldest two were both 14. Some kind soul adopted all four of them to keep them together and give them continuity.
There are people out there for the seniors, too. You just have to find them.
Sorry, that should be “left behind FOUR older cats”.
That’s what happens when you have a cat helping you type.
we are glad Clayton had someone to stand up for him….and there is a special place for people who act like those hooligans