Critters I Have Known

Some of us have more of an affinity for critters than for people. I definitely lean toward the critter half of society although I wouldn't claim to be a people-hater. Anyhow, the following are my current critters, who I love tons. If you asked me to choose between them and you, the answer would most likely be them.

Llyan

Llyan is a domestic longhaired cat who was born in the wild. Since her story is somewhat unique, I will print it here. Bear with me.

Llyan lived in a colony of feral cats outside of a flower shop where I used to work. None of the cats were particularly fond of humans, although we did make sure they had food and water (this has advantages and disadvantages... it is one thing to feed a colony of feral cats, and another entirely to encourage the breeding of a population that may carry such diseases as feline leukemia and/or HIV. I do not recommend you encourage feral cat populations to breed. If you know of such a population, contact your local humane rescue society and see about having these cats humanely trapped, tested, and/or spayed and neutered.). Anyhow... During the summer of 2001, I worked at the shop and kept tabs on the cats. This one in particular seemed to be having some issues with illness. She seemed to be very weak and slightly lethargic. I had determined to try and catch her to take to a vet's.

While discussing this possibility with a co-worker, a stranger walked in from outside and mentioned having seen a cat who looked ill. We told him about the cat population, and I said I was going to try and trap the cat and have her looked after. At this, the stranger put $100 cash into an envelope and gave it to me, saying that he had a soft spot for cats and trusted me to use the money for the cat's vet bills. Knowing the expenses would be fairly high, I accepted the money and asked the man for his name and address so I could send him the receipt as proof that his money had gone to the welfare of the cat.

To make a long story short, I borrowed a humane trap from a friend and managed to trap the cat and her three kittens over the course of the next few days. The mother and babies were taken to the vet's where the mother was treated for dehydration and malnutrition, and then released to me. With a stroke of luck, all four tested negative for HIV and leukemia, and were given a clean bill of health after some flea treatment and dewormers!

Unfortunately, I now had four new pets. I had the mother spayed, and had intended to let her become an outdoor cat around my neighborhood after resocializing her so I could pet her and catch her for yearly shots. I let her out one day, hoping I would see her again, and was surprised when within 10 minutes she bolted back into my place and has remained since. She is now called Llyan and has seemed entirely content to transform into a fat little housecat. She even gets along with my dog.

The kittens were miraculously easy to find homes for. One went to a friend of mine who lives alone in Washington DC and wanted a little pal to keep him company, and one went to a former student of my mother's who was looking for a new cat. The third, remarkably enough, remained with me after a long inner debate. More on him later. This is Llyan, aka. Mommycat.

Sidney

Sidney's story is far simpler. I decided it was time for a dog (this was before Llyan's arrival). I went to my local overcrowded humane shelter, spent several hours playing with dogs to find one who struck me as being right for me, and came away with a part shepherd, part husky, part something else dog named Sid. He's almost frighteningly smart, loves a good game of frisbee, and is quite tolerant of housecats. He grudgingly allows Llyan to groom him and climb around on him, and comes with me on road trips as a companion and guardian. He is fond of fireplaces and anything that moves, squeaks, rings, buzzes, and looks like it might be in any way fun to chase.

Asriel

Asriel is the thrid and smallest of Llyan's kittens. When I trapped them, they were about 6 weeks old. They were a bit tough to socialize, being very cautious and shy. The first two came around with some coaxing and some gerber baby food. Asriel, however, remained very skittish and prone to hiss and claw at me. For this reason, I decided that he should stay with me. I couldn't bear the thought that someone might take him, decide he was too wild, and abandon him or leave him in an intolerable situation.

Asriel has become the closest pet I have. Although he isn't a lapcat, he refuses to be further than about 3 feet from me. He stays constantly within petting distance and sleeps on or next to me at night. I often joke that if I were a witch he'd be my familiar, and it seems much like that. He hisses and hides from most of the folks who visit me, emerging only after a few minutes for people he knows, such as my parents. Here he is, reclining on my bed.

Summerdance

Summerdance, aka. Banjo, was a hack horse at a local dude ranch. I worked there for a period of time, disappointed with the way they treated the horses yet unable to turn a blind eye. When this little guy and I first met, I have to admit I hated him. I used to dread going in because it would mean spending 8 hours on the back of an ornery monster who would viciously attack other horses as well as do his best to run away with me.

That lasted for about 3 months. We eventually decided to get along, and shortly after that we were inseparable. He would hear me calling him and neigh at me from his stall, and follow me around without a lead when he was out of it. For three years I constantly asked the ranch to sell him to me, and kept some money in a separate account just for the day when they finally said yes.

The day finally came, and I was told to write a check out pronto or my horse would go on the meat truck... I had a check in the manager's hands within 5 minutes. Summerdance was on the trailer to a new home that afternoon, and he hasn't looked back.

Today, he lives in a spacious 15 acre field with two horse buddies. He has completely stopped any and all impolite behavior and happily gives pony rides to my young cousins and neighbors' children. He has won ribbons in several shows and I am often the envy of my horse-riding pals because of my pony's eagerness to please and willing, positive attitude. Summerdance is now 22 years old and still as peppy as ever!