Tree-Climber Becomes Homebody, by Kitty

Tiger's little sister, another of Little Bit's kitties, was a domestic long-hair, mainly white but with two huge patches of black on her back and black bands around her eyes that descended down her nose and rose between her ears and on down the back of her head. Thus, she was called Mask, or more affectionately, Masky.

Masky was a friendly kitten. Though born outdoors, she was comfortable both indoors and out--until she discovered she could climb tall pine trees. One day Mama M had to get a gentleman neighbor to bring a ladder and ascend to fetch Masky out of a pine. 

A few days later, Masky climbed an even taller pine with fewer limbs. Fortunately, another cat had climbed a neighboring tree, and Mask watched as that one backed down the tree trunk like a cat is supposed to do. And, lo and behold, Mask backed down from her tree, too!

But Mama M had had enough. She took Masky to the vet to be declawed and then established her as an indoor cat only. Her tree climbing career ended, and she became a full-time member of the family!

Tiger Dies, by Kitty

Tiger was waiting in the carport for his dinner when Mama M looked at him compared to the other cats and realized that he was getting thin. So she loaded him into the cat carrier and into the car and drove to one of the closest vet offices. There the doctor on duty drew blood and told Mama M she would call when tests were complete and she could make suggestions about treatment.

The next day Mama M was petting Tiger outside when she heard the telephone ring. She hurried in and answered. 

"Tiger's kidneys are failing," the doctor said. "We can't cure him, but we can give him medicine to relieve pain." 

Mama M said that she would think about it and call back. Then she went outside to see Tiger. He was nowhere to be found. And he never returned. Somehow the sweet orange tabby knew his time on earth had ended and chose to find his own place to die.

The Champion, by Kitty

Mama M had a surprise opportunity to adopt a Grand Champion Siamese from a lady in Atlanta. When she visited to check out the situation, Robillard immediately accepted her. They left together with the owner's blessing.

Roby, as the Seal Point was called, settled into his new home in short order. He showed no signs of special conceit even though he had won the Atlanta cat show. He loved to share Mama M's bed. He loved being petted. He even loved Tiger, who had become an indoor-outdoor cat by then, and Tiger loved Roby.

A couple of years later,  Roby became sick. In the middle of the night, he coughed up blood onto the living room floor. Mama M picked him up and rocked him in her arms until morning, when she could take him to the Vet School's clinic. Tiger kept close watch from the sofa nearby.

After the vets had examined Roby, they told Mama M that he needed surgery. She agreed. Afterward, she was devastated to learn that Roby had real cancer of the stomach. They removed what they could and gave him bedrest in a cage for about a week. Mama M was allowed--even encouraged--to visit him, pet him, and show him her love.

When he had recovered from the surgery, however, she talked with one of the main vets, telling him that she could not afford to give him chemotherapy or any other major treatment. The vet agreed, particularly with the cat's being well into adulthood. 

Roby lived for about three months longer, enjoying the love and life a champion deserved. 

Homecoming, by Kitty

Early in her  professional career, Mama M and her apartment mate, Mama C, adopted an adult cat from the Richmond Humane Society. He was a beautiful, sleek, long gray male with short hair that was tipped with silver. They named him Spooky, with Richmond reminding them of the Gray Ghost of the Civil War (or Late Unpleasantness, if you wish).

Spooky was Mama C's cat most of the time, particularly during the night, when he would sleep on her bed. But Mama M was the earlier riser, and every morning when she would awaken, Spooky would be sitting on the floor beside her bed. He would follow her into the bathroom and wait for her to use the facilities. Then he would stretch his paws up as high as he could for Mama M to reach down, pick him up, and carry him into the kitchen for his breakfast. This routine continued for four years, until Mama M left Richmond to go away to graduate school.

Lo and behold, when Mama M returned for summer break and again when she returned after graduating to work again in Richmond, both times to different apartments, Spooky greeted her each morning with upraised paws as though she had never been away. What a delightful homecoming present!

The Psychic, by Kitty

A beautiful purebred black Persian named Mister joined Mama M's family, coming by adoption from Greenville, S.C. He was an active and loving son. Actually, he was the only cat at home during his life there.

One of his favorite pastimes was to sit on the counter of the lavatory while Mama M washed her face. Mister would playfully bat the stream of water coming from the faucet.

But the most memorable trait was his ability to know where he was going. 

If Mama M was going to take him to visit family back in Greenville, she would pack her suitcase, put Mister in his carrier and into the car, back out of the parking space, and drive out to the highway. Mister would not utter a sound. 

If Mama M was going to take him to board at the vet's, she would pack her suitcase, put Mister in his carrier and into the car, back out of the parking space, and drive out to the highway--exactly the same routine and route she would follow when going to Greenville. Mister knew the difference. He would me-ow loudly the whole way!

Simeon Joins the Family, by Kitty

A huge Snowshoe Siamese, orange and white, joined the crowd of cats in Mama M's carport one afternoon without invitation. He was excitable and ready for a fight. Unfortunately, he chose Tiger as his opponent. Poor Tiger began to look dogeared; he was never able to win bouts with Simeon.

Mama M borrowed a trap from the Humane Society, put cat food inside, and, bam, Simeon took the bait. While Simeon ate, Mama M locked the door. She then put the trap with Simeon inside into the trunk of her car and drove directly to the Humane Society shelter. Simeon was accepted, and Mama M returned home happy that Tiger would finally be safe.

A couple of weeks later, someone from the Humane Society called Mama M and told her that a lady wanted to adopt Simeon, who by that time had been neutered. "He's really a nice cat now," the caller said. "Will you give permission for him to be adopted?"

"OK," Mama M replied, "but not in MY neighborhood."

However, it wasn't two weeks before Simeon appeared in Mama M's carport again, eating out of the cat bowls with Little Bit and family. At first horrified, Mama M discovered that, yes, Simeon was a nice cat now, gentler, no longer a bully or a fighter. He purred when petted, loved to rub against Mama M's legs, and looked after the smaller cats.

Soon he was allowed in the house, where he became a constant companion to a black-and-white longhair named Masque, due to the shades around her eyes and over her head between her ears. Simeon also found his way into Mama M's lap.

Cats Band Together, by Kitty

One year Little Bit, Babe, and Babe's little sister Fluffy all had kittens within about two weeks—five each, all white. They first laid the babies under the bushes beside the carport.

When Mama M looked out the den window soon afterward, however, she realized that the three cats had moved their litters to hide them under the hosta bushes that lined the kitchen wall in the back yard. Fluffy's kittens were near the back porch, Little Bit's were in the middle, and Babe's were near the side corner. 

And sitting in front of the hosta patch, spaced like their litters, were Fluffy, Little Bit, and Babe. The three white cats were staring in one direction, the cold, "don't you dare come near" stares that only cats can muster. They were all looking at a male cat sitting at the edge of the garden on a hill above the back yard.

The tom didn't hesitate long before turning tail and running.

The mother cats had learned the benefit of joint forces.