A cat showed up here. Apparently, it’s decided that we have another cat now. It didn't ask if we wanted another cat; It’s just decreed that we're her family now and moved in. I'm not a cat person. It doesn't care.
I've seen this cat slinking around for at least the last six months. Its very distinctive white and black pattern has been hard to miss, but used to keep its distance. I would see it tiptoe as if on a tightrope across the tops of our fences. It seemed hungry and brazen - a bad combo for an urban farm with birds. Mark, my husband, called it a "ditch tiger," which seemed apt. I was afraid for our fowl when it skulked around.
Then about a month ago, in the middle of a triple-digit temperature week, I was watering the plants, and the cat was off to the side, looking parched. I sprayed some water into a bowl and left it, noticing the fancy-looking cat coming up for a drink after it thought I was out of sight.
About a week ago, the little black and white feline decided to risk coming about 20 feet away. It looked famished. Unable to deny a hungry mouth, I went inside and came back with a slice of chopped ham and a bowl of goat milk. Game over.
After snacks, the cat finally let me pet it. It quickly escalated to me pulling clumps of its hair out while it purred - it seemed in need of a good grooming. I obliged.
At first I thought the cat was a boy. In my limited experience with cats, all the friendly people-cats were boys. This cat seemed nice, but also had the clipped left ear to signal it was fixed and was an outdoor barn cat. I named him Ace because he seemed both lucky and a little wild.
The first night after the first meal, Ace slept on the front porch and waited for me to come out in the morning. I dropped more ham and a bowl of milk by the door as I shuttled the kids to school. He and I were going to be best friends. He'd already decided.
The next day we had some friends over for a baby goat snuggling and dinner party. The cat befriended all the children running around. Learning that kids just shed food wherever they go was an almost religious revelation to Ace.
The following night, I left the door to our bedroom open to the outside patio; Ace slipped in and climbed into bed with Mark and me. While Mark slept and I wrote my piece, I watched Ace nap, then leap off the bed and dart around, grab a mouse, devour it, then come back and sleep again. We're now in a symbiotic relationship.
My son and I went to the store and got Ace his own bed, a collar, treats, and a scratching pad. We now have a house cat who goes outside just enough to keep us from needing a litter box.
Since my little human suicidal maniacs like to put everything in their mouths, we don't use poison for rodent issues, so this is an ideal situation.
Yesterday Ace rolled over like a dog and asked me to pet his tummy. Again, as not a cat person, I'm no expert, but I know that often means they will bite and scratch you. Showing their bellies is less of a “please pet me” and more of a ploy to stab you with their little feet knives to remind you about your place in the universe from my experience.
I gingerly rubbed one finger across his soft belly - he loved it. I also realized that "he" was a "she." She is also polydactyl and has extra toes - another cool attribute.
I started off this weekend doing chores. Ace followed me around like a dog.
Unloading hay from the trailer, she trotted up with a baby bunny (dead) in her mouth and proudly laid it at my feet. Uhhhhh, thanks. I guess we're a real family now. Since I was wearing gloves, I picked it up and tossed it over the fence - this was not the reaction she was looking for. Ace sulked off like I had deeply insulted her. I guess I had.
As much as I appreciated the gesture, I wasn't interested in either consuming the bunny myself or watching Ace eat it at my feet. I called her up to the house for dinner a few hours later and watched as she bounded over the fence from the direction of the flung bunny. I guess she went out there to finish the job I didn't do. I do like a "waste not want not" attitude.
As I sit and write this, Ace the wonder kitty is tucked up next to me. The rise and fall of her chest is punctuated with purrs that mimic joyful snoring. She's seamlessly tiptoed from an outdoor huntress to a kept woman.
For a non-cat person like me, getting a sweet family cat with all the mousing and murdering skills (when directed appropriately) and without the litter box is ideal. It never occurred to me that we would hit the cat lottery and meet a sweet semi-feral but totally snuggly and child-friendly house/outdoor cat who would just move in - but here we are.
Welcome Ace, we're glad you're here. We hope you stay for a long time. Ace’s wild.
Just a good read. My mother was not a cat person until one day visiting family, their dogs ran a kitten up a tree. My uncle fetched the grey feline and plopped it in my mom's lap. So we had a cat.
I was never a cat person either…….but they love me and my family has enjoyed many feline friends through the years. Ace seems like a great addition to your family. Love your writing!