Cat Tale

Just another adventure in the New House Saga. A toddler (not a cute little kitten, but definitely not full grown) cat has chosen our back door step to call home. (When she is not hiding out under the grill cover or sleeping on my daughter’s window sill)

I grew up with cats; I liked them, a lot. But something happened when I left for college, got married and had three kids. I just didn’t like cats anymore. Probably because over the years I have become more germophobic and OCD in the cleaning department. Could also be because whenever I touch a cat or think about touching a cat my eyes swell up and itch like crazy. If you have read me you know we ended up with two cats for the kids when their guinea pig died in front of them on the first day of summer two summers ago. I now have two pre-teen cats that I never touch but clean out their cat boxes every morning. I am not a fan, but I tolerate them on most days and have minor meltdowns and internal temper tantrums on other days.

The hubby is an animal lover and everywhere we go, animals of all kinds are attracted to him and love him. In college he had a pet squirrel. Must be his amazing heart and spirit. Apparently something I am lacking.

I do not want to be responsible for this cat, I do not want to pay for it. I do not want my kids to become attached.

In the last week we have:

Fed the cat twice a day – it eats the can of food every single time like it hasn’t eaten food in months. Last night we bought 5 more cans of cat food.

Given the cat water to drink (the kids think it likes bottled water best…..)

Given the cat a place to rest its head in our dry/warm garage with an old comforter.

Jumped a mile each, every time we look out a window and see its little face peering in.

Checked it for claws/sex and determined its paw is not hurt despite the fact that SHE raises it every time she sits up.

Put her on a waiting list to be spayed, and adopted both of which have very long waiting times.

Yelled at our house bound kitties to stop harassing the cat on the other side of the window. (as if they are taunting it)

Named her Katie. (my sweet little girl with an equally large heart and spirit as her Dad lovingly wrote a note to go with her in case someone adopts her describing her every tic.)

Despite my best intentions, I am pretty sure we now own one female toddler OUTDOOR cat.

GOSH DARN IT ALL.

I try to tell myself, enjoy the little moments in life. But try as I might this one aggravates the heck out of me.