Sunday, June 14, 2009

Grendel


There is a sad situation going on in the Alaska woods where the House of Many Cats is. Callous people dump their unwanted cats off in the woods to fend for themselves. The husband and wife who live in the house have taken in as many of these cats as they can persuade to come inside and then they take care of them for the rest of their lives. During the summer months, they put out food and water for the cats, who get used to hanging around the house. When the cold weather comes, they put out humane traps and take in any cats they catch. They now have 28 of them. Grendel was caught just this way in the autumn of 1996. She was pregnant and gave birth to two black kittens. Grendel was, and still is, very feral, so the Mom took her kittens at a few weeks old and put them with another litter belonging to a more socialized cat, so they could have a better life. Shortly after that, Grendel was spayed. She didn't take too well to being an inside cat and escaped. The Mom and Dad looked for her, but didn't find her and resigned themselves to never seeing her again. Then in 1998, they found her again in the trap and brought her in once again. This time she stayed. She spooks very easily and mostly hides when any human comes near her, though she does socialize quite a bit with the other cats. Just within the last year, she has finally become used enough to her humans that she doesn't always run when she sees them. She has even come out to watch her food being put in her bowl and even lets the Mom pat her once in a while. She will sit in a cat bed and watch the Mom work on her computer, only a few feet away. She may turn into a friendly cat yet.

                                    Grendel is more than a little bit shy.
                                    She mostly hides when humans go by.
                                           She'll accept a pat,
                                           But no more than that.
                                    Maybe she'll yet come 'round, bye and bye.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

28 cats is a lot of feline compassion! Mom have a friend who has several ferals. SweetPea was caught as a kitten with her Mom, Goldie. It did take some time, a few years, for them to come around, but not nearly so long as Grendel has been holding out!

Everycat said...

We read about lovely Grendel and think it's so kind of that couple to help so many cats. We really like the way they didn't force taming on her and let her start to accept humans a little in her own time (ten years!) That's a jolly limerick for her too!

Whicky Wuudler

Gemini and Ichiro said...

Wow! What wonderful people Grendel's humans are and I am glad she has a family who cares so much.

Anonymous said...

awwws I can't say how warm in the heart we feels. And certainly can not put it into words, so everything said in the comments aboves we agrees wholeheartedly! :)
V-V

The Florida Furkids said...

Grendel is very lucky to have found such warm and loving humans.

Thanks for stopping by Cousin Trooper's House Trashing Party!

Sniffie and the Florida Furkids

The Devil Dog said...

Wow, 28 cats. What a nice thing those parents are doing. It is too bad people think of animals as disposable.

Roxy

Mouchois said...

I have so much appreciation for those that take in feral kitties. That limerick is adorable.
And Grendel sounds like a good name for a kitty like that!
I do wish people would realize that they are doing so much harm when they just dump a kitty like that.

Forever Foster said...

What truly wonderful people to help all these gorgeous kitties. It is lovely of them to give Grendel time and space to get used to people in her own way.

Thankyou for leaving me Gotcha Day wishes:)

Gattina said...

Fortunately people like Grendel's "owners" exist ! It's terrible how some people behave.
Some cats are just born a little feral, look at my Kim. She never was a feral but behaves a little like it.

Whimpurr said...

Lovely story and limerick!