According to the KTHV (Little Rock) website, there's a new Bengal tiger at the Turpentine Creek Wild Animal Refuge in Eureka Springs. Apparently, someone "dropped off" the 400 pound cat at the refuge and it wandered around the mountains for five days. It had been raised in captivity, had no claws and had never been taught to hunt...that's about as irresponsible as it gets. (And I thought that sort of thing only happened in California!)

Anyway, that'll give you something to look out fer when yer haulin' chicken feed!

Kurt

Sad, very sad!

As a cat owner, I have never and will never, EVER, declaw a cat.
I regard it as mutilating the animal.
Don't care what they scratch or damage, it's all replaceable.

Sorry, but it's something I'm feel strongly about

These are "the Boys" . . Felix and Oscar!

Tom,

As a veterinarian, I will perform declaws, but... at our practice, we insist that it be done with proper pre-op and post-op pain control, and that it be done with techniques ( laser ) that minimize the pain. We attempt to discourage the surgery, and we counsel the owners about alternatives like proper scratching posts ( the "rope" ones are really best ), and other things like "soft paws" or keeping the nails trimmed so that they do less damage. While I don't like the procedure ( my cat isn't declawed ), if it means the difference between a cat being able to live indoors, away from all the bad things like automobiles, dogs, other cats, and, of course, idiotic sadistic humans, then we will do the procedure. Of course we also must feel as comfortable as possible that any cat that is declawed will ONLY live indoors. I wish more cat owners had your attitude.

Tom & Joe,

I am a cat person myself, and I believe in responsible pet ownership...for all the reasons you both so eloquently stated.

I posted this because it goes to show just HOW rural this part of the country is, a place where a 400 pound Bengal tiger can wander around for five days with no one knowing about it. I reckon ol' "Flash" Pierce'll be talkin' 'bout that 'til he's too old to work a rockin' chair. After a while, he'll prob'ly even swear he saw sump'm OR'NGE up in 'em hills.

Kurt

Well, I am a cat fancier as well, and I too don't believe in declawing a cat for the very reasons given above. Didn't know you were a vet Joe. That's great. My half sister is one too, in Georgia. Hey, love the names of those two felines above.....the odd couple.....cool. And fine looking cats too. I have a Siamese named Shakespeare. He's just like a kid that one.....

There IS a real "Flash", and if I told you of some of his antics (that were NOT on purpose!), you'd see why his nickname is "Flash". (Used as an antonym! i.e. "He's a real Flash, that boy.")



Andre

Tim,

What is your half-sister's name and where does she practice? I might know her since I am in GA too. If not, I will look her up in the GVMA directory and get in touch with her. If you don't want to make her name public, just PM me with it.

What? Is this turning into the Cat Lovers' Forum?

We've got two cats (neither is declawed, which keeps me on my toes when we're playing). Or at least they're supposed to be cats. The older one (Arizona) definitely is a cat, but we've decided the younger one (Phoenix) is a hybrid of some sort: cat-hyena-monkey, given what she eats and how ungraceful she is. But we keep her around anyway!

Andy

<....sigh....> You guys and your cat stories.

I'm a cat lover too. We lost our two oldest cats just in the last 4 weeks, a couple of weeks apart. Below is a picture from happier days. Noble "Silver Blaze" in the background (my best friend), sweet but simple "Flash" in front. They now rest in the garden below our bedroom window, where they used to sit in the sun.

We now have "Lucky". An all-black male, like Oscar and Felix, who came walking out of the woods, into our lives about 2 months ago. The best cats seem to be the strays, that adopt us.

Cats are great. And I would never declaw any, unless it was absolutely necessary.

Thanks for sharing those cat stories. They make great companions, and it's always heartbreaking when one has to pass on, so I fully understand your sadness at losing your two, traction. We had two cats, mother and son for over 13 years but late last year the mum (Tosca) had to be put to sleep, she was just very old and cranky and her kidneys had given out. Now her son (Pontefract) who used to be quite aloof and independent is much more of a lap cat and always follows us around the house, wanting company all the time. Guess he misses his mum.

Uh-oh. We've got a "Flash" on our railroad, too, but his nickname has more to do with the pace at which he works ...

We keep ours trimmed with a little special set of clippers. Keeps us from having to get stitches. They're indoor cats and well behaved. . . Most of the time. Shown in the picture is Frieda a.k.a. Hudson the Railroad Cat (long story) and the other is Mr. Walter. Frieda was found abandoned by her mother in an old D & H Section Shed in North Creek NY when I used to work part time for a tourist rr there as an engineer. For the first month the education coordinator took her in and nursed her to health and would bring her along for cab rides. One day a children's book writer came along for a cab ride only to meet Freida / Hudson and the Education coordinator. Subsequently a book was written about her. Judging by her size when we found her she was a week old. There's a small adjacent field where the local feral cats can be seen catching mice next to the Hudson River square in the Adirondack Mountains. We think we have seen her mother out there pouncing around but can never get close enough to tell. I adopted her after the first month and my female cat Gretchen played mother to her. She's been a great addition to our growing family.

This cat will...

the circumstances of this photo are mercifully lost in the faded memory of an irresponsible, drug-addicted stepson who made life difficult for a number of years. the cat, Gizzie (Gizmo) was a wonderful companion until her death at Christmas time 2001...

Beautiful Cat Tim.

Reminds of one I had once upon a time.


MFOS

My wife and I have had cats around the house all of our married lives -- over 40 years. When the last one died of old age, about three years ago, my wife swore there'd be no more. Too hard on her emotions when they go, she said. But I didn't know how the house would be the same without a purring lapful of squinty-eyed fur. About a year passed.

Three years ago, almost to the day in fact, it was a *rotten* day outside. Snow, followed by ice pellets, then freezing rain, then a cold rain with strong winds. I threw some inedible foodstuffs out for the crows, and a few minutes later, the Missus saw a scrawny, wet and bedraggled black cat out on the snow, trying to eat the frozen crud. She took a plate of decent stuff out for it, but the cat hightailed it -- scared to death of humans, obviously. But the food was gone, next morning.

Same each subsequent day: she'd put the food out, and later, the black cat would creep over from the nearby trees and eat ravenously. First sign of humans and it'd be gone again.

By summer, though, the "Black Cat" would be waiting and peek from around the corner of the house. After a few seconds, it'd run over an eat. Any sound and it'd trot-off. Trot, not run. Progress!

By autumn, Black Cat had taken-up residence under a foundation shrub, and would come running for his twice-daily plate. But he was still semi-feral, and shied-away from any touching or attempt at nearness. So I built a well-insulated "house" for him, with the opening shoved-up against one side of "his" shrub, so that it gave an entrance protected from future snowfalls. Winter came and "B.C." lived thre under the snow for a few months, popping-up at mealtimes to be fed.

One particularly cold and miserable day in January, 2003, we opened the door to feed him and BC stumbled inside. He'd had enough of the rough life, I guess, 'cos he ate his food, licked his chops and trotted up the stairs, never to go outside again.

A quick side trip to the vet yielded a clean bill of health with not so much as a flea on him! But we found he was a two-year-old neutered male -- which'd make him about a year old, when he first appeared outside our home. There are all kinds of possible explanations, but I'd sure hate to think he had been "punted" by some heartless cad! Anyway . . .

His name quickly sequed over to "Beecie" (pronounced BEE-cie). Beecie soon filled-out, and became a very healthy, happy cat indeed! His black coat is so shiny, you almost need sunglasses to look at him! Most striking, though, is his affectionate nature. Of all the cats we've ever had, Beecie is the most affectionate and gregarious, by far! It's rare for him to not be "right there" with either me or my Missus -- which is a tad odd, since previously, he'd been so entirely aloof and skittish. He almost seems to be making-up for lost time in the purr-and-affection department!

All's well that ends well, and Beecie's right here on my lap as I type this post. And he has company, too. Since his Grand Entrance, two years ago, two other indigent cats -- Peg and Max -- have found their way to our doorstep. Happiness is . . . !

Some people, hearing of these guys' situation, say that the cats are lucky. Maybe . . . but *I* am certainly the one who feels luckiest!

-HighGround

Lovely story, Highground. Thanks for sharing it.

Great story, HighGround. You've got my vote for the best first post!

Yes, it's always good to hear about the cats that have found a home!

So far, all our cats have been rescues or shelter cats.

Our third cat, Boo-Boo, was rescued by our daughter off the streets of Mystic, Connecticut
after her previous owner moved out of state and abandoned her.
(I just don't understand how anybody can do that)


Felix and Oscar are brothers from the same litter, and the shelter wanted to place them in
a home together. Since the wife like black cats, it was perfect; and they have each other
for company when we're not around.

However . . . you have no idea how bad my luck runs when TWO black cats cross my path every morning!!!

All of these are great stories and thanks for sharing. Unfortunately mine is not so great. At the house where we just moved from, the owner's daughter in law had five kittens she wanted to give away as she was moving to Florida. We were offered one female but it would have to stay outside. Well, being a cat lover, my daughter said ok. Well, the daughter in law could not find a home for the last kitten and it would wander over to our place to be with her sister. This went on for a week and the house owner decided we could keep them both as long as they stayed outside. This was summer so that was fine. They never strayed too far, and we built them a place to sleep in on the back porch. They were well protected and were good cats. When we moved here we decided to keep them inside but being as though they had been outside cats all along they did not like that so we started letting them out. And had no problem until the second week when the first cat we were given, named Sabrina, came up missing. We thought, since there are no major highways handy that she had just been adopted by another family since she did not have a collar. However, last week, while going over to her friends house, my youngest granddaughter, age 11 and a real animal lover (watches Animal Planet very regularly) spotted Sabrina along side the road just below our house, apparently run over. Well, she was devastated. So I went down and scooped her up and gave her a buriel by a large tree in back of the house. I guess she was just not used to the traffic here and wandered into the road. (we were not close to the road at our old place). The other cat, Alley, however is still with us and still goes outside but has been more fortunate. Sabrina was the friendlier of the two, and Alley is not so friendly, except with my youngest granddaughter, but she is still with us. I feel bad about it as my daughter loved Sabrina and was also devastated by her loss. A shame really.
Me, I have an inside Siamese named Shakespeare who is doing well and sits on my shoulder when I am at the computer, or on my lap. Siamese cats are very strange. They either like you or dislike you, and are more like kids than anything else. Anyway. I would be totally lost without him. And I feel bad for the one that got run over. Our whole family loves cats. When we were in Maine, my daughter had seven of them (all strays that wandered into the house we lived in) but she kept only one when she moved down here and unfortunately that one died of a very strange disease of the skin after about a year here.
Anyway, we love cats and just wanted to share our story with all you other cat lovers. What I like about them is they are independent animals. Unlike dogs.. And they are easily trained and easier to take care of I think. At least mine are.
So, to all you other cat fanciers. Thanks for the stories. Shakespeare thanks you too. I know because she just bit my ear, meaning, "hey, get off this thing and feed me, besides I am getting tired"! Cats!

So Kurt,what ever happened to the tiger?

The tiger is apparently fine...it found its way home, and was turned over to the good folks at Turpentine Creek Wild Life Refuge. After five days in the woods, and wandering more than 60 miles, it had sores on its paws, but is reported to be healthy otherwise.

Kurt