Beaker Louie Pumpkin Jack Filbert Quackers Mr. Biscuits
One day during Halloween week, my boyfriend was minding his own business working at his computer and POP went the little orange furry head of a kitten peeking in the low window overlooking our apartment’s walkway. We have seen stray and feral cats come by before (our complex was notorious for them…more on this later!) He almost regretted saying something, but the train had left the station! “Hey, there’s a small cat out here.” My ears perked up like a cat hearing a mouse. “What? Like, a kitten?!”
“Uhhh, yeah…………..?” Still regretting his discovery leaving his mouth, he knew the damage was done.
I jumped up and peeked outside and saw a terrified orange tabby run around the corner. What did I do next? What I have been doing for over 10 years, of course! POOF!!!! A plate of food and bowl of water outside the front door magically appeared. I swear I have no idea how that happened. I was minding my own business.
He came back. And he came back.
After a couple of months coaxing him into the patio for regular feedings, shelter and interaction, I had him checked out at our vet; not neutered (no shit, Sherlock), no microchip, and an upper respiratory infection from living outside in the cold. He got treated with meds, said buh-bye to his balls and was chipped with our information. Beaker came inside to live with us permanently. He was just minding his own business.
Tiki now had a little brother against her will. While she got to know him through the patio door screen, she kept hissing and growling at him. Unfazed, he would nap next to her and keep her on her toes as any younger sibling would. He has always been a wide-eyed, squeaking, quacking, quirky, squishy, dorky goofball unapologetically living up to the ginger cat stereotype and his Muppet namesake. His goofy antics has brought us so much joy. Big sis eventually warmed up to the little guy to an extent. A rare sighting of them napping butt-to-butt on our bed or the usual event of them sitting side by side in true “statue cat” form only inspired us to want to help more cats as the years went by.
