Chip's Tale

Last weekend, Trapper Jeanne, as we call her, called to tell me some news about a feral cat we've been feeding. While we were chatting, she told me she was behind her family's Hardware Store, putting out food for yet more feral cats. Suddenly Jeanne got quiet, then she whispered:

"I see a new cat. i think he's feral. He looks pretty rough. I'm gonna put out a trap."

"No way! You're kidding!"

" Serious. Hang on a sec."

Jeanne's got talent. She also just digs in and isn't afraid of getting involved with any free roaming cat she comes across. I don't know how many kittys Jeanne's saved, but I know it's a lot.

Then Jeanne began to describe him to me.

"He's mostly white...wait...Oh my God...I think he's...YES! He's going into the trap!!! The door isn't closing behind him! Shit! Wait a second..."

I could hear some muffled sounds, then suddenly a LOUD, plaintive MEOW! Trapper Jeanne lived up to her name. She caught the cat!

Jeanne got back on the phone with me, her voice high with excitement.

"I got him! Can you hear him meowing?! He CAN'T be feral!"

A deaf person could hear him MEOW it was so LOUD. He sounded a bit like a Siamese. Jeanne told me he was really skinny and dirty and we both knew that if he meowed like that, it meant he was probably not feral, but perhaps lost his family and he sure needed some help.

So Jeanne put him in her car and took him home for evaluation and to get him some food. Thankfully, Jeanne works for a Vet, so she has a great deal of knowledge and connections! Go Jeanne!

I told her to get going and begged her to update me when she could and to send me some photos. I wanted to help, too, but didn't know if she'd need my help. I am SO jonesing for foster kitty!

I started to hope that this kitty wasn't feral so we could get him a new home. How could this cat basically just show up when one of the few people in the area who could have helped him was there? For those of you who work with ferals, you KNOW, they often don't just go into the trap. He must have been very hungry and possibly used to being around humans to go after food while Jeanne was there watching.

Chip's story continues with a few photos and more news....stay tuned.