All I Want for Christmas is for This Guy To Be Saved!
This isn't a travel related post but I really need to share it.
Iāve never been a cat person.
Felines have interesting and unique qualities that make them adorable in their own way, and I certainly donāt hate them; I prefer dogs because theyāre typically more sociable, trainable, lovable, and reliable. Not to mention, Iām also allergic to cats.
So I never imagined in a million years Iād become the neighborhood cat guy, attached to a stray weāve affectionately named Skittles.1
Skittles showed up at my daughterās house over a year ago. He was a malnourished, starving kitten who didnāt trust humans but needed a good meal.
Usually, I wouldnāt feed a stray cat because I know it causes a lot of problems, and he might start hanging around and become dependent on my daughter or us. Since we travel full-time, I didnāt want to take on that responsibility for any of us.
But I couldnāt let an animal die or suffer like that!
When I said goodbye to my best friend Bandit in April 2020, I was absolutely devastated, and to be honest, I still havenāt recovered from that day. My heart was so broken, I promised myself Iād never get emotionally attached to an animal again.
Then the Cat Distribution System sent me a kitten. š š¤·āāļø
Since that first day Skittles showed up hungry, he has become something of a buddy when weāre in town visiting my daughter.
If weāre outside, he always finds us and asks for love and affection, while ātalkingā to us constantly. When we go inside, heāll jump onto the window ledges to stare at us, looking like he wants to join the family. Sometimes when Iām working in the garage, heāll jump onto the buckets to take a nap while listening to the Grateful Dead.
This cat and his behavior are rare to me. Iāve only ever met one other Feline who enjoys being loved and appreciated as much as he does. Not even our daughterās cat wants that much to do with us! š
Several days ago, Skittles showed up injured.
I donāt know if he got into a fight or fell weird, but he wasnāt himself and just lay there with a non-committal attitude. Thatās when I noticed his leg was messed up. Heās been limping and it doesnāt look right. Maybe itās broken.
Because it was Friday and ALL the local veterinary places and the city shelters were closed, and because we donāt have the funds to take him to an expensive emergency room, Skittles has had to endure the injury. Believe me, I called 14 different places, begging for help, and no one would help.
All weekend, Iāve been dealing with severe anxiety and stress, and even cried at times, all for a feral neighborhood cat I never wanted or expected to like.
Apparently, I do have a heart!
Today, I found Bella SPCA, a nonprofit veterinary hospital in Oklahoma City, which said that if I bring him in, they can help for a fraction of what other veterinarians charge. Still, they donāt know what they can do until we get him in for an appointment, and we donāt really have the money for treatment.
Animal Welfare will come and get him, treat him if possible, and try to adopt him out, but thereās a great possibility he would be euthanized. I donāt think I can live with that decision, mainly because I believe Skittles would make a great family pet, and he deserves a chance to live.
Now Iām just hoping for the best.
Weāre going to get a cat carrier, hopefully find him outside, and then convince him to go with us to Bella SPCA willingly.
I donāt know if weāll have the money to give him proper care or if they can do anything for Skittles, and maybe the outcome isnāt what I want, but I also canāt watch this lovable cat suffer anymore. And if we didnāt live on the road and I wasnāt allergic to cats, heād have a place with us, but unfortunately, thatās not an option.
That being said, Iām praying for a Christmas miracle.
I hope someone can help him, that his life will be saved, and that in the end, Skittles will find a home with someone who loves him as much as he loves them. ā„ļø
If youāre an animal lover, specifically cats, and you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know. Iāll be forever grateful!!!
He also goes by different names, like Seal or Michael, depending on which neighbor you talk to.