Here's the story:
Katie, my bestest friend in the world and cat protector and owner of Crook lives in a condo (former apartments) complex. This 5 to 6 month old kittyboi was hanging around, climbing trees for months. Going up stairs and trying to help himself to other people's homes. She figured out who he belonged to and asked about the situation. Apparently the lady she talked to said it wasn't even her cat, it was a friends and she didn't particularly like the cat.
This handsome boy was very friendly (despite the woman's assertion he bites and claws), and since they were letting him roam free he had several hitchikers (fleas). Katie found him in a tree the next day, took him down and into her place and washed him up with just water. (Crook was not pleased to say the least and hissed for the first time in the three years she has own him).
She informed various other neighbors that if he is seen roaming around to snatch him up and let her know. She knew who needed a new kitty.
When she related the story to me I was under the impression I had about a week. Well Saturday she calls me in the morning on her way to a hairdresser appointment in El Cajon (about 20 minute drive from me) and said, "How would you like to meet your new furbaby?"
I ..uh.... yah... sure!
She had stepped out of her place and saw him in a tree again, scooped him up, put him in a carrier with some food and a towel and was on her way.
Okay so on the way out to meet her I'm thinking of names... just a few days before I was thinking if I ever got a pet wondered if there were any good Pokemon names that would work.
Well driving out there the only name that came to mind, sight unseen for the kitty..was Rocky or Rocko. She had described him but fur descriptions are hard to pinpoint in my head, had similar coloring to her cat but with socks..well that's highly variable.
When I arrive and see him, not exactly love at first sight (I'm more of a dog person but I'm an equal opportunity lover of fur babies) he certainly is adorable and very sweet. Loved being rubbed on his head and face, complained loudly when he was put in the carrier and then noticed he had a small cut on the bridge of his nose. Katie mentioned that he had tried to force his way out of the carrier and got scratched.
Rocky it is. 'Broken' nose and all.
We went straight to Petco by my house and Katie set him up with a litter box, flea comb and when he insisted he wanted to get down and wander around I opted for a harnes and leash. Guess what? He didn't fight it at all. Squirmed a little but didn't try to get out of it or object. Only tried to back out of it when he got startled and I still held the leash. Planning on keeping that up so he's used to walking around the neighborhood and getting taken to the vet.
So now after two days here he's settled in.
Amazing how a new member of your household motivates you to clean. I got up this morning (after lazing in bed with the kitty) finally gave him some food, sat in bed some more then went out and fixed my food and gave him some treats.
Saw that roommate had dumped her collection of dishes from her room in the sink and ... can't leave dirty puddled dishes since Rocky McFuzzbutt can leap tall counters in a single bound..keeping counters and sink clear of nasty dishes is imperative. Cleared dishes from sink and are now drying on the rack.
In the process of washing one of his new corell (I think) food dishes, it slipped and shattered in the sink. Alrighty then..clean that up, realized that the trash and recycling needed to be taken out...sigh.
Saw there were spots on the floor as well as random bits of debris from shoes etc... sweep, right. Took out trash, swept and did spot cleaning here and there with a rag and Simple Green.
Gee, I should check his litter box... Katie bought a newfangled one that has a sifter pan and two trays..easy peasey to clean except the urine clumps stuck to the sifter..got that finished annnnd..the patio is a disaster. Sigh.
Started sweeping, reorganized boxes and other items, swept every where I could and remembered there were two of Crooks mice tucked in a corner, retrieved them and washed lightly, squeezed them and threw them on the floor. Needless to say he adores them and will spend at least an hour playing with them.
Patio is now presentable for sitting and for kitty lounging and I'm ready for a break.
Need to run a box or two to storage as well as take a big box of trash to the dumpster that were on the patio.
He's discovered all the best places for observing the outside world. He'll be an inside cat for the most part but it doesn't stop him from wanting to bolt out the front door if it stays open too long (that being about 20 seconds).
So..there you have it. Katie hasn't heard anything from the neighbors or any 'gossip from anyone else about him missing.
Will be contacting the vet today to make a first kitty appointment. For now the vet is the one Katie goes to who's been tending her animals for close to 15 years.
The local Petco is in the process of building a new full time vet clinic in their store but it won't be done for a couple of months. Can't wait that long for him to get fixed and get a check up.
So there you have it, a new chapter in my life has begun.
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