Patience

Patience is defined by Webster as "the capacity, habit or fact of being patient."

"...let's don't be hasty!" Treebeard

Patience can also be defined by the feral "scaredy-cat" who, on a cold winter day in 2019, seeks entrance into my warm home, which sits in the midst of her hunting grounds. She is unknown to we human occupants, except we have noticed that she "lives out there."

She begins "the dance of familiarization."

Being essentially non-verbal, she can only meow and look up into my eyes with what I perceive as a mournful expression. She looks up at me from her position at my feet and says, "squeak?"

Snow has been covering the ground for a week, now. Unable to hunt? She must be really hungry to submit herself to the ignominy of asking for help!

We humans have basic knowledge, such as food, shelter and warmth, but the cat has higher-level wants/needs, which she must get across to the "higher-level intelligence" with whom she is now communicating. She is in luck. I am clearing snow from the walkways, and my feet are cold, and I have shoes on, and she doesn't! I'm drawn in! (Success!)

I call my wife, who is at work at a local grocery store. This is a woman who loves cats, but who (mistakenly?) married an avowed "cat less-than-neutral" activist. I ask her to bring home some cat food. As she was "at work," she didn't have time to ask more than a few questions... The BIG questions will come later!

This cat has a 5-year plan!

She needs our cooperation to bring her plan to fruition. She does this by "leading" us: Running/ stepping in front of one of us causes that person to see her, even though their eyes are "miles" above hers! Once they see her, they might follow her. If they follow her, she can take the next step. This works equally well day or night. Sometimes she accidentally gets kicked across the room, but then they speak kind words directly to her. Increased Success!

Top priority is getting outside to perform required bodily functions: this takes the least training (she's training the humans, you must understand.)

Next is proper diet. That is also outside, but the dry kibble food in the kitchen fills a void that has, until now, been ever present.

Next is observation of her domain. The large windows behind the sofa are perfect for this activity, but "Mom" is reluctant to permit use of the top of the sofa as an observation post. Given the human's intrinsic superior intelligence, it takes the cat only a week to get Mom to cover the top of the sofa with a soft cuddly blanket as a protective device. Success again!

During this time, the cat is somehow seriously injured, endangering one of her 9 lives. She must be taken to the Veterinarian! Will she go passively? Will we even be able to catch her?

She does. Go passively. The humans are amazed! Remember, she's feral, and "scaredy".

At the vet's, it's discovered the cat needs a name! (Huh..!). She becomes Miss Kitty.

Once the vet's bill is paid (by Mom), she becomes (Mom's) Miss Kitty. Another success!

2020 - Back to the vet! Miss Kitty took on a coyote (It's thought) on the back deck after dark and came out the worse for wear. Another (larger) vet bill. Now I can claim partial ownership! Whatever happened to my activism..?

(The humans are following the program, although Miss Kitty is beginning to re-assess the personal cost..!)

600 miles to the South, "Grandmother" learns of Miss Kitty's situation and sends her a bed, which, before too many days pass, is ensconced on Mom's bed... Another success? It's decided Kitty must forego sleeping outside.

The plan is paying off!

"I must NOT maintain my claws in the house!!! This gig is too good to mess up!" Miss Kitty

Matted fur: seriously matted long fur: it's hard to run/jump. Life threatening (the coyote?).

The vet won't shave it off...

Hairbrush?! We need one!

Mom starts gently brushing Kitty's hair.

"Ahhh... Much better!"

"Now, if I can get Him involved...?!!" She does!

"Hey! I can purr!"

The humans think dry food is monotonous. Try Fancy Feast.

She eats it, She eats it not.

Try different flavors.

She eats it, she eats it not.

Hmmm... Research... Don't refrigerate Fancy Feast! She eats it!! ALL of it! Yes, it's smelly; That's why she eats it!

2024 ULTIMATE FREEDOM

One would think Miss Kitty has a degree from Wharton by the way she carried out the 5 year plan to take over the domicile in which she now resides.

She went from freezing her little paws off in the snow to luxurious accommodation on Mom's bed, pampered and fed in gourmet fashion, with access outdoors ad lib. She can monitor her domain from the comfort of the back of the sofa, warm up on the heater vent when necessary, and purr for the entertainment of her human subjects.

Her name should be Riley!