Cats are like kids in the 1940s and ’50s.
Out to play after breakfast–not seen again ’til tummies rumble, early evening.
It’s what our tribe are like–not sure kids can do that these days.
A couple of days ago young Shadow came into the kitchen all–
“Hey fiddly dee, a kitty’s life for me! Just stopping by for a couple of spoonfuls, before hopping out.
“Uh-uh!–why no food bowls?”
Instead, the trusting little guy faced one of the less pleasant experiences of a young cat’s life.
Being neutered.
We reckon he’s about six-months-old–and it’s time.
Heartbreaking moment to see him jauntily enter the kitchen, ready for another day in Paradise, only to find no food and a strange looking container with a grill door sitting on the kitchen table.
“HELP! this isn’t how it should be, how it normally is.”
Driving to the vet, I felt recurring surges of emotional upset at what we were putting the poor mite through.
That old schoolmaster’s lie as he beats his pupil: “This is hurting me more than it hurts you!” came to mind.
A few hours later, after the simple procedure, Meredith picked him up and drove him home.
Not visibly distressed–simply exhausted and still drowsy from the anaesthetic, he slept through the night–but slipped out of the house in the early morning.
As the day developed, we realised he was not around.
He didn’t react to our calls. We started to worry.
He’s gregarious by nature and is always trying to engage the others in “conversation” and play–victim of the “third child syndrome”(Meredith knows about this; Jack too)–where the “others” are too busy to bother with “junior”.
High and low–house, cemetery, field, hedgerow–we searched; no Shadow.
The church was locked and windows newly-mended but then Meredith remembered that years ago one of our other cats, Peanut, when still semi-feral, found shelter in the church, beneath the wooden floors of the vestry, through a ventilation conduit.
Beau rues the fact that this conduit is too small for him now!
She located the opening and called. No reaction.
She bent down low–Ben was with her–and peered into the black hole.
There, peering back dubiously at her, were a pair of green eyes.
She managed to coax him out (perhaps reassured by Ben’s presence) and together, the newly formed trio set off on a tour ’round the church.
His confidence and trust in us were shaken by this traumatic experience–and it has taken a few days to win him back.
Last night he snuggled up to Meredith on the couch to watch a bit of “Scandi noir” on TV (the denouement of a Norwegian series)–followed every word, he did!!
Then he scared the daylights out of me by chasing a small ball across the floor exactly as he would a mouse.
“It’s a BALL for heavens sakes,” shouts an unsympathetic Meredith.
(I take care of the spiders, she takes care of the mice.)
Feels like he’s fully back in the family now.
Robin Ellis 
Glad he’s back safe & sound Robin.
Was the Scandi noir Wisting (?) – wasn’t it a good series….!
Yes, Wisting!
My UK friend and I were just discussing how in the UK & EU when adopting a cat they ask if you have enough outside room for it to roam. In the US they ask a similar question, but it’s a trick question. If you answer you are going to let your cat outside, they won’t let you adopt it. Here they prefer our cats to be indoor cats. The reasoning is that there is too much danger, i.e. cars, wild animals and poison outside. Statistics show that the outdoor US cat on average lives 6-7 years, and an indoor US cat 15-18.
Love your stories and the pictures if Shadow and you.😊
Robin,
I am so glad that he found his way to you and Meredith and I’m so glad that you found your patient again. He did not “stray” far which is a good thing. He may have wanted a little “alone time.”
He is a very handsome boy with his black fur and green eyes.
Marla
I do love your cat stories so, especially when there’s a happy ending ! 😻
Handsome black cat! I have had a few cats during my lifetime as well as dogs. Now my son took in a stray, he named her Generous! I dog sit a French Bull dog from time to time.
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Oh poor puss! No doubt he’ll forgive you in due course. Love the way you write about things, Robin. Perhaps you should write a book,………….!
What a gorgeous guy.
Love black cats, have just taken on one of my daughter’s cat’s kittens, carbon (sorry!) copy of Shadow but female, 6 months. Fractured my collarbone at Christmas, daughter likened me to Quasimodo with my figure of 8 shoulder brace so kitten has become Esméralda. Trying not to scare my Vendéen neighbours when I go out calling for her.
Hope your shoulder heals well. Very painful I’ll bet.
Thank you, Robin, it’s made me think twice about riding again, I didn’t realise that at 63, bones take a little longer to mend.
I feel so much sympathy for you and Shadow having been through the guilt and responsibility so many times with our cats! I am so glad he’s home and feeling safe again.
Love Susie Rook xx
Thanks, Susie and meilleurs voeux a you and Peter.
A un de ces jours, alors!
Rxx
All’s well that ends well! Glad Shadow is returning to his usual self.
What a delightful tale, no pun intended. Thank you for sharing because you know I enjoy all the cat tales. Warm regards to you both and your feline family. PS The lady with whom I do Pilotese has a cat that was adopted. Of all her clients there are only two of us that Maddy will come to and today she even started purring.
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What a sweet story with a happy ending. I was a bit worried for a moment that he was not coming back! Love the picture. He certainly is a beautiful cat and you are very responsible parents!
Lovely story. Thank you!
Such a sweet story. Thanks for sharing! Karen Fleming
Very sweet post Robin. I laughed out loud at Meredith’s “It’s a BALL for heavens sakes.” In our house Neil deals with the crickets and I deal with the mice. When a cat brings up a mouse from the basement I grab a tea towel and catch the mouse and put him outside. I always say I am liberating the mouse. Neil will shake his head and say, “you know it’s just going to come back in.” I am amazed Meredith found Shadow’s hiding place. Glad all is well and has returned to normal. Shadow is a beautiful cat.
Hi Mary.
Yes we are so lucky he chose us!
Thank you both for taking such wonderful care of them all. It does always feel like a betrayal when we have to take them to the vet : (. I don’t know how it is there, but it seems as though the feral cat population here (Long Island, NY) isn’t decreasing despite TNR efforts. Obviously there are still people who remain ignorant of the importance of spaying and neutering or perhaps simply do not care about the welfare of the animals. It is heartwarming to read stories like this and see those beautiful cats being cared for properly and loved so well. : ) Wishing Shadow and all of your furry family long and happy lives : ). Ps. We have the same arrangement here re: spiders (shriek!!!!) and mice (awwww…cute). LOL ; )
It was the right thing to do .To many unwanted cats in the world .More traumatic for the owner I think when the procedure has to be done .👍🥰
Hi Bro,
A clearcat case of a catchy tail which fits purrfectly into the category of a cataclysmic catastrophe. Give him a gin and catatonic! (Iâll stop there.) Kxxx
Da: Robin Ellis Inviato: lunedì 27 gennaio 2020 16:34 A: keith@boggioli.com Oggetto: [New post] WHERE is he�
Robin Ellis posted: ” Cats are like kids in the 1940s and ’50s. Out to play after breakfast–not seen again ’til tummies rumble, early evening. It’s what our tribe are like–not sure kids can do that these days. A couple of days ago young Shadow came into the kitc”
From the Master punner this is a stunner.
Gin and catatonic should be patented.
Talk soon,
R
gorgeous puss Poor wee Shadow He looks like Wee Tom Mad Pats cat in The Lieutenant of Inishmore As played brilliantly in The West End by your Ross Poldark successor Mr Turner.Mad Pat not Wee Tom obviously Life sounds good on the domestic front Robin We must continue to pray for better news on the international scene Regards Brenda
What s fascinating and wonderfully told story, Robin! Love it, and so glad Shadow is back in the fold! 💚😊
Oh thank goodness you found him – he’s a lovely cat and am sure he’s ‘forgiven’ you. I was hoping for a happy ending as I read.
I remember playing outside all day in the 50s! There were derelict fields awaiting the dual carriageway, but at the time they were anything our minds could conjure up! One day a Shetland pony was roaming there; he’d pulled up his tethering stake and wandered. My father retethered him until his owner returned, and I was definitely miffed! I wanted to keep him!
Shadow is growing well, and he has obviously decided to forgive you both; He’s a lovely cat, similar to my long deceased Merlin. Long may your feline tribe thrive!
When I had to neuter my first cat Henry. Named after Henry Purcell i TOO was nervous. This was 1984 and before I became a nurse. The vet saw my state of mind and told me JUST REMEMBER YOU RE RAISING HIS Iq admit I giggled and remember the vet Helen had told me about being one of the very few women at VETERINARY COLLEGE. also subject to much abuse
Helen graduated top of her class and despite my many kitty men and career as a critical care NURSE I still remember and laugh when my sweeties for this procedure
You are exactly right about kids in 40’s and 50’s I have five sons. Glad Shadow is back. How we love our pets.
Ahhh….he’ll be fine now, glad you steeled yourself to ‘doing the right thing’, best for all 😉 ….break out the canned tuna x
I remember the first time I got one of my cats neutered. He was called Norman Bates because he was a bit of a psycho but adorable. He came back from the vets and lay on his side with one leg up looking where his equipment used to be then looked back at me and let out a pitiful cry. This went on for about 10 minutes; it was awful. l felt so guilty but within the hour he had forgiven me. The love of a cat is immeasurable. Glad your story had a happy ending.
Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed reading. It maybe time for a storybook about the adventures if Shadow
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