There is a legend that many little kittens were thrown into a river to drown. The mother cat wept and was so distraught that the willow tree on the bank felt compassion and held out their branches to the struggling kittens who clung to them and were saved. Ever since that time every spring, the willow trees wear gray buds that feet as soft and silky as kitten tails. That is why they are called “Pussy Willows”.

With the arrival of two aggressive cats who took over their covered eating place in the table saw shed, the three kittens were forced to eat in the open. I built them a covered feeding station that sits on 6 inch stilts. The kittens have adapted and crawl under it after lunch to nap. It takes time and patience to deal with new cats who aren’t used to sharing food or eating in close proximity with other cats. They calm down, join in or move on.

Gustav’s Story

A tiny mostly black kitten showed up wet and hungry during hurricane Gustav in August, 2008 that came close to the Florida Keys and that’s how “Gus” got his name. He was friendly and grew into a sizable cat completely content living under our deck in Key Largo.

One day a medium size dog wandered into our yard and as the other cats scampered for hiding places, Gus stood on his hind feet and started walking toward the dog with his front paws extended plainly challenging the dog who immediately after seeing Gus, split.  Gus had no fear which proved costly at a later time.

After moving from the Keys with Gus and 12 other cats to Ocklawaha, Florida, Gus pretty much ruled the neighborhood and found refuge in the wooded lot next door.

After a run in with the county animal control, I constructed the 40 x 16 x 10 foot cat cage, we put Gus inside and he wasn’t happy. He paced, climbed the screens and yelled at me and the next morning Gus was AWAL. We had no idea how he had gotten out but he made his presence known at lunch time and rubbed against my leg. I put Gus back in the cage and the next morning, he and two other cats were missing. In checking, we found where they had tunneled out. Remembering Gene Autry’s song “Don’t Fence Me In”, I figured Gus wasn’t meant to be caged in.

One day Gus didn’t show up for breakfast and then he missed lunch too which was unusual. A few days went by and still no Gus. He was friendly for a feral cat but I couldn’t see him picking another home.

Eight days later Wendy yelled at me that Gus was laying down in the neighbor’s yard. When I approached him, he tried to crawl to me. He was a chewed up bloody mess. I gently picked him up and handed him over the fence to Wendy who took him into the cage he had escaped from. We put blankets in a large animal kennel we kept in the big cage for new cats to get used to the other cats and vice-versa. He had broken teeth so we fed him watered down wet cat food which he devoured and was a good sign. After a few days rest and lots of food, we took him to the vet. It wasn’t our normal animal doctor and he indicated Gus should be put down.  We took Gus home where I made him a mini-horse sling so Gus could be upright but not putting pressure on both damaged left legs. A week later we took him back to see our regular vet who said both of his left legs were broken, he had numerous deep puncture wounds (which we had been treating) He had lost all but one fang tooth and now our regular vet too indicated Gus might be better off being put down. We took Gus home and I built two isolation rooms in the cage and put Gus in the top one. We fought infection with antibiotics, salves and gave him pain meds the vet had prescribed. Gus is a fighter and he got stronger every day. His isolation room became his security blanket and he loved his 4 x 8 foot screened in home and house I had made for him.

Wendy began taking him out into the big cage to be with the other cats and today he roams the big cage with a front left paw that takes a hard left as it had mended before it could be set. It would have to be re-broken to be set right and Gus has been through enough. His one fang looks a little funny but he’s healthy and happy and secure in the cage he accepts as home. Gus for years has shared his love and loyalty to us and we are blessed to be able to pay him back.

In the next newsletter we will tell about our escapades with “Momma Cat” the kitten machine.