Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Chapter 748, in which I Join the Highland Light Infantry



I like reading memoirs from decades ago. They provide great insight into how life in the past was lived on a daily basis, and frequently contain amusing episodes. I recall reading the autobiography of a British Army officer which told of a fellow cadet who, when passing out of Sandhurst, filled in the standard questionnaire regarding the regiments into which he wanted to be commissioned. He wrote “Anything except the Highland Light Infantry.” It was indicative that the higher powers had a sense of humour that the cadet was sent off to Glasgow and the Highland Light Infantry.

I have long advocated for middle-aged and older cats. Everyone chooses kittens. They are cute, cuddly, wobbly and have high squeaky voices. It’s the oldsters who need homes more. Kittens are rambunctious, overly energetic and troublesome. I have always stayed away from kittens.

I’ve now been sent to the Highland Light Infantry.

Meet Echo.


She was squawking horribly behind the building where I work. There is a colony of feral cats there, all black and white, except for a couple of grey tabbies. They are all very shy of people except the man who feeds them. Echo appeared and definitely knew that people were the ones with the food and comfort. Far from shy, she kept trying to slip through the doorway into the building. We think that she was abandoned with her siblings. They were all rescued by someone here, all but one, an orange youngster, who could not be found at the time. She has been now.

Someone termed Echo and her brothers and sisters ‘feral’, though of course they, and she, are not. I think the term sometimes is confused with ‘homeless’. They are all socialised, so they had a home at one point, and it could not have been long ago, for Echo is only about four months old (so I estimate). Perhaps a child pleaded for a kitten, did not take care of it and the parents did not want to. It may be known by some that the feral colony behind my work-place is being fed, so that presented a solution. Abandonment is never a good solution for the cat.


Echo was almost panicky, hoping for someone to let her in where she felt safe, so, since no one else was going to help her, I felt I had to. The only way to do that was to provide her with refuge. I brought her home. Having another cat live with me was not last on my list of things to do, but it was near the bottom. However, there was, I felt, no alternative. She is currently in my bathroom.

Once there, she wailed and cried, cried and wailed. Then she started to settle on my lap. She purred and cried and wailed. Then she purred and talked. Then she just purred. She purred and rolled onto her back and kneaded the air. She ate hungrily once she realised she was safe. She drank thirstily. I have no idea if she knows the purpose of a litter-box, but there is one with her.


The other beasts are curious but not put off their habits by the newcomer. Because of her recent problems, hardly finished, Cammie was uppermost in my concerns, but she is unfazed. Readers will be glad to know that she is eating well: her appetite for soft-food is returning, and she is asking for – and receiving – hard-food whenever she wants it. (I will still be talking to my regular veterinary about her condition. I have called the emergency clinic to prompt them to forward the x-ray. I am annoyed that they have not, and will speak to them again tomorrow.)

For now, there is Echo. Because foster-homes are at a premium here, I will be keeping her until one is found, whenever that may be. Being a youngster, she may even go straight into an adoption, but even so, that will not be possible for a week or two while her health is examined.

In any case, like the officer sent to the regiment for which he did not really care, I will do what I can for those for whom I am responsible. I wonder if that officer found his new situation not half as bad as he had anticipated.

27 comments:

  1. Hello Echo! So good of you to take her in, John. I hope that she is in good health. She looks a lot like my Tommy, who was about her age when he limped crying to my daughter seventeen and a half years ago as she walked near a field. Homeless, not feral, scrawny and in pain with a leg broken in two places, fleas, worms, mites, Tommy was still affectionate. The vet rid him of parasites and set his leg, and since then Tommy has been a loving cat, a lap cat, a snuggler who sleeps in the crook of my arm at night, and a cat who patiently and tenaciously maneuvers to get along well with other cats, even when they are catty toward him. He is a treasure. I hope that Echo is as good-natured as Tommy.

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    1. Tommy sure landed in a good place. He sounds wonderful. I think Echo will be good-natured toward the others here; as to how they behave to ward her, we shall see.

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  2. God bless you, John! Since I volunteer in the Maternity Room at PAWS, I'll admit to having a soft spot for kittens. But beware - you can get attached very quickly, and it sounds like Echo has already adopted you. Kittens usually have no problem learning to use the litter box - just show her where it is and she'll know what it's for. Meanwhile, I'm glad you're keeping her separated from the other cats until she can be checked by a vet. She should have no problem settling in as kittens adapt very quickly. I'll look forward to hearing more about Echo in future blogs. She is adorable!

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    1. Thank you. Echo goes to the vet next Tuesday. She's a little doll, all right.

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  3. I am smiling. And I love the analogy as well. Echo is so fortunate and she knows-- it to have met you. Thank you from my heart for saving her. I know that it is absolutely an assignment to the Highland Light Infantry. It would have been here as well when a darling I called Mr T was abandoned by his family across the street. A despicable thing to do. He was hungry, ridden with fleas and in fights as an intact male. And loving to the extreme. How can a person have a cat so loving and just abandon him? I tried all I could to care for him outside my home and pulled out all the stops to find someone to adopt him. I paid for his vet care for awhile as I hired a tech to please come and get him (he was afraid of the PTU). I was able to get a woman friend at the time to adopt him. But I would have taken him in if I could not have, despite my Tortie Admiral's "not in MY house you don't" attitude.

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    1. Mr T was lucky to have you looking out for him, and all his future happiness was because of you. I just returned from visiting her at lunch-time, and she is calming down a bit: she lies still for pets and strokes.

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  4. Oh my! It's so sad with all the homeless cats in this world. It just makes me cry. Thank you for rescuing Echo who looks quite at home on your lap!
    Glad to hear Cammie is on the mend.

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    1. I am quite happy with how things are at the Cosy Apartment right now. It's crowded, but everyone is doing well.

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  5. Now YOU are having quite an adventure! Bless you indeed for rescuing her. I can see her paws kneading on you, what a love bug. Surely she'll find a wonderful forever home sooner than later. Sooner probably would be better all round, otherwise she might end being your 6th!

    P.S. So good to read that Cammie eating again and unfazed about Echo's presence.

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    1. If I had a larger apartment - and was sure I wouldn't be evicted for having so many (I still don't know if there is a limit here), I probably would have had that many before now. Sigh.

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  6. Welcome to the Highland Light Infantry, John. I've served there virtually all my life.

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  7. Oh, sweet Echo! And you are right about the term 'feral'...it has people confused. Great that Cammie is eating! Keep us informed, please.

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    1. Random Felines (see below) wrote that 'community cats' is the phrase being used for ferals. I don't usually like euphemisms, but since 'feral' means wild, it is misleading even when applied correctly, really.

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  8. The first thing I thought when I saw the little orange kitten was "oh Tungsten, you've sent someone to dad to help him through as all of his cat family is older". Somehow I just see Tungsten's velvet paw in this. I really do. Echo is beautiful and absolutely captivating! I'm not a kitty person either but when I saw her face and those little arms.....!!!
    I'm relieved to know Cammie is on the mend. (Good work, John). And she didn't mind the kitty!
    Congratulations on your new family member. God bless you for all of you kindness and your great big heart.

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    1. If that Tungsten of mine had a paw in this, then I hope it is to have Echo rescued but adopted to a loving family. I don't think I could take another cat! But my tiny terror started everything that's happened to me since 2007, so I don't see why she isn't still making things happen.

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  9. Echo looks very sweet and was obviously desperate for someone to love. Even though you have joined the Highland Light Infantry I am sure you will find it much better than expected.
    I am very glad to hear that Cammie is improving.

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    1. Echo is already calming down. She has a vet appointment on the 12th, and then...integration begins...

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  10. Echo was very fortunate to have found you. Thank you for giving her shelter, food and attention. My Jessica found me in a park close to my home. She was not yet one, lonely, very hungry and tired. She followed me home and straight into my apartment and made herself at home. We had sixteen wonderful years together. Echo is lovely and your cats seem to sense she needs love and attention right now.

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    1. Jessica knew where her person was. She was just waiting to find you. Thank YOU for loving Jessica.

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  11. Oh my goodness, my comment isn't here. No loss though. I'll do this one stating that it's not here. :-)

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    1. Sometimes I am able to publish the comments soon after they are made, others have to wait until I get home from work. It depends on how much I have going on here! Your first comment is above.

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  12. lucky for Echo someone was there to take care. lots of places are now using the term "community cats" since while there is a difference between ferals and strays, not many people make the distinction.

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    1. I like 'community cats' better than 'feral'. Feral means wild and most of them are, of course, not wild, just unsocialised.

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  13. welcome two ewe echo; ewe could knot haz finded a better dad...de cat father N crerws dad total lee rocks N we noe ewe R wear St Francis meant ya to bee rite now....best fishez two ewe N 984 paws UP two ewe mr john with blessingz az well ~~~~~~~ N cammie we iz buzzed happee ta lurn yur doin better ~~~~ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

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  14. How sweet of you to rescue this cutie.

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  15. It is so kind of you to open your home and heart to this sweet little kitten.

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