Missing

MISSING CAT

Have you seen me?? I am an orange tabby, 1½ years old.

My name is Jim.

Please call if you have seen me. My humans last saw me Friday night
04 October 2013, and are worried about me.

Thank you.

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I know Kipling wrote about giving dogs your heart to tear. Cats can do this, too, when they decide they need to go off on an adventure. sigh.

I know there's good hunting out there, and i know he can go nearly a half mile before he comes to a roadway if he sticks to all back yards. In my unkempt back yard alone, there's easily a hundred different places for him to hide. Now that the signs are up (they look like everything above the ***** and have my phone number on them) and i've talked to a few neighbours about him, i'll be glad to look foolish as he saunters in, completely oblivious to any worry. It sure beats heartbreak.

Anniversary

It's hard to believe it's been a year since a small, orange ball of fluff arrived here to live with us. Jim has grown into a young cat, tall, sleek, and very happy.

Himself and i celebrated the day by toasting the anniversary of our youngest feline's arrival. We also went kayaking and swimming. JoJo lounged on the barn's side porch and welcoming any of the breeze that blew to reduce the effect of the heat. Phoebe stayed inside, hunting down cellar and in the eaves closet and hidey holes. As for Jim, he bounded around the yard, lay alongside Jo for a quick nap, walked along the top of the fence, and after we returned from our swim, greeted us by rubbing our legs and curling his long tail.

In other words, just another day in his life, enjoying every moment he can.

I was hoping to get a good photo of him to show him all grown up. So far, i've been unsuccessful.

I think i'll take a page out of his and the other kitties' books, remembering to savour each moment.

Get ready for some fuzzy cuteness

I have been trying to get a good picture of Jim, but he moves around a lot adding to my ineptness as photographer. My friend's 10-year-old grandson, he of spicy ketchup potato chip/crisps fame, took 2 very good photos, so i might be asking if i can get a copy of each.

Meantime, these shall have to suffice.





He loved the kitty doorstop the first week and flung himself off him. Nowadays, it's a simple climb over.

He sat still long enough, so I clicked the button and ignored the bad lighting.






He likes to climb, and I had forgotten I had put this silly thing on the chair in the living room. Jim thought it was there for his amusment. He sees the toy potential in everything.

 



He's testing out the toy possibilities. It's shiny and it might move.




Pausing a moment.

 

Meet Jim

The vet's office sent a "Pet Health Report Card" for Jim, which arrived in the mail today. They took a photo of him, as they do for all their patients to keep with their files. It's not the greatest picture, as he was squirming when they pressed the button, but as my camera is still out for repairs, it will have to do for now.

They have him as 9 weeks and 2 days old. Other than earmites (and we got medicine for that for him and a dose for the other cats, too, since they're highly contagious), the vet said everything looked good!

I have fallen hopelessly in love.

Getting to know you...

Jim has settled in well thus far. I have him sequestered in my office. It's got two doors with glass on two walls, so Phoebe and JoJo have taken to looking through the glass at the Interloper. The first day, they both hissed and growled and were a little surprised to agree on something.

Yesterday, they looked on and saw him but no hissing or growling.

I've been sure to pay attention to them both, praise them, love them.

Today, Phoebe glared at Jim then went back upstairs, which is her home territory in the house. Jo looked through for a while, and when i was upstairs with Phoebe, i heard Jo hiss loudly. It got Phoebe's attention, too.

Meantime, Jim is sleeping, eating, drinking, and playing. He doesn't always get to the litterbox, which concerns me. I think he gets caught up in playing. He always uses the box when urinating, but fecally speaking, it's hit and miss.

He will meet the vet Tuesday morning at 8:30. I have ordered an FIV test for him, as i want to be sure he's negative. I did tell the liaison that if he's FIV positive, i won't keep him. My take on it is that FIV positive animals should be put down. Yes, heartbreaking to do, but clinically speaking, i think it's best. I'd also get an abortion if i found myself HIV positive and pregnant, so it's not species-specific with me.

If all goes well, then when we return, i think that will be the time for Phoebe and JoJo to meet Jim. I'll leave my office doors open whilst we're gone, so they can have a good sniff around, pee in his litterbox, eat what's left of his food, and upon our return, i'm hoping that the smell of the vet's office will gain him some pity.

My camera needed to be sent away to be fixed, and i'll not have it back for a week and a half or so. Pity, as i'd like to chronicle the changes in Jim. I do still have my film camera and i think i even have a roll of film. Might have to resort to retro.