Stray Cats
on George Hamilton (Jamaica), 02/Jun/2010 03:45, 34 days ago
The very first thing we noticed when we arrived in Kingston airport while standing on the curb waiting for our taxi, 2 months ago, was the smallest cat we'd ever seen run across the road. It was so thin we weren't 100% sure it actually was a cat at first but realized it had to be - it ran like a cat. Since then we've seen lots of starving cats everywhere in Kingston. Then, a week ago we saw an emaciated Siamese cat at the Marley Museum which really moved me. I've never seen a cat that small and he wasn't afraid of people either. What a beautiful cat - it was so sad to have to leave it behind.We have two very timid strays at our apartment building. Whenever I've attempted to befriend them in the past they've run away. They're curious though and often look in our kitchen window at me but if I open the door or get too close, they disappear. George said he's seen them eating garbage in the big open bins down by our gate so we know they've got a regular food supply of some sort. He always makes sure they aren't in the bin before throwing in the garbage so that he doesn't hurt them. I have never seen them in the barrels before but have frequently seen them in the vicinity running along the wall either to or from the garbage collection area.A couple of days ago, thinking about that Siamese at the Marley Museum that I can't help, I realized we have two strays that I can help, so I put out a bowl of milk for them. Yesterday I filled it up twice during the day and was going to fill it a third time after George returned home from work but he suggested I not let them get too dependent on it. His fear was before too long they'd decide they wanted to get fed in the middle of the night and start insisting on us taking out fresh milk at 3:00 am ...then I'd be sorry. We have a cat back home who knew how to run our household so I suspect George was concerned these two might easily develop the same characteristic.Above is one of the two strays at our apartment. The other is a pretty beige with white spot on his throat. Very pretty cat and the one more likely to look in the window at me as I work on the computer so I have my camera ready. If I miraculously get a photo of the elusive beige and white one I'll add it later. OK, so I caught his tail as he quickly escaped from my camera lens into the drainage hole for the garbage area through to the lawns beyond. After witnessing him slip through the narrow hole, I realized it's best not to fatten him up too much or he'll get stuck in there one day.The interesting thing about these cats is, even though I know they are drinking the milk, I never see them do it. I've got the bowl right outside our kitchen window in direct view from our computer - the bowl empties in no time and it's not evaporating.This morning I subliminally poured way too much milk on my cereal for one serving of Raisin Bran so I put the remainder out for the cats. Unfortunately it was the morning that Hubert our gardener chose to mow the lawns and the strays didn't come anywhere near - only the ants got to drink my milk. All's quiet now so I'll try again. This is going to work. I was looking for something to nurture, now I have some plants and two very cagey stray cats. They are street smart. Life is good.