Ranger’s adoptiversary

Monday, 8/28, was Ranger’s second adoptiversary. He came to live with me on Saturday, August 28, 2004.

Jane had come over that Saturday and we had gone into town to run several errands. Of course, one of the errands was to head to one of the pet stores for food, litter, supplies, toys or other essential items for cats or puppies.

At that time, I had Little Bit, Floyd and Evan. Little Bit and Floyd had been with me for about a year and a half. Evan was only with me for about three months (he was a June adoptee).

Jane and I were joking that the only think I needed to be a complete cat person was a long haired, all white, blue eyed cat. We thought those critters were rather rare, so I would not really ever see one in my lifetime (Jane had one while she was a child).

On the way home, I decided to stop off at a local farm stand to get some fresh corn. I was thinking of making upside down corn cake for dinner (it is a vegetable course, not a dessert). We stop off at the farm stand only a few miles from my house – where we had gotten some pretty good corn before

While shopping, this dirty white kitten comes out from under a shed and climbs right up my leg. He was not much bigger than my hand. White, long haired, with blue eyes!

As I tell the stand owner what a beautiful kitten she had (although I was thinking A) why is this little kitten running around by the road and B) the kitten looked to be in rough shape – dirty, gunky eyes and full of flees), she tells me that the kitten had been thrown out of a moving car a few days before and was living under the shed. She already had 9 or so cats on the farm, and could not take another one in.

I think I hesitated for about three one-millionths of a second before I told Jane to fetch the keys out of my pocket and drive home. I was not going to let the little kitty out of my hands.

The first think we did, after getting the little guy set up in a safe room at my house, was to run back into town for kitten food. My regular pet food store (mom and pop) has closed, so I had to go to Petsmart. The sales people recommended a Purina brand kitten food (not sure exactly which one). As he was full of fleas, I was looking for a flea treatment for him – but could not find one (this was before I knew about Hartz). I thought the guy was only about 6-8 weeks old, so I could not find anything safe for him (by reading the product labels). We ended up using baby shampoo and a flea comb to kill as many fleas as we could (30+). The little guy knew how to eat food and what the litter box was for – smart guy.

It took a bit of work to get Ranger cleaned up. Capstar killed the adult fleas and Advantage (for the whole household) prevented a re-infection. I also bombed is room with a vet supplied product. The eyes and the URI took a bit to clean up- lots of eye ointment for him.

As soon as the quarantine was over, the introduction process began. I think it took all of about 3 seconds. Ranger saw Floyd, Floyd saw Ranger, Floyd adopted and started to groom Ranger. The two of them became best buddies – until Floyd passed away a year ago in June.

The motto of the US Army Rangers is “Fortune favors the bold”. Ranger was a bold kitty – by running up to me he found a good home, hence his name. I seem to be the only person who calls him Ranger – everyone else, including the vets, call him Fluffy.

There are pictures of Ranger in the photo section.

Mark

Happy Adoptiversary Ranger!!!!!!!!!!!


I loved reading about his adoption - he was a very smart kitty to have chosen you! (and vice versa)

Happy Adoptiversary Ranger!!!!!!! Daddy told Maria and I your story at our picnic lunch on Tuesday....what a smart little kitty you were (are)!!!! And your daddy is lucky to have you. I didn't realize where your name came from (must have missed that part) but I think it's cool.