We came back from Alabama and Jim's mother and step-father's home with two cats.

One is Snookums, the first cat we had, and whom we gave to Jim's mother and step-father 5 years ago when Simon kept attacking her at any chance he could. Simon would try to get into the room we finally kept Snookums in, and once managed to get in and then attacked her while she slept! So after that, we gave her to Jim's mother and step-father.

For five years, Snookums was pampered, mostly by the step-father (SF). Snookums would follow him around, snooze on his lap and watch him shave.

Then, a few months ago, Jim's mother and SF took in a baby some younger relative had taken away by Child Protective Services. There were no other younger suitable family members to take the baby.

Snookums ran out one day when some furniture was being moved out of the house, and outside she stayed for about three months, until Jim and I got to Alabama. Supposedly, Snookums would not come back in the house and would not let SF pick her up to bring her in. But, we saw Snookums out in their yard, and after she led us on a tease run, she let me pick her up and carry her back in the house. She had seen an older kitten and chased the kitten up a tree, then stood on a branch that was angled from the tree to the ground. She looked an me and seemed to be waiting for me. That was when I simply picked her up.

I thought once I brought Snookums in, SF in particular would be so happy, but he wouldn't even turn his head to look at her as I stood next to him to give him back Snookums! He didn't want her anymore or to have anything more to do with her!! Not even to look at her! He said Snookums never liked him, which is flat out so not true.

I know the baby has been consuming his time, and maybe he felt having the baby and catering to Snookums was too much for him, so he could have said that. But to deny that there had been any mutual caring relationship between him and Snookums for FIVE YEARS, is strange. Either he is a bit senile (he is about sixty-eight), or he is an . I can't feel very good about Jim's mother either. She didn't come over to see Snookums either. It's like Snookums was some old junk I picked up outside that was of no interest to them. Jim's mother later told me they couldn't manage with Snookums and the baby. I understand that, but the way they treated Snookums just makes me so angry and upset.

So, we now have our Snooky Doodle back.

The other cat we call Clemintine. She is the older kitten Snookums had chased up the tree. Earlier that day, I was outside and from the wooded area behind Jim's mother's home I heard a cat crying and crying, and saw Clemmie up a tree. I talked and called back in the same cat call (as best I could imitate it), and Clemmie came down. It took her a few minutes to trust, but then she came to me and let me hold her. She purred and purred. She is sooooo tame. And overly thin.

The next day, I went to go outside, and there was Clemmie facing the front door, and only about a foot from it, crying and crying. I know she was looking for me. So we decided to take her too, as obviously she was not going to be able to make it alone outside. She acts and has the appearance of a 5 month old kitten, still needing a "momma". But, she could be 6 months old. I believe she is a dumped pet cat.

I'll write more later.

Hi Margaret:

OH, man! What a bad situation! But, true to your good nature, you and Jim stepped in to rescue Snookums and Clemintine.

I would also be furious if a cat I had given to a good home had suddenly been thrown away. The only think I can say in your in-law’s defense is that they may be quite overwhelmed by caring for the baby.

I hope the trip home went well and the integration of the Snookums and Clemintine goes well.

I went searching for pictures of Snookums on the website, but could not find any. I did notice that Little Bit is the “Cat of the Day” today (daddy beaming with pride here). I will look forward to seeing pictures of your new kids.

Mark

Yes, it was bad, but it is sort of ok now.

Snookums will be very difficult to integrate with our other cats. We will be looking for a new home for her, that doesn't have maybe more than one other cat. I can't see that she will be able to be successfully integrated with all my other cats.

Clemintine will be ok to get integrated, as far as I can tell so far. She is being kept in my bedroom, and Galen was not going to let much of anything keep him from coming under the covers and doing his nightly knead and purr session with me. He kept scratching to come in, so I let him in. Clemintine was loose and sleeping on my dresser. I fell back asleep and when I woke up, all was well. I can't remember if the cats were still asleep or not, but all was peaceful.

So far for two nights that was the case, aned then this morning Galen wanted back in. He went into Clemmie's carrier to hang out and she was perched on top of the dog cage. I finally left the room for a while and when I went back in, they were still in those spots resting calmly. So at least all will be well with Galen and Clemmie. Every single cat we ever took in was fine with Galen. He never challenges any new cat and they obviously pick up that he is mild mannered nice guy. He won't bother them if they don't bother him.

Galen insisted on going into the other bedroom where Snookums is living for now. She was on the bed. Galen just walked straight into the connecting bathroom and spent a lot of time sniffing in there. When he came out, he glanced up when he heard Snookums growling at him. He then briskly walked to the door to be let out. I know Galen won't bother her, but I'm not so sure how she will be with him. Probably ok, just growling if he comes near.

Snookums was very scared the first two days, spending most of the time that I know of in her small carrier tucked next to the toilet in the bathroom. She only came out to eat, as far as I know, when I went in there. But then, she got brave to go on the dresser in the bedroom, when Jim took a nap in there. After that, when I go in I find her on the bed or dresser, so she is done hiding in her carrier most of the time. Maybe in a few more days she will feel fully safe in her safe room, and then will be more accepting of Galen at least. And Sumner. Sumner never bothers any new cat either.

For the past two evenings I have had Clemmie in the large carrier at the far end of our eat-in kitchen during the canned food meal time. She had hers in the carrier. Simon and Minerva were totally fine eating at the other end of the room, knowing she was in the carrier.

Seamus will creep up to a contained Clemmie, and then will hiss at her. But, I did let him in her room when she was loose and on the dresser. He spent a lot of time sniffing all over the room but didn't bother her. I put him out after he got done sniffing. Then, Clemmie was playing with the squeeky mouse. Seamus wanted back in. He went up to see what she had, and she ignored him, continuing to bat the toy. Then he hissed at her. I'm not sure if it was because she was using HIS toys, or that he was miffed that she ignored him in favor of playing, or if he just wanted to let her know he was not pleased about her. I put him out of the room then, so tensions would not rise. But, that was a successful short mingle session.

Snookums' picture is on the Rescues page of my website, (

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) with her "modeling" a stray cat. She is the cat at the top of the page. She has a harness and leash on, actually. I must have "painted" the harness straps black in a picture editing program, as her harness was pink and there is no pink showing. That picture is from when she was our cat, over five years ago, before we had the large enclosure and so took the cats out on harness and leashes.

Margaret:

Is she all black?

I have a soft spot for all black cats.



And all white cats.


And gray cats

And orange cats.

Not sure if I mised any color combinations

Mark

Hmmm..... Mark, I think I have you beat...... I love anything that even SLIGHTLY RESEMBLES a cat. Hahahaha.....no colors excepted!!! Any color will do. If it looks like a cat, I want it.

Margaret - I am confused too.... is Snookums all black???? Also, what color(s) is/are Clemintine? More details please.

I would also be very upset that the forever home I would have found for one of my special babies suddenly didn't want them again. Boy....some people. At least you were there to save the two cats and bring them home to find at least one of them a new home. May God bless you and Jim for that, for sure.

Snookums is all black, except for a few white hairs on her chest.



That picture is from over 5 years ago, when we were making the transfer of Snookums from our care to my in-laws. I took a picture of her yesterday, but she looks too grumpy to post. It is hard to get a picture of Snookums looking sweet, like she usually does in person. I guess she doesn't like getting her picture taken.

Here are Snookums, Galen and Sumner, when the boys were kittens. (Snookums is their mother.) That shows Galen before his tail got all fluffy. Snookums was a super mother! Sorry about that image. It was taken with our old camera and doesn't look as good as the pictures with our digital camera.




Clemintine is a torti. She looks bigger in these pics than she really is. She is very thin, but doesn't look it in these pics.

Oh wow, they're both beautiful Margaret! My heart really goes out to stray kitten stories now having gone through that myself just recently.

Thanks for sharing the lovely story. Keep us posted on the integration process. I hope it continues to go well for you.

Margaret:

Both of the girls are beautiful.

Mark

They certainly are very pretty cats Margaret. Did Snookums ever get the same fluffy tail that Galen has or is her's more like that Sparky guys tail???? Yah..... I would like a tortie someday.... I think they are SO pretty. (Don't even THINK about asking me if I'd like to adopt Clemmie - my husband would kill me! )