Pumpkin's World: Formally Feral Shirley (RIP)

Friday, January 19, 2007

Formally Feral Shirley (RIP)

Before Blackie came to live with us, Shirley became our third cat.

My sister Leona, the cat lady, managed to trap a feral kitten that was living near her apartment building and though she was fairly young when she was adopted, Shirley remained partially feral all her life. We called her the "phantom cat" because when we came over for visits, she always disappeared.

After Leona and her husband sold their house and before they moved to the Big Island, they lived for a while with her husband's aunt and brother. Aunty Laura, USED to have a cat that peed on their carpet and Shirley could smell it and also relieved herself on the same spots. Nothing that Leona could think of stopped her. After having Shirley for so many years, she didn't want to just send her to the humane society, so Shirley came to live with us. Of course she disappeared once she was here and it took her a long time to trust us and allow us near her. It didn't help that Emily constantly chased her and her "safe spot" was on top of the empty rabbit cage in the patio.

She pretty much kept to herself so it was a surprise one day to see her sharing the patio couch with Molly and Blackie!

Shirley went to the Bridge on 1/25/03 at the age of 17 and 4 months later, we found Tiger in the hedge. He's grown up to look so much like Shirley!

11 Comments:

At 1/19/2007 12:28 AM, Anonymous said...: That's a nice story. I'm glad that Shirley had such a long life with people who loved her.
At 1/19/2007 1:01 AM, Daisy said...: Thanks for telling us all about Shirley. Tiger does look a lot like her!!
At 1/19/2007 1:17 AM, Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...: What a great story. Shirley was very lucky to find such a great forever home and a long life with you guys.
At 1/19/2007 4:28 AM, Hot(M)BC said...: Oh thats great that Shirley had yall to love her even tho she was feral. It's amazing too how much Tiger looks like her.
Purrrrrrrrrrrs,
Boni Maroni
At 1/19/2007 7:24 AM, Susie said...: It must have been wonderful to know Shirley :)
At 1/19/2007 8:23 AM, LZ said...: Thanks for sharing her story! She was a very pretty kitty!

Latte
At 1/19/2007 9:04 AM, Mr. Hendrix said...: It is so nice that you gave Shirley so much love and such a nice life. What a pretty girl. Tiger does look like her, but handsome, not "pretty."
At 1/19/2007 9:32 AM, Emma's Kat said...: Shirley was a lucky kitty! Sounds like she fit right in with your kitty's even though it took her awhile to be comfortable. She was a pretty girl and does look similar to Tiger.
At 1/19/2007 10:02 AM, Madness, Trouble, Squish and Milkbone said...: Shirley was a beautiful kitty and very lucky that she found such great homes to live in.
At 1/19/2007 2:29 PM, Tiger said...: Momma sez I'm a "common tabby cat." Weelllll, thare ARE a lot of grey tabby kitties wiff white feets and neks. Jus like Bonnie Underfoot and Freya, the Little Cat.
At 1/21/2007 6:27 PM, Anonymous said...: wow - Shirley had beeyouteeful eyes.