My Favorite Cat Lady

 

I'd like to tell you about my friend Donna. She goes by many names. In this neighborhood, she's Grandma, Auntie, LaDonna, LoraDonna, but no one calls her a Crazy Cat Lady. People like and trust her. She's sweet, friendly, thoughtful and generous. And until recently, she had FIVE cats. (RIP Mama and Baby.) I'm writing about her to tell you how she opened her home and became a loving Cat Mom to these five cats and how I admire her for it. 

Dr. Fine came first. He'll probably get his own story here on this blog, but for now I'll tell you she got him at the SPCA in 2010. Our striped sweetie was all alone in a cage when Donna walked by. He rushed the front of his cage, and batted his paw at her. Donna was interested, but like I did with Freya, she chose to look around a bit. 

But every time, she passed his cage, this kitty would rush to the front of it, ignoring everyone else in favor of her. If anyone else approached him, he'd go right to the back and sulk. 

"I think you've been chosen." her friend Faye said.  She opened his cage and held him in her arms. He began purring immediately. 

     "How ya doing?" she asked. 

     "Fine." said the cat. Now you know how he got his name. When I met him, I thought it was because he was just so fine, like the song. Doo-lang Doo-lang. 

Mama, Baby and Lookie came in one Clouder that same year. They were strays that used to come into Donna's yard. Donna and her husband took pity on them, and left food out for them. They put a heater in the garage for them as well.

Mama was a beautiful little grey Persian. They named her Mama because she seemed very protective of the other cats, letting them eat before she did. She treated the other two like her kittens.

Indeed, Baby was named such because she looked just like Mama--another grey Persian.

The third cat was named Look-a-like--Lookie for short, because she resembles a miniature version of Dr. Fine, oddly enough. 

As the seasons changed, Donna and her husband realized it was going to be a cold winter, and the garage wouldn't be adequate shelter. So they trapped each one, and brought them into the house. The cats were skittish and distant, but accepted their new home, even if they rarely ventured downstairs.  Good thing too. Temperatures dropped to the minus thirties Celsius. They might not have survived otherwise.  

No one knows to this day how the three of them wound up there together. Tests told the vet that none of the cats were genetically related. One thing is for sure, it took them years to be comfortable with other people, and they were deathly afraid of brooms. 

Mama and Baby died weeks ago, from age, respiratory ailments and cancer, but thanks to my friend and her late husband, they lived full healthy lives in a big warm house with toys, wet food and lots of love. 

Donna had a full house, and didn't plan on any more cats, but...She had to take Lola in. Lola once belonged to Dickhead and Dickhead Junior, father and son that regularly stopped to chat with Donna as she planted flowers in her front yard. 

They had just moved to the neighborhood, and they also had a cat. Apparently, the landlord told them cats were fine in their building, but when they moved in, the landlord told them 'no cats'. So they had to get rid of theirs, would she be interested? 

She said no. She already had four cats, that was plenty. Did she know anyone else who could take their cat? Nope. We all had plenty of cats, and/ or dogs. But they kept asking. Donna kept saying no. She offered suggestions. Like the Humane Society. No car to drive there. She volunteered to drive. They couldn't afford the surrender fee. Ad on Kijiji? No. They kept asking. 

One day they told her, they figured they'd just...let her go. As in...just let her outside the apartment and let her fend for herself. I know where their building is. Stony Plain Road is a block or two behind them, and 156st is less than half a block to the left. The road directly in front of the building is another busy thoroughfare with no traffic lights. Lola wouldn't have lasted a day. 

So Donna got herself a fifth cat. At first, the dicks came to visit Lola every week, but they've disappeared out of her life. Donna hasn't seen them in over two years. Lola is better off, but that's another blog. 

So this is how my friend Donna got a houseful of cats. I wouldn't call her crazy. I'd call her a softie, and I'm so glad she is. 

Dr. Fine and Lookie are still with her, and Lola has her own room. Right now, Donna is plenty content with three cats, but I know she'd rescue another if need be. She's not crazy. She just has a good heart.