Tough Mama – Seven Pounds of unadulterated, furry GRIT accurately describe Kitty Girl. At approximately 77 in human years, she retains her youthful, innocent looks, her insouciance, and screaming impatience. Her deceptively sweet face (which covers up a general ‘badass-ness’) and coy affect have served her well over the years.
I have asked her again and again how it came about that she was left to wander the alleys and byways of our neighborhood. I get a blank stare, followed by a lick of the paw, as a reply. She CAME to US, though! We kept hearing the screeching yells of a tiny cat who kept coming around and around.
She did tell me that she wanted to be picked up, fed and adopted.
“Don’t we all,” I said.
We fed her for months. Eventually she let us get close enough to nab and hustle her off to the vet. There was much family discussion about her status. Was she “with kittens” or had she just gained weight? SHE wasn’t talking. Our veterinarian resolved the conflict, telling us that Kitty Girl had been fixed and had been well-treated by somebody.
“Great! We have another pet,” we said to ourselves, not anticipating Kitty Girl’s complete antipathy for any other animal. Her motto was and is, “No Animals Other Than Me – With Me, It’s My Way or NUTHIN'” She was quite effective in her demonstration of her ethos in her insane attacks on our other pets.
So, with our usual inventiveness and aplomb, we foisted her off on my Mother, who, God Bless Her, reluctantly agreed to take her in. Thus, began a mutually unhappy relationship that lasted for about 12 years. There was much consternation over Kitty Girl’s leaping onto tables, weaving through lamps, statues, collectors items, detritus, as well as attacking the occasional visiting dog (especially her nemesis, Buckley). In fairness, Kitty Girl tried to mitigate Mom’s dislike by bringing her dead mice and chipmunks, but that didn’t cut any ice.
After many long years of co-existing with my mother in their perfunctory relationship, we brought her back. Our other pets had passed away and we felt honor-bound to try and set things right. Kitty Girl agrees that we have finally stepped up and given her due.
What amazes me is her tenacity and outstanding survival skill. I mean, she has had to be TOUGH to survive living by her wits and then living with my Mother. Talk about having EGO STRENGTH and a WILL to OVERCOME — SHE’S GOT IT!!
Even at 77 she still likes to play and rough house. I hear her feral hunting whines and cries as she pounces on toys and tries to tear them apart. On one of her first nights in our old house she brought me a love token of a half-dead mouse at about 3 a.m. It was pretty terrifying to be awakened by the wild screams of both animals and a little mouse dropped right beside my head. But, the girl’s gotta do what the girl’s gotta do, right? I only hope that I can make that same claim when I reach her age (not hunting for mice). It’s inspiring to see someone who still holds onto that fierce spirit and keeps on truckin’!
I know that she is an ANIMAL, but, I have learned a lot from this little Tough Mama. Kitty Girl looks at me and says, “Me-Rew! You’re damn straight I’m tough!”
Here’s to Kitty Girl and Staying in Touch With YOUR BAD SELF in 2018!
