Elise writes on cats in the yard: A clowder of promise, a pack of hope
There will be a point to this story; I guarantee. But first:
It was love at first sight. As we opened the side porch door, there she stood: a rich café latte color on one side of her face, pure ebony on the other.
Her body was a kaleidoscope of rust, burnt umber, orange, white. The white was so pure it looked like she had just emerged from tumbling through a waterfall.
Her two front feet were white; the back ones a splendid ivory. Amazingly, her eyes were both emerald and amber, depending upon how the light settled on them.
She was very thin; yet, she had a regal carriage, as if she knew the strangers who opened the door would be captivated by her comportment.
A faint mew emanated from her throat. What was she trying to tell us?
Right or wrong, we took it to mean she was lost and hungry. We did not hesitate to oblige.
“Calico” slipped away afterwards, only to return a few weeks later looking a bit laden in the belly area. Not much longer, we were only a little surprised to see three wee bairns in the grass in our backyard.
Only one triplet resembled her; she may have been a rare dilute calico.
Another was orange and white, while the third was distinctly black and white. Three separate fathers?
Not long after we welcomed Calico and her brood, another new mom, an adorable gray tabby with beautiful white paws and a seemingly endless tail, ventured into the yard with her two little ones: a gray and white beauty and a black and white sibling. It does not take an Oxford scholar to suspect paternal lineage in the second sibling.
Learning that we had too many cats for one yard, we immediately started looking for foster or adoptive homes for them. We knew it would be easier if we had them spayed/neutered first, but the moms were as slippery as newly lotioned hands and the little ones were, well, just too young.
The point of all these descriptions is to remind readers that there are alternatives for our feline and canine friends in Amarillo.
The Amarillo SPCA, located at 11901 Coulter Street, is a no-kill shelter and is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. It has as its staff and volunteers some of the most caring individuals you will ever meet.
The Amarillo SPCA states, as part of its mission statement: “to be an advocate for animals and to defend their rights; to provide for the wellbeing of our community's animals who are abandoned, injured, subjected to unfair or cruel treatment, or otherwise in need; to cultivate in our community an awareness of the animals whose world we share; to promote a bond of mutual assistance between people and animals; and to instill respect for and appreciation of all living things.”
Donations are crucial to an organization like this very worthy one, as is volunteering.
Another non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of our beloved dogs and cats is P.E.T.S., located at 2500 SW 6th Street.
To quote their mission: “The goal of our program is making sure pets have access to and can remain in loving homes. For example, we send our communities’ dogs at risk of euthanasia in local shelters to New York for adoption with P.E.T.S. Underdog Express, we build fences for families with dogs living tethered (against city ordinance) with P.E.T.S. Chain-Off, and we make sure pets have enough to eat by supplementing monthly pet food with P.E.T.S. Pantry.”
As many people know, petting an animal can release the hormone “oxytocin,” which is considered a bonding or cuddling hormone that counteracts stress. Pets are more than an addition; they are family, one that does not judge, does not criticize, does not have conditions to give and receive love.
Unconditional acceptance is hard to find in any gathering, whether it be family, friends and even, at times, church.
To conclude our personal story, a friend is fostering the original 4 lovelies, and we are caring for the second trio. It is a heart-expanding soul-stirring experience to be in the presence of innocence, sweetness, playfulness and love.
Let us give to those who offer us so much every day.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Elise commentary: A clowder of promise, a pack of hope
