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Journaling is a bit long, but it says:
About 8 or 10 years ago we were living in the country. We built our house and barn and even dug a pond on this beautiful 20 acre plot of land. Paul was never fond of cats, so we've always had dogs. However, living in the country we learned that mice liked to scurry around, especially in the barn. They wouldn't dare come in the house, where the dogs lived! So we decided that we would get a barn cat. So I called the Raymore Animal Control to see if they had a cat that we could have, and sure enough they did, so off I went to rescue this black cat with white whiskers from behind bars. My son promptly gave him a ‘guy' name thinking he was a boy, but before long we learned that this ‘boy' was going to be a mama, hence her name was quickly changed to “Mama Cat”. Mama Cat was a great mouser but soon the special day arrived, and as I was sitting in my office, I heard this horrendous meowing at the door, she was ready – and wanted me to do something about it.

Now I never had any experience in bringing kittens into the world, so with the phone up against my ear, we followed the instructions of the local vet and soon Mama Cat presented us with 3 little babies. Phillip was a teenager then, and we both stayed with Mama Cat throughout the whole ordeal. Interesting, Mama Cat trusted us so much that from the moment the kitties were born, she let me take them, one at a time, and hold them up against my cheek and whisper 'here kitty, kitty, 'here kitty kitty, 'kitty, kitty,” over and over. Phillip got the honor to name the cats, and we soon had “Booger” a grey and white cat with a splotch on the side of his nose, “Bear” a black cat, and last but not least, a little girl kitty that he named “ShyShy”, and she definitely was that – shy, very shy with strangers, she would just go and hide. Mama Cat taught her babies well, and I don't think I ever saw any mice in the barn. And the really neat thing was that whenever I came home, if I call out 'here kitty, kitty, 'here kitty kitty, 'kitty, kitty,” they would come running, no matter where they were on the 20 acres, because they knew that they would get petted, and loved.

I really loved those cats. Now, Booger was such a unique cat. He learned to climb the fence and then somehow climb the bird feeder and hide behind it - he was hunting. Sadly when he was about 2 years old, he had a stroke and we found him paralyzed in front of the barn. We had him gently put to sleep. Then about a year before we moved, Mama Cat somehow skittered under my husband's truck when he was leaving one day, and she died. It was a horrible thing and I am still saddened over it.

So, we were moving, the kids were grown, and it was just too much land to take care of; but what would I do with the Bear and Shy Shy? I couldn't take them to the city; we would be living one block from the Highway. The cats had never lived any place else but in the country, and to move them to the city would have been like signing a death warrant. So I talked to the people who were buying our house, and I asked them if they would like to adopt our cats. And thankfully, they said yes.

So, 6 years have passed, and I can't tell you how many times I thought about Bear and ShyShy, and last Wednesday, while with some friends, one of them needed to make a call at my old house. I was waiting in the car when I saw a black and white cat, and I thought, surely after all this time, is ShyShy still alive? So I got out of the car and I started saying “here kitty, kitty” in the same voice that I always used, but remember – she was shy and skittish, would she remember me?

Guess what – as soon as she heard my voice, she jerked her head back and stared at me. I kept saying it, soon I was down on my knees whispering it over and over and saw that she was 'kneading bread' on the concrete, (you know how cats will paw when contented). It was so weird and beautiful. Before you knew it, she was right against me, and I was stroking her and petting her, and I had tears in my eyes, knowing that first she was still alive and second, that she remembered me. She was soaking it all up, and as I was rubbing her face she was curling up against me. It was all I could do not to take her with me. But we lived in the city…. So I gently put her down, said goodbye and went back into the car. When my friend came back, she said that she had seen the cat's reaction and that “she knew you're the minute she heard your voice!”

After I got home, I dug my pictures out and looked at them, yes it was my cat, my little ShyShy, I am grateful that the new owners agreed to keep my cats and that she is alive and well. NOW I want to know if Bear is still alive. I think I may have to go back with my friend and find out!! That day was a good day!
10-20-2010

Update: 11-5-2010 I went back today, and guess what.... Bear is stil alive too!!!! AND as soon as he heard my voice, he did a double take! It was amazing! I had no idea that cats would respond like this. And the people that bought my house just love them. That was the best thing that ever happened for the cats, the new owners, and us. (even though I was sad I had to leave them, but that was their only home, and still is!!)


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