IZZIE

I DID NOT WANT ANOTHER CAT BECAUSE FOR 30 YEARS I WOULD NOT GO AWAY FOR VACATIONS. I AM NOT SORRY THAT WHEN MY CAT HAD TO BE PUT TO SLEEP THREE MONTHS SHORT OF 15 YEARS OF AGE, I THOUGHT "NO MORE!" I SOON PICKED UP A 22 MONTH OLD THAT WAS NO LONGER WANTED.

THIS NEW CAT; IZZIE, HID IN A BOX SPRING FOR ABOUT 30 HOURS WHEREAS I COULD NOT FIND HER. WHEN SHE FINALLY SHOWED UP ON THE STAIRS, I PLACED CAT NIP THERE AND SLOWLY WE GOT ACQUAINTED WITH EACH OTHER.

IN A FEW DAYS, I INTRODUCED HER TO MY GARDEN WHERE I USUALLY SPEND A LOT OF TIME MYSELF IN THE WARMER MONTHS. IT WAS PURE JOY TO SEE HER GENTLY PETTING A FROG ON THE HEAD OR FEELING THE RAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THEN AFTER ABOUT 6 WEEKS, SHE CROSSED THE STREET AND FOUND A NEIGHBOR'S GARDEN. THIS MADE ME UNCOMFORTABLE AND I SHOUTED AT HER TRYING TO SCOLD HER INTO COMING BACK ON HER PROPERTY. SHE WOULD NOT LISTEN. THE NEXT DAY I REALIZED ALL I HAD TO DO IS SAY "THAT'S A NO NO AND TELL HER TO GO BACK TO IZZIE'S HOUSE" AND SHE LISTENED AND IN SECONDS WAS HOME.

I SPENT 6 OR MORE HOURS A DAY, FOR THE FIRST 10 OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES FOR HER AND TAUGHT HER THE BOUNDARIES. I WANTED HER TO KNOW WHERE SHE LIVES IN THE CASE SHE WONDERS OUT THE DOOR ONE DAY.

I RECENTLY GOT IN A CONVERSATION WITH A 86 YEAR OLD LADY WHO INSISTS CATS SHOULD BE KEPT INDOOR AND SHE HAS 7 CATS. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE SHE LIVES BUT I WONDER THE CONDITION OF THAT HOUSE.

WHEN I FIRST SAW IZZIE, SHE WAS IN A CAGE AT THE SPCA SITTING IN HER LITTER BOX QUITE FRIGHTENED. THIS CHANGED MY MIND AND SHE WAS SOON STILL FRIGHTENED BUT GOING HOME WITH ME.

WE ARE CURRENTLY BOTH OUTDOOR GIRLS AND I WILL REVIEW THIS DECISION AFTER SHE COMES IN FOR THE WINTER MONTHS AND IT IS SPRING AGAIN. SHE HAD BEEN DISCARDED AND FRIGHTENED BUT IS NOW SO HAPPY.