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Home My WebLink AboutApril 03, 2003 - Focus on the family feline The Suffolk Times • April 3, 2003 O C us on e • o aml e In e �� .� � �:, � . � �(,;., a= ._-__._ � _ �__ r,� �� . s� Y�� .:_.� ,� �..... ; r� :� ' ��_ i ., � H � � e� s _ � � � z � � � � � �,. � � .� fi �R y Y . � .� � 3 �� .. t� � � � � _ ' � � � � s `� � � �� i �� I £ i �� s �,� r� F � � ° �;x�, s3�,; j � t'."� ^?,� =r� :� '�� eF j_ :` �� .� ... . ,... .� ..� , '� , . . �,Y . .-, �' . ; . , .: ,: .��. . �u, . > � g � � ,....:C-:JR ...... v� .,a � ar � . �. -. � . �� I � : ` .,� n � F�,�a -Lr < �i�' ' �Ii a "* , . ,s. �:_.+.+t«�w€"�s e ��P� ��Ili n ' i �� , � � u�y � � �� s� �� K f �§ � 'A .. _; .�S Z� - . „ x� �� i [ � � k Ey� : �O.'8. F .w"�; ��'�� . � . � � � � �_ �e s�a�� a. �:, . & ;:� _ :.� � ��,�� I�im�s/Review photo by Paul S(oulenburgh Above: Cats make good sailors. From ancient times cats have been aboard ships to rid them of mice and rats. Our cat was a true sailor and � � gave us much pleasure when we had her aboard. Right: The family's � � �°` newest addition. , & � �� A t Fw Motvrxs A�o Barbara and I t e ca in an wart until things settled decided we wanted to have a cat down before she'd make her casual again.We've had cats befare and they appearance.She was a perfect sailar. all gave us a great deal of pleasure. We were pretty well decided on One ot them we took with us when getting another cat but wondered we went cruising where we should go to get one.We in our sailboat. finally decided that we'd give our FOCV$ She did real local animal shelter in Peconic a try. �N well,always It took three visits before we found greeting us when the right one.It was a young female NATU FtE We returned to cat that,along with a sister,had been by Paul the boat.When picked up as a stray.She came with Stoutenburgh under way,she all the necessary shots for a healthy would go to the young cat.All their female cats are highest point in spa ed.So,in the carrier it went and we were off,leaving a donation and thanking the people at the shelter fo their kind help and understanding. At home we put the carrier in the e'd hear her toys rattle as she cat.The first time I realized how far middle of the living room floor and roughhoused with them.We have cats go back in history was when I just sat there looking.We could see scatter rugs here and there that she saw paintings and statues of cats in her eyes checking us out.What to would dive under,kicking and rolling. Egyptian tombs.The cat was always do?We were a bit concerned,as it Once in a while we'd hear an unusual pictured as very stately and impor- had been a long time since we'd had loud noise as she knocked over the tant.Cats were a significant part of a cat in the house.We had to do kitchen wastebasket.This hell raising Egyptian hierarchy.When a cat died something.After making sure all the �,ould last for a half-hour or more. it was mummified.Thousands of doors were closed,I slowly opened �en she'd slow down and for the rest these cat mummies have been found up the carrier and sat back and wait- of the day sleep in her special chair. in Egyptian tombs.So important ed.There below us was"our"cat Today our cat has become part of were these cats that if you harmed or crouched down,ears alert,head turn the family.She spends a lot of time killed one,your life was at stake. ing,then it jumped out.It looked looking out the window at squirrels On the practical side,in the great around at its new surroundings and eating birdseed on the patio.She cities of Egypt and elsewhere the gra immediately disappeared down the watches the chickadees and nuthatch- naries were continually under attack hall that led to two bedrooms and an es as they come for sunflower seeds. by rats and mice.In those times there office. Everything that moves were no mouse traps We had previously fixed her food, outside,her head moves or poisons,so cats water and litter box in the bathtub. with it.Up to now she's �e eat looked became important pro- All that day she never appeared.All been kept inside except around at its tectors of the gra- that night we never heard or saw her. ' new surroundin S for one winter s after- naries. We didn't want to scare her but we noon when there was � (If you ever read the were curious to know where she was. snow on the ground and immediatel�+ tales of ships at sea, The second day we did see her come and she slipped out disappeared down they mention the cat out and run by us,only to hide again. �yithout our noticing that roams the ship in 5he ate the food during the night and her.What to do?The the hall. search of mice and rats appreciated her facilities. household immediately that get into the food By the end of the week we found went on red alert.We'd just �ave to supplyc I know from my own personal her hiding place in a closet among a rely on her cat instincts to stay experience,cats jump ship in one collection of shoes.She seemed fright- around.We left the outside door to port or another and therefore they ened in her new surroundings.As the greenhouse open in hopes that in spread their kind throughout the time went on,though,she became her wanderings she would go in there. world.) more and more used to us and we to We could see her footprints in the It wasn't long before cats started to her.By the second week she became snow,so that gave us hope.Then be worshipped as harbingers of good more sociable.At one time Barbara Barbara,on one of her trips around health,happiness,fertility and almost could actually put her hands gently the house,spotted her out in the anything that the priests and religious along her back.But just for a second, wood shed.How or why she got out people could conjure up.Then then she'd be off to hide again.We there we don't know.We left the door Christianity moved in and these have a greenhouse attached to the of the greenhouse open and the lights pagan concepts of worshipping cats south side of the house with an on.It worked.Within half an hour she and other idols were taboo.There entrance into the living room.We was in the house through the green- was a period when the church con- found if we left that door slightly house.That has been her only time demned cats—an inquisition of cat.s. opened,she'd shoot out there and out.We'd like to keep her as an But the good in cats overruled and hide among the flowerpots and water- indoor cat,but knowing her craftiness, people gradually went back to enjoy- ing cans. I'm sure she'll grab the first opportu- ing them,so much that the church By the third week we could actually nity to get out and explore.We'll just finally gave in,but only after making pet her.Barbara would try to pick her have to take care of that situation sure cats were not worshipped as up but she wasn't ready for that just when it comes along. gods. yet.By the fourth week Barbara was The ancestry of cats goes back a We see many kinds of cats but thei able to have her curl up in her lap, long way.Remains of cat bones have ancestry all goes back to the small but those long claws were menacing been found in settlements that go African wildcat.If we watch our cat's looking and Barbara didn't want any back 9,000 years.Through time cats actions closely as it sees a moth on part of them.The solution came in the have become an integral part of fami- the window,it reminds us of a tiger form of a cushion in her]ap that ly life.It doesn't matter what kind of stalking its prey.The instincts are still worked out well.The cat was becom- cat it is,whether it is a stray or pure- there and yet with all its growing ing quite domesticated by now.She bred or a farm cat or house cat,they pains,we thoroughly enjoy the new didn't run from us when we came in all go back to the small African wild- addition to our household. or even when company came.She was becoming more and more friendly. She took on a routine of tearing around the house in the morning,as we were getting up.She'd race into the bedroom and then down the hall.