Stray Cats: Do They Make Good Companions? Part 2
Continuing on with Part 2 of the discussion, I’ve had firsthand experience as to how stray cats can be welcomed into a home. When I was in the 3rd grade, I often used to go over to visit my grandparents. They lived near a field, and said field often yielded a large variety of stray cats. However, while many of them ended up being quite friendly, the majority of them would end up hit by cars while crossing the busy street that bordered the field.
One day, my grandmother took a liking to one of the kittens that were orphaned thanks to that busy street. The kitten, a small grey tabby/Maine coon mix, was nearly starving to death. She nursed the kitten back to health, and called her Hobo.
Hobo remains in my thoughts as one of the smartest cats I’ve encountered. She knew to bring specific items, and she was very affectionate. However, whenever someone went to touch her head, she would squeal and hiss. This we initially attributed to aggressiveness, which is something that happens in all cats (although especially feral ones) that haven’t been properly socialized.
It turns out that while still a stray she had gotten into a fight, and that fight left her head vulnerable. She exacerbated it by getting into trouble again when she frequently escaped from the house (she was small, so whenever someone would leave she darted out the door). The head injury was such that it was internal and only inflamed later, so it wasn’t one of those situations where it was immediately apparent that she needed serious medical attention.
Unfortunately, despite everyone’s best efforts, Hobo died when she was just 4 years old from her head injury, which had resulted in a stroke. To this day, my grandmother gets misty-eyed thinking about it. Thus, the next time you see a friendly stray, keep in mind potential health problems, and also be aware that past history sometimes dictates the overall lifespan. In the end, all you can do is share your patience and love.
Leave a Reply