Dorda and Mitty…Part 2
Read Part 1 Here
The ride home took too long. I could tell they were terrified. I talked to them softly telling them we were going home where they’d be safe. I told them nobody would ever hurt them again. They quieted a little.
At home I set the carrier down in the living room and opened the door. After a short pause Georgia darted out and under the loveseat. Missy shot out and disappeared into my bedroom. I could see this wasn’t going to be easy.
I put some food and water where they could find them and just let them alone. The next day they were nowhere to be found. That afternoon I went out to mow the lawn. When I came back in Georgia was lying on the couch. When she saw me she ran back under the loveseat. I just let her be.
Missy was living under my bed way back in the far corner. I put some food and water there for her. She’d come out when it got dark and help herself. I talked softly to both of them and never moved quickly around them.
Neither of them ever responded to the names the woman gave me. Over time these names morphed into Dorda and Mitty. These were our names for our new life together. They responded to these names and so did I.
Dorda would lie on the couch within three feet of my desk now. She even liked me to scratch behind her ears. She’d let me know when and I was happy to oblige. Otherwise I just let her alone.
Mitty was still under my bed. She’d been under there for over a month and I was afraid she’d never come out. One afternoon I went to the kitchen for coffee. When I came back in Mitty was at the other end of the couch. She hissed at me, but she didn’t move. I just let her be and talked softly. I gave Dorda a scratch behind the ears and Mitty took note.
I looked a little later and she was lying on the floor. A little later and she was closer to me. She moved ever closer as I typed and let her be. The next time I looked I didn’t see her. She was right next to me by my chair. I slowly reached down and scratched behind her ears. She just lay there.
That was the turning point. Soon Mitty was jumping up on my lap when she wanted attention. Dorda took longer for this, but she does now too. They don’t like to be picked up, but there’s really no need for that. Mitty gets jealous if Dorda’s on my lap. Dorda gets jealous sometimes too.
They have the run of the house. Why shouldn’t they? It’s their home too. They spend most of their time in the livingroom with me, or napping on my bed. They don’t fight, although sometimes they get a little testy when they’re playing tag. I laugh ’til the tears roll down.
Mitty loves plastic bags. She chews and licks them and I worry she might choke. Dorda isn’t into plastic bags. She loves the shower curtain. She likes to jump up on the bathtub and smack the shower curtain. They both love to roll around and play with orange or tangerine bags.
I don’t get it, but then, I’m not a cat.
Best,
My Cats |
5 Comments
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By Angie (Losing It and Loving It), October 29, 2009 @ 9:14 AM
Loved the whole story and I knew they would come around with a cool ‘dad’ like you! They sound so sweet and loving.
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By Karen McGreevey, October 30, 2009 @ 2:26 PM
Oh, Rick.
What a great ending to your story about Dorda and Mitty. How lucky you all are to have found each other.
Karen
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Rick Reply:
October 30th, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Thanks, Angie and Karen. Now if I can just get them to sit still for a picture.
By Omar Reyes, November 3, 2009 @ 4:01 PM
This is indeed a wonderful story Rick. Thanks so much for sharing.
.
Good luck with those pictures
Omar
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By Loretta, November 29, 2009 @ 8:01 PM
Plastic and string fettishes are common for cats, my Maurice likes plastic. I’ve never had a cat that tried to eat plastic before, but if he can get a hold of it he will lick it, chew it, and even eat it if you don’t get it away from him. Silly kitties!
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