Second Hand Cat..... Options

[E.M]

SECOND HAND CAT
(Anon)

Give us a chance who are not brand new,
Who would love a home with someone like you.
We may have been around a bit,
Received many a blow and many a kick,
Starved and neglected most of our days,
Yet we are forgiving anyways.

But now's our chance to start anew,
A home with love that we never knew.
So, before a kitten you're tempted to pick,
Give us a look, but not too quick.
Look at the character in our face,
And our bodies, still full of grace.

Just think of us, day after day,
Watching people look and walk away.
But say the word 'yes' and we will know -
Our bags are packed and we're ready to go

[toonie]

After I lost my cats I was sure I would never have any more. For one thing, I never want to go through this pain again. And for the first time in my life, a different thought occured to me, that if I did take a new kitten (or two) in a few years, it would mean that I'd better still be in shape: should they have a long lifespan, 20 years lets say...well if I wait a few years and am already 55 years old ... But the house was so empty over the last 15 months where we were catless and this 4 or 5 year old fellow who somehow made his way on our farm several years ago (did he come over on his own, did someone 'lose' him in the area, a mystery cat) was always on his own and not too welcome by the other cats, during the winters where I could see them all huddled together he would be on his own. Over the summer I have seen some barn cats try to chum up with him but he fights them off? Lonely and alone, that's how I knew him and felt sorry for him but I had my own two cats. Still he always greeted me first when I fed the barn cats. He would even follow me and try to get into the house, especially when it was cold outside, he could tell it was so much warmer here. Know what? this winter, after much struggle WE gave him a chance and he's been so well behaved, really like walking on eggs at all times, he just stays quiet in the house and seems to be saying please let me stay I promise I'll be good, you hardly will see me, I wont shed, I wont beg I wont go upstairs to disturb your sleep I'll just be a good boy and stay there quietly please please please. And this morning he is on my knees at the computer, we went through the same ritual yesterday, up early, greeted by a new cat I'm getting to know, feed him and then turn on the computer to look at my Yukon's picture and say a few words to him before I start my day, our house is so big, why not allow a pensionner, he won't replace my loves but know what? somehow I feel like my insides are purring when I have a cat on my knees. So there, it just happened by itself for me, no emotional deposit, just letting things unfold as they should.
take care John B and everyone here, and it is true that these second hand cats are real sweeties and sometimes the only thing that can fit in when your heart is still aching. I like to think we ache together for things past and we will heal together, because of this bond we have founded.
HUGS all of you, what a road we travel, what things still yet to see, a few moments left to share.