Hey guys,
Remember my post not too long ago about a little orange cat who ran across my path as I tried to get to the gym?
He'd been cruelly tossed outside by someone who no longer wanted him, and I and a friend have spent the past two weeks fruitlessly trying to trap him. Sometimes he wanted to come closer to us, but other times he'd stay away. It depended on his mood, I guess, and the weather and his hunger.
He died today -- hit by a car.
I'd actually set out the cat trap we borrowed from a local shelter -- we've been doing it periodically on days when one of us was going to be around to check it every few hours. Today my friend was free, so I brought out the trap on my way to work, baited it with some fresh sardines, and crossed my fingers.
She checked it at 3pm and found our little orange guy in the street, the victim of a careless driver. Nobody stopped to help him.
I'm ridiculously maudlin about these sorts of things. But it's made me very sad.
I can say that I didn't run to a store to stuff my face, which I always used to do when confronted with a strong emotion, particularly sadness.
So now I sit here, and I'm sad, and I wish I'd done a million things differently -- starting with not letting him get away the first night I saw him. And setting the trap more often. And working harder to get him off the street.
I wish I could have helped him find a safe home. Don't worry, I'm not going overboard here and getting all crazy. I see lots of street cats here in NYC, and most of them -- when not victimized by twisted humans -- do just fine. I've got no illusions about how miserable many cats are when they are brought to shelters and stuffed into cages for the rest of their lives. That's no fun for them.
But I hate to see cats out on the streets who don't know how to safeguard themselves. They're not born to it, and some rediscover their wilder instincts too late. Those are the ones I try to pull into a safer environment, when I can.
I'm so sorry this one couldn't be saved. He was sweet and winsome, and would have blossomed if he'd gotten a home full of love.
How can this be possible
3 years ago
Posts
Oh no! That is so sad. I would be bawling my eyes out. At least you tried, that was the best you could do for the little guy.
ReplyDeleteSo sad. Man, that's sad. I'm a total animal lover (well, mankind first, and then animals, but you know...) You and your friend did do a great thing in trying to save the cat.
ReplyDeleteWow, I just thought of how much that seems to mimic life. You can try to "save" someone, but it's he (or she) who ultimately decides to be saved.
Oh, and by the way, you lost SOOO much weight! :) Glad you're here.
Oh, I'm so sorry. No wonder you feel sad. But you did try and help and that's so much more than most people do so I hope you feel good about yourself.
ReplyDeletelove
Peridot x
Aw, that is heart-breaking :(
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you and your friend cared enough to try to catch him, sounds like he was fairly independent and elusive.
So glad you are facing your emotions head-on that is the best way to mend without gaining weight.
I am sorry to read this. It is especially tough when you began to develop a bit of long distance relationship with the cat. I don't mean that as weird as it reads. So sad.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog through beej's...this post brought a tear to my eye. I have 3 cats myself, so it warms my heart that someone cared enough about him to try to give him a safe home...and I completely understand your sadness for his loss.
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