Week #27: Tripod

I've gotten some interest in how the "Broken Cat" situation is working out. I was going to call him "BC" for "Broken Cat," but one of the grandkids pointed out that since he only has three legs that work he was actually a tripod. Which stuck. So, Tripod it is. He has a name.

Last week some do-gooder at the church brought in a kitten they'd found out by the bus barn behind the parsonage. Apparently the rest of her crew had been eaten, had abandoned her, or she had gotten lost. In any event, after two or three days, it was apparent that no one was coming for her, so the do-gooder picked her up and brought her to my wife. Because, you know, we don't have any stray cats on OUR side of the freakin' county. I was a bit annoyed, and I'll bet no one else brings us another one, but we were stuck with the furry little golden wad.

So, we brought her home, took her out onto the back porch and showed her where the food and water was. She was shortly standing in the food bowl eating so fast that it's a wonder she didn't pass out, because there's no way she could have been taking breaths. Anyhow "Tripod" saw her and started nuzzling around on her, which made her hair stand up, but she wasn't afraid of him. Or, more accurately, she was less afraid of him than she was of stopping the process of inhaling food.

Two days later: He's about half again her size, which means he can pin her, but he's clumsy and she is faster, which means she can flank him and whack him if the fight's not going to suit her. His coordination is improving rapidly now that he has someone who will play with him.

In short, they're all best buds now, and hang out 24/7, sleep in their own little 2-kitten pile, and have the same hideouts (which Tripod apparently taught her) when the raccoons and the lawnmowers threaten.

A week later: Cripples, weaklings, abandoned, ignored by all the other, older cats on the porch -- they think each other is da shit.

Looks like they've got a shot, if they don't get eaten by something, especially if they stay together. If not, at least they've got a friend and make each other happy for now.

We'll see how it goes.

I'll let you know.

Tripod And His Pet Kitten