Jackson Free Press

OK, my heart is breaking a little. Miss Ali just picked up her brand-new little puffy black kitten—that Todd found in our backyard. This is the, let's see, ninth or 10th cat we've rescued in Jackson: Miss S, King Eddie, OC (Other Cat), Frodo, Jack the Cat, Maxie, a little orange thing/don't know his name, a little gray thing at Target that another woman took home, and now little Ernie, alternately known as "Crappy" and "Jesus" (in the Spanish pronunciation).

Cats. Find. Us. Todd wasn't even a cat person when I met him. I had an ornery cat Daisy who was already a dozen years old. You couldn't pick her up. For reasons beyond me, Todd fell in love with her. When we were in New York, she got cancer, and after a year of chemo, we had to put her to sleep. I will never forget being in the car Todd rented to take her to the vet the final time with him singing "I'll Be Seeing You In All the Familiar Places" as I held her the last time. Sniff.

Anyway, if you're looking for a wonderful little feline, Todd and I are going to be kitten-whispering the next few days with some tiny little wonders, birthday by Maxie (found near Hal & Mal's) who now lives with JoAnne. They are very cute, but a little wild. We'll do our magic (helped along by bribes in the form of wet food), and then you can pick up your little wonder. However, you must convince us you'll be a good mama/daddy (no declawing for one). Get in touch if you're interested in the next round of adoptees. Meantime, everyone, spay and neuter your cats and dogs. Please.

Previous Comments

ID

106948

Comment

The softer side of Ms. Ladd. LURVE it!!!! :) We just rescued a Kitty from the drug store on the corner of State and Meadowbrook.

Author

tiffitch

Date

2006-07-17T14:45:43-06:00

ID

106949

Comment

I know. I try to keep this side under wraps, but all that lavender I've been snorting is making me weak. ;-) Are you keeping your critter? What's it look like? BTW, our love of animals includes them all. I think it's really bizarre that our society's binary tendencies even extends to cats and dogs. Are you a cat person or a dog person? Huh? I'm an animal person. Some day, Todd and I are going to have a place big enough for a pup, too. He truly is an animal-whisperer. You can't imagine how many games he comes up with to play with a single, solitary kitten. Ali just left with our little mister. He's some cat. He had to have a powerful mama. She strode right in and up to him and snapped a bright red collar around his neck, complete with an itty-bitty bell. He flattened his ears. She then stuck him into her soft carrier stocked with treats and toys, and he forgot about Todd and me immediately. He has officially entered Ali's World. We warned him in advance about the cursing. "Just take it like a man," we told him.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-17T14:50:41-06:00

ID

106950

Comment

While you are in the mood, open the email I sent you two yesterday. I nearly wet my pants. Has anyone else seen the talking cats? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV6DQuEh4UQ&search=talking%20cats

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-07-17T14:59:15-06:00

ID

106951

Comment

I like cats. I raised and cared for many a cat while I grew up. They're fun, they do funny things. However, I am not a cat-worshipper. And that gets me in trouble, because all my good friends are cat-worshippers. They venerate cats in a way that would make the Ancient Egyptians roll their eyes. For example, my friend Frank subsists on Ramen Noodles and Ding-Dongs, but he sometimes treats his cat to steak. No joke. And that's just one example. I think my friends are slightly deranged. They think I'm a tiny-hearted grinch. I haven't owned a cat for several years, but I did have an arrangement with a cat recently. He lived in my apartment complex. He was my cat-buddy. He would show up at my door from time to time. I'd let him in, and pet him and/or feed him, whichever he preferred. He'd hang out for a bit, and then skeedaddle. No possessiveness, no worshipping. Just buddies. I thought it was very progressive of me. My friends thought it was woefully inadequate. They loved the cat, of course, but because I didn't prostrate myself before it I was not recognizing it's inherent superiority. Ack. I called him "Mamzer", but I never learned his real name, if he had one. He stopped coming at some point, and I eventually moved out. I guess if he found another buddy, I'm cool with that. After all , we had an arrangement. No commitments. Cheating little b******.

Author

GLB

Date

2006-07-17T15:09:59-06:00

ID

106952

Comment

I live across the street from Daniel. Our street is the cat hangout of Belhaven.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-07-17T15:12:17-06:00

ID

106953

Comment

Ooo, I've had lots of cat buddies. (And dog buddies.) Those can be the best. Until they cheat on you, that is. Goes with the commitment-phobic territory, I suppose.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-17T15:12:58-06:00

ID

106954

Comment

I've said foe years that someone should publish a "Cats of Belhaven" poster. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-17T15:13:56-06:00

ID

106955

Comment

I don't think I could bear seeing my little Mamzer in such a calendar. "Angel is the Centerfold" by J. Geils comes to mind.

Author

GLB

Date

2006-07-17T15:16:07-06:00

ID

106956

Comment

problem is a opossum and racoon have adopted my place as well outside.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-07-17T15:16:22-06:00

ID

106957

Comment

Yeah, that would kinda be like being a pageant-mama, I guess, GLB—whoring out your kittie-cats for publicity. But, it would be cute. (Damn it, now I have pageants on the brain. This can't be good.) Uh oh, Kingfish, better watch your kitties.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-17T15:17:49-06:00

ID

106958

Comment

Technically, I guess that would be a newborn-kitten calendar, with a bunch of kittens barely able to open their eyes dressed up like they are trying to seduce some strapping young Tomcat.

Author

GLB

Date

2006-07-17T15:21:35-06:00

ID

106959

Comment

Is it horrible that I tell Jack, when he's snubbing me, that he should love me because if it weren't for me, he'd be vegetarian ;) He loves the husband more than me now. But Jack's still a rough houser too. We'll see who he loves when he's ready to be lazier.

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-07-17T15:37:21-06:00

ID

106960

Comment

http://public.fotki.com/prplhze2000/lagniappe/blt_party_038.html That is a pic of mine. His name is Peekaboo. He lives at my Grandmother's right now.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-07-17T15:44:06-06:00

ID

106961

Comment

Well, it is a lie. We may be vegetarian, but our cats are little carni-gluts. However, they do love cantaloupe. Try it with yours. It's really good for them. Just chop it up fine. Willie likes it better than tuna. Of course, he is the metrosexual of the cat world, so he would. (He has a broken leg right now. We've been running a cat hospital of late, with a different one in each room.) Jack the Cat is in the JFP Feline Hall of Fame. He's a great cat, and we are proud to have fostered him for y'all.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-17T15:52:56-06:00

ID

106962

Comment

Peekaboo is a great cat. Just the right amount of attitude. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-17T15:54:39-06:00

ID

106963

Comment

My Dad was world famous for fostering cats, specifically the semi-wild ones that hung around our old place over on North Congress (RIP). Dogs, squirrels, whatever. I'm not a cat person in the slightest.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-07-17T18:26:00-06:00

ID

106964

Comment

Okay, Ern is the coolest cat alive. He just went with me to visit my parents and sat on the couch with the teacup yorkie like he'd live there forever. Then, he ate turkey and cheese for dinner out of my hand. I've NEVER had a cat do that. I was alternating between feeding the Yorkie and feeding Ernie. My mother was similiarly impressed with Ernie's "Dog Whispering" skills. You can tell the animals rule the roost around here. (NOTE: Hand fed turkey and cheese dinners)

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-07-17T19:43:21-06:00

ID

106965

Comment

I told you. He is special in a very special way. What a kitten. I miss him!

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-17T19:59:11-06:00

ID

106966

Comment

trust me, he got up on the fridge all by himself and made himself a home in the breadbasket. Heard a meow one day, looked up, and there he was.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-07-17T21:43:20-06:00

ID

106967

Comment

KITTIES! They make my poor old heart turn to mush. I love them all! I would love one, but I married a dog person. :(

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2006-07-17T23:14:45-06:00

ID

106968

Comment

Maybe you all can join my friends in their conversations, when they are swapping stories about their attempts to properly worship their cats. They take tremendous pride in debasing themselves as much as possible in the presence of their most exalted felines. We could set up a chatroom for you people. Creepy cat idolaters.

Author

GLB

Date

2006-07-18T09:35:24-06:00

ID

106969

Comment

my cat shoed upat my door and nosed his way in and stayed...of courese He picked the right door......his name is John. As good a name as any. Also, he sleeps on his back fore arms and haunches stretched straight out. On the bed and takes up about a full third. He snores. They say when a cat sleeps with belly exposed that it indicates that the cat feels totally safe...

Author

ATLExile

Date

2006-07-18T09:46:46-06:00

ID

106970

Comment

John's a good name. I like old-guy names for cats. Obviously: Eddie, Willie ...

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-18T11:04:36-06:00

ID

106971

Comment

Ladd-I'm struck with that same disease...except I'm the same for female cats: Melvin, Shirley, Elliot, Annabelle. My parent's animals have all been named by me as well and they call them our "Little collection of old people"

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-07-18T11:08:41-06:00

ID

106972

Comment

I'm actually not much of an animal person in general, I already have 4 small people to take care of but my husband loves animals and brings them home and I always end up taking care of them. The dog follows me around and the cat has taken up permanent residence in my lap. Thank God we live in the city now as in Bay Springs we had like 10 outside cats. The kids named her Bernice for whatever reason.

Author

tiffitch

Date

2006-07-19T07:14:05-06:00

ID

106973

Comment

"Bernice". Ahahaha...that makes me laugh. That's a great name. Kids always come up with the best names. I may use that one some day.

Author

GLB

Date

2006-07-19T09:59:35-06:00

ID

106974

Comment

I have a cat that is now five years old. I got him when he was eleven weeks old - very cute, but very naughty! There is also a two-year-old dog in the house. I wondered how they would get along. They're doing much better than I expected. See, you can't even stereotype animals! :-)

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-08-03T22:49:12-06:00