Saturday 2 April 2016

searching for a new friend

Yesterday after work we went looking for a new friend. We didn't find one.

This is all about stress. Our cat has bald legs, because he is stressed. That is what the vet told my husband when he took the cat to the vet a couple of months ago. He had been losing the hair on his legs. The cat, not my husband. First I thought it was some weird allergy, or maybe he was wearing it off because he is an outdoor cat and spends a lot of time making his way through undergrowth. But actually the vet said he is stressed. My husband had told the vet that we had to put our old cat to sleep a while ago and the vet explained that Sampson (stressed out bald cat) had been used to having another cat around for his entire life. My husband also told the vet that Sampson and Nelly were never the closest comrads. In fact, Nelly hated him a lot of the time. They never curled up together or groomed each other. She ruled with an iron fist (paw).  The vet said it didn't matter the nature of the relationship, it was just the presence of another cat.
A bald patch on his back leg




So, we finally decided we should look for a new friend. We went to an animal shelter in a town close by. There were unsuitable candidates for a variety of reasons. I really felt sorry for the ones that we left behind. The girl who was working there told us that they really all do get adopted eventually. I asked about the chunky messed up tabby with the ears damaged from frostbite. She said that there are people who actually like the quirky ones and that he, too, will likely get adopted. There was one spunky little orange guy that my husband thought might be o.k., in the end, there was no moment where we knew we had found "the one".

Then, this morning we went to different place (also a shelter). This place had a "cat room" where the cats roamed freely and you could interact with them and see what they were like a little better than the first place. We met a few tortoise shell cats who, although they were very pretty, did not have the easy going personality they would need if they were going to be a new friend. There was one large grey and white who simply couldn't leave my husband and son alone. He was so demanding of attention that he would lick, and then bite, their fingers. So he failed that test. I will not having a biting cat. There was also a black and white fellow who was quite affectionate, played with the fake mouse, and seemed pretty laid back. But again, there just wasn't that moment of "we have to have this one!!"

But there was something that happened at this particular shelter. I'm still weirded out by it. There was one individual, mostly white with some greyish tabby type splotched on its head. The lady who was telling us about the cats (who volunteers her time - thank you kind lady) referenced that one by saying, "Well, it's a cabbit". Pardon? What did you call it? And she went on to say it was a cross between a cat and a rabbit and it is called a cabbit.

I'm going to let you ponder that for a moment.....


So, this little animal had a definite cat face and cat body, but no tail and it sat in a funny way, but it was FRIENDLY. It kept coming up to us, even went on it haunches and tapped at our legs with its front paws. It was called "Jack".

I couldn't let this go, and said to the lady that it sounded like some kind of urban myth like a jackalope. She insisted it was real and that it was rescued from her property. Even her two jack russels shied away from it. Now, I looked at this little beastie with aversion and curiosity. I perceived it as a little mutant. Unfortunately, I just couldn't warm up to it because I thought the whole thing was freaky. My son, however, thought it was really cool.

In the end, we did not leave that shelter with a cat (or cabbit) either. When we got home, I googled the mysterious cabbit and indeed, it is a myth. Perhaps it is just some misnamed or evolved Manx. But animals of completely different species cannot mate and reproduce. (Dogs and wolves, both canines, for example, could. But not rabbits and cats).

We are still going to keep looking. If I am being truthful with myself, I think I want a younger cat. Not one that is already 3 or 4 years old with bad habits to break. I would rescue a kitten. We do not intend to go to a breeder or anything like that, but undoubtedly with spring around the corner (though you wouldn't know it with today's wintry weather and snow on the ground) there will be more cats to choose from.

I just hope whatever friend we choose, that Sampson will eventually like it. He's a pretty laid back cool cat. But he is older now and maybe he won't take kindly to an infiltrator. Maybe it will cause him more stress and pretty soon he will be completely bald. (Then we can tell people he is a cross between a cat and a naked mole rat).

18 comments:

  1. How very odd this story is. I have never heard of anything like it before. We have two farm cats who have never been apart since they were born. We often speculate on what the one left will do when one dies - they are both in their early teens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our old kitty lived to be about 19, so perhaps your barn cats have many more years to go.-Jenn

      Delete
  2. Poor kitty. They do get stressed when their routine is disrupted. I hope you find a friend (or roommate) for him that won't make him bald! Perhaps an older one?

    I have two cats and they get along wonderfully. I often wonder what will happen when one is left behind. One of our cats loses fur, too, when she gets stressed (under the paws and under the belly); first time in all my years with cats that I've ever seen such a thing. I can see her easily becoming bald if things change too much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's interesting that your cat also loses fur. I had never seen that before, and we've had other cats, and there was always a cat in our home growing up.-Jenn

      Delete
  3. Oh, poor cat!I hope you can find a "friend" for him soon!
    I had never heard of a cabbit before. And, I've got to say...I am GLAD they are a myth. That would be just a little too freaky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Even after I found out it was a myth, I was still not able to shake that creepy feeling. -Jenn

      Delete
  4. Awwww, poor thing... If your deceased cat was the older, then it was the Alpha too. Sampson is probably confused, without the Alpha to "be in charge."

    Now Sampson will have to be in charge. :-) Or rather, he will simply _be_ in charge, because he will automatically be the Alpha.

    I do hope you find a sweet kitten, to be a companion for him.

    Gentle hugs,
    Tessa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting. I hope he isn't too "alpha" when we get another one. I was always disappointed that he and our older cat never got along. Thank you for visiting my blog! -Jenn

      Delete
  5. We had a Cabbit when my girls were small. She was an amazing mother, a beast of a hunter, but kind of quirky personality. She would chase bats for goodness sake!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh my goodness. When you say cabbit, do you just mean a cat that had no tail, or do you mean an actual product of rabbit and cat???? We had two cats that chased (and caught) bats. You are making me think I should tell that story in an upcoming post. -Jenn

      Delete
  6. Oh poor darling. I know this very well. We had to have our 19 year old beloved cat put to sleep when we moved to Maine after he developed oral cancer. It was beyond devestating. Our Vet rescued cats and found new homes for many of them. This is how we came to adopt our Mae as a rescued kitten. I think you will know when you meed the one that captures your heart and Sampson will once again be happy! He needs a baby I think! I know it's right around the corner....hugs and blessings for your little darling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really is like losing a member of your family. I am thinking more and more that I want a kitten... -Jenn

      Delete
  7. I hope that is truly your cat's problem - I am amazed that a cat can be stressed ! Keep us updated! Thanks for stopping by - nice to be acquainted!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Patti. If you were to meet this cat you would never think he is stressed, he's a pretty cool dude. -Jenn

      Delete
  8. Poor puss..reminds me of when our Thomas was ill, Meg our other cat at the time hadn't had much of a loving relationship with him ever, but suddenly she wouldn't leave his side, and would curl up with him. Loving reading your blog...it's making me chuckle, I too have had awkward changing room moments, and who calls their child Jacqueline any more. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi and thanks for stopping by. I guess your cat sensed that she should pay special attention to him in his time of need. -Jenn

      Delete
  9. HI Jenn...
    When I started reading your post...it was like I was reliving my own cat ordeal! Our eldest cat...Taffy...lived to 21 years...our younger cat Kramer, was left behind, at 15 years old. And...like yours...they were not friends at all...Taffy was an old grump, even when Kramer joined us a kitten. Within 3 weeks of her passing, Kramer started to pull his fur out!!! He missed the old girl!!! He, unfortunately succumbed to heart problems 4 months after Taffy died. SO...we have been catless for nearly 10 years! My kids have 8 between them...so that is enough for me!
    Great post...hope you find the perfect companion for Sampson...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Linda, huh, what do you know? Someone else with a balding cat. I'm sure we will find a good companion. As I've said to my daughter, I can guarantee there will be no shortage of cats in the world from which to choose! -Jenn

      Delete