Lilly, our Office Cat.

Let’s talk about Lily.

At one point early in her life, perhaps as a kitten and then a juvenile cat, Lily was loved, appreciated and, no doubt, cuddled because, of course, she was very cuddly.

Lily’s fate, however, mirrors that of hundreds and perhaps thousands of female, unaltered cats in Durham. She became pregnant. No longer was she a cherished member of her household. Her owners wanted nothing to do with a litter of kittens and banished her to the streets to fend for herself and her brood. In Lily’s case luck prevailed and, a mother of four helpless offspring, she took up residence in the shelter of a neighbours carport. The residents of the house, kind, caring and yet extremely allergic, soon found homes for some of Lily’s offspring but were not as fortunate with Lily herself and Sunny her daughter. Fate intervened once again, however, and after enduring several cold, wintry months in the elements Lily and Sunny arrived at Oasis Animal Rescue and Education Centre.

Today life is good for Lily. Now fully vaccinated and spayed she is the official office cat at Oasis and the darling of all who have the pleasure of meeting her.

Sunny, Lily's daughter.

Sunny, however, is a different story. Bereft of human touch from the time of her birth, unfamiliar with the terms of endearment lavished on a cherished pet, Sunny is a feral cat, wary of human beings and always alert to the danger inherent in interacting with two legged creatures that have shown her no kindness in the past. Sunny will spend many months, if not years, attempting to adjust to an environment in which Lily thrives. Her road will not be an easy one even with her mother at Oasis.

The lesson here is simple. Spay and neuter your pets. Be responsible owners or do not become pet owners at all. Lily’s crime was to belong to an irresponsible individual who cast her aside because of an unwanted pregnancy that could have been prevented. Sunny, on the other hand, will bear the brunt forever of this owner’s lack of judgement in providing proper medical care for what was supposedly a beloved family member.

Sad you say, unfortunate you think, but highly predictable might I add. They live on our streets, in our alleys, in back sheds, barren fields and deserted industrial parks. A small army, in fact, of abandoned, destitute, homeless animals in our midst.

Holding down the fort.

Look closely in that mirror!!! Are you part of the solution or are you the problem?