Love at First Purr

by Patricia Fry

Chapter Three

  "Hi, Gabby," Savannah said the following morning when she arrived at the Randolph ranch with Margaret and Colbi. "Are you ready to go to work?"

  "Work?" Gabby repeated. "This is going to be too much fun to call work."

  Colbi chuckled. "Work should be fun. If your work is a drag, you're in the wrong business."

  Gabby smiled at her, then said to Savannah, "I think some of the cats will be okay—you know, to be adopted. I come out here and talk to them sometimes. Most of them come closer and listen to me talk and sing. Some stay hidden, but I know they're listening."

  "You sing to them?" Colbi asked. "That's sweet."

  "Animals like music," Gabby said. "I wrote a story about that once."

  "No kidding?" Margaret said. "I'd like to read it."

  "So would I," Colbi said.

  "Me too," Savannah added. When Gabby looked surprised, Savannah winked. "Sounds like you have a bestselling idea, there, girl. Hey, want to show us where you usually see the cats?"

  "Sure," Gabby said. "Sometimes they come up close to the porch when we're sitting out here." She giggled. "I don't usually tell Uncle Randy. If I do, he starts sneezing. If I don't, he doesn't seem to notice them." She looked around. "I don't see them today, so they're probably out by the washhouse. Come on. It's not far." The quartet had walked a distance of about a half city block when Gabby stopped and whispered, "See that old washhouse? They sometimes hang out in there and under it." She pointed. "They seem to come from that grove of trees in the barranca. I've seen them coming and going over that way."

  "Okay," Margaret said, "let's see what we can find out about these cats. Hey, there's a bench. Let's sit and watch. Colbi, do you have the log book?"

  "Yes, I already logged a small black cat that I saw peeking out from the door of the washhouse. I think there are more inside."

  "Auntie, you and Colbi watch the washhouse," Savannah said, "and Gabby and I'll watch the barranca." She grinned. "Gabby are you going to sing for them?"

  "If you want me to," Gabby agreed. She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. "I started writing them down too. I didn't know that's how you do it, but I thought it would help me get to know them." She handed the paper to Colbi. "I've counted nine different cats so far. Three of them are white with stripy patches."

  Margaret chuckled. "Bi-color tabbies. For some reason you see a lot of them among feral cats, and there are usually a lot of black cats."

  Gabby studied her list. "Yes, I wrote down a black one, too." She pointed. "I don't think I've seen that small black one there. She has a little diamond on her chest."

  "Yes, a pendant," Colbi said.

  "There's one," Savannah said. "Large orange tabby." Sounding startled, she added, "Ear clip."

  "What does that mean?" Gabby asked, wide-eyed.

  "That the cat has been spayed or neutered," Savannah explained. "Well, that's good to know. Colbi, did the black cat have its ear clipped?"

  "I couldn't tell. The background was the same color as its fur." She hissed, "There it is again. No. No clipped ear, right?"

  "Right," Margaret said. "Here kitty," she called. "Will you come out and let us see you?"

  "Not today," Savannah joked when the cat disappeared back into the washhouse.

  ****

  Forty-five minutes later, Colbi and Gabby compared their notes. They determined that they'd seen all but one of those Gabby had logged earlier, and they'd caught just a glimpse of two others which they couldn't identify, other than as dark short-hair.

  Margaret noticed. "I see you have water bowls out here for them."

  Gabby nodded. "Uncle Randy helped me find the bowls over near the rabbit hutches. I fill them twice a day."

  "Well, you're already on the job, aren't you?" Margaret said. "Good for you."

  "Good for the cats," Colbi said, smiling at Gabby. "Are you feeding them?"

  Gabby nodded. "Kibbles in aluminum pie pans. Aunt Loretta had a bunch of them, so there are always clean ones." She shook her head. "The cats don't eat much. I don't think they like the kibbles. Should I give them canned food?"

  "Let's not at this point," Margaret said. "We'll wait and use the wet food to entice them into the traps. But the alliance will buy the food so it doesn't come out of the Randolphs' pocket."

  "So what's the plan?" Colbi asked. "It looks like Gabby has already done the work we came here to do."

  "We need to continue working on the log," Savannah suggested. "Colbi, can you make copies of that, and send it to us? Then we can note any new sightings each time we come here." She looked at the others. "I can come tomorrow. Colbi which days do you want?"

  "I can do it every day," Gabby said, "so only one of you probably needs to come at a time. More than two people might scare the cats. Only…"

  "Only what?" Savannah asked.

  "There are times when I come out here and I can't find any of them, except the barn cats, who stay pretty close to the barn."

  "Do you think these cats visit the barn cats?" Margaret asked. "Where do you think they go? I guess they could be sleeping among the trees or in the washhouse."

  "I don't think so," Gabby said. "I think they go up into the hills someplace." When Margaret looked at her, she added, "Sometimes I walk all around looking for them, and I can't find them anywhere."

  "That's odd behavior for colony cats," Margaret said. "They generally stake out a place and don't roam too far away from it—especially all at once. You say there are times when there are no cats here at all?"

  Gabby nodded. "And sometimes it's at feeding time. Not all of them always eat at feeding time, either, even when they are here when I feed."

  "So you've been watching over these cats for a while, have you?" Savannah asked. "How long have you been here?"

  "Maybe four days. Yes, as soon as I saw the cats I started watching them." More excitedly, she said, "Oh, you guys didn't get to see my favorite one. I think you'd call her a mostly grey tabby. She's always alone—you know, a little ways away from any other cat. She watches me. She won't come out or let me get too close to her, but boy does she stare. She's kind of fluffy." Gabby smiled. "I really want to touch her. Maybe one day soon she'll let me."

  Colbi looked at her log. "Oh, yes, I see that you've noted a small fluffy tabby. No, we didn't see that one today."

  Margaret looked out over the terrain. "Well, if the cats are leaving this area and they don't always come back at feeding time, my guess is that someone else is feeding them." As if thinking out loud, she added, "That could make it more difficult to trap them."

  Colbi asked, "Savannah, you don't leave food out do you? They wouldn't be finding food over at your place or yours, Maggie?"

  "No," Savannah said.

  Margaret shook her head, then said with a sigh, "Well, we'll learn more about their habits as we spend time with them. Gabby, you've been extremely helpful. Thank you. Girls, I think we should start trapping tonight."

  "Already?" Savannah questioned.

  "Yes. I see no reason why not, do you?"

  "Hey, Gabby," Colbi said, "can you tell us which cats you recall being the most friendly or potentially friendly? You seem to have tuned into their behavior."

  "Yes. "Gabby looked at the log. "The big orange cat usually seems less afraid than some of the others. And today I thought that little black cat was interested in us. It kept peeking out at us. Oh, and the grey-and-white tabby I told you about—the one that stares at me—I think she might like to be friendly." She looked around and muttered, "I wonder where she is today. She…" Gabby chuckled "…I've decided she's a girl…well, she has the biggest green eyes and she just stares. She's really cute and I think lonely. I sure hope she lets me hold her some time."

  "She tugged at your heartstrings, did she?" Savannah teased.

  "Yeah, kinda," Gabby admitted. She frowned. "But I wonder where she is today?"

  "So, Auntie, you'll set traps tonight? Do you need help with that?"

  "I can help," Gabby said
.

  Savannah nodded. "I'll come out here in the morning and check. If we have cats, maybe Gabby will help me take them to the clinic."

  "Let me know if you trap any," Colbi suggested, "so I'll know whether I need to feed or set traps the following day." She looked at Margaret. "And you'll be here the day after that, right?"

  Margaret nodded. "Meanwhile I'll contact members asking for foster homes and I'll get in touch with Nola at the cat ranch. Vannie, want to tell Michael we might have incoming cats as early as tomorrow?"

  Savannah nodded. "Don't forget about Betty's new ranch hand gal, Erika. She wants to do some fostering."

  "Does June have room for any more ferals?" Colbi asked.

  "I think so, Savannah said. "Gabby and I were there yesterday and Nola indicated to us that she does, right, Gabby?"

  The girl nodded. "They have room for thirty and they only have sixteen right now."

  Savannah rested her arm across Gabby's shoulders. "You're quite the expert with figures and facts, aren't you?"

  "I guess I am," Gabby said. "My teachers always encourage me to become a scientist—you know, a biologist or a doctor or something."

  "Cat-DNA scientist?" Savannah suggested.

  Gabby's eyes widened. "Is there such a thing?"

  "There sure is. I know one. In fact, she helped me trace Rags's roots. She lives in San Francisco. I can put you in touch with her if you'd like. She's really cool, and probably nerdy enough that you'll be able to relate to her."

  Gabby shook her head in disbelief. "I'm sure glad I'm spending the summer in Hammond. It's the coolest place ever with the coolest people."

  Savannah hugged her. "And you, young lady, are a treasure." She looked at her watch. "Well, I'd better get home. How about you ladies?"

  "Yes," Colbi said, also glancing at her watch. "Iris is probably pulling out her hair with Rosemary and the two cats by now."

  "She's at your house this morning?" Savannah asked.

  Colbi nodded. "Yes, and Rosemary has been a little cranky lately."

  "It's okay," Savannah said. "Grandma Ris-Ris will have her completely spoiled by the time you get home."

  Margaret laughed, then said to Gabby, "Thanks again. You're doing a great job out here. There's just one, thing; I noticed some of those aluminum pie tins in the shrubs. You might want to hold them down with rocks so they don't blow all over the place. Better yet, I'll bring you some heavier bowls for the kibbles."

  "That would be great, thank you," Gabby said.

  "But let's not feed them today since we're going to set traps this evening. I'll see you later," Margaret said.

  "Bye," Gabby called, waving. She pointed at Savannah's SUV. "Did you know you left your tailgate open?"

  "Yes. I guess we did. We unloaded the traps and left them alongside the porch there. That's okay, isn't it?" Savannah asked.

  Gabby nodded.

  ****

  "She really is a special little girl, isn't she?" Margaret said on their way home in Savannah's car. "How old is she?"

  "She sure is," Savannah agreed. "She just turned twelve."

  "She's only twelve?" Colbi asked from the backseat. "I hope Rosemary is as mature and sweet at that age." She frowned. "I'm not looking forward to the teen years."

  Margaret laughed. "You have a long way to go, Colbi. I wouldn't fret about that now. You still have to get over the potty-training hurdle."

  Savannah chuckled, then challenged, "Auntie have you noticed how fast the kids are growing? It seems like just yesterday that Lily was in diapers." Suddenly, she yelped.

  "What?" Margaret shouted when the car swerved. "What are you doing?"

  "There's something in here!" Savannah yelled, pulling the car over onto the shoulder. "Something rubbed against my ankle. I felt it." She lifted her feet, and looked around on the floorboard.

  Margaret squealed and pulled her knees up to her chest. "Is it a snake? A rodent?"

  "I don't know," Savannah said, her voice shrill. "Maybe a lizard, but I think it had fur."

  "Yikes!" Colbi hissed, unbuckling her seatbelt and tucking her feet up under her. "Is it a raccoon?"

  "Maybe it's one of the Randolphs' bunnies," Margaret offered. "I saw some rabbits in cages there."

  Just then Colbi screamed from the backseat. She pointed. "There it is! There it is! What is that?" Breathlessly, she said, "It definitely has fur. I hope it's a bunny or…"

  "I'm out of here," Margaret said, grabbing for the passenger door handle. "I don't do wild skunks or raccoons."

  "Me, too," Savannah said, preparing to open her door.

  "Wait!" Colbi shouted. "Wait, you guys!" More calmly and quietly she said, "It's a cat. It's a cute little cat."

  "If it's such a cute little cat, why do you have your feet up on the seat like that?" Margaret asked. "Is it a bobcat?"

  "No. I don't think so. It's under your seat, Savannah. I saw its little face looking out at me."

  "Oh dear," Savannah said. "Are you sure it's a kitty cat and not a squirrel or something?"

  "Positive." Speaking more quietly, Colbi said, "Hi, little one. You really are a cutie. Guys, I don't think it's very old. It has the sweetest kitten face. I'll bet it's the one Gabby told us about that was staring at her. Its eyes are unreal."

  "I want to see," Margaret said.

  "Let's not open the doors unnecessarily," Savannah insisted. "We don't want to lose it out here on the highway." She thought for a moment and said, "Can you get your hands on it, Colbi?"

  "Maybe. It doesn't look too threatened." Colbi chuckled. "Just inquisitive."

  Savannah looked around in the backseat. "Get Lily's doll blanket there and see if you can wrap it in that—you know, just in case it fights you."

  After a few moments, Colbi crooned, "I got you, little one. Oh, she's a doll—a doll in a doll blanket. Perfect."

  "She?" Margaret asked. "It's a female? If it's the one Gabby was telling us about, she thought it was a female."

  Colbi nodded. "She has a little orange in her tabby fur. She's a dilute torbie. I know that because I have two tabbies. I'm kind of interested in tabbies. Well, I saw one with spots of orange on her fur once and the owner referred to her as a torbie."

  "That's right," Margaret said, turning in her seat to get a better look at the cat. "She is small."

  "Yes, probably a teenager," Colbi said, "five or six months old, maybe." She turned the kitten toward Margaret. "Look at those eyes, will you?"

  "Ohhh," Savannah cooed. "I see what you mean. What a cutie patootie."

  Margaret smiled. "Well, hi there, little one. What's your story? Have you decided to

  desert? Are you a little deserter? Colony life isn't your cup of tea, huh?"

  Colbi asked, "Should we take her back?"

  Savannah scowled. "Why would we do that? Our goal is to capture them, right? She looks calm. Does she seem stressed to you?"

  Colbi shook her head. "She's a little tense, but she's not fighting me. She doesn't appear to be—you know, upset." Colbi snuggled with the kitten. "I think she knows what she's doing. While we were working a plan out there with her kitty-cat gang, she was working her own plan—obviously to escape."

  The others smiled.

  "So what are we going to do with her?" Savannah asked. She looked at Colbi.

  "I can't take her. I'm just getting to the point where I can get a little writing done." Colbi smiled at the young cat. "I get the distinct impression that this little thing could be rather intrusive. I mean look at how bold she is—sneaking a ride with us like that." She looked into the kitten's face and hissed excitedly, "Look, she's patting me with her paw. How cute is that?"

  "Yeah, cute," Margaret said. "Are you sure she's not trying to claw your eyes out?"

  "No," Colbi insisted. "She's just a sweet little girl with a gentle touch."

  "So you can't take her?" Savannah asked. When Colbi shook her head, Savannah looked at her aunt, who put her hands up defensively.

  "We're full up at
the shelter with adoptable cats right now. I'd really hate to see her go into a pen. If she's almost ready for a family it may set her back some. I can call around and probably find a foster home for her. Vannie, can you take her overnight?" Margaret grinned. "She did choose your car to highjack, after all."

  Savannah moaned. "I don't know, guys. We have enough chaos at our house."

  "Look at her and say that," Colbi insisted, turning the kitten toward the front seats again.

  Savannah heaved a sigh and smiled. "She sure is convincing with those engaging eyes. Yeah, I guess we could keep her overnight." She shimmied. "I wouldn't mind having a little kitten energy in our house again."

  "How about committing to a week?" Margaret suggested. When Savannah started to protest Margaret continued, "Then you and Michael can check her over, bathe her if she needs it, have her spayed, wormed, inoculated, and all. How about this; if I find a foster family for her, I'll schedule them for a week from today."

  "Okay," Savannah said. "We'll give it a try." She glanced at the kitten again and smiled. "Will you stop looking at me like that? I swear it's as if she's auditioning me." She gently tickled the top of the cat's head. "So do I pass muster?" She laughed. "You are a sweet thing and I suspect a bit calculating."

  "She's purring," Colbi squealed quietly.

  "Of course she is," Savannah said. "She just got her way."

  Margaret clasped her hands together. "Then it's settled. The Iveys are new parents—foster parents, and that's one less feral cat we have to worry about."

  "Wow!" Savannah said, once they were back on the road. "Auntie, have you ever had that happen before—a feral colony cat jumps right into your car?"

  "Never," Margaret said. "This is a first." Suddenly she thought of something. She turned in her seat and asked, "She's not pregnant is she? Is her tummy bulging?" She gasped. "Or worse, is she nursing? We didn't leave kittens behind did we?"

  "Gosh," Colbi said, "I didn't think of that." She unwrapped the kitten. "Let me check you out, little one. Will you let me look at your tummy?" She reported, "She doesn't appear to be pregnant or nursing. Whew. We probably got her out of there just in time."

  When Savannah stopped in her aunt's driveway, Margaret opened the car door and climbed out. "Well, thanks, ladies. See you all soon." To the cat she said, "Good luck, cutie-cat."