Ode To Feral Cats Poem by Richard Shindle

Some people love them, some dislike them.
They were homeless, and we tamed and named them.

Cats come in many colors, and we have most of them.

There is tuxedo, blotched tabby with butterflies and bulls eyes, mackerel or striped tabby with 'M' on forehead, spotted tabby, orange tabby, tortoiseshell, calico, Siamese, seal points, chocolate points, blue points, lilac or frost points, red or flame points, white cats,
black cats, harlequin cats and manx cats.

When you give a cat a name, you give it an identity which it never had.

It was fun naming them all- Haley, Tagish, Mackey, Mackey 2, Bert, Tiny, Tiny 2, Atz Lee, Otto, Minnie, Papa Cat, Nigel, Murphy, Cookie, Chaney, Ripley, Missy, Ed Harley, Babysister, Sonny Boy, Tar Baby, Gracie, Ellie, Scooter, Scoots, Boots, Faith, Jasper, Franklin, Snowflake, Misty, Blondie, Butch, Patches, Bennie, Angel, Smokey, Wendy, Bee, Linus, Oscar, Elvira, Bogart, Ebony, Smiley- all alive, fat and happy.

Rest in Peace Mama Cat, Zoe-Zoe, Harry, Bitsy, Bandit, Nemo, Shorty, Atz, Odie, Bela, Candy, Reggie, Archie, Dixie, Button, Stubbs, Lucky, Sammy, and Tiger. We will meet you on the 'Rainbow Bridge' someday.

We also miss you Leo, Dillon, Dawson, Moe-Moe, and Yukon.

They come and they go- but where? You think they will not come back but they do. Sometimes gone for weeks, they always seem to find their way home and welcome you. They have feline friends and feline enemies and are always aware of their surroundings.

Cats have a keen vision, are very sensitive to sound, and each their own personality. Cats are good hunters but not all hunt except to survive. They bury their feces and urine- thank God. They hide their pain and suffering very well. They are always independent, clean, can be aloof and quiet, but always playful. Tails go high in the air when friendly and happy. Swaying their tails back and forth means fear, anger, or anxiety. They knead, purr, love belly rubs, and rub their scent all over you when happy, They crave your love and attention but only on their terms. They are very jealous of one another for your attention. They are truly creatures of habit-where they sleep, when they eat, and where they travel.

They say they have nine lives. The wrath of Hurricane Irma on Key West attests to the fact that the descendants of Hemingway's 6-toed cat 'Snow White' all survived un the Hemingway House.

God Bless and protect them all.