Abelard's Story

RPCA folks first met Abelard July 10, 2003 with my first post to the group.
At that time he was already a year old and I've never posted about how he
came to live with me in the first place. So here is that story.

It started with a lawnmower. I needed one, but I hate the kind that make
noise and stink of exhaust fumes and are very expensive. When I was a child
my father used the kind of mower that has blades that rotate when you push
it around. That's the kind of mower I wanted to get, and used ones that
still work are scarce.

I ran an ad in the local classifieds and got a response from someone who had
one they would sell me for $20. It was affordable enough that I was willing
to drive the 50 miles to get it.

The place was hidden behind many big shrubs and trees, but I found it and
was greeted by the owners. I commented on how difficult it had been to see
their house from the road and they said that was deliberate, they wanted it
to be very hard for the PETA people to find them, because apparently PETA
folks have been giving Missouri pet breeders a hard time.

Of course when I heard this I just *had* to see the cattery. They had two
buildings full cages with Abyssinians, Maine Coons, and Burmese. We went
around to every cage and the lady introduced each of the cats. Many had
litters with them.

It was like a visit to heaven and hell all rolled into one. I loved meeting
the cats and kittens but hated that they were cooped up. At least they were
clean, well-fed and reasonably healthy, they all had names and were familiar
with the operator who could handle them easily. They loved being held and
petted when she took them out. I had her take most of them out of the cages
for me.

This was my first exposure to Abyssinians. I thought they were cute but was
not particularly impressed. The breeder said they grow on you as you spend
time with them and are very intelligent cats.

I told her that I had lost two precious Maine Coons a while back and would
really love to have another someday, but no way could I afford to buy one.
She said she would put my name on a list for a free one, since of course
they all had to eventually retire from breeding, and occasionally they would
get a kitten with some defect that prevented it being sold.

I left her with my phone number and went home with my lawnmower. About two
weeks later I got a call from the breeder saying she had a kitten for me! I
was *so* excited... then she said it was a male Abyssinian with a bad eye,
and even though I had wanted a Maine Coon I agreed to take the Aby.

We met up the next day in the post office parking lot. The moment I saw
little Abelard I fell in love. She showed me how to take care of his eye and
gave me a copy of his medical records and his parents' lineage. When I took
him into my car and he saw the breeder driving off without him, he started
crying as she drove away.

I'm sure he felt abandoned, having spent his entire short life in a small
cage in a small room and had only known one other hoomin until that day. He
was barely seven weeks old, so tiny and so terrified that my heart just
melted!

When we got home I put Abelard into a pet taxi so he would feel more "at
home" and so the other cats could meet him without threatening him. He did
not seem to like being alone in that box, so I took him out and held him and
let the other cats sniff him.

Baby Eyes immediately wanted to take over being his mother, and Tommy and
Eli who were adolescent kittens themselves just wanted to bat him around.
This was all too much for the poor frightened baby Abelard, so he ran and
hid, and we barely saw him for the first week or so. When he did make an
appearance he clung to me for dear life.

I had never seen such a 'fraidy cat in my life! His behaviour was so
un-kitten-like that I started to worry that he would never adjust to life
outside of a cage. Of course he eventually lightened up and started enjoying
his new home, new friends and the big wide world.

I'm sorry I never took any pictures of Abelard when he was a tiny kitten,
the first ones I got when he was about 6-7 months old. When he was neutered
the vet also did some snipping of the tissues in his eye so at least it
would look more normal. Up to that point it had been almost completely
covered by the white "third eyelid", with just a tiny opening in the center.
After the surgery it was fully open but still looked odd. At that time I
believed he could see with the bad eye, but I am not sure he ever could.

Pat wrote:
RPCA folks first met Abelard July 10, 2003 with my first post to the
group. At that time he was already a year old and I've never posted
about how he came to live with me in the first place. So here is that
story.

It started with a lawnmower. I needed one, but I hate the kind that
make noise and stink of exhaust fumes and are very expensive. When I
was a child my father used the kind of mower that has blades that
rotate when you push it around. That's the kind of mower I wanted to
get, and used ones that still work are scarce.

I ran an ad in the local classifieds and got a response from someone
who had one they would sell me for $20. It was affordable enough that
I was willing to drive the 50 miles to get it.

The place was hidden behind many big shrubs and trees, but I found it
and was greeted by the owners. I commented on how difficult it had
been to see their house from the road and they said that was
deliberate, they wanted it to be very hard for the PETA people to
find them, because apparently PETA folks have been giving Missouri
pet breeders a hard time.

Of course when I heard this I just *had* to see the cattery. They had
two buildings full cages with Abyssinians, Maine Coons, and Burmese.
We went around to every cage and the lady introduced each of the
cats. Many had litters with them.

It was like a visit to heaven and hell all rolled into one. I loved
meeting the cats and kittens but hated that they were cooped up. At
least they were clean, well-fed and reasonably healthy, they all had
names and were familiar with the operator who could handle them
easily. They loved being held and petted when she took them out. I
had her take most of them out of the cages for me.

This was my first exposure to Abyssinians. I thought they were cute
but was not particularly impressed. The breeder said they grow on you
as you spend time with them and are very intelligent cats.

I told her that I had lost two precious Maine Coons a while back and
would really love to have another someday, but no way could I afford
to buy one. She said she would put my name on a list for a free one,
since of course they all had to eventually retire from breeding, and
occasionally they would get a kitten with some defect that prevented
it being sold.

I left her with my phone number and went home with my lawnmower.
About two weeks later I got a call from the breeder saying she had a
kitten for me! I was *so* excited... then she said it was a male
Abyssinian with a bad eye, and even though I had wanted a Maine Coon
I agreed to take the Aby.

We met up the next day in the post office parking lot. The moment I
saw little Abelard I fell in love. She showed me how to take care of
his eye and gave me a copy of his medical records and his parents'
lineage. When I took him into my car and he saw the breeder driving
off without him, he started crying as she drove away.

I'm sure he felt abandoned, having spent his entire short life in a
small cage in a small room and had only known one other hoomin until
that day. He was barely seven weeks old, so tiny and so terrified
that my heart just melted!

When we got home I put Abelard into a pet taxi so he would feel more
"at home" and so the other cats could meet him without threatening
him. He did not seem to like being alone in that box, so I took him
out and held him and let the other cats sniff him.

Baby Eyes immediately wanted to take over being his mother, and Tommy
and Eli who were adolescent kittens themselves just wanted to bat him
around. This was all too much for the poor frightened baby Abelard,
so he ran and hid, and we barely saw him for the first week or so.
When he did make an appearance he clung to me for dear life.

I had never seen such a 'fraidy cat in my life! His behaviour was so
un-kitten-like that I started to worry that he would never adjust to
life outside of a cage. Of course he eventually lightened up and
started enjoying his new home, new friends and the big wide world.

I'm sorry I never took any pictures of Abelard when he was a tiny
kitten, the first ones I got when he was about 6-7 months old. When
he was neutered the vet also did some snipping of the tissues in his
eye so at least it would look more normal. Up to that point it had
been almost completely covered by the white "third eyelid", with just
a tiny opening in the center. After the surgery it was fully open but
still looked odd. At that time I believed he could see with the bad
eye, but I am not sure he ever could.

A fascinating story, thanks for posting.
--
Adrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera)
A House is not a home, without a cat.
http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk

aw, what a sweet story about Abelard. I'm so happy you have him and that he
gives you much happiness, in spite of all the "walkabouts" he takes. God
bless you.
Lily & her mama

--

Irulan
from the stars we come
to the stars we return
from now until the end of time
"Pat" wrote in message
...
RPCA folks first met Abelard July 10, 2003 with my first post to the
group. At that time he was already a year old and I've never posted about
how he came to live with me in the first place. So here is that story.

It started with a lawnmower. I needed one, but I hate the kind that make
noise and stink of exhaust fumes and are very expensive. When I was a
child my father used the kind of mower that has blades that rotate when
you push it around. That's the kind of mower I wanted to get, and used
ones that still work are scarce.

I ran an ad in the local classifieds and got a response from someone who
had one they would sell me for $20. It was affordable enough that I was
willing to drive the 50 miles to get it.

The place was hidden behind many big shrubs and trees, but I found it and
was greeted by the owners. I commented on how difficult it had been to see
their house from the road and they said that was deliberate, they wanted
it to be very hard for the PETA people to find them, because apparently
PETA folks have been giving Missouri pet breeders a hard time.

Of course when I heard this I just *had* to see the cattery. They had two
buildings full cages with Abyssinians, Maine Coons, and Burmese. We went
around to every cage and the lady introduced each of the cats. Many had
litters with them.

It was like a visit to heaven and hell all rolled into one. I loved
meeting the cats and kittens but hated that they were cooped up. At least
they were clean, well-fed and reasonably healthy, they all had names and
were familiar with the operator who could handle them easily. They loved
being held and petted when she took them out. I had her take most of them
out of the cages for me.

This was my first exposure to Abyssinians. I thought they were cute but
was not particularly impressed. The breeder said they grow on you as you
spend time with them and are very intelligent cats.

I told her that I had lost two precious Maine Coons a while back and would
really love to have another someday, but no way could I afford to buy one.
She said she would put my name on a list for a free one, since of course
they all had to eventually retire from breeding, and occasionally they
would get a kitten with some defect that prevented it being sold.

I left her with my phone number and went home with my lawnmower. About two
weeks later I got a call from the breeder saying she had a kitten for me!
I was *so* excited... then she said it was a male Abyssinian with a bad
eye, and even though I had wanted a Maine Coon I agreed to take the Aby.

We met up the next day in the post office parking lot. The moment I saw
little Abelard I fell in love. She showed me how to take care of his eye
and gave me a copy of his medical records and his parents' lineage. When I
took him into my car and he saw the breeder driving off without him, he
started crying as she drove away.

I'm sure he felt abandoned, having spent his entire short life in a small
cage in a small room and had only known one other hoomin until that day.
He was barely seven weeks old, so tiny and so terrified that my heart just
melted!

When we got home I put Abelard into a pet taxi so he would feel more "at
home" and so the other cats could meet him without threatening him. He did
not seem to like being alone in that box, so I took him out and held him
and let the other cats sniff him.

Baby Eyes immediately wanted to take over being his mother, and Tommy and
Eli who were adolescent kittens themselves just wanted to bat him around.
This was all too much for the poor frightened baby Abelard, so he ran and
hid, and we barely saw him for the first week or so. When he did make an
appearance he clung to me for dear life.

I had never seen such a 'fraidy cat in my life! His behaviour was so
un-kitten-like that I started to worry that he would never adjust to life
outside of a cage. Of course he eventually lightened up and started
enjoying his new home, new friends and the big wide world.

I'm sorry I never took any pictures of Abelard when he was a tiny kitten,
the first ones I got when he was about 6-7 months old. When he was
neutered the vet also did some snipping of the tissues in his eye so at
least it would look more normal. Up to that point it had been almost
completely covered by the white "third eyelid", with just a tiny opening
in the center. After the surgery it was fully open but still looked odd.
At that time I believed he could see with the bad eye, but I am not sure
he ever could.

Wonderful story.
Ann

--
read Sam's blog at http://kittens-3.blogspot.com/
see pictures of Sam at http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ann791/my_photos

"Pat" wrote in message
...
RPCA folks first met Abelard July 10, 2003 with my first post to the
group. At that time he was already a year old and I've never posted about
how he came to live with me in the first place. So here is that story.

It started with a lawnmower. I needed one, but I hate the kind that make
noise and stink of exhaust fumes and are very expensive. When I was a
child my father used the kind of mower that has blades that rotate when
you push it around. That's the kind of mower I wanted to get, and used
ones that still work are scarce.

I ran an ad in the local classifieds and got a response from someone who
had one they would sell me for $20. It was affordable enough that I was
willing to drive the 50 miles to get it.

The place was hidden behind many big shrubs and trees, but I found it and
was greeted by the owners. I commented on how difficult it had been to see
their house from the road and they said that was deliberate, they wanted
it to be very hard for the PETA people to find them, because apparently
PETA folks have been giving Missouri pet breeders a hard time.

Of course when I heard this I just *had* to see the cattery. They had two
buildings full cages with Abyssinians, Maine Coons, and Burmese. We went
around to every cage and the lady introduced each of the cats. Many had
litters with them.

It was like a visit to heaven and hell all rolled into one. I loved
meeting the cats and kittens but hated that they were cooped up. At least
they were clean, well-fed and reasonably healthy, they all had names and
were familiar with the operator who could handle them easily. They loved
being held and petted when she took them out. I had her take most of them
out of the cages for me.

This was my first exposure to Abyssinians. I thought they were cute but
was not particularly impressed. The breeder said they grow on you as you
spend time with them and are very intelligent cats.

I told her that I had lost two precious Maine Coons a while back and would
really love to have another someday, but no way could I afford to buy one.
She said she would put my name on a list for a free one, since of course
they all had to eventually retire from breeding, and occasionally they
would get a kitten with some defect that prevented it being sold.

I left her with my phone number and went home with my lawnmower. About two
weeks later I got a call from the breeder saying she had a kitten for me!
I was *so* excited... then she said it was a male Abyssinian with a bad
eye, and even though I had wanted a Maine Coon I agreed to take the Aby.

We met up the next day in the post office parking lot. The moment I saw
little Abelard I fell in love. She showed me how to take care of his eye
and gave me a copy of his medical records and his parents' lineage. When I
took him into my car and he saw the breeder driving off without him, he
started crying as she drove away.

I'm sure he felt abandoned, having spent his entire short life in a small
cage in a small room and had only known one other hoomin until that day.
He was barely seven weeks old, so tiny and so terrified that my heart just
melted!

When we got home I put Abelard into a pet taxi so he would feel more "at
home" and so the other cats could meet him without threatening him. He did
not seem to like being alone in that box, so I took him out and held him
and let the other cats sniff him.

Baby Eyes immediately wanted to take over being his mother, and Tommy and
Eli who were adolescent kittens themselves just wanted to bat him around.
This was all too much for the poor frightened baby Abelard, so he ran and
hid, and we barely saw him for the first week or so. When he did make an
appearance he clung to me for dear life.

I had never seen such a 'fraidy cat in my life! His behaviour was so
un-kitten-like that I started to worry that he would never adjust to life
outside of a cage. Of course he eventually lightened up and started
enjoying his new home, new friends and the big wide world.

I'm sorry I never took any pictures of Abelard when he was a tiny kitten,
the first ones I got when he was about 6-7 months old. When he was
neutered the vet also did some snipping of the tissues in his eye so at
least it would look more normal. Up to that point it had been almost
completely covered by the white "third eyelid", with just a tiny opening
in the center. After the surgery it was fully open but still looked odd.
At that time I believed he could see with the bad eye, but I am not sure
he ever could.

"Irulan" wrote in message
...
aw, what a sweet story about Abelard. I'm so happy you have him and that
he gives you much happiness, in spite of all the "walkabouts" he takes.
God bless you.

Thanks. I can't imagine how I ever lived without him

What a great story! How is Abelard's tail doing?

Debbie


Pat wrote:

RPCA folks first met Abelard July 10, 2003 with my first post to the group.
At that time he was already a year old and I've never posted about how he
came to live with me in the first place. So here is that story.

It started with a lawnmower. I needed one, but I hate the kind that make
noise and stink of exhaust fumes and are very expensive. When I was a child
my father used the kind of mower that has blades that rotate when you push
it around. That's the kind of mower I wanted to get, and used ones that
still work are scarce.

I ran an ad in the local classifieds and got a response from someone who had
one they would sell me for $20. It was affordable enough that I was willing
to drive the 50 miles to get it.

The place was hidden behind many big shrubs and trees, but I found it and
was greeted by the owners. I commented on how difficult it had been to see
their house from the road and they said that was deliberate, they wanted it
to be very hard for the PETA people to find them, because apparently PETA
folks have been giving Missouri pet breeders a hard time.

Of course when I heard this I just *had* to see the cattery. They had two
buildings full cages with Abyssinians, Maine Coons, and Burmese. We went
around to every cage and the lady introduced each of the cats. Many had
litters with them.

It was like a visit to heaven and hell all rolled into one. I loved meeting
the cats and kittens but hated that they were cooped up. At least they were
clean, well-fed and reasonably healthy, they all had names and were familiar
with the operator who could handle them easily. They loved being held and
petted when she took them out. I had her take most of them out of the cages
for me.

This was my first exposure to Abyssinians. I thought they were cute but was
not particularly impressed. The breeder said they grow on you as you spend
time with them and are very intelligent cats.

I told her that I had lost two precious Maine Coons a while back and would
really love to have another someday, but no way could I afford to buy one.
She said she would put my name on a list for a free one, since of course
they all had to eventually retire from breeding, and occasionally they would
get a kitten with some defect that prevented it being sold.

I left her with my phone number and went home with my lawnmower. About two
weeks later I got a call from the breeder saying she had a kitten for me! I
was *so* excited... then she said it was a male Abyssinian with a bad eye,
and even though I had wanted a Maine Coon I agreed to take the Aby.

We met up the next day in the post office parking lot. The moment I saw
little Abelard I fell in love. She showed me how to take care of his eye and
gave me a copy of his medical records and his parents' lineage. When I took
him into my car and he saw the breeder driving off without him, he started
crying as she drove away.

I'm sure he felt abandoned, having spent his entire short life in a small
cage in a small room and had only known one other hoomin until that day. He
was barely seven weeks old, so tiny and so terrified that my heart just
melted!

When we got home I put Abelard into a pet taxi so he would feel more "at
home" and so the other cats could meet him without threatening him. He did
not seem to like being alone in that box, so I took him out and held him and
let the other cats sniff him.

Baby Eyes immediately wanted to take over being his mother, and Tommy and
Eli who were adolescent kittens themselves just wanted to bat him around.
This was all too much for the poor frightened baby Abelard, so he ran and
hid, and we barely saw him for the first week or so. When he did make an
appearance he clung to me for dear life.

I had never seen such a 'fraidy cat in my life! His behaviour was so
un-kitten-like that I started to worry that he would never adjust to life
outside of a cage. Of course he eventually lightened up and started enjoying
his new home, new friends and the big wide world.

I'm sorry I never took any pictures of Abelard when he was a tiny kitten,
the first ones I got when he was about 6-7 months old. When he was neutered
the vet also did some snipping of the tissues in his eye so at least it
would look more normal. Up to that point it had been almost completely
covered by the white "third eyelid", with just a tiny opening in the center.
After the surgery it was fully open but still looked odd. At that time I
believed he could see with the bad eye, but I am not sure he ever could.

"Debra Berry" wrote

What a great story! How is Abelard's tail doing?

It appears to be fully healed up.

Wonderful! I'm so glad.

Debbie


Pat wrote:

"Debra Berry" wrote

What a great story! How is Abelard's tail doing?

It appears to be fully healed up.

Thank you for telling this story of you and Abelard and how you two got
together. He has surely been a cat and half for you with all his
adventures. It was such a good thing that his eye problem cleared up like
it did. I hope that you and he enjoy many more adventuresome years!
Charleen
Mr. Pumpkin
Aggie Marble
Victor Velcro

"Pat" wrote in message
...
RPCA folks first met Abelard July 10, 2003 with my first post to the
group. At that time he was already a year old and I've never posted about
how he came to live with me in the first place. So here is that story.

It started with a lawnmower. I needed one, but I hate the kind that make
noise and stink of exhaust fumes and are very expensive. When I was a
child my father used the kind of mower that has blades that rotate when
you push it around. That's the kind of mower I wanted to get, and used
ones that still work are scarce.

I ran an ad in the local classifieds and got a response from someone who
had one they would sell me for $20. It was affordable enough that I was
willing to drive the 50 miles to get it.

The place was hidden behind many big shrubs and trees, but I found it and
was greeted by the owners. I commented on how difficult it had been to see
their house from the road and they said that was deliberate, they wanted
it to be very hard for the PETA people to find them, because apparently
PETA folks have been giving Missouri pet breeders a hard time.

Of course when I heard this I just *had* to see the cattery. They had two
buildings full cages with Abyssinians, Maine Coons, and Burmese. We went
around to every cage and the lady introduced each of the cats. Many had
litters with them.

It was like a visit to heaven and hell all rolled into one. I loved
meeting the cats and kittens but hated that they were cooped up. At least
they were clean, well-fed and reasonably healthy, they all had names and
were familiar with the operator who could handle them easily. They loved
being held and petted when she took them out. I had her take most of them
out of the cages for me.

This was my first exposure to Abyssinians. I thought they were cute but
was not particularly impressed. The breeder said they grow on you as you
spend time with them and are very intelligent cats.

I told her that I had lost two precious Maine Coons a while back and would
really love to have another someday, but no way could I afford to buy one.
She said she would put my name on a list for a free one, since of course
they all had to eventually retire from breeding, and occasionally they
would get a kitten with some defect that prevented it being sold.

I left her with my phone number and went home with my lawnmower. About two
weeks later I got a call from the breeder saying she had a kitten for me!
I was *so* excited... then she said it was a male Abyssinian with a bad
eye, and even though I had wanted a Maine Coon I agreed to take the Aby.

We met up the next day in the post office parking lot. The moment I saw
little Abelard I fell in love. She showed me how to take care of his eye
and gave me a copy of his medical records and his parents' lineage. When I
took him into my car and he saw the breeder driving off without him, he
started crying as she drove away.

I'm sure he felt abandoned, having spent his entire short life in a small
cage in a small room and had only known one other hoomin until that day.
He was barely seven weeks old, so tiny and so terrified that my heart just
melted!

When we got home I put Abelard into a pet taxi so he would feel more "at
home" and so the other cats could meet him without threatening him. He did
not seem to like being alone in that box, so I took him out and held him
and let the other cats sniff him.

Baby Eyes immediately wanted to take over being his mother, and Tommy and
Eli who were adolescent kittens themselves just wanted to bat him around.
This was all too much for the poor frightened baby Abelard, so he ran and
hid, and we barely saw him for the first week or so. When he did make an
appearance he clung to me for dear life.

I had never seen such a 'fraidy cat in my life! His behaviour was so
un-kitten-like that I started to worry that he would never adjust to life
outside of a cage. Of course he eventually lightened up and started
enjoying his new home, new friends and the big wide world.

I'm sorry I never took any pictures of Abelard when he was a tiny kitten,
the first ones I got when he was about 6-7 months old. When he was
neutered the vet also did some snipping of the tissues in his eye so at
least it would look more normal. Up to that point it had been almost
completely covered by the white "third eyelid", with just a tiny opening
in the center. After the surgery it was fully open but still looked odd.
At that time I believed he could see with the bad eye, but I am not sure
he ever could.

"Pat" wrote in
:

I'm sorry I never took any pictures of Abelard when he was a tiny
kitten, the first ones I got when he was about 6-7 months old.

Are they on the web anywhere?

Chak


--
Martyrdom... is the only way in which a man can become famous without
ability.
--George Bernard Shaw, with a statement that may have been true when he
wrote it