In the mean time, I will update things about my life of late.
I enrolled in the Photographic Technology program at Austin Community College. I'm going for the Photographic Artist specialization, with is an Associates in Applied Science (A.AS) degree. If I make it through this I plan to stay in school to pursue an additional degree in Wedding Photography. I will only provide photographic services for same-sex couples. My hope is that by the time I have that degree we will have full marriage equality nation-wide.
Last year during the summer-long drought and heat wave I was providing food and water for the neighborhood stray cats, or The Hood Cats™, as I called them. One of a new litter of kittens stood out, or rather, was cast out. He had a sinus infection which meant his litter mates and the adult cats all ostracized him. They would bat at him when he tried to get to the bowl to eat. I made sure he got food by chasing the other cats away. I called him "Runt," because he was the runt of the litter.
Well "Runt" seemed to realize that I was on his side. He even learned to stand up for himself at the food bowl. He'd be outside when I went out, and sitting on the porch steps when I returned. But he ran away if I tried to pet him. I decided it was rude to call him Runt so picked a new name for him. His sinus infection made him snort at times, and when he ate, he ate like a pig. So I named him after that famous movie pig - "Babe." He seemed to like that better than "Runt."
Early morning of Sunday November 20th my cat Pinta died. I was sad but I put out food for the Hood Cats™ and sat on the front porch, mourning my loss. Babe was within arms reach, eating away, having successfully pushed Meowsy Dearest away from the bowl. On a whim I reached over and touched Babe's back. Babe responded by rubbing excitedly against my hand, his tail straight up and vibrating at the base. He came over and rubbed against my back, then climbed into my lap, purring loudly. I kept telling him it was too soon for him to suddenly do this, but I reveled in it. His siblings and the adult cats kept their distance as usual, but here was the littlest of them all purring and affectionate.
Jump to December 6th. We were expecting two nights of below freezing temperatures. I deliberated then decided to bring Babe into my apartment. He didn't need his sinus infection becoming pneumonia. He was sneezing enough as it was. Babe fit in like he was born to it. He quickly learned to use the litter box and loved getting to eat without competition. He cuddled in my lap purring. Even slept next to me in bed.
With the help of my cousin Melanie we got Babe to the vet. He tested negative for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus; cat's version of HIV), got treated for worms and fleas, and was prescribed antibiotics and an antiviral (L-Lysine) for his infection. He also got fixed. Yippee for him.
Babe turned into a little monster. It was obvious the medication was working and he become more playful. Since he didn't have the chance to play-fight with his siblings (like Rudolph, they wouldn't let him play any reindeer - I mean kitty - games), he played rough. He would bite my hand or fingers hard and not let go. I couldn't imagine having to deal with this when he got bigger. Didn't want to. I knew he needed a friend, but couldn't convince any of his siblings to let me bring them inside.
Jump again to Saturday, June 9th, 2012. My friend Danny called me. He was on his way back to Austin from CPR training for his job. He'd been in Smithville, which is east of Austin. He asked if I knew of a no-kill animal shelter. I told him yet, the Austin Animal Center. He then asked if I knew where it was, and I replied in the affirmative. He then asked if I could go with him to take the kitten he found at the training center to the shelter. I told him I could.
Ferdinand being cute
Danny arrives and when I get in the car he hands over this tiny tan tabby, which immediately starts climbing up to my face. The kitten is purring loudly and licking my nose. Needless to say by the time we got to the animal center I was in love. I'd found a friend for Babe. So we got him tested (also FIV-negative), treated for fleas and neutered. Then I brought him back to my place. Left him in the cat carrier just to keep Babe from attacking him and Danny & I went back to Danny's for the weekly game night.
It didn't take Babe & Ferdinand long before they became best friends. From sleeping cuddled together to chasing each other around the apartment. There were plenty of "awww, that's so cute!" moments, many of which I wasn't able to capture on camera.
I'm going to add a page for pictures of my previous cat Pinta, one for Babe, another for Ferdinand, and yet another for Babe & Ferdinand together.
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