The cats I'm (no longer) feeding...

[AoTFan]

So, unknown to the person I live with, I've been feeding some stray cats in our neighborhood for awhile.  I know they wouldn't approve because they think that if you feed cats they'll keep coming back and become a nuisance, but I dunno, I just can't stop myself.  Way back when I had a job, I bought a bulk deal on cat food and have been giving them one can a night or so when I could.  Well, I've finally ran out, so tonight I looked around for something else and found a loaf of french bread.  I took it outside, not knowing if they'd like it or not.

I began breaking off pieces of the bread and they actually starting eating it.  Now, normally, there's only two cats, but tonight FIVE cats showed, up, three I'd never seen before. I don't know, I guess it was a combination of all the stress I've been under, and the fact that even though I've been feeding the original two cats for nearly a year, they STILL won't let come near them, so I got kind of angry.  And I realized that no matter how many cats I break bread wit I'll break who you sending me.  These motherf**kers never wanted nothing but their lives saved, that's for the light day.  I'm getting down, down like a man said,  "Freeze!" But won't be the one ending up on his knees, please.  If the only thing you cats did is came out to play stay out my way.  Ain't never gave nothing to me but every time I turn around cats got they hands out wanting something from me. I ain't got it so you can't get it Let's leave it at that 'cause I ain't wit it.

[Allhallowsday]

It is understandable that you might feel frustrated or angry that cats you've been kind to still run away from you.  My beloved sister-in-law had armies of cats coming to her house because she was feeding them.  My other sister-in-law feeds at least three strays every day.  These acts of kindness I admire.  
However, if you were a hungry cat on the street, I know you would take advantage of the kindness of a person feeding you.  
Eating bread?  Poor little hungry things.
Their stray cat behavior is normal.  They have short difficult lives, struggling merely to survive.  Can you imagine how cold it is at night?  Can you imagine how easily a person might be cruel just to be cruel?

You do not need to be rewarded for kindness.  The act itself is the reward.  

I regret any unkind action of my life.  I think of dogs and cats I've had or known, and my great sorrow is only when I think about any time I was not kind, impatient, even mean.  You will not regret being kind, years from now, looking back and remembering. You will be glad.  

[Svengoolie 3]

Dude,  you feed stray animals because it's the right thing to do,  not for a 'reward'.  Avoindibg human contact may be why these strays are alive.

[RCMerchant]

Boy, you guys.
It's bulls**t.
Lyrics from a DMX song. 

[Allhallowsday]

Boy, you guys.
It's bulls**t.
Lyrics from a DMX song. 

My friend, I love you.  However, there is no reason for this mean response.  You could just stay out of the thread.  Do I have long memory?  I remember Tara Sue had a cat that ran away... from you.  Put a cork in it. 

[RCMerchant]

Boy, you guys.
It's bulls**t.
Lyrics from a DMX song. 

My friend, I love you.  However, there is no reason for this mean response.  You could just stay out of the thread.  Do I have long memory?  I remember Tara Sue had a cat that ran away... from you.  Put a cork in it. 

I dunno- you guys gave such nice responses- and it seemed mean that he didn't bother to tell you it was bulls**t...

[Allhallowsday]

Boy, you guys.
It's bulls**t.
Lyrics from a DMX song.  

My friend, I love you.  However, there is no reason for this mean response.  You could just stay out of the thread.  Do I have long memory?  I remember Tara Sue had a cat that ran away... from you.  Put a cork in it.  

I dunno- you guys gave such nice responses- and it seemed mean that he didn't bother to tell you it was bulls**t...

I'm sorry, and a little weepy.  I've gotten softer as I've grown older.  Anger rarely serves the person who suffers it.  Kindness you will always remember proudly.  
You think BTM was full of BS?    It doesn't change the way I feel about the subject of cats, particularly stray cats.  So close to my heart for personal reasons.  
I wrote:
"I was not kind, impatient, even mean.  You will not regret being kind, years from now, looking back and remembering. You will be glad."

[Allhallowsday]

... I began breaking off pieces of the bread and they actually starting eating it.  Now, normally, there's only two cats, but tonight FIVE cats showed, up, three I'd never seen before. I don't know, I guess it was a combination of all the stress I've been under, and the fact that even though I've been feeding the original two cats for nearly a year, they STILL won't let come near them, so I got kind of angry.  And I realized that no matter how many cats I break bread wit I'll break who you sending me.  These motherf**kers never wanted nothing but their lives saved, that's for the light day.  I'm getting down, down like a man said,  "Freeze!" But won't be the one ending up on his knees, please.  If the only thing you cats did is came out to play stay out my way.  Ain't never gave nothing to me but every time I turn around cats got they hands out wanting something from me. I ain't got it so you can't get it Let's leave it at that 'cause I ain't wit it...

When you broke off the bread, did the cats eat it from your hand?  
They will come looking for you.  Friendship with stray cats may never happen, and then some day they will disappear.  And then long after, maybe come back.  Not often.  Sometimes friendship happens.  They're just like you.  
I loved your story.  Very direct, very clear.    
Towards the end, well, I don't know DMX well.  Not into him.

[ER]

I think kindness, even unappreciated, is rarely wasted in life.

Cats have a way of thinking that I don't understand, but I greatly respect them. My cousin Allie, now, she is a cat psychic. She can be someplace (I've seen this many times) and cats will come up to her and start purring so loudly you hear it across a parking lot or room. Semi-feral cats, pet cats, neighborhood cats, her own mass of tiny little cats, they are drawn to her and she loves them all, and that makes me smile and feel a certain peace that something like that exists in one tiny place in this world.

[RCMerchant]

Actually-I didn't know it was DMX either. But I knew if was phony because it was all in rhyme in street slang. So I copied and pasted it into google search-walla.

I'm sorry if I offended you.
I wasn't thinking...as usual.

[Alex]

The thing about cats are generally they are their own unique creature. I have heard many times that dogs are more intelligent that cats, but I think the cats just aren't interested in doing those kind of tests.

Anyway, I digress.

These are animals whose instincts to avoid man are keeping them alive. I suspect more than one of them would have had someone try to lure them with food only to turn on them. That they trust you enough to take your food acutally is a good sign all by itself.

My advice however would be not to try and touch them. They may have parasites, skin diseases etc from living wild. If they do let you touch them, the slightest thing that causes them to panic can result in them suddenly turning on you, even if you are not the one who caused it. Ever had a cat decide it's going to hurt you? Deep down in the reaches of their DNA, these creatures are little tigers and lions. I've had a three inch gash along my forearm from a feral cat I was trying to free from being stuck in an old house. The cat didn't know I was trying to rescue it or kill it, so it did what comes natural to it.

If you really want them to come over to you, then I suggest taking a seat out to where you feed them and put the food just down beside you. Ignore the cats and let them feed. Over a period of days and weeks get closer to the food and let them get used to your presence. They might even come over to you for attention. Its best to start this with kittens rather than older cats. However, as I said before my advice is if you decide to feed them, then let them eat and take satisfaction from the knowledge that you are making their hard life that little bit easier.

[AoTFan]

Ahh I feel terrible now.  I meant the whole post as a joke.  Start with a serious (and believable sounding) story then go into the DMX songs lyrics ( I admit I kind of borrowed the idea from another post I saw about a guy getting a special delivery option that gave him his package in 10 minutes after ordering it), but I was thinking about the lyric "no matter how many cats I break bread with" and that reminded me of a time back when I was in Junior High when my stepbro and I would feed pieces of bread to one of our neighbors cats.  So this popped in my head.  I figured once everyone got to the lyrics they'd realize it was a goof and we'd all have a good laugh.

For the record, no, I'm not feeding any strays don't think off-hand there are any strays nearby.

Svengoolie, AllHallow, DarkAlex very wise and kind words.

Sorry for any confusion/arguments started.  

[Allhallowsday]

You will not regret being kind, years from now, looking back and remembering. You will be glad.

[Svengoolie 3]

Remember the 12th doctor's last words to his future self:



Well, I suppose….one more lifetime won’t kill anyone. Well, except me.



You wait a moment, Doctor. Let’s get it right. I’ve got a few things to say to you. Basic stuff first.

Never be cruel, never be cowardly. And never ever eat pears! Remember – hate is always foolish…and love, is always wise.

Always try, to be nice and never fail to be kind. Oh, and….and you mustn’t tell anyone your name. No-one would understand it anyway. Except….



Except….children. Children can hear it. Sometimes – if their hearts are in the right place, and the stars are too. Children can hear your name.



But nobody else. Nobody else. Ever.



Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind.

[Alex]

Ahh I feel terrible now.  I meant the whole post as a joke.  Start with a serious (and believable sounding) story then go into the DMX songs lyrics ( I admit I kind of borrowed the idea from another post I saw about a guy getting a special delivery option that gave him his package in 10 minutes after ordering it), but I was thinking about the lyric "no matter how many cats I break bread with" and that reminded me of a time back when I was in Junior High when my stepbro and I would feed pieces of bread to one of our neighbors cats.  So this popped in my head.  I figured once everyone got to the lyrics they'd realize it was a goof and we'd all have a good laugh.

For the record, no, I'm not feeding any strays don't think off-hand there are any strays nearby.

Svengoolie, AllHallow, DarkAlex very wise and kind words.

Sorry for any confusion/arguments started.  

Lol, don't worry about it. I am just not aware of this DMX person and I think its pretty funny that we all thought it was something real.