I’m fond of cats. Well that is a bit of an understatement. I really, really, really like cats. I find them funny, entertaining, and comforting, and enjoy the heck out of all the funny cat videos and cartoons. Most of my life I have owned a cat or two and once three. So when I discovered that the apartment I have in Zihuatanejo came with a contingent of “roof cats” I thought it just added to the charm. My neighbors disagree.
My first concern was where do they get water? So being a kind person I put out a bowl of water on the balcony, upsetting the neighbors as they wanted the cats all gone for a multitude of reasons, but mainly due to the normally fastidious toilet habits of cats. Roof cats can only rely on potted plants in balcony gardens. This upsets the gardeners as the plants do not fair well. And when all else fails they will resort to any place out of necessity, steps, stairwells or anyplace where they don’t linger long. It didn’t take me long to figure out, that crudely put “cats do not shit in their own nest” so I set out to befriend them with occasional food and water and protected my plants with some plastic forks and other pokey items placed in the pots and soon I had no cat toilet issues and a flourishing balcony garden.
I became particularly fond of one small skinny black cat who soon became pregnant, and then became pregnant again and again. I decided I would attempt to tame her and make her a pampered pet. She would come into my apartment, prowl a bit and stretch out sleep on the floor. The tile was cool and the summer was hot and she became quite comfortable. I always said said she really liked my apartment, me, not so much. I eventually was able to trap her and get her spade. Which was another whole story I wrote about earlier
So now she comes in twice a day to be fed, she is healthy, plump with a shinny coat and is a bit resented by the rest of her roof mates. I can not afford to feed all the Zihuatanejo cats, which would happen as the word spread of free food. So selectively I chose one cat to make happy and healthy and hopefully will be returned with a little affection from the little beast. She still won’t let me touch her, such ingratitude!
Her roof mates are aware of her source of bounty and keep trying to push their way in and have just about destroyed my sliding screen door. The big male is truly pissed at me as she is no longer part of his harem and has showed his displeasure by spraying through the screen door. I would love to trap him and get him fixed.
Over the last few weeks my cat, Pearly May, has not wanted to leave as it becomes my bedtime. So one night I explained that if she needed to go out during the night she would have to yowl loud enough to wake me up and I would let her out. Woke up the next morning with the cat still in, opened the door for her and she still wasn’t ready to leave. I gave her her breakfast and about an hour later she left. So over the past few weeks we have had several sleep overs with no problems. But I did buy a cat pan and litter and she has trained herself.
I would love to pet her and comb her silky fur, but she jumps like I pinched her every time I try. I began to think “I’m just her meal ticket” but then she started “petting me”. By that I mean she rubs up against my legs while I prepare her food or when ever I am standing in one place. I know she loves me and appreciates all that I have done for her. Still hoping she’ll become a lap cat some day.
Signing off KO
Zihuatanejo 