Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/6/2008

Question
Hello Tabbi, hope your well. Just wanted you to know that Princess is doing great. Actually, I changed her name to Diana, that was her name when I adopted her, the name she has had since she was a kitten. I realized that I did not have the right to change her name, it was like stripping her of her identity. When I started calling her Diana she was laying down and I was petting her, her eyes got big, she rolled over on her back, and put her face right in my face and touched her nose to mine and just gazed into my eyes! It was really sweet! Although I have done my best to give her a loving, caring and safe home, it was the first time she had heard her name in months. She really responds to it well. She does occasionlly wake me, but it is usually in the morning when she wants her soft food. I have honed her diet, I still free feed, but have figured out her favorite flavors of canned food, trout and chicken and every once in a while beef flavor. Then she gets a mix of dried food for over night feeding, and of course the occasional cat treats. I have scheduled playtimes for her, she loves her laser lite.~ On a different note, someone in my apatment complex got evicted and they lost all their possesions. They abandoned their cat, it was an indoor cat. It was outside for several months in this blistering heat (110-115 degrees) with no food or water, I would feed it sometimes when I saw it, it was very friendly but so thin, less than five pounds. Last week I picked it up and put it in a carrier and took it to the Humane Society, where I got Diana. I was hoping they would put it up for adoption. I have been checking their website, (they post photos) but I am afraid they put it to sleep. The Humane Society has to consider the safety of their staff, and anyone who might adopt it, they have limited resources, I think they feel it might have been exposed to rabies. The poor thing was suffering, at least it is in kitty Heaven. Too bad their owners did not do that, they could have given her a chance.~ The Humane Society has the most beautiful five month old Calico kitten, a female. I think she would be great company for Diana, but my resourcses are limited. The good news is I am feeling better and am seeking part-time work. I receive Social Security Disibility and they allow people to work part-time. If that happens I will adopt a second cat to keep Diana company. Well, I was going to keep this short, thank you again for all your advice. I will keep you posted on Diana and if I adopt a second cat. Take care, John~~~

Answer
John,

Diana is such a pretty and regal name, just like the name Princess is (hey...Princess Diana!).

I'm glad things are going well and that you are feeling better. Yes, a 2nd cat would be good for "Princess Diana" since she is used to you being around all the time, and if you go to work she may get lonely. You will just have to try it and see if it works...Princess Diana may not want to share you!

That was probably the best thing you did for the poor neighbor's kitty. People can be so cruel! Yes, they probably put her down. Who would want to adopt a skinny, mal-nourished, maybe sickly cat when there are so many healthy ones looking for homes? Sad, but true.

Hope everything continues going well.

Tabbi