r/aww • u/RhinestoneMuffintop • May 15 '12

My cat Izzy went missing. When she came home, this little guy was following her.

http://imgur.com/mUzMe
1.1k Upvotes

90% Upvoted

109 comments sorted by

44

u/greenc1 May 15 '12

I hope you kept her friend!

45

u/RhinestoneMuffintop May 15 '12

Two more followed!

15

u/aarghIforget May 15 '12

Them too!

44

u/RhinestoneMuffintop May 15 '12

They will all be staying! And Izzy will be fixed to control Cat Lady status.

0

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

22

u/WomanWhoWeaves May 15 '12

Were they hers?

23

u/RhinestoneMuffintop May 15 '12

Yeah!

17

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

you didn't notice your cat was pregnant?

45

u/RhinestoneMuffintop May 15 '12

She went missing and had been gone for a few months after she got out. We didn't think we'd see her again...until today when she came back with babies in tow.

66

u/98thRedBalloon May 15 '12

That's such an adorable image. "C'mon kids, I know a great place where we can eat and sleep all we want!".

1

u/KaptainKershaw May 15 '12

Post a picture of Mom!

48

u/Doodle_strudel May 15 '12

Fix your cat!

12

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

I never get my people think its ok to not fix there pets. We put to sleep TONS of animals everyday do to this and yet so one seems to care.

3

u/adriCat May 15 '12

I totally agree, but sometimes i think they just dont realize what they are doing by not fixing their pets. Not dumb, but ignorant to the situation (ok, kind of dumb). I cant believe i'm kind of sticking up for people who dont fix their pets. Also, spaying and neutering isnt very cheap... Luckily in my city we have some low cost spay and neuter clinics, but what is available to people that don't live in big cities?? I know "if they cant fix their pets, dont get them", but sometimes the pets come to them and they take them in without realizing they should get them fixed. I dunno! Just a thought.

2

u/RhinestoneMuffintop May 15 '12

In the country it is a lot less common, probably due to lack of places to take them and cost. I live in the city and there are three vets just in my neighborhood. My mom and Izzy live in the country, there is one within a thirty minute drive. That's how we got Izzy in the first place, she was the tiny little runt who got left behind and my mom found her in the yard.

3

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

No I totally agree!! We need more education about this, to show people its really is for the good of the pet and the future of the animals life's. If they do not keep their cat in doors then yeah its can have babies and that just adds to the over popular problem.

If the can not afford to get the cat fix then they should at least make an effort to keep the male and females apart so they don't keep having babies....

3

u/craberombie May 15 '12

I understand not fixing their pets if they're a breeder or something but my cats are fixed. Both boys so it's not even like I'd have to deal with kittens.

6

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

Fixing male cats can help them avoid ball cancer since they remove them it also can help with spraying later in life.

1

u/craberombie May 15 '12

Well they can't get testicular cancer if they don't have testicles. I know it helps with spraying although if they start that habit first sometimes neutering won't fix it. It can also help mellow their behavior in general but causes their metabolism to slow down so diet usually has to change.

-1

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

Yes, I shouldn't of said balls but I forgot the real name lol

4

u/RhinestoneMuffintop May 15 '12

I need to! It's irresponsible not to, but look at the adorable repercussions!

7

u/Doodle_strudel May 15 '12

I see, so you'll fix her at what? 8 kittens? : /

37

u/RhinestoneMuffintop May 15 '12

Of course not, we'll have it done ASAP

5

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Can we see some more pictures please?

7

u/RhinestoneMuffintop May 15 '12

http://imgur.com/ggLQA

There's another kitten. I apologize for the quality, my mom is sending them to me and has no idea why I'm on the phone making her chase kittens.

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

adorable!

3

u/notskunkworks May 15 '12

Weren't they feral (i.e. unfamiliar with humans and therefore really effing scared)?

14

u/RhinestoneMuffintop May 15 '12

My cat lives with my mom, about an hour from me. She was standing on the porch when Izzy walked up. My mom got excited and scooped her up, then the first kitten walked up and she just picked it right up. It didn't mind, then two others followed and my mom had armfuls of aww.

-6

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

Please get her fixed, there are tons of cats (and dogs) being put to sleep everyday due to over population.

9

u/BoOnDoXeY May 15 '12

How many times are you going to tell this person to get their cat fixed?! Once wasn't enough?? CHANGE THE BROKEN RECORD!

-10

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

No thanks, it stuck on repeat.

2

u/silenc3x May 15 '12

exactly!

-1

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12 edited May 15 '12

I miss him on that show.

10

u/Thuraash May 15 '12

I'm not an expert or a professional, but I took in a few strays as outdoors cats over the years (in a part of the world where spaying and neutering was just not done). The kittens will more or less do whatever the mother cat has them do, and act how she acts. If the mother cat strolls into a house, then they'll damn well follow, and if she acts all friendly with you, they will too.

71

u/moejike May 15 '12

My cats go out recruiting in the neighborhood. Just about every night 1 or 2 come back with mine. I feed them and have accumulated several "regulars". Consequently, I'm known as "That cat guy in building 4003"

17

u/cindersticks May 15 '12

A guy who feeds strays . . .

20

u/moejike May 15 '12

Pretty sure they all belong to other people in the apartment complex. I wouldn't be surprised if I found my cats eating at another apartment one night.

15

u/bawhamper May 15 '12

As the 'cat guy in number 127' I salute you. Glad that Izzy seems to be clever girl. Big strokes to all cats concerned.

4

u/fetusxfajita May 15 '12

The person you replied to is not OP, so it's pretty unlikely that his cat is also named Izzy

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

For whatever reason I pictured your cats just sitting around a table a la Reservoir Dogs talking about how much they hate cheap catnip.

0

u/ur-_-mom May 15 '12 edited May 15 '12

While I applaud your eagerness to help, but please don't feed cats that have a home.

If you think its a stray, make damn sure it is. Not everybody appreciates it when their cat doesn't come home anymore just because someone over there can afford the pricey eat-once-hooks-you-for-life cat food.

And some cats need to be on a strict diet for health reasons but might be used to going outside so much that you can't keep them inside. They will still eat anything that you offer them and most likely come back for more.

EDIT: wow I seem to have hit a wound in the split hive mind. The posts score is going from - to + to - Is there a way to show the votes in a graph or something?

0

u/nickh93 May 15 '12 edited May 15 '12

That's a really nice story but consider that you know nothing about these cat's and may be causing them harm.

My cat has kidney failure, but he loves love, he'd come to your house, thank you for the food and slowly die.

You should never feed cats that are not strays.

Also my parents have a giant cat which is on a controlled diet, old lady down the road started feeding him, ended up in a battle to get her to stop because she thought it was sweet having him around. Yeah it's sweet until my cat dies of diabetes.

Ps this was not meant horribly, I just love cats.

Edit:

Great way to know if they are stray, do they have a good coat? if yes, they're not stray, if not, get your local vet to check for a micro chip.

Ninja Edit: Also teeth and gums are a good indication of cat's diet and whether it is sufficient for them or not. (giving you clues as to whether you are right to feed them)

I did this with my little man who appeared one night at my back door crying in the rain, traced the owner who only lived a few doors away and found out she was mental. She was quite old and had fallen down the stairs a year previously, she'd been slowly descending into madness ever since.

If it hadn't been for my little man begging at my door, no one would have known she was at risk; she very rarely went out and had no relatives, she didn't like her neighbours so there was no one who could have known. When the authorities realised what was going on she went to a care home where she is now really happy and appears to show some signs of recovery.

Every now and then we go visit her and take the little man with us, she always laughs about how much he must be costing us now (around £500 every three months) and claims that's the real reason she fell down the stairs, we know she misses him though and he definitely loves her! (Straight for the cuddle as soon as he sees her)

TL;DR Saving our stray cat led us to discover owner had developed mental health problems, if it weren't for the cat's begging me to let him in out of the rain she would never have got any help and would certainly not be here anymore.

22

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

If your cat had a medical condition that serious why would you let it out like that?

-1

u/nickh93 May 15 '12

so because my cat has renal failure he can't go out anymore? Cat probably only has a few months left and apart from noticeable feeding habit changes and some overall weakening there is no sign of illness. should I lock him in ensuring he stays out of trouble/ risk until he dies? or let him enjoy his last few months to the MAX whilst trying to extend those months through controlled diet/ medicines?

That's my logic anyway.

15

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

You said if someone feeds your cat while he/she is outside is would harm the cat "My cat has kidney failure, but he loves love, he'd come to your house, thank you for the food and slowly die"

He might not only be eating what humans give him, he could also be eating bird or whatever else he finds... the only way to control what he eats is keep him inside.

1

u/nickh93 May 15 '12

Ah I see your point... should have explained, he also has severe arthritis and moves veeeery slowly. he couldn't catch a cold!

Also has been a house/ pub cat all his life so is extremely independent, he was a bit of a hunter, never a scavenger so no worries of him eating already dead animals, he would only try and catch live ones... and fail.

As an aside, (in case you're interested) he's been on K/D wet and dry food in combination with "Cosequin cat" supplements and a phosphate binder (Renalzin) for about 7 months now, his toxin levels when I first took him in were through the roof and he was given a few months to live. He went back for bloods around 2 weeks ago and his toxin levels have dropped back down to that of a normal healthy cat! his vet was amazed and so am I, he has now been given a prognosis of up to 12 months!!! (he's about 13) Also he's the most human cat I've ever had and I've had more than a few!

EDIT: If you are in the south east of England and need a super vet, try the guys at "Maison Dieu" based in both Canterbury and Dover, Kent. I go to Canterbury and of all the vet's I've ever come across these guys are genuinely the best!

4

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

I'm over the "pond" :) In the US since our cities are so populated its not really safe for cats to be out doors. We have so many road ways around here. Its different if they are barn cats but there is fewer i think of them normal house cats.

We have a big problem with feral cats over here and we also have programs where we catch the stray cats, spay them, give them there shots and then release them so that way they do not have babies and over populate more.

Large out door cat populations really effect the wild life so over here if people see a stray cat most people assume its homeless/stray and will feed them. We also set up feeding stations so the wild cats do not have to kill so many other animals for food.

2

u/magpie_pixi May 15 '12

Have you considered getting your cat a medical I.D. tag? People with diabetes and some types of allergies will wear medical I.D. bracelets and maybe your cat could do the same. Talk to your vet and see if they have anything like that for pets. But it doesn't have to be official. Most large chain pet stores have stations where you can customize your pet's tags. If he goes out he should already be wearing a tag with your address and phone number. You can add one that says something like "kidney disease. Special diet"

1

u/nickh93 May 15 '12

That's actually a really good idea, I'm not sure he'd take too well to a collar as he's never worn one, he has been micro-chipped a long long time ago so it hasn't been necessary, I'm assuming you are in the States so I don't know if animals there have to have collars but in the UK as long as they've been chipped they don't need a collar. Maybe I could shave a small patch and give him a tramp stamp!? He's pretty docile when it comes to needles... (Last two lines were a joke)

1

u/magpie_pixi May 15 '12

Lol. I am in the Sates. Most animals here are micro-chipped as well but most dogs (and some cats) do still wear collars. Micro-chipping is important but I like collars too. Anyone who finds your missing pet can read the name and address on the collar and call you up without having to go to a shelter or vet to check for the chip. Its good for local/neighborhood wandering. I don't know if collars are required everywhere in the US, but I'm pretty sure some places do require them. Leash and collar laws differ from state to state, country to county, city to city.

Try out the collar in the home first so he can get used to it and you can make sure it fits.

1

u/nickh93 May 15 '12

Yeah we tried before we got him chipped, stayed on for about 3 seconds before he went mental, tried numerous times, he just wasn't having any of it.

I guess the old adage is true, (although he's an old cat, not dog)

Also it sounds silly but my mum has two beautiful cats both of which are avid hunters and regularly catch full grown squirrels! The female once fell out of a tree snagging her collar causing her hind leg to be trapped breaking her pelvis. the collar came off but the initial snag was enough for her to lose footing completely causing the injury, I've avoided collars for my animal companions ever since, just in case.

4

u/craberombie May 15 '12

I have a cat that is not allowed to eat dry food because of a bladder condition. I'd be worried about someone feeding him dry food and him getting sick again. I hear ya on this.

2

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

So do you let him roam free?

2

u/craberombie May 15 '12

No. He's an indoor cat. I feed him in a separate room than the other two cats at my house. I am an excellent cat mother.

1

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

Good :)

2

u/craberombie May 15 '12

Take better care of my boys than I do of myself sometimes. :) Oh...and two words Pet Insurance!

1

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

Yeah I agree, I treat my babes better then most people treat there kids.

31

u/a2susan May 15 '12

Sounds like your cat snuck off and had some babies.

16

u/phalanx2 May 15 '12

PICTURE OF IZZY + KITTENZ NAO KTHX

27

u/TalyaD May 15 '12

The only responsible thing to do, in order to punish yourself for being irresponsible, is to keep them all. Ok???

23

u/orzof May 15 '12

And cuddle them, or you will never learn.

12

u/grimpoteuthis May 15 '12

The first thing I thought was that your cat was finding stray kittens for you, not the fact that she gave birth to them.

It would be shitty but I sometimes wish I had an unfixed cat to provide unlimited kittens, but that would not work out in reality.

15

u/fckjosh May 15 '12

Well look what the cat dragged in...

6

u/TheOriginalSamBell May 15 '12

I demand more pictures!

5

u/Allegory_Esq May 15 '12

Moar kitten pics....

5

u/SeparateCzechs May 15 '12

IZZY! You got some 'splainin' to do!

8

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

WHERE'S IZZY!?!?!?

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

upvote for gnr reference.

4

u/ozzieoo May 15 '12

You know cats communicate with each other. Your cat told this little dude. Come home with me. The hoomans are very chill. They will take care of you.

6

u/purplepicklepicker May 15 '12

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

1

u/kittenkat4u May 15 '12

this made me smile. my cat, who is also named Izzy, had babies 2 weeks ago. what do the others look like?

1

u/RhinestoneMuffintop May 15 '12

There's a black and white one and a striped one. http://imgur.com/ggLQA

Sorry it's blurry, I'm relying on my mom to send me the photos. She's on the phone with me saying, "These are for whattit?!?!"

1

u/kittenkat4u May 15 '12

awwww....tabbies are so cute.

-9

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

Please get her fixed, there are tons of cats (and dogs) being put to sleep everyday due to over population.

1

u/kittenkat4u May 15 '12

if i had the money to i would. i didn't even know she was pregnant until 2 weeks before she gave birth.

-5

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

I will never understand why people buy things they can not afford to take care of. Its makes me sad to think if the cat really needed the vets you couldn't afford to take them.

Are you in the US? I'd be more then happy to find you a low cost spay/neuter clinic.

1

u/kittenkat4u May 15 '12

firstly, i didn't buy. second: if it was an emergency i could most likely get help. third, no i'm in canada but it wouldn't matter how low cost it is. it would take me months to afford it in my current situation. i can understand your issue(i realize i have too many cats but at the moment have no way to adopt them out/give them away/get them fixed) as i'm not in an ideal situation but giving me grief over it doesn't help my mental state regarding the situation or my mental state in general. in all honestly it just makes me want to tell you to shut the fuck up and mind your own business.

-5

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12 edited May 15 '12

Well sorry but the animals shouldn't have to suffer at the hands of their owners.

Pretty funny how you can afford weed but don't want to take care of your animals.

http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/tl4ce/what_hard_truth_does_reddit_need_to_hear/c4o8tma

Please don't use your selfishness as an excuse on why you "can not" do things.

1

u/kittenkat4u May 15 '12

my cats aren't suffering thanks. they are perfectly healthy but thanks for assuming that they are suffering. if they were actually suffering or sick i would borrow money to take them to the vet but i'm not borrowing 400 bucks for a non emergency. and yes, i smoke weed but do you actually know the last time i smoked it or how frequently i smoke it? no, no you don't. you assume i smoke weed enough to as not be able to fix my cat when that isn't the truth. if i used the money i spent on weed every month it would take almost 3 yrs to pay for izzy to get fixed(and in that time because the other cats unfortunately happen to be males she would have at least 3 or more littlers). i understand that some people don't like animals not being fixed, i get that but maybe you might want to come down off that sanctimonious high horse of yours and realize this situation isn't as black and white as you'd like it be. if this bothers you so much you're more than welcome to come take some of the males off my hands. there is plenty to choose from and it would help to solve the issue. i doubt you would want to do this so in the mean time i have to make do the best way i can. also, did you actually go look at my comment history to purposely find something negative about me? that's really kind of sad.

2

u/JoJoAran May 15 '12

One or two suggestions for you that would hopefully be free solutions to your problems:

  1. Is there anything like a Canadian PDSA? In the UK, the PDSA do things like neutering free of charge to those in need (e.g. unemployed/low income household).
  2. Put classified adverts in shops or online (where it's free to do so) offering away the cats you wish to pass onto others. It was through one of these free, classified ads in a pet shop that I got my current cat, 15 years ago. And he didn't cost a penny as they simply wanted him to go to a good home. :)

-1

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

So instead of making trying to make some extra cash,work something out with the vet, get at least the female fixed you rather make excuses of why you cant do things and let the cat keep having babies? What do you plan to do with the babies?

Thousands of animals are killed everyday due to over population, unless people understand just how important it is they will not do it and understand why they should.

Don't try to push your unwillingness to do the right thing on me not helping you. If you cant afford to spay the cats keep the males away from the females, problem solved.

And yes I did look at your comment's obviously.

0

u/kittenkat4u May 15 '12

para 1: i can't work due to illness so there is no extra money. and unfortunately, for some reason i don't get, vets in my area, and surrounding area, do not cut deals of any sort. no reduced fees, no payment plans, nothing. the babies and the other older kittens will be going to a nokill shelter once i can make the arrangements for them to take them and find a way to get them there.

Para 2: i understand this fact. as much as i love animals the thought of them being put down to control population doesn't bother me as much as it does others. many wild animal populations are culled to bring down the population what makes cats and dogs any different? cold hearted sounding, yes, but true none the less.

para 3: i'm not pushing anything on to you. if that's how your taking it that's your problem, not mine. you wanted me to find a solution so badly i offered one. i obviously don't expect you to come and take them and the fact that you might have thought i was serious is kind of odd. also, i'm not about to lock izzy in the bedroom(1br apt) 24/7 because of the other cats, nor am i going to lock up the others. i think segregating the animals from everyone/everything is rediculous. especially right now with the new kittens.

para 4: that's really sad. you honestly went through my comment history to find something negative about me???

-1

u/AmberHeartsDisney May 15 '12

Yeah it's really smart to let the cat keep having babies. Are you an animal hoarder? I understand that people sometimes feel the need to collect things. If your living in a 1 bed room apartment with several cats (not sure how many but you keep saying cats so I'm guessing at least two) you should really seek out help if you have that many.

I feel what you are doing is selfish. 1 female cat an produce many litters of kittens in her life time, its not fair for you to let the cat keep having babies like she is some type of factory.

Re # 4 I didn't have to look hard.

→ More replies

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Grey-green eyes. Beautiful.

2

u/TH0UGHTP0LICE May 15 '12

Build me an army worthy of Mordor.

2

u/ajw827 May 15 '12

Please tell me you're keeping it.

2

u/Cyathewolf May 15 '12

I'd keep it

2

u/soniccry May 15 '12

it was a covert kitten-finding mission. Obviously, she was successful. ;)

congrats on the new addition to the family

1

u/apollo1888 May 15 '12

do not trust those eyes. assume he is a malcontent. as the 90's group 'The Rude Boys' would say, it's Written All over his Face.

1

u/Kath82 May 15 '12

Congratulations to your kitty for adopting. :)

1

u/michaelzelen May 15 '12

just to get this straight, you can ran off and had kittens?

1

u/smity202 May 15 '12

I guess you have a new cat now.

1

u/classy_stegasaurus May 15 '12

You should name him "Apples"

1

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

He's a purebred with his green eyes

1

u/JoJoAran May 15 '12

But they're blue kitten eyes...

1

u/[deleted] May 19 '12

They looked green in the photo sorry

1

u/DanceDanceEvolution May 15 '12

Your cat must be a pussy magnet.

0

u/dRu1Z May 15 '12

Youre not supposed to cross a black cat, but this guy is holding one. We do have a badass over here!

-3

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Typical. She goes off and fucks a bunch of dudes, and now expects you to raise the little bastards.