It's a bird! It's a Plane! It's a Kitten

The amount of dislike I have for this tree is severe. It is planted just outside the most used door of my house, and being a willow variety, makes coming & going a challenge in the growing months unless I attack it regularly with pruning shears. It, for some reason also attracts stinging bugs, harbors bats, and most recently trapped a kitten.

Yes, an early morning kitten, waking up my dogs, on the one day that we needed to get up and get into town early. I could hear what I later discovered was a him, and stumbling to the door thought our inside/outside cat was outside, wanting in- except our orange cat was by my feet wanting to go out. I took one step out, and the noise intensified, I looked up, & there was the sweetest kitten.

Without thinking straight, I walked under the tree/cat and he was so excited to see someone he flew towards me, my face being the closest thing to reach, and started purring immediately.
 Seeing my neighbor, the one with a horse barn outside, I marched right over and tried to suggest that he needed to live there- he did after all bear a striking resemblance to last years flavor of dumped kitten, maybe she would like a matching set?


When that didn't pan out, I settled him in the garage with a litter tray, food & water, under the guise of quarantine (out of sight, out of mind, out of my house!)

I posted this to facebook, assuming someone would want a cute kitten..... he looks a little possessed, but this was the only way to get him to stop rubbing against my ankles long enough! He was friendly, friendly for sure!
I went to wake the kids up, to go, and as each one stumbled out of bed, they heard Kitten crying in the garage and assumed our cat wanted in, each mumbling something along the lines of 'I'm coming', 'I'll save you', towards the door.  Sweet punkin's. They were all excited to know we had a visitor, and took it well that this kitty wasn't staying, he had just lost his family (my butt, you live where we live & critters get dumped!)



But, no one wanted a cute kitten, even with shots, & the promise of a gift certificate to get him neutered later. After 36 hours of trying 'hard' to find him a home, we decided he could stay.
We decided his name was Willow for the tree he was found in. I was pretty sure we would be featured in an episode of Animal Hoarders, & Junior the cat wasn't happy, but really what's one more?

And then the call came. A family had come forward to adopt him. A nice family, with nice boys.
It was my sister. She had been traveling for work in New York, but had wanted to wait to get home & talk with her Joe before saying anything. It was now Friday, lunchtime. It had been a mere 96 hours. If it had been anyone else, I would have said, no thanks.
We made plans for them to trek out to boonies the next morning. I gave him his kitten shot.

We packed his few accumulated possessions, and made the hand off, which went fairly well. Then they drove away. Everyone expressed sad words to see their friend go, but it's not like we don't know where he is- except for the Royal Princess, who threw her self down on the couch and WAILED!  She is my little animal-loving shadow, and much like me, I imagine she will take in every available animal she comes across later in life.


So, I sent out an all points bulletin, we needed a stuffed kitten ASAP! ( I texted Mimi & GPH)

GPH, remembering that HRH Princess is really into leopards, found a gray one. And, it is whisking its way here courtesy of amazon as we speak. 

Our little kitty, now called Max, seems to be pretty happy and in love with his new people. & That makes me happy enough to only be a little sad.