Cat rant

I love cats. Anyone who knows me well, knows this. I suppose at some point I could turn into a crazy cat lady, but I appreciate the space I have and the space they need.

I've got two gatos: Priscilla (Queen of the Desert) was born here in Tucson. I adopted her nearly 14 years ago. She's my "funny bunny," because she looks like those Dutch Dwarf rabbits that I like to call black-and-white cookie bunnies. I adopted Diego -- who I sometimes refer to as Gigantor or changuito -- in Delaware. He's the guy in the pic on the left.

I had a cat that was found in the desert near my house in Huachuca City when I was about 16. He was purebred seal-point Siamese. Someone was breeding them and he was the runt, so they dropped him off in the desert to die.  (Our vet knew the breeders and reported it.)  My neighbor found him while walking in the desert and brought him to me. My parents let me keep him. He was in bad shape -- he was starving and had the worst eye infections. But I nursed him back to health, kept him with me all the time I could and gave him all the love he deserved. He was the best cat I ever had, although he was super chatty, as Siamese tend to be. I could walk for blocks around my neighborhood and he would be right by my side, just like a dog. Just before I left Arizona, while my father and I were still living together, Orion was attacked by a coyote. Luckily, he survived. He was 17 and his vet said he had "perfect muscle tone" which is why he was able to escape ol' Wylie. But six months later, Orion disappeared. I searched for him everywhere. But I knew a coyote finally got him.

And this is why we must keep our cats inside!  Some say it's cruel, but the cats don't know any better if they are raised inside. I would give anything to see Diego and Priscilla roam around free outside, but they are like my children because I don't have kids. I don't want anything to happen to them. I recently  got a harness and leash for Diego so I can take him out to explore the world. He loves it, but I've always got an eye on him.

There are so many unwanted cats and dogs in this world who deserve a good home. Consider it. And consider it well. Do your research and find out if it's the right animal for you. We are responsible for them. Spaying and neutering is only the beginning of pet ownership. And if you don't neuter your pet, because you think you'll breed it one day -- you better breed it. A neutered animal lives a longer and healthier life.

And that's my rant on cats.