|
 |
|
| Name: |
LiLi
|
Age: |
One and a half years old
|
| Gender: |
Female
|
Kind: |
Cat
|
| Home: |
Groveland, New York, USA
|
This
is LiLi (LeeLee), an almost two-year-old mixed breed cat who now lives
with me in Groveland, New York and has stolen my heart. LiLi was adopted
by her previous owner when she was a kitten from Lollypop Farm (a local
animal shelter). As a loving cat owner, over the years I have had up to twelve
cats at any given time. The first time I held LiLi, she just went limp in
my arms with her head backwards hanging way down over the inside of my
elbow. From the beginning, she just loved being part of our hectic
household. She has one eye that seems to squint, but it doesn't interfere
with her vision; it just makes her more special to me.
My husband and I live on a major highway with a lot of tractor trailer
activity which caused us to build a screened-in pen on the back of our
house many years ago just so the kitties can still go "outside" without
being in danger. We also converted a room off the back of the house just
for the kitties that connects to the pen and is decorated with bright
colors, kitty climbs and cat walks for the kitties' enjoyment. We have two
kitty doors so they can go in and out to the pen as they please. The pen
has ramps for exercise and "houses" for the kitties to lay in out of the
sun if they wish to.
On Labor Day in 2010, Amanda, a young college-age girl we know stopped in
and asked if we could take LiLi in for "a while" (until she finished
school). We agreed knowing that LiLi would be leaving at some point. I
tried not to get too attached, but it was impossible. LiLi has a very
sweet and silly personality and is one of the most loveable cats I have
ever had. Having only heard from Amanda a couple of times, I finally
received an email after nearly a year since LiLi came to me saying that
Amanda wanted to know if we would be upset if she took LiLi. My heart sank
and I knew I would let her go if I had to, but was heartsick at the
prospect of losing LiLi. I realized that I was now her "Mommy". My
friend's life had changed and she was living out of state in an indefinite
situation. It wouldn't have been fair to LiLi since she hadn't been with
Amanda for half of her life and now she had several brothers and sisters
to play with (or to swat at will). It broke my heart to think of her being
left all alone each day in an apartment. When I explained this to Amanda,
she agreed that she would do what was best for LiLi. We still have LiLi
and I haven't heard from Amanda since June. I think LiLi is here to stay.
LiLi brought fresh life to our kitty-filled household as her youngest
sibling is eight years old. She is a typical two-year-old "child" and for the
first few months here she used to terrorize and scare her sister, Cocoa,
to the point where Cocoa would scream. I don't believe she ever really
hurt Cocoa, but she could scare her just by looking at her. A funny thing
about a multiple cat household is that it seems upon arrival, each new
"girl" does this to at least one of the others. I'm glad to say that
although LiLi and Cocoa are still not best buddies, they do tolerate each
other well now.
A few of the cats I have had over the years have been "special" to me, but
none more than LiLi. Every morning when I come to the kitchen window, she
greets me from her outside "play" pen with a wave from the fence (as you
can see in one of the pictures). When she sees me, she knows it's time to
eat and meets me in the room off the house. LiLi has a special place in my
heart and a good home for the rest of her life.
See more images of LiLi!
|
|
|
|
|
