A Stray Cat Finds Quilty Comfort
This cat is called Ghost. He appeared one gray day in a snow storm. I found him sitting on the rail on my back porch at dusk, looking at me with his big luminous eyes, the only part of him visible in the gloom. Eyes that have seen too many hard times but are still filled with love and trust. Yes, I fed him. He does not want to move in. He is a happy wanderer and his favorite time of day is what I call "Happy Hour" when he comes for catnip. Here he is on my bed with an old throw quilt and a catnip bag. Shortly after I took this photo he rubbed on my leg and asked to go back out and resume his travels. Sometimes we do not see him for a couple of weeks. One time he showed up bleeding from a deep gash on the neck. We do what we can for him, but he does not want to belong to anyone. So we care and let him be free. He is a kind and gentle soul and both of our other cats let him visit without any fur flying. I have chosen this photo to be my "Poster Kitty" for the Pets of Quilts Show. SewCalGal is putting together a calendar as a fundraiser for her local animal shelter. Ghost asks you to please remember kindly all the needy animals on our planet that need a little human TLC.
This post is for those of you who love your pets and quilts together. SewCalGal is running here Pets On Quilts online show and my quilty kitties are joining in the sew fine feline fun. :-)
Click here and follow the link or the button on the side of my blog to enjoy the show ...
Those of you who have been reading my blog know there are many cats on quilts photos and stories here.
For today's blog I have selected a few that you have not seen before, like the one above of Mina, my ever-present quilty helper. In this photo she is "helping" me to quilt a table topper swap gift for my friend Cherie.
Here is one I took recently of Butterfly during Quilty Playtime in my summery blue and yellow quilted bedroom ...
For those of you who may be visiting my blog for the first time and want to see and read more about my sew fine quilty felines, please stop and stay awhile and read some of my older posts. Here is one about my quilty helpers Cats On Quilts.
The Butterfly Cat 'n' Quilt
Thanks to all who have visited with me and my quilty kitties in our "Life in the Scrapatch."
May you have a happy, quilty day ... :) Pat
Thanks to all who have visited with me and my quilty kitties in our "Life in the Scrapatch."
May you have a happy, quilty day ... :) Pat
38 comments:
Ghost is just beautiful. I am sure he is happy to have someone like you to come to when he needs a little loving.
He's so cute! It's nice to know he has a place to come when he needs help.
Thanks for sharing your story and being the kind person you are.
Marilyn
Gorgeous independent soul - Ghost is an excellent choice for the Pets on Quilts.
I love the Yellow room, beautiful..
Darling kitties Ms Pat. And LOVE your blue/yellow room! It looks fabulous :)
Ghost is so beautiful and what a wonderful story, It is surprising that Ghost will even come in the house. That is so sweet of you to care for him.
Thank you all for the kind comments. :) :) :) :) :) :)
Connie, it took Ghost a long time to feel safe enough to come in out of the cold at all. That first day, I had to leave the door open to the snow and set a bowl of food just inside. Then I had to step way back away from the door. He cautiously crept forward and wolfed some down keeping his eye on me all the while and the scrambled away. The next few weeks he kept coming back and slowly grew more comfortable. The first few times I closed the door behind him he panicked and yowled to escape. Eventually, he realized we were not going to hurt him and he started to explore the house. One day he bolted down our cellar stairs where we have our cats' box and he stayed in a basket there for awhile. Many times he hid under the bed and scavenged Butterfly's private capnip toy stash. It has been a year and half now and he comes in and visits while I have a cup of tea and he enjoys his catnip and chow and then goes his merry way. He has an endearing habit of looking over his shoulder and smiling "Thanks" just before he pads down the step to his next adventure.
Ghost is so precious and so lucky to have you care for her.
Ghost is adorable...what a nice addition to your family!
P
Ghost is very handsome, and clearly happy in his home - lovely quilts, too! Thanks for sharing!
Ghost is truly beautiful and I love the freedom part, but the story is so sad to me. I hope some day Ghost decides to settle down and find a loving family and enjoy the comforts of a home.
Thanks for visiting and reading and commenting. It makes my quilkty day! :)
Dana ... I would very happy to have Ghost move in and stay, Our other two cats are mostly indoor cats. They go out maybe once a day in the morning for a few minutes in the good weather. We never let them out at night and in the winter they are content to sit in the window and watch the snow fall.
Sometimes Ghost will take a nap in the basket in the cellar or under one of the bed. He has never really fallen asleep on the bed or in the open. The instinct to hide is too strong. One day recently he spent much of the day on a sunny windowsill in the kitchen. Then he meowed to go out and we did not see him again for days. I am hoping that by this winter he will actually stay inside when it is cold and snowy. Time will tell.
Aww I love the story about Ghost. How nice to have a wanderer friend. We had a rescue cat named Gypsy, once, who accepted us as her Base Camp, but went on her visiting rounds regularly to various other homes. She, too, could not stand to be restricted to one home. She did stay every night with us, though, so that was sweet.
Good for you for helping out Ghost. So many people in the world would have kicked him aside.
Your kitties are lucky to have you!
Ghost is a beauty. So nice of you to care for him. He must love your quilts that he comes inside. Well they know too what great feeling a quilt can give.
hugs Kerstin
What a blessing that Ghost has your home to travel to when he needs. Gorgeous cat!
what a lovely face ghost has. Your other cats are gorgeous too. I love the blue and yellow quilt with Butterfly laying looking at the camera. So cute.
Your cats are beautiful. Your tuxedo cat reminds me of my own kitty who passed away last year.
Ghost is adorable!!
You are a wonderful, kind person. I loved all your cats on quilts. The quilts are beautiful too. I really enjoyed the story about Ghost.
How beautiful Ghost is! Hope he stays well. Mina and Butterfly are sweeties.
Love the story of Ghost, and the snippets to follow in the comments. A very special kitty.
What a sweet story. Ghost is a lucky feline.
Like Quilt Sue said, it's great that Ghost has somewhere he can go when he needs a little loving and someone to care for him.
Thank you for sharing Ghost's story! I hope that he will get comfortable enough to stay in with you this winter! And your quilts are lovely :)
Your Ghost is like my Nuey...he wants to be loved but also wants to have his freedom. Not a bad deal actually. He's very handsome.
I think the last commenter may be right, if winter is really cold, Ghost may want to pause his travels at least for the winter.
I have been feeding my neighbors cat because they seem more interested in burning things and drinking then caring for her. I noticed she does not eat all of the food I put out for her - just today I discovered why. Looks like I am collecting stray cats, and she has been sharing her food. lol. Not too surprised as last year my husband brought home a few broken bags of cat food from his work and we fed all the hungry cats all winter =)
hugs,
Carolyn
Beautiful cat! Thanks for the story.
We had a cat like Ghost, a stray who didn't want to belong or be owned, but who graced us with his presence til he met his (untimely) end. We still miss him.
Poor Ghost. How kind of you to care! We too have an outside kitty that wants no part of the indoors for more than 15 min at a time. Mina and Butterfly are cute and sweet too!
Thanks sew much to all of you who have visited my blog and left sew many wonderful comments. It has been a busy week and weekend here on the home front and whenever I have been able to snatch few minutes to just relax, I have enjoyed catching up here and visiting all the other Pets on Quilts Show posts.
{{{{{{{{{Quilty Hugs}}}}}}}}} for all of you who have made my day sew happy... :-) Pat
Thank you for sharing your lovely kitties with me. My dogs will not allow me to have a kitty, so I do enjoy looking at photos of other folks kitty companions.
Ghost seems quite content.
Ghost is a beautiful cat. Perfect name too. Thanks for sharing all your cats.
Wow... Ghost has the most mesmerizing eyes! So glad you are there when he needs you :)
I just found your blog and love it!! You have successfully combined 2 of my favorite things--cats and quilts!!
Lroghair (at) aol (dot) com
Thanks! My Quilty Kitties and I hope you will visit us again ...
:-) Pat
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