ODP is now Obi

Exactly a week ago, B brought ODP (Outdoor Pusa) to the condo (he endured the 30-mile road trip without a carrier -- except for errr, a somewhat planned accident.  He didn't mind the bath (my friends would now know that no stray will stay in my house without a good soaking).  And he seemed to settle in pretty quickly although he was a little too jumpy with the subtlest change of environmental sound.   Here, you can see him sleeping -- or in retrospect, I think he was trying to sleep on my chest.  How he shuts his eyes here I think was how he does it while being out: wary of any sounds that may be dangerous.  Ready to run if need be.  Barely asleep.

As I prepare dinner, I noticed he doesn't go right in where the kitchen space was.  And he didn't jump up the counter (which Keiva loves to do).  Or attempt to open closed doors (another Keiva habit).  He seemed content to sit where he can see me move.  And he would come and sit at B's lap when called.  He watched while we ate dinner last Friday.  And it was this behavior that I theorized he grew up with a dog in the house: that's why he sits and watches as we eat, and he doesn't jump on the counter (or the table for that matter).  We sat and watched some tele and this was when he came and cuddled.  Picture.  I wonder why would his parents just abandon him like that?  And if he was missing, why didn't they look for him?

B took him to the litter box -- with the warning: DO NOT THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, EVER (I still recall the NYT cartoon about that one).  Although there was a time we had cats growing up, our cats didn't have litter box (OK, that's an entirely different story).  And so when B mentioned he was worried ODP would not use it because he'll know Keiva had used it was somewhat beyond me.  ODP eventually did use it.  Properly.  Cheers.

You can see the scratch mark on the right side of his nose -- something we had attributed a mark from Keiva's claws as she defended her territory.  Here his eyes seem to beam with gratitude.  Maybe he was thinking: I get to sleep in a warm bed tonight!  Dad finally took me in!  I have a mom!.... It breaks my heart if he was really thinking about this because we were just his transition home....

See, we wanted to keep him, but as the ad I had placed about him stated: Cat Found: we already have a cat who isn't very welcoming of a cat roommate (thus the battle mark).  And the three days/nights ODP spent with us, I believed he would have been a great cat to any cat parent!   He has this habit of wanting to always tag along with people.  When I got up Saturday morning, he came down with me, ate some food and as I sip coffee whilst sitting on the couch, he settled on my lap -- something he repeated Sunday, and Monday morning.

Saturday afternoon was when a colleague/friend from work came with her friend/s who gave interest in taking ODP in.  Everyone loved him.  S, who has two feral pets on her own even said: "Wow, he is friendlier than my cats!".  So that sealed the deal: someone will take ODP home....

The handover was suggested to be Monday around noon.  When the guy suggested the time, I had said I'm at work -- and didn't want to offer the fact that B was going to be here in a feeble attempt that maybe I get to keep the cat.  B eventually gave potential parent his phone, so they coordinate the adoption.

We almost did not want to give him up.  B has been used to seeing ODP in his yard.  And I was used to seeing him there too when I am there.

ODP was following me around Monday morning as I prepare to go to work.  I gave him some treats and told him to be a good cat.  In a way, I was glad I wasn't the one to hand him over.  I somewhat remember the cat wail the little kitten I handed over to a shelter 9 years ago because cats weren't allowed in my apartment.

On Tuesday, my friend S told me her friend had renamed him Obi--something.  Obi for short.  That the vet confirmed he is male.  That he is probably between 2 to 3 years old.

It's a week since I let ODP (aka Obi) in here.... Part of me wishes I kept him.  But the main thing was B and I were able to do what we had intended: get him a home before it's too cold out.  This past week, the night time temperatures has been in the 40s.

Tonight it is almost freezing.

And ODP is in a warm safe place!  He will always be ODP to us.

And I wonder: does a cat remember his rescuers?

---------------------------------------------
The Orange Tabby in my condo
November 11-13, 2011


Before that weekend, he was relying on welfare food from B (and his own successful hunting), and was for the most part staying in his backyard (despite the dangers of Keiva)....