Information

Tripod_898 has a minion!

Jam the Whyn

Tripod_898
Legacy Name: Tripod_898

The

Arid Feli
Owner:

Hope

Age: 13 years, 1 month, 1 week

Born: April 5th, 2011

Adopted: 13 years, 1 month, 1 week ago

Adopted: April 5th, 2011

Statistics

Level: 9
Strength: 11
Defense: 10
Speed: 10
Health: 10
HP: 10/10
Intelligence: 1
Books Read: 0
Food Eaten: 0
Job: Store Clerk

This is the story of a cat. And it's true, what they say about cats: there's no way to talk about them without sounding like a lunatic.

So, this is the story of why I'm willing to look like a lunatic.

My first glimpse of her was at the stables where I took horseback riding lessons. Born to the resident barn cat - an orange tabby named Marmalade (called "Jam" by the other riding students) - Blossom looked shockingly different than her mother. Her coat was gray, with white on her chest, running down her left front leg and along her four little paws. She was perfect.

And she was mine. The stable owner let me take her home. We already had 2 cats back at home - one for each of my brothers. We used to have 3; the one that used to belong to me had passed away not too long ago. Charcoal, I had called him, and he was gray too. I hadn't thought about getting another cat until Blossom put herself in my path at the stables, and I knew I was meant to have her.

The other cats in my house - black-and-white tuxedo cats - weren't thrilled about her presence, but she quickly established herself as deserving a place here, and soon enough all three cats could be found sleeping together on the couch. Still, she was always the most independent of the group. She would consent to be petted, but woe to the one who tried to pick her up! She was curious, and feisty as any barn-cat should be. But right from the start, what set her apart from all the other cats I've ever had was her determination. When there was a problem, she would see it through to the end. Other cats are mean to her, won't let her on the couch or by the food? She'd be tougher, standing her ground and forcing her way in. Door to the outside shut? She'd explore the entire house until she found an open window.

Unfortunately, she also decided that staying on our property was a problem. Where our other cats were content to stay inside or in our backyard, she was determined to explore everywhere around us - which included crossing the street. We tried everything we could think of to get her to stay away from the road, short of using electric shock collars. But the cat would not listen. So it was not a major surprise to us when, while were were on vacation, we got a call from our neighbor saying that Blossom had been hit by a car. We gave our neighbor - also a cat-lover - permission to take her to the vet. The vet told us that Blossom would survive, but her back leg would not. From far away, we made the decision to allow amputation.

When we got home, we were met by our newly-three-legged cat. I was distraught; but all my fears subsided when I saw her get up and walk-limp-hop on over to me. She was fine; she was alive. And she was Blossom; of course she would be determined to get over this problem and just keep going.

It took only a little bit of time to get used to, but soon it was completely normal for her, and for us, to see her running around on 3 legs. She flew when she ran; there was no problem there. You really only noticed it when she walked slowly; that caused more limping. I swear, the little sneak used it to her advantage sometimes - slowing down to limp more when she wanted something. We took to calling her "Tripod" at that time. She responded by demanding more food.

I really am a lunatic.

And it's silly, but seeing her run around on her 3 legs, really is just kind of hopeful. Not long after getting her, I found out I had my own health problems. It was serious enough that people thought I wouldn't be able to do most of the things I used to do before. But I've been determined to keep doing everything I can. And when I can't do something, my silly litle Tripod comes over and lays down next to me. I'll scratch her right ear - the ear she can no longer reach with her missing right leg.

We get along.

Hope and Blossom

ART