The Domestication of Hades

For decades we had a four cat ceiling in effect and never had more than that.  Occasionally the number would decline with the death of a beloved cat, but soon after we would discover a kitten or full grown cat desperately in need of a home and people who would love them.  The glass ceiling was shattered in 2007 with the addition of Athena and after that…..all bets were off.  Little Miss Hades appeared on our front steps in Virginia sometime during warmer weather in 2008.  We immediately started setting out bowls of food and water and the occasional bowl of milk for her. 

Hades is a small cat, probably around 5-6 pounds, has the tip of her left ear clipped, and initially had slightly bowed legs. The clipped ear we now know is what they do to cats that have been captured and neutered and returned to their environment. We used to laugh when she ran because she sort of resembled a crocodile running. With a constant supply of food and water, and eventually a cardboard box with a rug in it, Hades spent an increasing amount of time on our porch.  I was the first one who managed to be able to touch and pet her and was thrilled to first hear her purring in response. 

In late fall, the weather started to cool and the number of rainy days increased.  Coaxing her into the house had so far failed and we wanted to provide her better shelter for the nastier days.  Initially, we propped an umbrella over the box to keep her dry.  We added a microwaveable cushion to her box which Michael would repeatedly warm during the night while he was up late writing. Hades would signal him that it was time for a reheat by dancing a jig and peering through the storm door window. Eventually, we added a well padded covered liter box bed behind the bushes for her which she immediately claimed.

In 2009 shortly after I retired, we started planning for a move to Texas.  Leaving Hades behind was not an option so we started grabbing her and keeping her in the house for increasingly longer periods of time.  In the end, she made the cross country trip to Texas with Michael and the five other cats. That expedition begs a blog entry of its own. Since then she has settled in as an indoor house cat and as of this week she has started sitting in Michael’s lap purring away, not looking back.