Of villianous political ploys & sweet therapeutic pussycats

Gov. Phil Murphy’s jarring, cruel post-election decision for a bear hunt after all can’t be ignored here. (That “all” included long, laborious efforts by the Animal Protection League of New Jersey [APLNJ] – with other animal advocates as well – to convince the governor and his staff of humane ways to treat NJ bears.)

When right after his election win Murphy suddenly saw great need for a bear hunt, his lame excuses and pumped-up rationales drew furious reactions, deservedly so.  I agree with the most vociferous of them, only starting with “political ploy,” to describe his seeming agreement with those against the hunt . . . until the election.

And now: the hunt: innocent bears’ lives needlessly lost for political power.  https://tinyurl.com/bddkz32c     

Ta-da! A happy family announcement

Jersey (in camera's tan mode)

Meet Jersey, a little cat I recently adopted to join Billy, my dear tuxedo now almost 16 years old, and me.  And what an addition he has become in little more than a month!  

Wanting to provide a warm and loving home to an older cat, the kind I think of as most deserving, I first met Jersey last summer in a pet store where he was “displayed” for adoption by an area shelter.

But then, he needed extensive treatment for a major ear infection, and recovery time, before being cleared for adoption.  That’s when I came back in.  

Jersey is estimated to be 9 years old.  He was an outdoor cat for most of his life, I was told, and most of his teeth are gone.  He has never lived in a house before.

Billy 

From a cat with Jersey’s age and background, I expected a quiet, retiring guy who napped even more than the average cat, settled comfortably in a home instead of a cage or the great outdoors. 

But I’ve quickly learned from Jersey that a 2-in-1 cat -- or “elderly kitten” -- has in fact joined Billy and me.  He’s a curious, noisy, hungry, active live wire, whose behavior belies his age, delightfully. 

He’s low-slung and terrifically cute, I think, with soft fur of many colors – spotted gray, white, tan – and a fat, striped “raccoon tail” that’s mostly white underneath, down through his belly.  Does all that make him a “gray calico tabby”?  

Jersey’s winning ways include cozying up when petted around his head, raising his rump when petted back there, and balletically batting me or the air (with paws, not nails) to say “enough petting now.”

Jersey (in true gray) 

On his own, Jersey looks around, gets into or climbs up everything possible and often accompanies his explorations with repeated loud cries – I’m guessing for attention or to signal “Eureka!  Look what I just discovered!”  Anyway, there’s never much doubt about where he is.

He’s fascinated by the cat (also gray with white paws) reflected in the glass doors of the fireplace.  I haven’t turned it on yet, unable to guess what Jersey might do on seeing fire there instead of that cat.  Staying nearby and watching may suffice.

His gait can be a little stiff when he wakes up, but it quickly smooths out.  To see Jersey bat small fabric balls around, then chase them, and start over till he finally flops on the floor and rolls over . . . is a happy surprise.  I had wondered whether he would play or even know how to play – but now I know.  

As Jersey is new to a home, I’m new, after nearly 20 years, to introducing a new cat here.  I’m especially intent on his successfully joining Billy, then both cats living together harmoniously.  For me, this holiday season offers a prime time to focus on feline basic training and the three of us bonding – and relaxing.

So begins the saga of Jersey, the Summers family’s “senior baby cat.”  If you’re guessing you’ll see much more about all that here, you’re right.  And I’ll welcome your thoughts!

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