Germophobes Perhaps?

I got a call this morning from someone interested in adopting a kitten. She was extremely concerned about any of the kittens health, which is understandable. She also stated her elderly neighbor feeds strays and wondered how much trouble it might be to tame one of the wild kittens. I told her it depended on how old they are. Anyhow, she was interested in Gypsy, the little girl kitten, fixed at last Sunday's FCCO clinic, from the Hull Oakes boiler room.

I had to go to Springfield to deliver Aces anyhow to his new home. So I told her when and where to meet me. And I took Gypsy with me. I told her on the phone, I'm sure I did, that she was a silver tabby, that she was fixed at the FCCO clinic and that she had a shaved butt and base of tail. This is because the boiler room guy got her in a cage early Friday and didn't call me. So she'd been in there awhile when I went down Saturday morning. She'd pooped on herself and it was caked on in that area. So she got that area shaved in the FCCO van. I warned them about that, because it looks a little ragged, but it will grow back quickly.

So I get down there and both the family adopting Aces and this woman interested in Gyspy and her children are there at the same time. The first question the Gypsy interest's little boy says, when he looks at her, with the question directed to his mother was "But is she really healthy?" My mind registered that, and thought it odd, as a kid's first reaction to a kitten. Nonetheless, they took her into their mini van while I dealt with the "Aces" adoption. That family was very nice.

When Aces was gone, I went back to the other people who were getting out of the minivan. The woman had a look of disgust and concern on her face and said immediately, in accusatory tone, that this kitten was very unhealthy, that they knew these things because they'd cared for many cats. This was a response I was not expecting at all.

If they didn't want the kitten, they could have said that, not attacked me and acted like the kitten was about to die of something, she was so unhealthy.

In fact, she's extremely healthy. Her sister tested negative for FIV/Felk. She's fully vaccinated, spayed and wormed. She has no earmites and no eye drainage and not a smidgeon of URI. I'd even given her Revolution, to be sure, because on the phone the woman seemed really to hate the thought of worms or parasites.

I asked her "What do you mean, she's unhealthy?" Because her statement was really shocking.

She said "She's unhealthy and her ear's been torn off." Oh, I thought, I should have told her about the eartip. I had told her she was fixed at an FCCO clinic, then described trapping cats, and the work I do, but probably had not mentioned the eartip. I figured now this woman must think I had deliberately abused this kitten and cut it's ear. Or that someone had abused her.

I quickly explained what an eartip was and why she got one and that I had not intended to keep her to adopt her out, but was going to return her to the boiler room at the mill after her spay. I was going to explain more of what was going on at the mill, with the cats, but she interupted, with more accusations about how unhealthy she was. I figured then she must be referring to the shaved butt and lower tail most likely, but I'd explained that to her over the phone. I'm sure I did.

I took her from the woman. I could almost imagine her and the kids in the minivan, with white coats and gloves on, going over this little kitten under a microscope for any sign of possible imperfection.

I became defensive of her, and told the woman I wasn't interested in adopting anything to her. The woman had already told me they didn't want her, because she was unhealthy.

I believed in my mind by this time the woman might be a germaphobic or something. I don't adopt to germaphobes. One sneeze and a kitten could be labeled imperfect or a threat.

They seemed like such a nice family. Maybe something is going on with them I don't know about. But it was a very strange experience to be sure. At least Aces got a home.

Anyhow, then I went on to the mill, to see if I could trap that Siamese. I didn't, but did set up a trap for the neighbors in the log cabin who are going to feed in it for a week or two, then we'll try to nab her selectively.

Anyhow, only one kitten got a home this weekend. I was disappointed. I have so many needing homes. Little Miss Sunshine has been promised out for ten days and will likely go tomorrow. But I'll still have the lovely Gypsy and Shady and Mooki and........