Ok, old people live down here pretty much year ’round. But we get an influx of old people during the months of November through March. We call them show birds. They want to escape the snowy north for the warmer weather of Florida.
However, most people don’t know this, but Florida is a haven for feral cats. When I first moved to Northern Florida, I was surprised by all the wild cats. One of our local video stores just up the street used to set out bowls of food. One night we walked by and saw at least 30 cats.
Living in Florida, land of the old people, who’s sex symbol is Bob Barker who always signs off of his show warning to get your pets spayed and neutered, I was shocked. I was stunned. Seems like the old folks of Florida weren’t heeding his warning.
When I moved down to central Florida there were just as many wild domestic cats roaming around. As a matter of fact, I met a girl at one of our beach accesses that was filling in for another lady who comes down every night to feed the feral cats. In Florida, it is supposedly illegal to do so. But as an animal lover what are you suppose to do? Let them starve to death?
Last night, I saw a kitten try to climb a light pole. She is not more than 4 months old, probably younger. I brought her home because in an environment such as ours, you shouldn’t let your kitty roam late at night by herself. I will post flyers to find her rightful owners, but if you’re just going to let her out to roam free, maybe you don’t deserve her to begin with.
She’s been quite at home in my son’s lap all day (after sleeping with him last night.) Apparently, she needs the love and apparently, she’s not getting it from the original owners who took her home only to toss her outdoors to fend for herself.
Florida is already too full of feral cats, and she will not be one of them. My son loves cats but is allergic to them. I’ve armed him with Benedryl and he’s happy to have her. The thing is pet will always give you unconditional love. That’s all they want back in return. And if my allergy ridden son can love a kitty regardless of his own discomfort…well, enough said.
