Sometimes it is easy to name a new member of your family even when that new member is a kitten. That is the case with Goldie.
A little more than 15 years ago while driving home one evening at dusk on a country road near Lake Anna I saw a very small "thing" in the road. At first I thought it was just a small lunch bag size light brown paper bag but than it moved. I drove past, turned around and came back. By then I saw it was a kitten dragging itself off the side of the road.
Well, the kitten came home with me. Jim, my husand, and I drove her right into Fredericksburg to the emergency clinic to be checked out. Within a few days, the feral kitten cost us about $600.00.
We named her Goldie for three reasons.
- Although I mentioned she originally looked like she was light brown she really is an orange tabby. We took the liberty of thinking she is looks like burnished gold.
- We figured we spent a fair amount of gold bullion to ensure she would have a long active life with us.
- I had been considering purchasing a Golden Retriever. Well, with the $600 we spent on Goldie I certainly could have bought a very nice GR. Remember this was 15 years ago, pre "inflation." And so Goldie became my substitute Golden Retriever.
Goldie is one of the most independent cats I have ever heard about. It took her more than a dozen years to realize how much she really loves me. Now she actually shows it. She likes sleeping close to me and serenades me with her purring. Jim claims she mistakes my snoring for purring. (Perhaps that is true.)
If Jim reaches out to touch Goldie she goes flying off the bed. However, come morning when he gets up she shows him all kinds of affection. Jim feeds her twice a day while he only feeds me once.
For years we would have guests staying with us that never got a glimpse of Goldie. She was such a recluse when others were in the house. It took years for her to get over that as well.
It is amazing that an eccentric cat like this can do such an excellent job of training us. We melt when she pays the least bit of attention to us. If she sits on the chair with me, something she has just begun to do the past few months, I resist moving so she won't jump off.
How did this happen to us? We are two grown-up old elderly mature folks and yet Goldie can make us melt.
I was not a cat person. Jim was not a cat person. I am now a cat person. Jim is now a cat person.
Goldie made us so.
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If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, Virginia please contact Kathleen "Kate" Elim, REALTOR®.
Kate lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate.
Call Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's Web sites and blog at http://lakeannacountry.com/
Copyright © 2008 By Kathleen "Kate" Elim, All Rights Reserved. *My Active Rain Eyes Got an Eyeful*.
©Copyright Kate Elim 2011
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I am right there with you and comment you for taking in a lucky cat! I have 3 of my own, and am a huge animal lover and activist. Please see my photos/posts too! Take care and thanks so much for sharing!
Animals find away to our hearts if we let them... Goldie is one lucky cat....
Cute cat and great story. We have 5 (!) cats, only one of which I picked, the rest found us.
Oh, Kate! Goldie is one beautiful girl! And I'm sure you realize by now ... worth every penny of that $600 you spent many years ago. Thanks for sharing her with us. She's a beauty!
Hi Kristin...We tried introducing another cat into our home. Goldie said, "NO!".
I'll be taking a look at your photos/posts.
Kate
Hi Diane...Thank you. We are sure luck too.
Kate
Hi Leslie...One of my daughters-in-law had six plus a dog. She had two and then adopted a litter that was going to be drowned. My daughter and family have three plus a dog.
We tried to relieve her of one but Goldie did not agree. Sam, our dog, believes the more the merrier.
Kate
Hi Carol...You are so right. We would spend that every year if needed.
Kate
What a great story. We took in a stray kitten just a few months ago. A week later, we were at the vet, and you don't want to know how much it cost to remove whatever it was she had eaten that got stuck in her stomach! She's adapting nicely, and getting used to extensive amounts of affection from our two young children.
We are dog people and it's very much the same. When people refer to being "treated like a dog," we say, that would be lovely.
Goldie looks like she has a mind of her own. My cats always tend to be the independent type too. That's so nice that you saved her from a cruel fate.
Goldie was lucky to find such a good home -- and you made such a fortunate investment!
My son got a cat two years ago and she is selective with her affection. He really loves the times that she will let him hold her. Usually in the morning or if they have been gone on a trip.
I think the rescue pets appreciate us more than other four legged children, because they have seen how hard it is out there. Sasha my rescued Standard Schnauzer would hide under the bed or dining room table for about four years when anyone else came to our house. At this point she sleeps on our bed, her head resting on my husbands pillow and snuggles with us on the couch. She was abused and abandoned when we got her. It took a lot of love and treats, but she is my love dog now. If the back-yard gate swings open, she may look out but she never leaves. She knows a good thing and apparently is not willing to risk losing it.
I had never had cats until a year ago. Neither is particularly friendly, but I marvel at how they make us feel so privileged whenever they deign to pay attention to us. I usually find myself thanking them for letting me pet them! Here is a picture of the rulers of my roost. Miss Eliza is on the left, and Mr. Darcy is on the right.
Kate - That's a beautiful story...and a beautiful kitty!
This is Cashmere:
Hi Penny...Hopefully you will all have years and years of fun with your kitten. It's wonderful for children to have pets.
Kate
Hi Marian...We are dog people also and were amazed to find out that we are cat people also.
Kate
Hi Georgina...Mind of her own is right. When she want attention she is going to get it and when she doesn't want it just stay away.
Kate
Hi Lela...Yes, every penny was well spent.
Kate
Hi Julie...Goldie is especially "affectionate" in the morning. I need to put that in quotes because her idea of being affectionate is a bit different from most of ours. She'll butt me with her head even if I'm still asleep if she wants some petting.
Sounds like your son has a similar situation.
Kate
Hi Betina...If Goldie is sunning by the storm door and we go anywhere near it she runs as though we were going to open it and put her out. She wants no part of outdoors other than the balcony off of our bedroom which is upstairs. Somehow she feels sort of safe there for a few minutes.
Kate
Hi Laurie...I love the dignity of their names. I must remember that. Perhaps Ms Goldie will warm up to us even more if we treat her with a little more respect.
Kate
Hi Debi...What a sweetheart! You really must miss him. I love his name. It is so appropriate.
Hopefully you have another love in your life.
Kate
Kate - My other love would be my mischievous horse Blade. I'm waiting for above freezing temperatures so that I can ride him without freezing to death... :)
Kate - Oh! I forgot to tell you that I like your new picture!... It's very festive... :)