My Allie
By Bonnie
@yoyo1198 (3641)
United States
February 24, 2013 4:39pm CST
My cat, Allie, has been with me since 2009. I got her from the humane society as a rescue when she was four years old. She had been abused as her owner had shaved her of every bit of her hair even down to cutting off her whiskers. He was allergic to her and the dumb clod thought that would help. After it didn't, he had to surrender her.
It took me several months to habituate her to a kinder, gentler world where she wouldn't be so fearful of humans. She wouldn't let me pick her up or hold her. She had no idea what 'cuddles' were. Now after four years, she will abide me holding her for short periods of time. I timed it the other day and I think she lasted about seven minutes. But she has come a long way with the socialization and has learned to play. She'd rather hang out in a box than a pet bed. She noses into shopping bags.
I went to Walgreens today to get some meds. While I was there, I toodled around to see what was on sale and I might be able to use. I bought some personal items and a sweatshirt.
So when I got home, I put the bags of stuff on the floor while I went online to fill out one of those surveys about my shopping experience and was just checking boxes and clicking away with the survey. I heard Allie rustling around in the bags but wasn't really paying too much attention. When I finished and looked around, there was Allie all nice and nestled down on top of the new dark green sweatshirt still in the bag!!!
Now Allie is white. And the weather is getting warmer here (at 40+ degrees today) and she is shedding her winter coat. So, if you can imagine what that shirt looks like now, just triple think that look. 
It looks like I left it in a llama pen.
So I'm off a bit to find some of my packing tape to work on the shirt. And after that, I'll have to dredge out the hair brush and 'do' the cat. She does like that and will 'help' with the brushing. Of course, I don't have any other chores that I need to complete today (snark). What has your cat(s) been up to today? Oh, and do you fill in those surveys?
It looks like I left it in a llama pen.
So I'm off a bit to find some of my packing tape to work on the shirt. And after that, I'll have to dredge out the hair brush and 'do' the cat. She does like that and will 'help' with the brushing. Of course, I don't have any other chores that I need to complete today (snark). What has your cat(s) been up to today? Oh, and do you fill in those surveys?3 people like this
13 responses
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
24 Feb 13
I find it very distressing to see an animal abused or hear of it. You both have come a long way and youhave been so siuccessful with her. I don't envy you the task of getting the fur off your sweatshirt. I have one of those roller thingies that take off lint. I find it very effective. I don't have any cat stories as I have always been a bird person - parrots specifically - so did not have cats but dogs. The dogs didn't harm the birds but the cats would frighten them and although, damaged in some way, I liked my birds to be free to wander around the house.
Parrots are an endangered species in my country so we can only raise a damaged onebut we have to report it to the relevant Ministry.
Parrots roost every nioght in my garden so when the new ones are born I go around several times a day to see if one has fallen from a nest.
May you and Allie share many long years together in peace and happiness.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157596)
• United States
25 Feb 13
What is sadly humorous is when a kitty gets their head through a sack handle and then are certain it is chasing them as they run trying to escape it. Does Allie have any colored markings at all?
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
25 Feb 13
Hi, GG......Allie has a little orange between her ears, small patch @ right forehead, backs of ears, patch on her rump and her tail is all orange.
We also play with a length of yarn that I've tasseled at the end. She chases it and throws it on top of the grocery bag and then wrestles with it all the time burying it deeper into the folds of the bag. I think she likes to hear the crinkle of the bag as she is rolling around with the end of the yarn in it. It's downright humorous to just sit and watch her when she gets into this mode.
Sometimes I bury the yarn tassel in catnip before she gets to it and then it gets wild for a few minutes. After the play time, she's zonked out for a while. 
@GardenGerty (157596)
• United States
25 Feb 13
Thanks for sharing a little of Allie's day with us. I find that my female cat has always been more standoffish than the males. Princess is about the same age as Allie and is just getting socialble, although she has always preferred my husband. I had a calico cat one time that I swore deliberately shed her white hair on my black stuff and her black hair on my white, just so I would know that she loved me and loved my things as well.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
25 Feb 13
I've never had a calico. Mine have all been white, black or gray tabby. I think I've had about seven cats over the past forty years. Nothing to compare to what you have. There was one that I had for thilrteen years. It was really hard to let her go when the time came.
Allie doesn't let me get out of her sight as a rule. Occasionally, she will stay in bed when I get up and sleep in. But when I go to the kitchen and make any kind of noise in there, she's up like a flash and wanting her breakfast.
Thanks for coming in and responding, GG.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
2 Mar 13
My Banjo likes to sleep on my clothes, usually dark ones (he's grey) and I'm always cleaning up after him. Thank goodness for clothes brushes...I have a really good one.
I got him as a baby and he would often come and sit on my lap then one day a neighbour was here and picked him up. Banjo didn't know him and tried to get away and the guy wouldn't let him go. Ever since then, he won't let me hold him. He sometimes snuggles into the crook of my leg when I'm in bed but other wise cuddles are a no-no. He does like to lie down between me and the laptop for smooches though.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
2 Mar 13
Banjo and Allie both prove that cats have long memories. And can carry a grudge far beyond what humans do!!! I've become accustomed to having no cuddles. She's just not into them. Allie has her own pillow in the bed that she sleeps on and has to be in physical contact with me when we go to sleep. But that's pretty much the limit of touching except when I give her pats.
Thank you.
I've become accustomed to having no cuddles. She's just not into them. Allie has her own pillow in the bed that she sleeps on and has to be in physical contact with me when we go to sleep. But that's pretty much the limit of touching except when I give her pats.
Thank you.
@BarBaraPrz (45501)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Feb 13
Harmony's been quiet after I gave her her canned food. Up to then, she always makes a lot of noise...
She's shedding too. It's like having a kid who leaves their clothes all over the place.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45501)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Feb 13
And I don't know why people continue to think it's the fur that they're allergic to...
@BarBaraPrz (45501)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Feb 13
Dander is shed skin cells, so even those unfortunate hairless ones still have it. But the allergy is caused by certain proteins produced in their saliva.
1 person likes this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
25 Feb 13
Yeah, I have to constantly be picking up globs of hair from the carpet. Have to use my hands as the vacuum isn't too swift with this. And hairball treatment is a scheduled treatment once a week. Occasionally I will forget and then the drooling and upchucking remind me.
The allergy is to the saliva is it not? And sometimes the dander from the fur?
Thanks for your response, BarBara.
2 people like this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
28 Feb 13
Those tape brushes don't last long enough for me. I just keep a roll of three-inch tape close to hand to use. Allie doesn't go outside so we're not worried about burrs and mud and the like. Thank you for responding, pat. Hope all is going well with you and your critters.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
25 Feb 13
I get angry when people mistreat animals, we got our Meg from an animal sanctuary, the woman who had her originally threatened to let her loose if the sanctuary didn't rehome her when told they were full! She is now 19 years of age bless her, nearly blind and very vocal, still a right little madam, pampered and spoilt, we know we have to get her put to sleep soon, and we are delaying it, she is still eating well and washing herself so in her way she is happy. It's heartbreaking making the final decision. We have vowed never to have another pet, no one can replace her and you get too damn attached to them.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
26 Feb 13
Thanks for responding, wolfie. How's it going with you?
It does sound like your kitty is happy regardless of age. I had to euthanize my thirteen year old fur kid a few years ago and it was terribly traumatic on us. But after an appropriate mourning period, we went and got another rescue cat and then a rescue dog. Our pets become family and I wouldn't be without one now. And I don't think it's a bad thing to get so attached. They enrich our lives.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
27 Feb 13
Yes I know exactly what it is like I have a white cat myself. You just pet Junia and her fur comes off in your hand.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
28 Feb 13
You are correct in that. Even though I try to brush her regularly, the shedding continues. She's grooming herself more frequently too and so I had to increase the hairball remedy to every other day instead of weekly. Thank you for responding, winterose. Hope all is going well with you.
@ctryhnny (3460)
• United States
25 Feb 13
I had a ferral cat once it it took forever for him to start trusting me but when he did it was awesom. He had been mistreated and just dropped off at a local shelter where I found him. Unfortunately he passed away last year from old age but he lived his last years in the lap of luxury...lol....Now I have 2 more cats I got from a person who was going to have them put down because all of a sudden her husband became allergic to them. One of them is very lazy and spends most of the day sleeping on my bed. The other one doesn't leave my side no matter where I am! I'm not sure what surveys you are talking about but I do a lot of them.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
25 Feb 13
Allie sleeps a lot during the day too. Then at night, she's ready to play. There has been many a night when I am wakened by the thumpty-thump-thump of her chasing her imaginary friend through the house. Then when she's gotten me good and awake, she's ready to lie back down and go back to sleep.
The surveys I mentioned are the ones offered on the store receipts after a shopping trip. Some receipts have the offers, and some don't. I think it all depends on what and how much you buy. They give a url and survey number and password and then after you take the survey, you are entered for sweepstakes anywhere between $100 and $1000.
Thanks for responding, ctryhnny. Hope you're doing well. We're expecting sleet, rain and/or snow tonight and into tomorrow.
The surveys I mentioned are the ones offered on the store receipts after a shopping trip. Some receipts have the offers, and some don't. I think it all depends on what and how much you buy. They give a url and survey number and password and then after you take the survey, you are entered for sweepstakes anywhere between $100 and $1000.
Thanks for responding, ctryhnny. Hope you're doing well. We're expecting sleet, rain and/or snow tonight and into tomorrow.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
25 Feb 13
It's just like a stupid human to think first of shaving or otherwise altering an animal to help himself. I'm glad Allie has a good home now and you are so patient with her. Many people would be angry about the hair on the new shirt but I see that you understand animals.
I don't have cats as I am allergic to them but I have 2 wonderful dogs. They keep me laughing and are good company. Yes, I do surveys but only if they reward me in some way.
1 person likes this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
25 Feb 13
I was terribly angry for quite a while after I first got Allie about the ditz shaving her. She had to have medication put on the shave burns in multiple places and I almost cried every time.
Yep....she can't help it if she's shedding. It was really my bad for not brushing her for a few past days.
I always enjoyed it when the cat and the dogs played together. Once they learned to be good kids, they were a pleasure to be around. Never a dull moment. They're just as busy as human kids.
Thank you for looking in and responding, dragon.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
26 Feb 13
I come home with those receipts with good intentions and NEVER end up actually doing the survey.
My cat, jason, came and sat on my newspaper this morning, Oreo pestered me for food, and KitKat just sat...
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
26 Feb 13
I just came in from being out to Walgreens again and I've got another receipt with the survey invitation. If I don't do them immediately when I get home, I forget about them. So after I finish with these comments, I'll finish this one.
Allie is pestering me right now. She thinks she has to have something whenever I return from shopping. That's because so often there is something in the bags for her. But I've not even brought my bags in yet. And she'll be into them as soon as I carry them in.
Thanks for responding, Dawn.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
25 Feb 13
ooohhh! how sweet. i used to have some really lovable kitties but no more. i dont know if coco would be nice to one. anyway, she sheds the same. its awful. my kids here work in black subway uniforms and its nearly impossible to keep all the hairs flying around off. 
never do the shopping surveys. have enough just for mylot and swagbucks to get to.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
26 Feb 13
Hi, bon....Dogs usually adjust well to cats. I've had multiple households before. The dogs thought they had to protect the cats. They didn't know that cats are pretty much their own protection.
Maybe you need to give Coco some brushing a couple of times a week. I bet that would slow down on the shedding.
I've got another survey to do when I finish here. I went out to get some necessities as we're expecting snow and I don't want to have to get out once that starts. The weatherman says just an inch is expected but I've learned the hard way that he isn't always correct.
Thank you for looking in and responding.
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
25 Feb 13
I can just imagine what your shirt looks like now! I don't have any cats right now, but when I did it seemed they always got more comfortable on things that I didn't want them on. When I would try and brush them, they would think it was play time and try to catch the brush. Needless to say I didn't brush them often. I do a lot of surveys but not the ones about products you buy, because I don't shop much.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
25 Feb 13
Hi, cerebellum....Thank you for looking in and responding.
I guess I'm fairly lucky in that Allie doesn't get into many places where I wouldn't want her (except for the green shirt, of course, but I wasn't paying attention and that was my fault). She doesn't get on the furniture or cabinets, tables or anything. I've had some cats that were quite a problem in trying to disabuse them of those kinds of habits.
Allie likes the brush and will lean into it and try to help me with the groom job.
Hope you're having a nice day.
