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Description
Ó’Máille

Our “new” used cat Ó’Máille has settled into her new home. We’ve watched her limp and shuffle through our neighborhood for at least 4 years (her back legs are partially paralyzed; she cannot move them independently), and honestly we never thought she’d last a week after we first noticed her.... She was not like the other feral cats in the neighborhood because if we called to her as she made her late night rounds she wouldn’t run away; rather she’d look at us as if regarding us thoughtfully before shuffling her way down the street. This past summer it became apparent that someone was sharing our front porch furniture (none of my family has short, white cat fur).... As it was quite hot I began putting water out “just in case” I told myself. Suspicions were confirmed one morning when I got up before “Sidewinder” (as I used to call her) had a chance to vacate the ottoman, and photographic evidence got my wife involved in keeping an eye open and providing bedding for our guest. Water offerings lead to food offerings, and we were rewarded with close up face time, but she was really quite skittish still. Eventually she warmed up enough to allow actual contact. It was apparent she had at one point enjoyed the love of a human family, and she seemed desperate to make up for lost time. My wife would sit on the step, and it wouldn’t be long before our friend would shuffle up from behind, deliver a solid head butt to the low back and begin soaking up oodles of attention, pets, pats, caresses and hugs. She finally trusted us enough (after 4 months of work) to allow placement into a carrier and delivery to our veterinarian for a general health check and rabies shot. My wife was relieved to find that she was not chipped (she was really attached at this point, okay?) and, upon returning home, she and my kids though up a suitable name for her. Today, during a wonderful autumn rain, she sat still enough for me to make a few portraits. Who knows how long she will be with us, but while she is, she is guaranteed as much love and affection as she can possibly handle.

Her beautiful blue eyes tell us that’s just fine with her....

Description
Ó’Máille

Our “new” used cat Ó’Máille has settled into her new home. We’ve watched her limp and shuffle through our neighborhood for at least 4 years (her back legs are partially paralyzed; she cannot move them independently), and honestly we never thought she’d last a week after we first noticed her.... She was not like the other feral cats in the neighborhood because if we called to her as she made her late night rounds she wouldn’t run away; rather she’d look at us as if regarding us thoughtfully before shuffling her way down the street. This past summer it became apparent that someone was sharing our front porch furniture (none of my family has short, white cat fur).... As it was quite hot I began putting water out “just in case” I told myself. Suspicions were confirmed one morning when I got up before “Sidewinder” (as I used to call her) had a chance to vacate the ottoman, and photographic evidence got my wife involved in keeping an eye open and providing bedding for our guest. Water offerings lead to food offerings, and we were rewarded with close up face time, but she was really quite skittish still. Eventually she warmed up enough to allow actual contact. It was apparent she had at one point enjoyed the love of a human family, and she seemed desperate to make up for lost time. My wife would sit on the step, and it wouldn’t be long before our friend would shuffle up from behind, deliver a solid head butt to the low back and begin soaking up oodles of attention, pets, pats, caresses and hugs. She finally trusted us enough (after 4 months of work) to allow placement into a carrier and delivery to our veterinarian for a general health check and rabies shot. My wife was relieved to find that she was not chipped (she was really attached at this point, okay?) and, upon returning home, she and my kids though up a suitable name for her. Today, during a wonderful autumn rain, she sat still enough for me to make a few portraits. Who knows how long she will be with us, but while she is, she is guaranteed as much love and affection as she can possibly handle.

Her beautiful blue eyes tell us that’s just fine with her....