10 March 2009

Mo

A year after Miss Thing passed away, we decided we might be ready to let another cat into our hearts. We'd planned to pick one up from the shelter, when we spotted the ad in the Missoulian, “Two Mousers for Free.”

So we drove out to a ranch in the Potomac, and brought home two cats. Females. Half-wild, they'd lived most of their lives in a barn. We named them Harriet and Maureen – Harry and Mo.

We hadn't had them a day, and Harry disappeared never to be seen again. We lived at the foot of Mount Jumbo, and I prefer to believe that she’d decided to live out the rest of her life free. She obviously didn't like the idea of living in a house, and there were probably some juicy, fat mice running around up there.


But Mo liked us. She loved us, in fact. She especially loved sleeping on us…on our laps, on Tom's shoulders, or tangled up in my hair.

It wasn’t long before we realized Mo was pregnant. We suspected that she came to us this way. And we might have taken her back, but we already loved her too much to let her go. So we took her to the Vet’s for a prenatal check-up. Turned out she was very pregnant, only a couple of weeks from delivering.

I cleared out one of the drawers in our highboy, and lined it with cedar shavings, newspaper, and wide strips of flannel, torn from an old sheet. I slid it more than halfway under my side of the bed, so that just a few inches would poke out. I figured it’d be dark and private in there, but easy for her to climb into. And it sure seemed like she approved, because I found her sleeping in there the evening before she delivered.

That night Tom and I were sleeping, cuddled up in our comfy new queen-sized Serta, and Mo was cuddled up, too, on my pillow, her body nestled in my hair…

In the wee hours of the morning, I woke to the sound of her crying. Meowing. But when I heard her purring in my ear, I let myself drift back to sleep. I figured I must've been dreaming. But then she cried out again.

Half asleep, I reached up to pet her. It's okay, sweetheart. Wassa matter? Mommy's here.

But my hand didn't pet Mo. It touched something not-Mo. And it was then that I realized that my hair was wet, and there was something besides Mo sitting it. Something soggy. Something lumpy. And what the hell's that smell?

I jumped outta bed, screaming bloody murder, with this wet thing in my hand, ready to throw it across the room. Tom woke with my scream, and turned on the light.

My hair, my face, and my pillow were dripping with goo, poo, and amniotic fluid. And the soggy thing in my hand? A newborn kitten.

While Tom stayed in bed laughing, I moved mom and first-born kitty to the dresser drawer, and she delivered kitten number two.

I stayed with Mo, crooning and cooing while she delivered two more. And still chuckling, Tom removed the soiled sheets, and tossed my pillow in the trash can, outside.

Once we were certain Mo was no longer in labor, Tom took over with the reassuring noises. And until we ran out of hot water, I stood in the shower, shampooing sticky poo out of my hair.

19 comments:

Marion said...

Such a great story!!! Don't you just love cats...

Mick said...

:)

The Crow said...

Makes me thankful we had the little female spayed a couple of months ago. Now we just need to neuter the boys!

Wonderful story about Mo. Got any pictures? Of the kittens, I mean.

Patia said...

Cute story. Sounds like something my girl would do -- have kittens on my head.

Renee said...

Honest to God you can crack me up like no one else. Hillarious. Laughing my head off.

When I saw you cat comment on my post, I was like 'is that my cat.' and yes it was.

Love Renee

Marion said...

later on yesterday i was thinking again about your story and i suddenly thought 'i'm missing something here!'
What about a nice illustration with the Mo-story??

Michelle said...

That is gross, sweet and funny all at the same time. LOL

Fred Miller said...

I laughed so hard ! ! ! Oh, gawd! Tessa is a crazy cat lady (now only a mere three cats in the house). They and I have achieved peaceful coexistence. I personally think it's my lordly, awesome presence that has made them so well-disciplined that they pee in the shower drain. I also figured a way to get them neutered as quickly as possible. Just offer to do it yourself. I'm quite experienced with pigs and calves. Your lover will sneak them to the vet while you sleep.

Fred Miller said...

Oh, and I second Lenoirrr's request for an illustration.

billie said...

they do like to share don't they? :)

gap said...

What a great story! BRAVA!

Plus his name was Harry. Harry. What is it with cats named Harry?

tsduff said...

and what's that smell
Ha ha ha ha - lucky kitten you had such lightening reflexes not to throw it!

Ah, the wonders of new life.

Kevin McGinty said...

Actually, I think the exact quote was more like "what the hell's that smell? Fits well.

I liked you story but man, it was gross. Hope all is well with you wnd yours...

adiaha said...

Thank you for the great story and intense laugh! :) I'll be back!

valerie walsh said...

WHAT AN AMAZING STORY! I would love to see some kitties being born, not in my hair tho :)

studio lolo said...

I think you're aptly named :)

I had a kitten 'delivered' in my hair too, but stillborn. I think she wanted me to help it. They like to give us what means the most to them so they can show their appreciation.

Beautiful memory, well told as usual in your sweet way.

Thank you, cat.
xx

Cindy said...

Gimme mo!! You're wonderful!! All Around Wonderful!! Great story!

Anvilcloud said...

That was delightful. When D2 was young, a cat that we semi-adopted had kittens under her bed, and it took us a few days to figure it out.

Anvilcloud said...

It occurred to me to wonder whether you read this post from not long ago when you were visiting. It's about our cat.

http://anvilcloud.blogspot.com/2009/03/whithersoever-i-goest.html