Lida Choate's Maine Coon Cats part 2
|
 |
| Ocean Breeze Little Missy Josephine, brown tabby & white Maine Coon poly |
|
|
Tom Coon was thinking fast. He just had to have this beautiful cat. But how? Then he thought, I'll hide her I my cabin. His cabin was just big enough for his bunk with a drawer under it for his possessions. A bible his mother had given him was carefully wrapped I his well-laundered shirt along with his Sunday suit. He also had a foot locker at the foot of his bunk. Tom Coon just had to sneak this beautiful long-haired cat onto the ship and into his cabin. It would be a great risk. The cat had snuggled into his arms and was purring. So, Tom Coon caught some large ships cats, put them carefully into sacks, and buttoned his pretty cat under his coat. It was late when the sailors returned and they were too boisterous to notice. They put Tom Coon into the dory with his gunnysacks. Tom Coon got his special cat into his cabin. He carried part of his meal and anything else that he could find from the galley into his cabin for the cat. He had never been so happy since he shipped on this vessel. At night he would cradle his beautiful cat in his arms and think while he listened to her steady, melodious purr. As the days passed, he kept his secret, but he noticed that his precious cat was making a nest in his footlocker. One morning when he got up, his cat was not curled up in her usual place on his bunk. Tom almost panicked with fear that he had lost his cat, so he first checked his footlocker. There was his beautiful cat with three wee wee baby kittens plying their tiny paws into her stomach, nursing the mother cat. Tom was overjoyed, but it complicated the situation. He had to think of something. He had never had a responsibility like this before. Tom Coon's mind was working overtime. His beautiful cat with kittens so small he could cradle one in his hand and completely enclose it? Tom put this tiny bundle of fur close to his cheek. He was living, for the moment, in ecstasy. He would dream he would someday be a ship's captain, and all his s hip cats would be beautiful longhaired cats. He would go inland from the wharves and get the best cats. Many of his dreams turned out to be true. Then he would have to return to his current problem. One kitten was the most beautiful deep orange with a pink nose and white neck and bib. Then Tom Coon noticed that his kitten had extra toes on all four white feet. Upon checking the silver colored one and the one marked just like her mommy, they all had extra toes. He didn't know if this was good or bad for the kittens, but Tom had other problems for the moment. Caring for the mother cat and keeping the kittens alive came first. Mother cat helped in every why she could. As the ship pitched and rolled, she cradled her babies close to her to form a buffer between the side of the footlocker and herself. She was so proud, and would put her paw into Tom Coon's hand to try to reassure him that things would be all right. Tom Coon was extra careful to do everything just right in the galley to keep the cook happy, and to keep the captain?s cat well fed and cared for. Still, Tom Coon had to come up with a plan. He finally decided to go directly to the captain and ask for his help. This was a great decision. He was so fearful that the captain would be angry and possibly take drastic actions toward his beautiful cat and her kittens. The time must be right. His plan must be well prepared. So, each night he would rehearse it with his beautiful mother cat and her babies. With a wee baby kitten cradled in one hand and running his fingers lovingly along the mother cat's back, he would tell her of his plan. She would open and shut her eyes as if nodding her complete approval, and with all kinds of ideas chasing around in his head he would fall asleep. The weeks passed quickly and the kittens were now rolling over and playing with one another, still in the footlocker. They were always listening for Tome Coon to appear. He would pick each kitten up, press it to his cheek tenderly and carefully, and whisper to it, you dear, dear little babe. I just have to get a home for you. The best home in the whole world, where you will get plenty of good, rich cow's milk, all you want to eat, and a warm place to live with someone who will love you just like I love you. The kitten tucked in his hand would look directly into his eyes seeming to say, you will, Tom Coon, you will, and Tom Coon would say aloud, I will, I will.
Article continues on Lida Choate's Maine Coon Cats part 3
|
|
|