Louisville Medicine Volume 65, Issue 8 - Page 26

Next week my assistant successfully negotiated the adoption protocol and we got our new kitten . Nonetheless my assistant was called six months later to check on the animal , “ Is he still alive ?” - ‘ Yes .’ “ How is she doing ?” – ‘ Ok .’ “ Has he been fixed ?” – ‘ Yes .’

Six weeks had passed , and I still thought about that old black cat without a home . I spoke with my old friend Margery who knows a lot about felines and has always had three or more . ‘ Would adding another be difficult – an unwanted intruder in the cattery ?’ “ Probably not ,” she opined . “ Just make the introduction slowly . Keep Pat in his own space and slowly introduce him to others .” My decision was made . I went to the basement and got the spare animal carrier , cleaned it out and put a fresh towel inside . I drove the Toyota one county over , determined to get the cat . Pat ’ s cage was now in a less prominent spot . He did not perk up when his name was called . Another guy was there wanting to finally take home a black lab .

The adoption people were not around but nonetheless , the fellow got his dog , romped around outside the store with him and took him home . Here , the proprietor of the store said , “ I cannot let you have the cat but sit with him awhile and bond with him .” So , I sat in a side room and he loaded Pat into my lap . A somber , quiet , inactive lump of cat who neither struggled nor scratched nor purred .

“ Just let me know when you want out , I don ’ t want to have to chase him around the store in case he gets out ,” he said before leaving . I patted Pat and looked at his somewhat unkempt coat which now had flecks of dandruff . Did I really want to drive out there again and encounter the lady with the contracts , the vet visits , and a one hundred dollar ‘ donation ’ on the brain ? I thought not . I refused to be sorry for trying to provide for another old fellow traveler . Finally , I quietly carried Pat out of the back room , put him in his cage , escaped the store and drove off in my truck .

What is the point of this sad tale ? Friends from the hospital just gave my last cats to me as kittens . We have become too serious as a society . The business of contracts , adoptions , bonding , donations and obligatory professional services has taken what could be a kind , life-enhancing experience and turned it into an ordeal . The ‘ what ifs ’ – what if my purposes in adding a feline to my household were nefarious ? Why should I be suspected of causing harm or danger or a cause for concern ? Is an interest in a black cat a cause for suspicion ? Can we relax , take life in stride , and bring a happier ending to this story ?

Dr . Seligson is a practicing orthopaedic surgeon with UofL Physicians- Orthopaedics .

GLMS Main Line 502-589-2001 GLMS Fax 502-581-9022

MedCentral Main Line 502-589-2277 MedCentral Fax 502-562-9584

MSPS ( Staffing ) Main Line 502-589-2006 MSPS ( Staffing ) Fax 502-562-9581

24 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE