The Cats

Daisy May (photo by Liam)



Pepper Kitty with Isabella

Pepper Sue: Black and white, relaxed, playful, bratty,
funny, social.

Daisy May: Calico, sweet, intelligent, social,
easily spooked.

Our cats. They love to be with us, hate to be without us. We have been trying to figure-out what to do with them. If we could find a good home for them here in Brazil (that is, someone who will care for them the way we do, not let them out on the street to get killed, or have property where they could roam safely, and would take the two of them together) we would leave them here. Otherwise, we are faced with moving the two of them to Florida with us. We love our cats and would like them with us, but the thought of putting them through traveling and not knowing what the situation is in the house we are moving to, makes us want to leave them with someone here more than take them with us. However, this possibility is seeming less and less likely as time goes by.



It is very difficult to find someone in Brazil who loves cats. Brazilians are mostly "dog" lovers. Poisoning cats is very common here, sadly. Our cats don't go out on the street as Daisy was once hurt by someone (we don't know what happened to her, but she came home one night several years ago bleeding from her mouth. The roof of her mouth was split-open (you can still see the scar across her nose from the wiring the vet had to put in to hold it together to heal. We think someone hit her on the head with something). The cats stay in the house or in the back courtyard. Most Brazilians do not spade or neuter their animals either. I remember when I suggested to someone to neuter their male cat, the owner scoffed at me and said, "And take away his fun?"

If my sister-in-law finds a new home to live, she will take our cats as her own. She loves them both and would care for them the way we do. She hasn't been able to find a place yet, and we have less than three weeks here.

Our vet came over today to discuss what will be involved for us to travel with Daisy and Pepper. We need to get rabies vaccines and health records in order for them. He will be working with us on all of this. I still wish we could find a nice ranch for them to live on. They've never had a life being able to roam free being city cats. It would be nice if they could have that. I don't think it's going to happen though. I can just imagine the scene going to the airport with the kids, our baggage, and the cats!!!

Another reason why I wish we could find them a new home is that the kids just love to chase them around. They really need a calmer environment! (especially Daisy)