My favorite time of year – crisp air, blazing tree leaves, cool nights for sleeping . . . and superstitions creeping. I LOVE me some Halloween. The scary stories, the decorations (of which we have BOXES!), the spooky and the silly movies (of which I have an entire shelf!).
Two day ago, I got totally distracted from everything else by a small black cat who showed up on our back patio. A beautiful kitty with huge yellow eyes. Though I already have three cats, all of them orphaned or abandoned, I started planning to take in one more. But the kitty had other ideas. Though she loved the food and fresh water, the waterproof shelter on our porch and watching us with interest, I have yet to get close enough to pet her. But I won’t give up. Because there’s nothing worse in my book than a lost, lonely cat who is hungry and afraid (unless, of course, it’s a child).
So in my efforts to ingratiate myself to this little creature, all else fell away. Until I turned on my computer this morning. How could it be the first Wednesday of the month already? Mia culpa!!
Looking forward to reading your posts – even if it’s outside in the cold trying to tame a wondering kitty.
Happy Halloween in advance. Let the decorating begin!!
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the October 1st posting of the IWSG will be are are Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jacqui Murray, and Natalie Aguirre!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
Hopefully you can entice the cat inside before Halloween as people sometimes do cruel things to black cats on that day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!
That thought is foremost in my mind. Our house has three floors so one more cat is no threat to overcrowding. But capture of the critter and a trip to our vet would be first.
DeleteI love that story, Nancy. I hope you keep us/me UTD on how kitty fares. My sis did similar with a feral dog in her back woods. Took forever to gain his trust, but when she did, it was a thing of beauty.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure she was someone's pet so I didn't grab her up right away but I'm thinking today is the day!
DeleteI agree with Alex, some people are obnoxiously cruel to animals, especially cats. I don't know why. Thank you for co-hosting. Happy Halloween!
ReplyDeleteCruel treatment of anything lesser/smaller than you is abhorrent to me. I'd have a petting zoo if I could talk the family into it.
DeleteHey, fellow Halloween lover and cat lover! Good luck with your visitor. Hopefully he/she has a home somewhere. Hope you have a great October, Nancy.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling she's already found her home right here.
DeleteI tamed a feral cat years ago. It took me 6 months to gain his trust. But it was worth it. Buster became my boy. Good luck, Nancy, and happy IWSG day.
ReplyDeleteWe've had a lot of foundling pets. It got so if anyone who knows me had a picture of sad homelss animals they'd send it to me. What can I say. I'm a sucker.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting this month. Thanks for sharing the song, it's one of my favorites. I hope you can win over the cat soon. All along on Halloween isn't good for little black cats.
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love Stevie?! I'm still working on the cat while trying to decide on a name.
DeleteGood luck with making better friends with the cat. Thanks for co-hosting with me.
ReplyDeleteAlways in the best of company!!
DeleteWe share the same enthusiasm for this holiday! Love it. Also love cats, so I'm hoping you can entice that guy to stay safely with you. Thanks for co-hosting today, Nancy.
ReplyDeletehttps://substack.com/@cleemckenzie/p-149546624
I'm thinking of leaving a treat trail to the door.
DeleteYou are such a softie. That kitty will have a good home...eventually. Thanks for cohosting this month.
ReplyDeleteI'm a mush for all animals. That's why they're always hanging around our yard! Must have put a post in their union newsletter.
DeleteI also love the Fall. I think I'll put out my Halloween decorations today. It's nice out, and that won't last forever. Good luck taming the kitten. It will appreciate your care soon.
ReplyDeleteI force myself to wait to put up decorations. Probably mid-next week. I won't be able to hold out any longer. It's such a process dragging all the boxes out - but I love every minute of it.
DeleteI hope the cat warms up to you soon! I put up my fall decorations last week, but I don’t put up scary things for Halloween. My kids are still little, and I don’t want to give them nightmares. For now, I will stick to cutesy scarecrows and pumpkin displays.
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot of young families in our neighborhood so I keep the scary stuff for the back of the house for my own enjoyment!!
DeleteI loved the intro "Yellow Eyes," black cat story. Could you post an update next month as part of our November blog-hop?
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting our Halloween blog-hop.
Hopefully she'll be fat and sassy, demand we change the channel to animal planet by then!!
DeleteYour story reminded me of a cartoon about a black cat I watched as a child. There is a very catchy song there too, about how everyone hates the poor blameless and luckless black cat.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll call this one Lucky if it's smart enough to be lured inside.
DeleteI hope the cat distribution system works for you! There are so many homeless cats, and it's so sad.
ReplyDeleteBreaks my heart. I'm such an animal mush!
DeleteThank you for co-hosting #IWSG this month, Nancy. Oh, that kitty must definitely need a new home and certainly came to the right place. Spooky stories have always fascinated me, including urban legends. My all-time favs are the chicken skin tales of marching spirits and ghostly appearances in Hawaii.
ReplyDeletehttps://gail-baugniet.blogspot.com
Skin skins?! Inquiring minds want to know where to find that tale!!
DeleteSeems like the right time of year to welcome a black cat into your life! @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
Anytime is the right time but yes, this little girl needs to come inside.
DeleteBlack cats are my favourite kinds of cats! I used to care for one that frequented my back patio a couple of years ago. I used to put food and water out for it. After that, it never came by again. I hope nothing bad happened to it. If I ever adopt a cat it will be a black one.
ReplyDeleteI have one like that right now. I'm pulling out all stops to coax her inside.
DeleteOh, and thanks to you and the others for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! It's always so much fun and I discover so many new and exciting writers.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting this month! Love this story and your patience with your black kitty! My daughter is actually being a black cat for Halloween this year. Loving the black kitty club!
ReplyDeleteGood for her! The black sheep - errr, cat always leads the group.
DeleteAww I hope you can get her in! I always wanted a cat but my husband is severely allergic.
ReplyDeleteHappy Halloween!
Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteMy brothers and I adopted a black cat when we were younger. It just showed up one day and stayed for a while. Don’t remember what happened to it because it disappeared. Probably found a new family to stay with.
Hi, Halloween is not my cup of tea, but I am glad you like it. Thanks for co-hosting. Shalom shalom
ReplyDeleteAnonymously Esther O'Neil, still no signal, no wonder google can't believe this. Our rescue kitty chose my husband, On her pen, two words. Abandoned, Docks. His cat, all her life.
ReplyDeleteA black cat just in time for Halloween. I wonder if by next year she'll be posing the window scaring your trick or treaters. hehehe
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
A black cat is perfectly timely just now! I'd call him Magic and bring him in, at least till he feels at home with you. Cats have a knack for knowing good people like you ;-)
ReplyDeleteI put my Halloween stuff up yesterday ;-) Thank you for co-hosting!
Good luck with the cat! I'm sure he/she will be happier if he learns to trust you can gets to be inside!
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed the cat learns to trust you. There's nothing sadder than a skittish stray.
ReplyDeleteMy husband had a 20-pound black cat. He was massive. And spoiled. My cat was white with black markings. Happy Halloween! Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite time of year too! And I hope you're able to catch the kitty if she doesn't already have a home. Where I live, people let their cats out all the time, so it's hard to tell if a cat is homeless or just wandering.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month!