R.I.P. Possum .. a community cat

[Flower]

Here is Possum's story.

It starts last November when my friend across the street told me that she thought that she saw a possum in her planter.  As there aren't any known possums in this area, I felt that she was mistaken.  Two mornings later on November 22, 2016  I saw a small white and grey cat hiding under a car.  She might've been an older kitten and my young cat play chased her across the street into a parking area that is surrounded by gardens, a repair garage and various types of housing. There is also an area where there is now only one Zip Car.  My friend's backyard butts into the lane of the parking garage.  She and her husband feed the birds and strays of all kinds and added Possum to their list.

At this point in time they had an elderly cat that I was going over to feed and care for twice a day when they were at work.  She, her husband and I started to feed the small cat that we named Possum in her back garden.  Her husband build a feral type shelter that the cat never used.  After poor old Velcro, the elderly cat, had to be put to sleep on February 15, 2017 .. I started looking for Possum in the area of the Zip Car during the day and my friends would feed her at night.

I could pet her but couldn't get her into a carrier.  She soon became a community cat .. covering an area of several blocks with very little traffic and mainly friendly indoor/outdoor pet cats.  I found out from a friend of mine down the block that Possum had found herself two other feeders in the evenings.  Soon it developed that at first light, she would come to my house to lead me to her 'safe' area by the Zip Car where she would eat her breakfast and get some pets before frolicking after birds and doing her thing. 

*I am up early and enjoy a cup of coffee on the front porch in the morning in some sort of peace.

Possum seemed happy and content but would sometimes be spooked.  Like me, she didn't like windy days .. I knew her habit of eating, walking away, coming back .. walking away and coming back as I packed up her food. I really FAILED and couldn't trap her or get her into a carrier but there always seemed like there was time.

I saw her almost every day .. there were the rare few days when she won't show up for breakfast but I knew that she had other options.  I didn't see her on the weekend of November 4th and 5th and she was late for breakfast on Monday the 6th and was late but didn't eat much on Tuesday the 7th .. she didn't hang around but frolicked after some small birds.  I didn't worry much on the 8th when I didn't see her as she seemed to be coming later with the clocks being turned back.  By the weekend, I was worried and started walking around calling for her.

On Monday, I started knocking on the friend down the street's door but she was always out walking her dogs and we are chat in the street, run into each other at the library, exchange small Christmas gifts and card friends and not email, phone, texting buddies.  I posted on Lost Pet sites yesterday, hoping that one of the other feeders took her in and didn't realize that Possum had a breakfast feeder, I also called all the local vets yesterday.  I had started checking both the Stray pick up reports and Deceased Animals reports several times a day last Friday.  Nothing.

This morning I went to knock on my friend's door several times.  After the last time, I was going to write her a note and then go have some posters printed.  I wanted to talk to her before putting up or creating the posters in case Possum had a home.  After walking several blocks beyond Possum's territory and knocking on my friend's door one last time, I saw her in front of my house walking her dogs.

She had be trying to locate me but dreading it as her neighbor across the street from her, a man called Steve, told her on Monday that Possum had been hit by a car and that he buried her in his yard.  I know no further details and want to talk to Steve at some point, not that it will help but for closure.  Funny, this morning, my friend who had started feeding Possum and sort of gave her the name, started to help look at sites and feared the worse.  I guess that it would've been worse not knowing or printing up the posters .. it was sad enough contacting the Lost Pet sites and I still have to light candles.  Sorry .. I am rambling and not making sense but I owe it to Possum since I couldn't save her, to at least make her story be known.  She would've made a great pet and I should've tried harder.

I don't know how all the wonderful people who work with and for ferals can deal with the losses.

[Hepcat]

Oh man! So very sad. Another friend taken.

R.I.P. Possum.

[Sean]

My condolences.

[Flower]

Thank you for your kind thoughts.  It still hasn't sunken in, I know that she's gone but it's been a nightmare and I still expect her to come down the lane and can't seem to disassemble her bag of food, plates and feeding stuff.

[Hepcat]

It's so tough to deal with the emptiness one feels, and the knowledge that it's permanent.

[neonnoodle]

Oh, I'm sorry to read this. Please accept my sympathies.

[Flower]

Oh, I'm sorry to read this. Please accept my sympathies.

Thank you.  I sort of blog things and it was one year ago today that I first saw Possum.  I still can't bring myself to put her plates away or touch her 'bag' .. I have a plastic carrier with a can of Friskies, a baggy of dry Whiskas, plastic spoons and plates from take out containers.  Every morning for most of the past year, I would come downstairs, feed the  indoor cats and put together and check her bag of food.  After feeding her, I would pop a new can of Friskies, spoon and clean plate into the bag.

Thanks again.

[Sean]

Flower, know that you undoubtedly made your friend's life more joyful and comfortable.  You were both blessed in your relationship.  I couldn't throw out my old doggie's dishes when he died.  You'll know when to move on from certain things.  No need to rush any of it.