How a San Leandro stray cat ended up adopting a family
DEAR JOAN >> I wanted to share a story about a female feral cat my husband and I named Buffy.
Buffy started hanging out at our house because there was always a plate of food on our porch for all of the feral kitties who would come. As a young girl, she hung out with one particular male cat. After a couple of years, she finally let me pet her and rubbed against my legs.
In 2011, my husband built a box on our porch and she had a litter of four kittens on my husband’s birthday. We adopted three of them and gave the fourth to a friend.
One day, about a year later, Buffy came marching into the house as I was coming out. She walked around, checking out everything. I already had her three plus two other kitties, but Buffy decided this was her home and she stayed.
We let her out later but she came back in and that was the end of Buffy being a feral cat. We had her another year, but we had to put her down due to illness. I have pictures of her on our living room table, eating breakfast with my husband. He died three years ago this month. I have two of her litter left.
Just wanted to share my story of a wonderful little girl whom we loved dearly. — Linda Parker-Fedak, San Leandro
DEAR LINDA >> What a sweet story, and proof that while some say cats want to live outdoors, it’s a hard life and many — not all — when given the chance for a warm house, a comfy lap and plenty of food, choose to give up their wandering ways.
We can’t know for certain, but I’d be willing to bet that Buffy was not born in the wild and likely had an owner that either allowed her to wander and didn’t welcome her back in, or she somehow became an outdoor cat.
Thank you for allowing her to join your household and for providing good homes for her kittens. My condolences on both the loss of your husband and Buffy.
DEAR JOAN >> Regarding your response concerning plastic bags and our feline friends. As a veterinary professional, I think it important to note that aside from the harm of a cat swallowing pieces of plastic bag, we do, not uncommonly, have cats become trapped in intact plastic bags, suffocate or badly injure themselves trying to escape.
We do recommend that plastic bags be kept away from all pets. I keep mine in large Mason jars in a drawer. The lovely thing is they can double as litter bags when owners clean the box daily — which we also recommend. — Jennifer Welch, Bakersfield
DEAR JENNIFER >> Thanks for the additional information. I didn’t consider the dangers of suffocation. I keep the bags that my newspapers come in tucked in empty tissue boxes to use as poop bags for my dog. Works great.
DEAR JOAN >> Is it safe for a cat to eat avocado? — Robert Thomas, San Diego
DEAR ROBERT >> Parts of the avocado can be dangerous to our pets, but giving your cat a little bit of the peeled and pitted avocado can be OK
he avocado’s skin, leaves, pit and the edible fruit itself contain an oil-soluble compound called persin, which can be dangerous. It’s not as concentrated in the fruit, but that’s why it should be limited. Of course, the pit also constitutes a choking hazard, which is more a risk to dogs than to cats.