Haru, The Unwanted Kitty

Ellen and I have been seeing each other for a year now, and I’m very happy about that. I’m not going to talk about that so much, though.

[Haru looking forlorn] [When Haru came to live with me](http://flyingsquirrel.ca/squirrel/archive.php?article=282) two years ago, it was kinda meant to be a temporary thing. I did kinda realize at the time, though, that when a cat comes to live with you, it’s generally not likely to leave.

And honestly, all things being equal, I would have been perfectly okay with that. He’s a minor burden in some ways: I have to get someone to come check up on him if I take off for more than a weekend, for example, but generally, it’s really nice to have someone to greet me at the door when I get home, and he’s gotten much more friendly and cuddly over the years. He needs a bit of attention and play time, but he’s not really that much trouble. If my life had carried on as it was, I don’t think I’d mind one bit having him around for the next ten to fifteen years.

But, as is often the case with these things, my life hasn’t carried on like that. That’s not at all a bad thing.

Ellen’s very allergic to cats. And other things too, of course, but if I ever want any chance of her being able to come in my house, there can’t be any traces of a cat having lived there. The fact that a cat *is* living here means that my house (which I really like, by the way) is totally off limits to her. She’s never been inside.

Now, I very much enjoy all the time I spend at her house, but it would be nice if she could come over and see me once in a while. It’s going to be a lot of work getting the house into a state where she *can* visit (and keeping it there as well), but I think it’s worthwhile to make the attempt. There’s no point in even *starting* any of that work while Haru still lives here.

So I have a problem. My ideal solution would be to find a friend for him to go and live with so I could go and visit him sometimes. I don’t know how likely that is. After that, it’s probably putting up “free to a good home” signs at work or possibly the Humane Society, which I’d prefer not to have to do.

I’ve been procrastinating on this for a while, because really, I’d rather not have to contemplate getting rid of the little guy. I’ve grown somewhat attached. He’s a sweet kitty with his own little personality. He’s affectionate and playful and just wants a little attention from time to time. He deserves a good home, and if I could, I would have liked to be the one to give it to him.

I’m just sorry I can’t.

Another cat post

I promise this isn’t a trend. Really.

The mouse came back last night. Haru’s been wanting out in the garage periodically, and I’ve been indulging him, despite the mess he makes getting his dirty feet wet in the bathtub. I left him out there for a while last night before checking up on him. When I did, he was nowhere to be seen, and when I called to him, I heard a little squeak instead.

The poor mouse was terrified, and had stopped trying to run away. It was standing stock still. Haru was staring at it, pacing back and forth. Occasionally, he’d take a paw and pat at it, at which point the mouse would squeak, scurry two inches and stand stock still again. Not an optimal survival technique, but Haru didn’t seem too interested in actually eating him.

I scooped him up in a kitty litter bucket and drove him out to the far end of UW’s north campus. When I dropped him out in the grass, he stood stock still there, as well, looking up at me. I’m not optimistic about his survival chances, but at least he’s out of my garage, and I didn’t have to personally draw blood.

In other kitty news, Haru has a dentist appointment on Tuesday. He’s getting a couple teeth pulled due to [neck lesions](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_odontoclastic_resorptive_lesion). Poor thing.