Winter reflections as the ice melts
Last updated on March 12th, 2018 at 01:18 am
Winter sun kisses
Hopeful snow melts my fur warm
Reflections of Spring
As the ice melts after our recent ice storm, Ollie and Sly Pie ruminate their existence and what it means to be a rescue cat in a harsh winter.
Ollie loves the catio in all seasons and he was rather pleased to be able to stay out longer in the milder temperatures this weekend. No more snow-capped ramps and slippery slopes to navigate!
Winter sun puddle
My indoor paws once knew the harshness
Of bygone winters
Two years ago, Sly Pie was on the outside looking in. This is his spot on most days during winter where he can safely observe the world outside as it gets covered in a blanket of white. As he looks out he remembers living in -20 C and scrounging for food and shelter. We think he says “Been there, done that, got the scars.”
So what does it mean to be a rescue kitty, especially in a Montreal winter? It means being lucky to have a warm spot to sleep in and never having to worry about where your next meal is coming from. It means you don’t have to worry about your pink little jelly beans being damaged and worn from freezing temperatures. We hope one day all cats and dogs will be able to experience the warmth of the fireside in a loving home.
And Ollie, while I admire your optimism, “Reflections of Spring?” I think not. Expect a few more snow or ice storms until March.
Let’s hope all that melting ice will not freeze over again because then it’s going to be a slippery slope for the humans on a Monday morning. Ick! Now, who knows how to walk like a penguin?! I do!
Happy Monday furiends!
Looking for some Monday inspiration? Head over to McGuffy’s Reader for a little spark of motivation to start the week on the right paw, or left paw, whichever you prefer!
Praying that one day all those little furrbabies will be rescued from the elements and have their own furrever home, to be loved and cuddled. Also praying that people will come to the realization that pets are not expendable throwaways. Wishing you and yours a warmer and beautiful week! 😀
I so agree with you whole-heartedly. I continue to have faith in our species but too often I am disappointed.
Praying that one day all those little furrbabies will be rescued from the elements and have their own furrever home, to be loved and cuddled. Also praying that people will come to the realization that pets are not expendable throwaways. Wishing you and yours a warmer and beautiful week!
We are happy our ferals survived the below freezing temps. Warm is always most welcome.
Oh I’m so happy for your ferals and that the freezing weather didn’t last too long for them.
Great Sparks! And I love the photos of your adorable kitties.
Thank you! 🙂
Nothing better than being on the inside when there’s cold weather outside. 🙂
Being warm and toasty inside is the best thing in winter!
Very nice in image and word. Thank you for joining us with these beautiful Sparks!
Sparks: 17
Annie at ~McGuffy’s Reader~
We’re glad you can enjoy the warm inside while it’s cold outside. Purrs
We are so glad we have that option!
Those are some lucky rescue kitties!
And we are also so lucky to have them in our lives 🙂
I love a happy ending. You have that happy ending. I too wish that all our four legged babies had a warm home to share with some humans.
Have a purrfect day. My best to your peeps. ♥
I feel bad when I see a community cat — wanting to bring it indoors. But I can’t imagine living in a snow-covered area! I’m happy that Sly Pie can be warm now!
Just last night there was a strange cat who came by having a grand old ‘chat’ with Baggy in the catio. You see Baggy and his brother Ollie love their ten-second mad dash into the snow and then they rush back inside to eat their supper. It’s their ritual. But last night they stayed out longer. When I went to investigate it was another cat. I hope he wasn’t homeless and that perhaps he was the neighbor’s cat. Even so, it was still too cold to let one’s cat out to roam outside!
I can’t imagine how cold it must get up there. Do they like to sleep by the windows and heating vents?
My oldest 16-year-old cat is seeking heat more than usual and he likes to just pile himself on top of the other cats or on the humans. All the cats like to sleep on their high ramps as warm air rises so it’s nice and toasty anywhere high up!
It makes us so glad that we all have a home and hope that someday all furs find the same
Thanks so much for the support when Mr Buttons had to go over the Bridge. It was very sudden and he was a big part of our family. He was our families official greeter and never met a stranger only new friends. We wish you all could have met him.
Purrs dear friends
Timmy, Dad Pete and Family
Awe, now I really wish I could have met this wonderful soul, Mr. Buttons. Who knows, maybe he’ll be assigned the title of social facilitator up at the Bridge, welcoming new arrivals and making everyone feel welcome. Maybe that is what he meant by spreading Angel dust. I enjoyed reading his bittersweet farewell.
Your cats are really blessed to have found a warm and cosy home and I pray that others will be just as lucky. Whenever it is really cold my thoughts always go outside to the homeless humans and animals
Oh Ollie & Sly Pie, I can’t imagine you ever having to be outside in the cold with icy cold lil’ bean pads. It must have worried you so back then when you couldn’t get warm and didn’t have the option to go inside. I’m so-o very glad that those days are long gone and you have a toasty warm spot where you can look outside at the blanket of snow & not have to be in it. Tee hee hee. Purrs & luvs!
In the month prior to us taking him in, he was really looking for a place to stay. He chose us long before we knew we were going to keep him. He would often break into the catio and hang out there in one of the condos seeking shelter from a snowstorm. The vet said if we didn’t catch him when we did he would not have made it.
Pink little jelly beans – precious! On my latest visit to volunteer at the shelter, there was a little kitten at the shelter whose had lost her ears from frostbite. I’m happy to tell you she has been adopted!
I have a feeling that all of our rescues get along because they know what the alternative is. Cold, wet and hunger. Cats are wiser than we give them credit for. They are deep souls and have long memories. It took our Harvey 18 months to be confident going out into the garden, and that was due to the encouragement of young tuxie Miranda and her (often relentless) headbutts.
Cats know when they are lucky.
Awww…you always have such a way with words and a gentleness to your posts! Such a joy to read! I feel so fortunate to have met you last year at BlogPaws…and now to follow along on your adventures now through your posts. Keep those little jelly bean paws warm!
Thank you, so glad you like reading my posts 🙂 Last year’s BlogPaws was one of my highlights and I enjoyed our talks at the tables!
We hope you have much warmer weather on the way! We’ve been colder than usual this winter in the Southeast, but nowhere near as bad as the North. So glad you have a wonderful and warm forever home!
I am a dog person but I do worry about some feral cats in winters, especially during our nasty cold spells. Denver has good rescues but I wonder what regular people can do to help. Thank you for rescuing your cats! I’m sure they love their lives now as your haiku inspirations.
Your cats are so lucky to have a warm home and a catio! Our cat was a stray. I’m not sure if he ever had to endure a Central New York winter on his own or not. My heart goes out to all the animals who don’t have access to a warm bed.
I doubt that most of the stray cats in Chicago can’t survive a winter here, unless they are TNRs that someone provides shelter for. My cat Rhette’s favorite spot to watch winter from is on top of a warm radiator, how do they know that? or my bed. Where he can’t see much of anything! Sandra and Dolly
March? Here in Ottawa we can get snow storms until May! LOL amazing what a 2 hour drive can do for a difference eh? We’ve been having some -40C and I’m already so over it. Luckily Montecristo has a snowsuit and boots. And also loves going for runs in the underground parking and running up the 9 floors to our unit. Keeps him slim. and me!
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Your blog is absolutely exquisite – I love the soothing color tones and I expect that’s what it’s like to finally feel warm, safe, and secure after being rescued from the realities of a harsh and unyieding world. Purrs from Deb and the Zee/Zoey kitties!
Thank you for those kinds words. It’s nice to know the soothing colors convey a message of warmth and safety. I wanted to use warm, happy chirpy colors! 😉