This is me, BamBam, shortly after my 18th birthday last year.

I now hold the rank of Duchess of CLAW. I was furry pleased to receive this.

My Speech to the Older Cats Society

A Value fur Cats

Mrrow, Older Cats. I have nefur given a speech, so I decided it's high time I did. I saw that this month's theme is shelters, and I had some thoughts I wanted to share with mew all. Not that I know anything at all about shelters except what I read in CLAW, I do not, but my thoughts are connected.

The U.S. is a vast country, from what I read. Our problems are magnified by sheer numbers here. I read that in the small countries of Europe they have more no-kill shelters than we do here. They also have far fewer cats. Are those things connected? I don't know.

I was born in the Ozark mountains 18 1/2 years ago, outside on a roof. I don't know what became of my fur mother or my siblings, except one older than me, my half-sisfur Patches, was adopted before I was by my mom. But I know because of where I came from that cats are not valued enough in our country. Where I came from, they lived outside, ate whatever they could find, and if a cat disappeared, no one thought much about it. Cats were not adopted, they were given away or disposed of. That was a long time ago, but I wonder if things have changed much in all these years. I don't think so.

My half-sisfur Patches was killed in a trap in the woods her second winter. I heard a neighbor ask my mom why she bothered looking for Patches, when she was "just a cat." I finished raising her son, and we were wedwinks when he was older. I admit that I contributed to the kitty over-population problem a few times myself before my mom had me spayed. She was learning about things like that, but many humans nefur learn and nefur listen.

I happen to believe that this whole country places so little value on cats because, except fur pedigreed cats, we are given away free, as if we are not worth anything. It seems humans ask fur money fur puppies more than they do fur kittens, so I guess the ones who take them home think the kittens are not worth much. I wish it was not that way. I have nothing against pedigreed cats, in fact we have one in our house. I'm not crazy about her, but I don't hold being pedigreed against her. Humans like to continue pure breeds of cats, and I don't want to see them disappear any more than I want to see the majestic tigers disappear.

But let's call a spade a spayed. There is no earthly reason fur humans to let all the rest of us breed constantly, and the shelters are full of their carelessness. Efury precious little kitten life should be valued, and they are not. I adored my kittens, and I know efury one of them went to a good home, too, especially the ones who stayed with us! They are all gone now, except my last daughter, Mewsette.

It's rather a moot point to discuss spay and neuter among us senior catizens; I imagine all of us have been. But we are old enough to know that we lived this long because we are valued by our humans. I would like to see all cats truly valued, the way we are. Somehow I don't think there would be many cats in shelters if they were. I speak purrty plain and do not mince words at my age, but I don't mean to offend anyone. I only wish there would be more value as special beings placed on cats, while I am alive to see it.

I tried furry hard not to fall asleep in the middle of my speech, and mew see I did not. But now I shall. Thank mew fur listening.

by BamBam
March 8, 2001

My Topic response to the Older Cats Society

Then the topic of the month for May was "Techniques for training a new kitten", meaning a new sibling in the house, of course, not a kitten of one's own! Well, I had to answer that one! I'd had plenty of my own to practice on when this little interloper named Phelicity came into our lives almost 9 years ago. My own daughter Mewsette, who was only 6 then, was too upset and jealous to be any help at all. This is what I wrote:

This topic woke me up! If you are trying to train a new kitten, it helps not to have human interference. I did it the hard way, my Mom interfered with everything. Phelicity was already 4 months old when I got this "gift", so I didn't baby her like Mom did. My technique was to be firm, strict and unyielding. It had worked beautifully in the past with my own kittens after they were that old.

The first thing I did was to instruct her in the important matter of territory. With 4 adult cats, all the territory in our house was taken. She could have the bathroom, I said. No, she wanted Mom's bedroom, she mewed. Hmmph. The second matter was shared food dishes. We 4 were all related and had always shared dishes, I said. No, she wanted her own, she mewed. Hmmph. I quickly taught her where the door to outside was, hoping she'd go through it like the rest of us did in those days. Oh no, she mewed, she was an indoor kitty.

I most carefully instructed her about Mom's bed. Sleeping there was a privilege reserved for us older cats, I said. She ignored me! I threw her off every night for weeks, until she started crawling under the covers with Mom, where she sleeps to this day. I saw that I had a most uncooperative kitten on my paws, and quickly became an enforcer of rules. I stood in the bedroom door and refused to let her in. She went and tattled to Mom. I sprawled across my chair, told her it was mine and refused to let her up. She went and tattled to Mom. Now I ask you! I had been Head Cat for 10 years then. How is one to teach such a tattletail the rules of the home and hierarchy?

I do feel I was successful in the end. Now, 8 years later, the rules are well followed. Her rules. The territory is well defended. Her territory. The chair is....well, I didn't like that chair anyway. I am nearly 19 and I'm going back to sleep. Those were my techniques in kitten training. Do I recommend them? No.

Purrs to all, BamBam

My Sunshine Song
~by BamBam

I missed you, Sunshine.
My legs are old and creaky,
I didn't think I had the strength
To climb up in this window.
But look at this! I'm here!
Oh, that was sly and sneaky.
I wasn't sure I'd find you now
In winter in this window.

My eyes are blinking, you're so bright!
I'm trembling, are you real?
Oh yes, that's warming rays of light
On my old head I feel!

I missed you, Sunshine.
I'm so glad you came today!
You made me feel all well and strong,
You made me want to play!
I loved it, thank you.
And though the way is steep,
I'll climb back down and dream of you,
Purring in my sleep.

Knowing when I need you,
You're right there in the window.

1-6-02

I am not furry active these days, at my advanced age. You know, 18½ in cat years is the same as about 90 in human years! Once in a while I dress up and go somewhere with the younger cats in my house, but I really prefer being retired.

However, I do have strong opinions on subjects that have to do with cats, and one of these days I just might feel like making another speech! So do come back to see me again sometime. I love having company. Thank you for visiting my new purrsonal page!

~Please visit my other pages!~My Original Own Page My CLAW Page My Portraits Page My Beautiful Quilt! My Cats WorldWide Page My Clubs and Awards My Myrtle Story The Golden Girls, featuring me!   

BamBam crossed Rainbow Bridge May 6, 2002.

Please visit Her Tribute Page