July Cat of the Month—Sage
Sage is another cat from Spencer, Indiana. She was one of three feral kittens we tried to capture and tame, having success with two. Sage looks like a miniature Maine Coon cat—long hair, tabby markings, fuzzy feet. She’s a shy kitty, friendly with us but quick to remind us of her wild side with a fast paw packed with claws.
When we still lived in Spencer, before we had much success taming her and getting her inside, Sage disappeared the day of her appointment to be spayed. She returned sometime later, ill and obviously pregnant. She had her kittens on the front porch and was so weak that she made no protest when we moved her and her little family of three into our bathroom. We helped her care for her kids, and she grew to trust us. We did get her to the vet’s to be spayed and get her shots—while there she escaped into the waiting room, pulled down the curtains, knocked over potted plants—basically trashed the place. She bit through their leather X-ray gloves when they captured her. They politely let us know she wouldn't be welcome back!
Sage’s kittens all stayed with us—Sparky, Smokey, and Pumpkin. Her brother, Sydney, was with us for too short a while, he died of feline AIDS. Sage is a reserved cat, deigning to be petted on her terms. She has a funny manner of sometimes stretching her hind leg out behind her, like a ballerina. In the evenings she’ll often join us on the couch, giving us a brief, regal visit.