by Nancy Thompson
(Nippa.Ky.)
Me and Karl
Seven and a half years ago,someone decided to drop a kitty off in my yard. He was wild and half starved, but quickly decided he'd take me up on the offer of food.I tried for weeks to find someone to adopt him but there were no takers.I finally figured he was mine and my son named him Karl (with a K).
I soon learned how rotten this kitten was and wondered if that was why his previous owners deposited him on my doorstep. I had to stay on guard with every trip made thru the house,day or night. He would leap from nowhere and attack. I was even attacked in my sleep. He would wake me up pouncing on my face,feet,it didn't matter to him. If it moved ....ATTACK!!!
After months of his attacks and my bleeding I finally decided to call the vet and see what my options were,short of killing him. He told me to have him neutered and he would soon calm down. Well needless to say,the vet found out quickly that I wasn't kidding when I offered to hold him so they could sedate him. He said not to worry,he could handle a little kitty.
Later that evening I went to pick him up and was shocked at seeing the vet. He had bite marks and scratches all over his hands and arms. Kitty Karl wanted no part of what the vet had in store for him.
To make a long story a little shorter,it took years for Karl to mellow out and he still lets you know when he wants to rumble. You had better have a thick hoodie on to protect your arms. I clip his front claws with nail clippers to keep my family from injury,but it still hurts when he jumps off the floor and latches around your arm.
My family loves him very much and I believe he loves us too. He's not a lap cat at all. He is a loner and sleep most of the day,but lets us know when its time to pet and love on him.
I have always read the Maine Coon is a great family pet,but his actions have always been the opposite. Maybe because of the life he had before he came to me I don't know ,but I still love him and doubt I will ever have a different breed. He is a huge cat,but not as huge as most.
He is about 17 lbs. or so and his tummy has some flab that swings sideways when he walks. I call him "fat boy" most of the time. He knows if I yell "Karl" he is in trouble and flips over on his back looking all cute to try and melt my heart.
Nancy
Hi Nancy.... Thanks for sharing. I have changed your title as I don't think Karl is a Maine Coon - sorry. I mean a purebred Maine Coon. He is a big, gorgeous tabby and white cat.
If you know for sure that Karl is a purebred Maine Coon, please leave a comment..
In the meantime, well done! You have been amazingly patient and calmed him down with tender loving care. We like to see that on PoC.
Best
Michael
And oh yes, Dave : One year I took super cute to the verge of disguising phtoos of my cats in christmassy boxes and sent it as a X-mas card to friends and family, not perhaps obvious to all but it was a ironic comment to those who send phtoos of their kids 🙂