Meet Strauss

Yeah, the name’s Strauss. Some wiseguy rescuer named me that. She said it was only fitting since she and her sweet-talkin’ trapping partner caught me with a can of Vienna Sausages and a blanket. You wanna know something? I WANTED to be trapped! I let them catch me because I’m sick and tired of livin’ my life on the lam. From now on, it’s Easy Street for me.







I’m not tellin’ much about my past. Let’s just say that, as a drifter, I’ve seen it all. I landed recently behind a nice family restaurant where the owners and their kids took a shine to me. I’d sweet-talk them each night with my singing and they’d put out a nice big bowl of leftovers. I especially liked Friday nights; that’s when they served the Lobster Bake Special.



The whole thing started out as a plan to take advantage of them. Y’know, I meow and hang out around their back door and they come through with a nice meal for the poor stray kitty. And at first, that was the extent of the relationship. But you know, all along, they have been just so nice and so concerned for me. They worried about me when I didn’t come around and they tried really hard to make friends with me. I didn’t want any friends. It’s the law of the stray cat, y’know: DON’T GET ATTACHED!. But gradually, I started thinkin’ how nice it would be to have a family who cared about me again. And then I got really sick.



I got a really bad cold. It was so bad, I could barely move my head. I’d already lost my right eye after a previous infection, and I was feeling pretty down and out. One rainy night, the lady who owns the restaurant came with her daughter and some rescuers and they nabbed me. They took me to a vet and had me treated for the coughing and wheezing. Then they tested me and found out I have FIV – Feline AIDS. I probably caught it in a fight somewhere in my past.



Because I have AIDS, the family who owns the restaurant can only foster me in a cage; they can’t keep me because they have 11 freaking cats of their own; some are scrappy males who don’t like me.



As an FIV+ cat, I still can live a great life. I just have to make sure I keep fit and catch any health issues early, before they get me down. With the vetting and food I’ve been getting, I actually feel pretty darn good. It’s made me realize that life on the run is a road to nowhere. I discovered my softer side and I kinda like it. I really think I could make a good house cat as long as people don’t try to dress me up like a @#$%^ doll or make me babysit their kids.







Until I find myself a home, I’m gonna just hang out here in this cage and wait. There’s gotta be someone out there who appreciates an old warrior like me. I can be a consultant on all sorts of issues because, like I said before, I’ve seen it all. I’ll catch a mouse now and then and I’ll keep all your secrets. All I need is a warm place to sleep and a little food & water now and then. I don’t want to sound like I’m too desperate, but it sure would be nice to be loved again. If you think we can strike a deal, give me a call, whydontcha? 518-727-8591

































