In our previous home we had nice neighbors but suddenly they were moving away...
That happens in life!
BUT, their two kitties, brother and sister, stayed behind and came to us for food and shelter...
Pieter in our kitchen, holding up Saartje (left) and her brother Spooky...
Here I'm holding both, Spooky the boy to the left and Saartje his sister to the right.
Yes, Saartje is a Dutch kitty name!
We never knew their real names... or IF they had any.
Photos are from February 22, 1986...
Saartje was SO in love with her new Mommy!
Me too...
March 9, they both came to Pieter as he was working in the yard and followed him like they were doggies!
On May 9, 1986 husband Pieter dropped me off at the airport as I was flying to Amsterdam for a surprise Mother's Day visit and also for the First Communion of our best friends' son, on the 11th of May.
Pieter was working in the yard on May 15, and Saartje put a newborn kitten in front of him...
Where have you hidden them?
Pieter asked her, and she led him to the peat-moss bale under the open, but roofed garden shed.
On May 19, Pieter flew to Ohio, for Campbell Soup and on May 23 he flew back to Atlanta and, continued to Amsterdam, for joining me in Europe.
Both of us arrived back home on June 15, and a skinny Saartje greeted us. She and her 4 skinny kittens had lived on our patio and actually fed on bugs that got attracted by the light.
Poor critters, all left on their own - remember they were NOT ours but from the neighbors.
We started feeding them and soon they perked back up.
A week later, Kitty Mom Saartje with three of her babies on the patio, looking again healthy.
Happy tummies... Gave them brushies as well.
Feasting with Kitty Mom.
Nicki is looking towards the camera, with his 'M' on the forehead.
This is where they slept on our patio... Our veranda to the left and the kitchen bay window to the right.
Pieter with Panther, Devil, Stripe and Nicki...
Pieter with an armload of kitties...
So much cuteness!
All on Sunday, June 22, 1986
August 23, in 5 days Nicki will go to his adoptive human parents...
August 28, my final cuddle time day with Nicki, after tennis lessons...
Next day I did bring him to his new Mom and it was exactly one year since Mauzie girl, our Dachshund went over the rainbow.
Now again without a pet...
~
The neighbors did come back obviously to retrieve the two adult cats; we never saw Saartje and Spooky again
Oh this is a very touching post Mariette! Thank you so much for sharing these lovely kitties! I am more of a dog person but lately I get to appreciate cats as well!
ReplyDeleteDearest Stevenson,
DeleteYes, it was quite touching for us as well for living with this fact that owners would just move away and leave their kitties behind. Even worse since the female was pregnant.
Pets need their humans and we have to be loyal to them.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hallo Mariette, wat raar om de huisdieren zo achter te laten bij een verhuizing. De dieren hadden geluk dat jullie ze zo goed op hebben gevangen. Fijn weekend en lieve groet Willy
ReplyDeleteBeste Willy,
DeleteJa, zeg dat wel maar we weten allemaal wel dat er allerlei mensen zijn... Het is harteloos om zo'n dieren in de steek te laten. Wij voelden ons schuldig omdat we beiden weg moesten naar Europa. Omgekeerde wereld is het vaak!
Blij dat onze poezen wèl geborgenheid en verzorging kennen.
Liefs,
Mariette
Really beautiful cats and kittens. So kind of you to look after them. Wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteGod bless always.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteYes, they were beautiful and had also lovely characters.
We did what we could but it is nasty for any human to abandon their pet...
It ought to be a commitment for life!
Hugs,
Mariette
How incredibly sweet, kitties who need care and homes would be quite fortunate to find humans just like you two!!
ReplyDeleteDearest Helen,
DeleteWe try to do the very best, considering that we both had to travel... It was heartbreaking!
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh! They were really cute!
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteThey sure were and who could ignore them?!
Hugs,
Mariette
Sorry, but I only have bad words for those neighbours. They shouldn't have been allowed to have any animal companions, IMO, but of course times were different then. Thank goodness for you and your husband, they might not have survived otherwise. I hope karma came back to bite those people on the a&&. 🤬
ReplyDeleteDearest Kim,
DeleteYes, it often looks like the wrong people have such SWEET and helpless kittens... or other animals. It is heartbreaking and always the other side has to mend their problems. We only did what we could but at least they knew some true love.
Hugs,
Mariette
Such lovely kitties
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteThey sure were and deserved better than being abandoned by their owners...
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - I think that it is a crime to own pets and then not look after them properly, and in fact even abandon them. Luckily for this cat family they had a good pair of neighbours living next door to care for them in their time of need.
ReplyDeleteDearest Rosemary,
DeleteYes, it IS a crime for neglecting them! We tried to do our best, even feeling guilty when we had to travel, Pieter for Campbell Soup and I for family and friends.
But we sure managed to make them catch up after feeding properly.
Hugs,
Mariette
¡Que preciosidad! Yo tambien en vuestro caso, me hubiera hecho cargo de ellos.
ReplyDeleteCuando era peueña, tenía una casa bastante grande y había mucho espacio para tener gatos. Eran muy mansos, pués siempre andaba jugando con ellos y cogiéndolos.
Besos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteEs tan cálido leer que tienes la misma actitud para ser amable con los gatitos indefensos. Gracias por haber hecho lo mismo.
Abrazos,
Mariette
I know what that's like Mariette, I seem to attract every cat in the neighbourhood. Some come for extra food, others just to keep me company when I work in the garden 😊
ReplyDeleteDearest Grace,
DeleteWell, if they live in the neighborhood and are cared for by their owners, that's fine. We also see 'friend cats' as I call them. They socialize with ours. But for abandoning your kitties, that is nasty...
Hugs,
Mariette
Dein Post ist schön, liebe Mariette, ich liebe Katzen sehr, darf aber keine im Hause haben, da ich unter der Katzenallergie schwer leide!
ReplyDeleteLiebe Grüße von Traudi.♥
Liebe Traudi,
DeleteDanke sehr und ich bin froh das ich kein Problem mit Katzenallergie habe!!!
Lieber Gruß,
Mariette
Oh such adorable, sweet kitties! Thank you to you and your husband Pieter for giving them care and love. Poor kitties left by themselves. They could not survive without you. You are so kind and these photos of happy kitties made me smile :-)
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteThey were oh so adorable and I guess grateful for sheltering and feeding them.
Playing their hearts out, using my foldable wooden lounge chair with cloth, to slide down from. Climbing up again and yay, going down again. We laughed so much!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, At last we know the back story behind these cats which were so much a part of your lives. It was deplorable how their "owners" abandoned them and their progeny. With that kind of attitude I hope they did not have any human children! It was providence that you and the cats were there for each other. I prefer to think about that sweet part of the story.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteYes, it was a very sad story for these unfortunate pets. They did have human children as well... go figure.
We only can rest with the thought that they did get some real love and care for part of their life.
Hugs,
Mariette
Such sweet kitties. They certainly know who to count on for loving care and kindness. Abandonment here is a very big problem. People think pets are disposable and usually boot them out the door after about a year. Makes me so angry how irresponsible and heartless some people are.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tammy,
DeleteThey were oh so sweet and after all, they are innocent as the problem got created once again by pet 'owners' that did not spay or neuter their pets! It does make one angry indeed when they get abandoned, wherever in the world that is. Guess one day they will have to pay for their cruelty.
Hugs,
Mariette