Originally posted @ MySpace as "I went fishng today and caught a cat..."

I got up early this morning with the intention of going fishing. I have a lake close to my house but it's been pretty lean on fish lately so I decided to try Ft. Phantom lake north of Abilene. I got to the lake just as the sun was coming up but the wind had also picked up. I found a good spot anyway, north of the dam around one of the boat docks and started trying to cast into the wind. About five minutes after I got there I heard a "meowing" behind me, as I turned around I saw an orange kitten making it's way down the rocks towards me. She looked about three to four months old and seemed very friendly. She came right up to my feet and sat and watched the waves hit the shore as I fished above her. Needless to say the lack of a fish bite and the abundunce of cuteness at my feet changed my plan for the day. I had petted her a few times she took right to me, when I turned to return to the truck she followed me I'm sure hoping for a bite to eat or something. I searched the cab but no food for a kitty, but while I was doing this she found a comfortable spot on the passenger side and fell asleep. It seemed pretty obvious to me the she found my presence comforting and was lying there contemplating adopting this stry she had found (me). So I did what any big kid would have done, I took her home with me. On the way I stopped and got her some food and shampoo (she did need a bath) and when I got home introduced her to Athena. By this time I had decided to name her Tiger (for her orange color and subtle stripes). Athena was her normal happy self and VERY happy to see the new thing I brought home, Tiger on the other hand... was a little less enthused. After a few times pulling her out of the trees in the back yard she finally resigned herself to the fact that Athena was here to stay and she was going to have to get used to her. Athena, quickly figuring out Tiger needed space (about a paws length as demonstrated by a few sharp claw swipes across her nose). Both animals got baths, Tiger ate heartly and then it was nap time. At this time I figured it was about time I told Rosa about our potential new family member. Rosa has never been a pet person. She's has accepted Athena to a point where you couldn't tell but to push this to a second pet was a little more she could endure. She never told me no but I would have really made her uncomfortable had I pushed to keep Tiger. This was an unacceptable situation for me so I was going to have to find another solution for Tiger. We found out that the local Humane Society is a "no-kill" organization. They agreed to take Tiger and if she had a good temperment and not deseased they would keep her until a new owner could be found. Rosa and I discussed this and agreed that if Tiger was bad tempered or ill we wouldn't want her either. And I wouldn't allow her to be killed just because nobody wanted her. So this situation was acceptable for all of us. So I took her down to them and said my goodbye's. I've never been one to pick up "strays" but I do believe in fate. A lot of things happened this week to put me at that lake at that time so Tiger and I could meet, so I think whatever made all this happen has a plan for Tiger. I'm sure God will provide a good home for her.