This cat is so unusual, and his story so bittersweet, that I’m posting him on his own. Besides, this isn’t really a reader’s cat, but a feral one.
Reader Robert B. sent me the picture below with the simple line: “This is Diddy, a Brooklyn feral tom cat, long term survivor.” But Diddy is gone now.
Now that is one battered tomcat. Huge “apple head,” eyes askew, ears chewed down to the nubbins, but still sweet looking. I asked Robert for more information, and got this:
Here is a picture of Diddy taken on the deck in our backyard. He was the king of our backyard colony and was, for years, way too wily to be trapped so that he could be neutered. In nearly every backyard complex in Brooklyn there are feral cats where, after first being abandoned when their owners become disenchanted with them, they reproduce unchecked and often succumb to disease, parasites and malnutrition. My wife and I got involved with the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) community and so we have a managed colony where the smells and yowls have greatly abated and the population does not increase.
His ears were chewed off and his face was puffed out with scar tissue from the many battles he fought for territory over the years.
Diddy, after living an epic feral life and displaying unparalleled feline character, eventually succumbed. His strength waned and I was able to finally trap him but it turned out he suffered from both FELV, feline Leukemia and FIV, feline AIDS. The combination of those two diseases creates an especially painful way to die. He had to be put down and was subsequently buried in our backyard. We still miss him and think of him often; his kind of character is rare.
RIP Diddy: the cat who looked like a bear.
Kind of hard to find the right words but the feeling of compassion and guilty over how people can treat animals. Thank you for sharing.
Diddy is a forceful reminder that even the hardiest of survivors don’t.
Thanks, Robert B., for helping to manage your local feline population. Not only are you helping to control the sounds and smells, you’re giving the cats a chance to live meaningful lives with the dignity they deserve.
b&
+1
What a grand fellow. While I am sad that he was so sick, I am glad that he was never caught and domesticated (although I do wish he could have been neutered much earlier). I think this guy would have had a horrible time adjusting to domesticated life. Reminds me of the last episode of The Shield when Mackey is assigned to desk duty, suit and all. The last scene shows his expression as he listens to sirens rushing by the office – knowing he will never be part of it again – and you can just see him die inside.
Rambling Ratz isn’t the biggest cat fan in the world; but I’m welling up man. Respect to Diddy.
I must’ve been subtly indoctrinated by Prof. Ceiling Cat.
I have reached the conclusion that a cat must be in order in this household and have thus started looking at different breeds online.
It’s a regular aww-fest of cute cuddly felines……how the hell is one supposed to decide?
Please get a healthy cat from a shelter. There are so many amazing, beautiful, sweet cats waiting for a good home.
I will. I’m just going through a lot of different videos/articles looking for info about the different breeds and their behaviour/temperemant, so I’m not completely at loss on how to handle the complex feline behaviour.
It’s quite fun, actually. 🙂
Cats are individuals, their temperments aren’t dictated by their breed nearly as much as they are in dogs. That being said, some cat breeds can have their quirks. Maine coons can be very protective, Siamese can be VERY VERY vocal (and all the ones I have met seem to drool constantly…is this a Siamese thing?). But they are just quirks – it’s not like trying to decide if a Jack Russel Terrier or a Golden Retriever is a better fit for your family. You just gotta find a cat you click with, regardless of breed.
Thanks, great advice.
I used to tend to the needs of some very big cats when I was a zookeeper, but this is a different ball game I presume. 🙂
You might be surprised. My very limited observations of big cats suggests to me that there isn’t a whole lot of behavioral variation between the species compared with the variation between individuals. If you’re comfortable with big cats, you should be right at home with small cats. They’re very much the same; it’s just that, when they get playful and want to use your hands or toes (the latter especially at bedtime) as interactive toys, the end result with a small cat is never worse than what you get going blackberrying. But with a big cat….
Cheers,
b&
Hehe. I was close to losing a piece of my finger one time as I was scratching the head of a panther.
It had been ( sadly I might add ) hand fed from birth so it was accustomed to human contact. I happened to look away for a brief second and bam…of course it was only playing but damn there’s some power present in those jaws.
Lesson learned.
Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that in the slightest. While there are certainly going to be statistical trends amongst the breeds, they’re all individuals with their own personalities.
It’s no different from adopting a baby or choosing a surrogate sperm / egg donor. You can investigate the parents all you want to get an idea of what’s more likely to expect, but the preparation is basically worthless once the new member of the family comes home.
The good news is that if you treat the cat with love and respect, the cat will return it in kind.
And never, ever discipline the cat with violence or threat of violence, even the tap-on-the-nose kind. It doesn’t do any good, only harm; the feline mind doesn’t work that way. Sincere words of disappointment when the cat disappoint, and stern and forceful words of command when the cat is sincerely in danger (such as about to step on the stove) are all you need.
Oh — and get used to the idea that the cat will occupy any somewhat-horizontal surface in the house, no matter how far off the ground or how small and precarious. You’ll just have to cat-proof your home, much like one would child-proof a home, but in three dimensions. And anything prey-sized is fair game to be turned into a toy…but, if you make it a point to exhaust the cat with play at least once a day (ideally soon before your own bedtime), the cat will be less inclined to seek out its own entertainment.
One last bit of advice: Spend some time here:
http://www.catinfo.org/
…and then find a local boutique pet supply shop that sells fresh frozen raw food. Nature’s Variety is a good option.
Good luck, and have fun!
b&
P.S. Be prepared for your typing speed to take a dive…I’ve spent at least as much time since I started typing this note rubbing noses with Baihu as I have typing…and just now he’s settled down on my left arm for a nap, so I’m typing one-handed…. b&
Thanks, Ben.
I’m just reading about the diet on the site…
Now this is research I could get used to. 🙂
Jesper,
Please consider adopting a cat from a shelter. Let one pick you and ignore the breed. Decision problem solved!
Duly noted.
I concur with the adopt-a-shelter-cat suggestion. They need good homes and many will be put down unless they find one.
Incentive: if you adopt one, send me a good photo of the cat, along with your story, and I’ll post it.
Will do, I’m hoping to go visit the local shelter this week to have a look-see.
Ideal is to invite a nearby feral kitten to come in from the cold; that’s how I met Baihu. But those opportunities don’t present themselves reliably, let alone on a schedule.
Next is to see if any of your local friends and / or acquaintances have any surpluses. If so, offer to pay the costs to neuter the parents by way of your adoption fee.
And the last step is to go to the local pound / SPCA shelter / etc. It’s the last stop for feral and unwanted cats and kittens before the needle. There you’ll have far too many to choose from, with every choice a superlative one.
Good luck, and thanks.
b&
I actually had one that came and went as it pleased some years ago. One of my friends forgot to shut the door one evening when showing himself out, I heard a subtle “meow” and there it was.
I named it McPhisto but it answered to no name afaik.
Sadly it disappeared after a short six months.
One of the sweetest cats I ever had was an adult feral who ran into my window during a sudden thunderstorm when I lived in Brooklyn. At first he was terrified of me. Eventually, though he became really sweet. It took time, though.
Of course! You demonstrated that you could be trusted and relied upon, so he responded in kind.
Cats tend to be smarter than your average bear….
b&
I’ve picked up almost all of mine off the street, or been given one someone else couldn’t take care of. They are all pretty individual, but unless you’re really unlucky they’re relatively easy. Out of well over a dozen in my life, I’ve had, perhaps, two difficult cats. I might get shot down by someone for saying this, but the differences in cat breeds have never struck me as being as dramatic as the differences in dog breeds.
In my experience, if you let people know that you’re looking for a cat, you’ll get one pretty quickly. We’ve made a lot of headway in the past few years with dogs in shelters, but the population of unwanted cats seems to continue unabated.
I’d wish you luck finding a cat, but you’ll hardly need it. If you head down to the local shelter there in all likelihood will be dozens of adoptable kittens. You might need luck to leave with only one. My last pair were litter mates.
Thank you very much. I am considering getting a pair so that they can entertain eachother when I’m not around.
Maine Coon cats are the puppy dogs of cats. They get along even with the smallest, tail and ear pulling children, not to mention other cats, dogs, birds, etc. Mine (may he never be forgotten) was a stray kitten who bonded immediately with me, when my (ex-)husband brought him inside. We spent 18 years together — that cat and I, that is. He fairly trotted to the door, if anyone knocked or rang, and stood there, tail high and wagging, as if, “Company’s here! More fun! And more petting for me!” I’d never heard of a Maine coon until my classmate pointed out that this cat was one. Turns out, such personality is consistent with the breed, though outliars are affected, like my current Maine coon rescue-adoptee who’s apparently half feral. Still, if you find a good MC, you’ve got a dreamboat of a cat. Norwegian Forest cats are similar, so I hear, but good luck telling the difference in a rescue kitty. And, who cares, anyway? So long as you love each other and enjoy life together.
Thanks doc. I’m not really looking for a particular breed but it’s good to know the small differences.
Over the years I’ve had the privilege of being adopted by several individuals like Diddy and the final act, as above, has always been painful but part of the deal of caring. Robert & Mrs B, well done.
What a noble looking creature. Thanks for sharing poor Diddy’s story.
Reminds me of the lone feral (that I know of) currently roaming our neighbourhood. Same coloration but not as battle scarred. He waits patiently to get his daily kibble or dish of soft food treat each day. I used to put out ample quantities but too many raccoon and skunks would come by. I make sure to set out water too, especially in the winter months, using an ice melter if necessary. That way the strays and ferals are less likely to suffer kidney disease.
Incidentally, last night I dreamt (yes, dreamt) about finding a big litter of kittens on my balcony! Very cute fluffy wonders! I felt like I was in heaven. 🙂
Somebody must be cutting onions around here. I think Diddy will be remembered for a good long while. Thank you, Robert B.
I feel very sorry to hear about Diddy. We had to put down a neighborhood stray about two months ago. It can be very upsetting.
I wrote about it here:
http://fojap.com/2013/07/08/blackie-is-injured/
Reminds me of a cat of ours. My dads secretary found him in an alley way, and we took him in. An alley cat, so that’s what we called him, Ali. His ear was chewed up from a battle we never knew. It was hard and crinkled, we never tried to move it too much, but I still remember it being hardly the flexible ear most cats have.
With us, though, he may never have gotten over the alley cat instinct to eat anything you find. He soon swelled up in size, becoming one of the fattest cats I ever knew. We started referring to him as Ali Bubba, until he just became Bubba.
All cats are special, as any non-robot would know, but even among cats, Bubba was special. He was the sweetest cat I would ever know. He would always come and sit with you to cuddle, and he seemed to know when you were sick or unhappy. Perhaps it’s because less movement on our parts that ensured he showed up, but it was always nice all the same.
He even seemed to have a monogamous relationship with another cat of ours, a female cat named Dusty. Both were fixed, and it was hardly surprising that Bubba was friendly to another cat, but Dusty wasn’t always even that friendly with us. Still the two would always cuddle up, peaceful as could be. Bubbas lovability must have extended to everyone, I guess.
I think it was Bubba who went first, shortly before I left for college. I don’t recall the details, but the vet made it clear that putting him down would have been the kind thing. I can’t recall how long we sat with him before the end. My eyes tear now just thinking about it.
Dusty wasn’t the same without him, and she went soon after. Maybe it was a coincidence, but the loss of the only other animal, feline or ape, she was always comfortable around can’t have helped.
Every cat is special, but Bubba was one of a kind. I’ve had a lot of cats, but I’ve never met a cat like him, and I don’t think I ever will again.
A bit of a tangent from the post, but it’d been a while since I’ve thought of him, and I’m glad for the memories, even the ones at the end.
Thanks everyone. Diddy was a great cat. Charles Buckowski once wrote a poem about another such great cat entitled “the History of One Tough Motherf***er”
http://allpoetry.com/poem/8509531-The_History_Of_One_Tough_Motherfucker_wbr_-by-Charles_Bukowski
RIP Diddy, he looks like he’s lived a life.
Currently looking after a neighbour’s kitty for the week, 1/4 Maine Coon tom that’s huge, quite soppy, and likes friendly biting.
I’ve also recently had some friends trying to get me to adopt a kitty, as one of their neighbour’s cat had kittens. Very tempted but can’t due to living situation. :-/
I want to 1+ and echo every comment here. The story of Biddy reminds me of a cat I know who is still alive, though his human and I can’t figure out how, and living in North Dakota. I did have him fixed, and he did take on a girlfriend who managed to have two litters (and her daughters one each) before I caught and fixed all of them, too. The kittens found homes. And old Scoobie Doo has the apple head, only he’s that plush steely gray that’s called blue for some reason, with a white medallion of fur at the base of his throat.
The story of Bubba and Dusty reminded me of my Maine coon and half Maine coon I got to keep him company, while I worked too many hours. She was a basket case, until she decided to trust him, and then, she was a great and patient love, copying him in just about everything. He died of old age. She was younger and couldn’t wait that long, I guess.
I’ve two Maine coon mixes, now: the half feral, mentioned in another comment, above, and a half-who-knows-what, with far more of the Maine coon personality. Not only is that personality very puppy like in its happiness and acceptance of all, as they mature, a Maine coon can become a regular human-being-in-a-cat-suit.
I’ve a slew of adopted rescues, now, who aren’t Maine coon, a variety more like those I had before ever knowing what a Maine coon was. I love and cherish each one. Cats are so worth it…
Sadly sweet story. Once the grief turns to nostalgia, perhaps he should be stuffed and donated to a Chinese zoo where he can charm a whole new generation while being displayed as a bear.