My son, Ryan, lived in a townhouse with a couple of roommates at the time. One of his roommates (whose name I shall not mention) smuggled in a tiny tuxy kitten, despite being told that animals weren't allowed. When Ryan finally discovered her, of course he let her stay. In fact, the weekend after getting the kitten he named Domino, the roommate left her to go home for Thanksgiving, without a thought to her care in his absence.
Ryan brought Domino over to our house. She was the cutest little kitten, with the feistiest PURRsonality! She did this sideways hop with a wild look in her eyes, as a prelude to pouncing. We fed her, and pampered her. She was especially partial to finger foods.
Anyway, this initial abandonment by Domino's human was only a hint of what was to come. Domino was just fortunate that my son was around to look out for her.
In the intervening year, Domino had a litter of two kittens, and she was the best mother ever. It changed her from a wild thing to a devoted nurturer. The kittens were eventually given away to friends of the roommate and their fate is unknown thereafter.
However, by the following November, the roommate moved out, and Ryan thought that was that. He was later to discover that Domino had been left behind, locked in the garage in the dark. By the time he found her, after a couple of days, there was no food or water left, and she was ridden with fleas. When Ryan apprised me of the situation, I asked him to bring her to me right away.
The poor little thing was undernourished and scratching non-stop. Ryan picked up some flea soap, and I bathed her right away. As soon as possible, she was off to the vet for a check-up, shots and some 'Revolution' to get rid of those pests once and for all. Shortly after, Domino went back for her ladygardenectomy.
Domino has been mine ever since, and she has turned into a loving pet. She still has a feisty PURRsonality, though she's not so wild anymore. She rules the house with a velvet paw.
However, I soon discovered that Domino had a twitchy tail. It would go off on her at random -- it seemed to have a mind of its own. It always bothers her. She tries to run away from it, but it follows her relentlessly. She tries to catch it, but it always escapes.
One day when Domino's former human dropped by with Ryan, the mystery of the twitching tail was solved. In greeting her, he said "Hey, Domino -- remember this?" as he pulled her tail until it audibly snapped!!! I screamed and asked him to stop, whereupon he told me she liked it -- that this was a 'game' they always played.
What a stupid human! At least now we know the cause of Domino's plight, though there was nothing to be done about it, according to the vet.
You will be happy to know that Domino has never seen this guy since, though she is cursed with the legacy that he has left her.
This is a video of Dommy dealing with her damaged tail. A tail of woe, indeed!
"Whoa! Whoa! Darn tail!"
Despite everything, Domino is the one who has triumphed. She has a marvelous life, is well loved and has everything she wants and needs.
And this is why, I believe, she is so beautiful -- her inner joy just radiates (as I'm sure Milo can testify).
And so, this 'Tail of Woe' actually ends happily after all!
