
Here’s today’s prompt from Linda: “new/old.” Use either or both of the words “new and old” any way you’d like. Bonus points for starting and ending with either one. Have fun!
There was a meme on Facebook about a new way of protesting – just standing still and silent, no violence, no chants, just peaceful witnessing. It was like this was just discovered. What about Gandhi? What about Martin Luther King? and their use of passive resistance? This is not new! How could they forget so soon!
I looked for some video or pictures of sit ins and non violent protest. Yes, that’s bending the rules a bit. What I found first were violent protests. 😦 But soon I came across the following video about the history of the Student Non Violent Coordinating Committee from the civil rights movement in the US. Many of the protests were silent though some involved singing which I would prefer. John Lewis is one of the main people featured in this video. I think there was an example in the movie, Selma, but I’m not going to bend the SoCS rules that much to keep looking.
One of the things mentioned in the video was that students prepared for the sit ins and demonstrations. Their goal was to stay non-violent even if someone attacked them or spit on them. Imagine the courage and discipline that would take.
I hope we can develop new relationships with each other or put new elements of respect into old relationships.
On a personal note, I seem to be having to develop a new relationship with Mama Cat who I brought home from the church on Thursday. I thought our old relationship, developed over the past 4 or 5 years she lived at my church, would make up for me trapping her and taking her to the vet. Well, it seems like we’re starting from square one, because she’s hiding in her room that I prepared for her and, as of Friday afternoon, has not eaten yet.
It makes me think about how when we believe our world is coming to an end, we feel trapped, and maybe hopeless, like a caterpillar in a cocoon, there is a bigger plan for a better life ahead. We just don’t understand why things are so messed up.
Mama Cat probably feels like she is in prison. She has no idea she’s been “rescued.” I need to put myself in her place – being in a completely foreign place, having never been an indoor cat, and she probably thought the vet was trying to kill her. He did a great job with a towel and managed to give her a rabies shot, but it took a long time to get her back into the carrier. She did a little wall climbing and then would not move from the corner. Again, the towel method guided her into the carrier moved up near the corner. So now Mama Cat is hiding in a box I made for her. Maybe some day, she’ll climb on the perches we put on the walls. I have watched a lot of videos on cats and read a lot about domesticating feral cats. I have two litter boxes in her private room – one with organic potting soil and one with kitty litter. I hope she uses them.
As I write this, it’s only been just under 24 hours since I brought her home. I have to be patient and persistent. Not giving up on her or her daughter Gray who was trapped and dumped to an unknown location by the wildlife guy. (You can read about Gray in the second half of this post.)
So what’s the theme of this stream? When things look very bad, horrible, and confusing, don’t give up. Keep doing the next right thing. Avoid violence, but persist in your dreams. Continue to believe that things can get better.
Mama Cat is doing a silent protest. At least she hasn’t been violent. I thought she might hurt herself when I first trapped her. Sometimes scared looks violent. I need to trust her for her to trust me again.
Old ways work sometimes. But we need new ways, too. Perhaps we can keep the best of the old and add new ideas with respect and compassion.
Here are photos of Mama Cat. I fed her in the carrier without closing the door for a few days until she got used to it. She probably feels betrayed.


Tomorrow, October 4, is Saint Francis Day. My church is going to try to have the Blessing of the Animals outside with precautions. I’ll ask for blessings for Mama Cat and Gray remotely since they can’t be there.
PS. Mama Cat ate a little tuna around 7pm. I just read that loss of appetite can be a side effect of the rabies vaccine.
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Stream of Consciousness Saturday is superbly hosted by Linda G. Hill. For more streams, rules, etc., visit:
October 3, 2020 at 9:21 am
Sounds like she found the right place!
“Sometimes scared looks violent” I think that’s very good insight on what’s happening these days!
October 3, 2020 at 10:10 am
Thanks very much for your support. Fear is underneath a lot of negative actions and uncomfortable feelings, though people often don’t like to admit it. When I worked as a counselor, I got to where I liked doing groups. I would ask group members to identify the basic emotions. Angry/sad/happy type emotions were the first to be named. Scared (and its relatives) would be the last to be identified, though occasionally anxiety worked its way in.
October 3, 2020 at 9:46 am
I’m sure she’ll come round. (Video unavailable)
October 3, 2020 at 10:21 am
Thank you, Derrick. We are making slow progress. Your comment says, (Video unavailable.) I wonder that that means.
October 3, 2020 at 11:33 am
Usually it is not available in my country
October 3, 2020 at 10:28 am
My daughter rescued a feral kitten years ago. She is still very cautious of people. She loves high perches, but their other cat is definitely a cave dweller. She may always stay a little aloof, but she will relax more as she ceases to feel threatened.
October 3, 2020 at 4:52 pm
Thanks for the support, Maggie. Mama Cat is more of a cave dweller. I had left the trapping carrier in her room thinking she might like to go in it. Interestingly, when I took the carrier out of her room a while ago, she became almost her old self and wouldn’t leave me alone. She even purred! Still likes to hide, but a big step forward. Wish I’d thought of that sooner.
October 5, 2020 at 11:46 pm
They know love.
October 3, 2020 at 11:16 am
JoAnna, Thank you for your information on nonviolent protests. You give credit where credit is due and provide some perspective on current events.
Best of luck with Mama Cat! ❤ Have a great weekend! Cheryl
October 3, 2020 at 5:22 pm
Thank you, Cheryl! We are making progress!
October 3, 2020 at 11:52 am
Try Fancy Feast. Our vet calls it “kitty crack,” and it’s a whole lot cheaper than tuna.
October 3, 2020 at 5:25 pm
Thanks for the tip, John. I bought a rotisserie chicken and she’s still not much interested, but I’m beginning to think it might be a side effect from the rabies vaccine which can last a couple days from what I just read. She’s gotten friendlier since I removed the carrier from her room. I thought she might like to hide in it, but now, I realize the carrier is now the devil to her. She has plenty of other hiding places.
October 4, 2020 at 12:03 pm
The vaccine might have put her off her chow, but when she gets hungry enough, she’ll eat.
October 4, 2020 at 9:46 pm
She’s been eating more today. Thanks.
October 3, 2020 at 1:14 pm
Sending good vibes for Mama Cat. She’ll eventually figure out that no one and nothing is hurting her. I used to have a cat that was afraid of everything, so when we moved (I was married then), I left him in the carrier in the back corner of a large closet with the door open and let him come out on his own terms. Mama Cat will do the same and will eat and drink when she’s ready.
October 3, 2020 at 8:39 pm
Thanks, Mary. I appreciate your understanding and support. She’s making progress. Her room is somewhat small (like a finished porch). When I removed the carrier from her room, she was more like her old self and came to me for petting, though still nervous and hidey. She ate some chicken this evening. I hope to let her explore the house once she’s more comfortable in her room.
October 3, 2020 at 3:01 pm
Loved your post about silent protest and your “rescued” feral Mama Cat. I also “[c]ontinue to believe that things can get better.” But we’ve got to put in the work necessary to make it happen. Blessings ❤
October 3, 2020 at 8:51 pm
Thank you, Rosaliene. It does take work. Blessings to you. ❤
October 4, 2020 at 11:42 am
You’re right, patient can be hard. I hope Mama Cat learns to feel at home sooner rather than later. At least you know she’s warm and safe and has food/water available.
October 4, 2020 at 9:26 pm
Thanks, Laura. She is making progress!
October 4, 2020 at 5:26 pm
Pretty cat. It would be an interesting and hopefully rewarding experience to rescue a cat like this.
October 4, 2020 at 9:58 pm
Interesting for sure! Rewarding is coming along with her growing affection.