Ghost, Gift, & Grim: A Tale of Three Black Cats (And Why You Need One of Them in Your Life)

A paved path runs near our house where we frequently walk. There’s a spot where the trail goes between the DART light rail tracks and the parking lot of an apartment complex. Here, along the fence line and beneath the bushes and in the storm drains, we sometimes see stray cats that run away the moment we approach. I wish all cats had a home, and every home that wanted one had a cat or two or three. It makes me sad to see them living hard lives in the wild, when my own kitties are so happy, safe, and spoiled inside. I also know I can’t save them all, so I usually send some hope and love to the strays I see and keep walking.

But last month, I stopped.

On December 14th, my husband and I were walking along the trail just before dusk beneath a rising full moon when we saw three little black cats frolicking by the path—chasing, tumbling, climbing, playing. It was clear that these were young siblings, not even a year old. My heart squeezed in my chest at the sight of them as I remembered my own beloved black cat, Gink, who I had for almost twenty years. The not-quite-kittens froze when they saw us, and their big yellow eyes grew wide before they scurried back into the bushes. But I saw something in those eyes that I hadn’t seen in the eyes of the other strays on the trail: youth, curiosity, hope. I decided these three little ones deserved a chance at the good life.

Over the next couple of days, we trapped the three cats and, with the help of Feral Friends Community Cat Alliance and Dallas Animal Services, were able to quickly get them spayed and vaccinated. It turned out that all three were females.

If these little girls had been truly feral, we would have returned them to the trail and hoped for the best, knowing that at least they would be healthier now and not producing multiple litters of homeless kittens. That’s the goal of the TNR (trap, neuter, release) program: to control the feral cat population. It’s why the vets tip one of the cat’s ears during its surgery—to show they’ve already been spayed. But these kitties weren’t totally wild. They showed signs of being socializable (<– my computer says that’s not a word, but I’m using it anyway) and adoptable, so instead of putting them back outside, I gave them a temporary home in my safe, comfy, heated shed and set to work getting them to trust me.

What do you call three black cats caught beneath the full moon two weeks before Christmas? I decided to name these spooky little shadows after the three spirits in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Ghost

Ghost, the first cat we caught, is named after the Ghost of Christmas Past. So far, she’s living up to her name, hiding from humans, staying in the uppermost corners of the shed, and only coming out when no one is around. (But I have proof on camera of her existence.) She’s not mean, only scared. I still have hope she’ll come around with time and patience. Lately, I’ve caught her watching me pet and play with her sisters, so maybe that will help her understand I’m not a monster.

Gift

Gift, the second cat we caught, is named after the Ghost of Christmas Present. (Present = Gift. Get it?) She’s the smallest of the three. At first, Gift was a giver, and her gifts were mostly bites. She was the spiciest sister by far. However, Gift quickly stopped biting, and now only growls and hisses when I pet her with a gloved hand. She’s becoming more calm and tame, coming out to eat near me when I’m in the shed and cautiously playing with me. She still needs more time but is well on her way to being adoptable. Something tells me when she turns that corner and finally lets herself relax, she’s going to be the sweetest of them all.

Grim

Grim is the last cat we caught, not because she was the most skittish but because she was the friendliest. Rather than going into the trap for the food, she approached us instead, following our footsteps and wanting to play. Grim is named after the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, the scary one who takes the form of the grim reaper. But the irony is she’s the least scary of them all. Grim’s future is bright. She’s a cute, playful sweetheart who is already completely tame and ready for a good home. She loves playing with wand toys, likes to be brushed, makes adorable purrs and trills when petted,, and even tolerates having her claws trimmed. She’s not a lap cat yet, but she doesn’t mind being picked up, and I think she will figure out the joys of snuggling with a little practice and some treats.

Watch these videos with the audio on to hear the adorable sounds Grim makes when she’s happy.

It is my great hope that these three beautiful cats can all find happy homes. Grim is already ready to purr her way into her new owner’s heart.

Is your home in need of a sweet little shadow cat? Do you know someone who could use an adorable piece of darkness to snuggle with? Do you want to help Ghost, Gift, and Grim get the comfy life they deserve? Here’s how you can help:

1. Reach out to me via my website or email (cariejuettner@gmail.com) if you’re interested in adopting or fostering one of these beauties. Fosters must be in the DFW area, but adopters can be from anywhere if you are willing to travel to pick up your new friend.
2. Share this blog post with others.
3. Help socialize the cats by coming to play with them. Bribes of treats and toys are welcome! Contact me to schedule a visit.
4. Donate to Feral Friends Community Cat Alliance or your own local cat rescue/ TNR program.

Details

• Names: Ghost, Gift, & Grim (but you’re welcome to change them)
• Gender: Female
• Color: Solid black except for Ghost who has a small spot of white on her chest
• Age: around 1 year old
• Vet Info: Spayed, vaccinated, and ear-tipped. Grim is also microchipped.
• Location: Richardson, TX (but able to transport)
• Criteria: These cats need safe, happy homes where they will live indoors, not be declawed, and receive lots of love and attention.

Here are a few more videos of the kitties being cute and funny while no one else is around.

If you’ve never had a black cat before, here’s what to expect:

Pros and Cons of Living with a Black Cat