'Jimmy Kat': A Christmas wish comes true at Fort Norfolk

Posted December 10, 2010
By Anita Bradshaw
Norfolk District Engineering Branch

12/10/2010 - FORT NORFOLK, Va. — My name is "Jimmy Kat" and this is my story… "When I was just a little kitten some people took me home to live with them and life was good for me. I was such a cute little boy, they said lovingly, so they played with me, they fed me and they let me sleep anywhere I wanted inside their home, where it was always nice and warm.

"I grew into a very handsome young kitty, if I may say so myself. Life was good. I was loved and I was very happy. In return, I tried my very best to be a good feline; I always tried to use my litter box, I ate all my food, I only played with my own toys and I never sharpened my claws on the furniture.

"One day, something happened that made me very sad. My beloved people stopped loving me. Apparently, they decided that I was too much of a bother to care for anymore, so they put me in a box with a door on it and drove me far away from home. Eventually they stopped the car and took the box out. Boy was I scared! My heart raced out of control and I guess I started to cry, at least as much as a cat can.

"The door on that unbearable box suddenly opened and I was dumped out onto the street. I was so frightened, I just ran away from them and that mean box. "I ran and ran, nearly out of my mind, until I found myself at the entrance to Fort Norfolk, home of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District. "To my joy and amazement, Fort Norfolk was also home to other cats. I said to myself, 'Jimmy, you've hit the cat lottery!'

"Gradually, I began to realize that I was all alone. The other cats were feral, and they didn't take a liking to me.

"I decided I had to try and find my own way here in this new place. Other humans, nice people who work here, put food out every day for the other cats. They also fed me. Over time, we gained each other's confidence and became good friends. They touched me gently and rubbed me just like "my people" used to do. I finally began to trust people again and longed for the day when I had another home and new people to love.

"My Christmas wish came true not too long ago, as the kind cat caregivers here found me a new home and new people to love and care for me.

Thanks to all the great people here at Fort Norfolk, who have fed me, cared for me and offered up the occasional head rub. I will miss all of you, but I now have a new home, with my very own people -- just in time for Christmas. Meow!"

This is a true success story for the Norfolk District Feral Cat Management Program, or FCMP. If a cat is abandoned and found on the premises it is taken to a veterinarian for a health check. The next step is to find a loving home for the cat.

The district's FCMP has been in operation since 1996, and is led by Lane Killam, district librarian. We operate exclusively from monetary donations to feed and care for the cats. Similar programs nationwide have demonstrated the ability to reduce the number of unwanted cats, while maintaining the existing cats in a safe, humane and healthy environment.

Employees interested in participating in the program can contact Betty Grey Waring, Lane Killam, Anita Bradshaw, Sherri Jefferies or Elizabeth Morton.