I am fortunate to have been adopted by several cats and dogs over the years. The latest is Mio aka "The Devil Child". Last May I traveled to Michigan for some warblers. I had stopped at the forest service in Mio and was given some new locations for Kirtland's Warblers. It was still early afternoon so I thought I'd check them out for lighting, etc. and then go back later. At the first location, I got out of my Jeep and headed back to the Jack pines. The next thing........I hear a tiny pitiful "meow"......followed by a series of "meows". Out from the underbrush this tiny black kitten came bouncing. He then jumped on my foot, wrapped his paws around my ankle and looked up at me with pleading eyes. He had obviously been dumped and I knew that if I left him he'd either die.....or survive living off the Kirtland's warbler nests.
I left him some water, drove 40 miles to Grayling to buy a kitty carrier/food. Then 40 miles back to get him and another 40 miles back to Grayling where I was staying. I had to sneak him into the motel....no pets allowed. After he ate he slept on my chest all night.
At that point I had to end the warbler trip and return home. The little guy got car sick a couple of times on the way home (9 hour drive). I had to stop to get him out and clean him off. I even called my vet for some advice at one of my stops......who laughed knowing I was a sucker and he'd gotten a new patient.
Mio is a wild little thing......chases the other 2 older cats, ambushes you when you go around corners and pretty much rules the roost. He's not the sweet, cuddly lap cat that the other two are......and plays very rough. He hates the vet who jokingly puts him in the top five "worst cats" he's dealt with. However, my family loves him and we all consider him a welcome addition. Now if he'll just settle down and quite hissing at everyone new that comes to the house!!!
