At her neighborhood veterinary clinic a few weeks ago, Megyn Scott-Hintz first met Garfield. The 5-week-old stray had been abandoned by a Good Samaritan who had discovered him outside all by himself.
Scott-Hintz realized she had to take in the malnourished orange cat because he required a foster home. Scott-Hintz told The Dodo that the animal was “flesh and bones,” coated with fleas, and infected with ear mites.
She was surprised to find Garfield unflappable and laid back when she took him home. He was undoubtedly friendly with people, which astonished Scott-Hintz because most outdoor kittens of that age are still hissy and wild. He appeared to have no issues with people at all and no fears at that time.
Wherever he could, Garfield sought solace, and he soon became good friends with Captain Pickles, Scott-elderly, Hintz’s semi-feral porch cat. Pickles decided to visit one night for some dinner and saw Garfield, according to Scott-Hintz. Pickles laid down on the couch, and Garfield approached him right away. They exchanged nose sniffs, and that was all.
Pickles had never really taken an interest in any of Scott-Hintz’s other fosters, but he quickly became Garfield’s most loyal protector. “It takes a lot for [Pickles] to want to come inside, so it was surprising that he actually wanted to come in and hang out with Garfield,” Scott-Hintz said. “He’s seeking Garfield out, which is extra sweet.”
Scott-Hintz adopted Pickles over nine years ago. He’d been ear-tipped and neutered, so she knew he’d been part of a cat colony in his early life. For years, Scott-Hintz tried to help Pickles become a house cat, but she could tell he just wasn’t happy.
“He hid all the time, he’d never come out,” Scott-Hintz said. “Once he was able to have access to the outdoors, and able to spend as much time as he wants on our porch, he became a completely different cat.”
Garfield seemed unusually laid back and at ease when she took him home. According to Scott-Hintz, “He was obviously quite friendly with people, which surprised me because most outdoor kittens at that age are still hissy and wild.” At that moment, he appeared to have no issues with people and no fear of anything.
The senior, semi-feral porch cat named Captain Pickles owned by Scott-Hintz was one of Garfield’s first buddies. Garfield sought solace wherever he could find it. Pickles made the decision to enter one evening for some meal and discovered Garfield, according to Scott-Hintz. Garfield approached Pickles as soon as he sat down on the couch, and after a quick nose sniff, they said nothing more.
Pickles groomed him superbly as soon as he returned, according to Scott-Hintz. He told me, “You need to become clean. You’re abhorrent. And Pickles would attempt to bite me if I tried to stop her from grooming him. Don’t touch the baby, he yelled. Get out of there. I understand what I’m doing.
She said, “I wonder whether Pickles could see that anything was wrong with Garfield.
Pickles’ focus remained constant even as Garfield’s condition deteriorated further. Garfield was consoled by Pickles during his health crises until it appeared that the little kitty was recovering.
Scott-Hintz remarked, “I can sense that Pickles wants to be close to Garfield now that he’s feeling better, but he’s more at ease about the circumstance. “He’s not keeping such a tight eye on him.”
When Scott-Hintz sees Garfield beginning to return the favor and marry Pickles, she has high expectations for their future.
I’m hopeful Garfield will heal fully and eventually find a wonderful adopted home “said Scott-Hintz. “And I hope Pickles can keep forcing Garfield indoors while teaching him how to be a normal cat.
