Thursday, February 10, 2011

Society of Feline Gardeners- Nigel's 2nd Gotcha Day Celebration!

::purr::

It's a big day in the garden!  We've been preparing for Nigel's 2nd Gotcha Day.   Yup, 2 years ago today, mom and dad snuck out in the snowy yard and put out a trap loaded with Fancy Feast to lure the elusive "Mr. Bojangles" aka Nigel into a life of love and happiness.  You can check out his celebration from last year when we had a singalong!

When he was caught in the trap, he freaked out!  It took 4 months of living in a bedroom by himself...with mom sneaking Prozac into his Fancy Feast meals...until he finally settled down and let us love him.   Mom said she felt bad about scaring Nigel with the trap, but she had tried and tried for months to gain his trust with Fancy Feast in hand and could only get within 5 feet of him.  If it were summer time she would have tried longer, but it was winter and snowing and Nigel was showing signs of having an upper respiratory infection.

I mean the yard is wonderful and nice and a great place to be, but there's not one of us that wants to be out here full time.  We all remember what is was like to be alone and hungry and cold.

Grete woofie wanted to catch a squirrel to give to Nigel for the happy occasion.

She's laughing because squirrel hunting is so much fun, even if you don't actually catch a squirrel.  I help Grete with the hunting.  It's what we do in the winter months when our gardening workload is light.

Meanwhile, the Gotcha Day boy sits and looks out the window at the yard.  He has not set a paw outside in 2 years and he has no intention of doing so.  When a door opens, he heads in the other direction.   He loves sharing the cat tree with Figaro.  

Nigel, we love you and  hope you never know a day of loneliness ever again.

53 comments:

Avalon's Garden and Mewsings of Garden Cottage Cats said...

Awww,,, Happy Gotcha Day to Nigel ^..^ He knowz he'z got it Good, He haz efurything he needz inside why goez back out.... Lucky Boy ^..^
Purrz & Headbonkz ~

Gemini and Ichiro said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel! You are one lucky cat!

Raymond and Busby said...

Yay, happy gotcha day to Nigel! We think you are pretty smart to not want to go outside. We have no desire to be outside either. Of course if Jonesie needed our help in the garden, we would probably go out and help.

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

Happy Gotcha Day, Nigel! Being inside and getting fed with Fancy Feast sure beats being out there in the cold, fencing for yourself.

Summer at sparklecat.com said...

Happy gotcha day, Nigel! I bet you look back now and you can't believe it took you so long to realize how great life was indoors!

Cat with a Garden said...

Happy Gotcha Day, Nigel!
It's unbelievable that's it already two years since you were gotcha'd. We followed your story back then and we still love to hear from you. Have a great day!
Purrs,
Siena & Chilli

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

Happy Gotcha Day to sweet Nigel. We can so remember when yoor mom was trying to rescue him and bring him inside ~ and we are so happy that Nigel now has the loved and pampered life he deserves!
Milo and I are heading straight over to help celebrate with Nigel and yoo all! Have the NIP ready!

Love Alfie xx

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

No password today, no Mr Linky? Standards are slipping! MOL!

Mr Puddy said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel!
Your mom is one of the cool mom !!! You are so SO LUCKY !!!!
I hope you have a lovely day Nigel
xxxx

Everycat said...

Happy Gotcha Day NIgel. We remember when your Mum was outside with the Fancy Feast enticing you. You certainly landed on all four paws - you are a lovely and lucky fella! Have a great day!

Whicky Wuudler
Oliver
& Gerry

Purrfect Haven said...

happy Gotcha day Nigel, you deserve all the happiness you can get. Love Darcy, Bingley and Helen xxx

Brian's Home Blog said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel!!!!!!

The Island Cats said...

Happy Gotcha Day, Nigel!! We're so glad you got gotted!! Now you have a happy life on the inside!! YAY!!

Angel Simba said...

Sweet Nigel, Mom and I wish you a very very happy 2nd Gotcha Day. We are so glad your humans decided to bring you in and give you the good life.

KC and the Giggleman Kitties said...

Happy Gotcha Day, handsome Nigel.
You certainly have an interesting Gotcha Day story.
Love & Purrs,
KC

Forever Foster said...

Hooray for Nigel! Happy Gotcha Day sweet boy! It seems like just recently that you took your first steps inside, time sure goes quickly. We're so glad you got yourself such a great home :)

The Whiskeratti said...

Happy Gotcha Day! We're so glad you have a wonderful home now.

The Florida Furkids said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel! We're glad your an inside kitty now.

The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie

Laila and Angel Minchie said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel! You look like you've adapted to indoor life very well!

Kea said...

Happy Gotcha Day, Nigel! Yours is a wonderful happily-ever-after story!

BTW, re: the Prozac...How did that go? That's one of the two drugs Annie's vet mentioned to our mom as a *possibility* to reduce Annie's stress levels.

CCL Wendy said...

Happy 2nd Gotcha Day, Nigel! Boy, you sure were resistant to the idea of being gotcha'd at first! Now, you wouldn't have it any other way.

Grete is very thoughtful, and when it comes to gifts they say it's the thought that counts, so keep that in mind Nigel.

And Jonesie is telling your story. That's a nice gift, too.

But the bestest gift is your furever home and family. That's really something to celebrate.

Here's to many more healthy and happy years together, handsome boy!

Tama-Chan, Benny, Vidock, Violette, Ollie, Heloise, Momo, Ryu said...

Happy Gotcha Day, Nigel! We're so glad you're warm and cozy in a loving home!

wildcatwoods said...

We are so glad Nigel is inside too - we all know how hard life is outdoors. Happy Gotcha Day Nigel!

Cats of Wildcat Woods

Anonymous said...

Happy Gtchya Day Nigel~!!!

Amy & the house of cats said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel!! We are so glad that you were gotcha'd from being outside and that you are safe in your wonderful home now! And we can totally understand why you don't want to go outside anymore!

We have to sing you our favorite gotcha day song now!

What day is today?
It's Nigel's Gotcha Day!!
What a day for a Gotcha Day!!
Let's all have some cake!!

We hope you have a wonderful, fun, happy Gotcha Day!!

Brandon - The dog with a blog said...

Furry, Happy Gotcha Day to Niegel!!

Brandon - The dog with a blog said...

Oh gosh, I typed that wrong.. oops!
*Nigel

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel! We are glad your mum persevered and trapped you even if it did make you freak out. It was all worth it in the end wasn't it.

Forty Paws said...

We are glad that Nigel doesn't want to go back outside. AT ALL! This is very good news. Happy Gotcha Day Nigel!

Luf, Us

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel!!! We are so glad you finally came around and now love living inside!!!!

Jans Funny Farm said...

Happy Gotcha Day, Nigel. You are very wise to stay indoors. It isn't safe out there. AC is trapping cats right across the street from us lately and taking the cats to the "shelter" and the neighbors are worried sick about losing their cats.

AFSocksScylla said...

Nigel Happy Gotcha Day we are so glad your Mom trapped you. Although we understand why you weren't thrilled about it at the time.

(Fenris -Grete, would you like some help hunting squirrels? It is one of my favorite games.)

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel, in is definitly better.

Catsparella said...

Happy Gotcha Day, Nigel!!

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel!

purrin
xoxox

Ellen Whyte said...

Happy Gotcha Day to Nigel! You are very patient with him, and it's nice to see it's paid off.

Listen, I need your advice, Jonesie. Boris has FAD and I hear you had this too. Can you please detail your treatment so we can compare it to what we are offered here in Malaysia? Boris had a set of anti itch pills, and now he is being treated with iodine and time. Oh, and we Frontlined him thoroughly. Boris does not have fleas, and since we've knwon him (JUne 2010) he hasn't had any fleas. So flea contact must have been fleeting... We'd really appreciate your help.

Mark's Mews (Marley, Lori, Loki, and Binq) said...

4 MONTHS? Wow, yer Mom is very patient! We are glad it werked out though...

BTW, where do ya get Kitty Prozac from? We wanna slip Marley some...

Ayla an Iza

Katnip Lounge said...

We remember reading about Nigel...and we are THRILLED he adjusted so well to living indoors. Outside is only nice when you have Inside to go back to.
Happy second gotcha day, Nigel!

Mickey's Musings said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel !!!!!
You have a pawsome home now :)
Purrs Mickey, Georgia & Tillie

Angel Gracie=^o.o^= said...

Happy Gotcha Day sweetface! You sure picked a great home to live in. I bet they never saw it coming! Not much going on my garden here. It is under bunches of snow with really cold cold winds outside.

Cat said...

Happy 3nd Gotcha Day Nigel!!! We think you are a beautiful panther cat and we are so glad your mum was able to get you inside where it is safe and warm and you have a great life :-)

Ellen Whyte said...

Douxo, got it, thanks!

Quill and Greyson said...

Happiest of Gotcha Days Sweet Nigel!! I remember the day like it was yesterday. You've found a great home!

Clooney said...

Happy Happy Gotcha Day! And many more...I'z got my jazz paws goin' for ya Nigel! PS: I don't blames you for running in the other direction when the door opens, I means you got Fancy Feast Num-Nums, lovin', and an excellent squirrel watching place from inside, what more could a guy wants?

Chesney Cats said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel!!

Teddy Westlife said...

Happy gotcha day Nigel!

Goldie, Shade and Banshee said...

Happy Happy Belated Gotcha Day Nigel!!! WE are so glad you are in the house of LOVE!!!!

(angel) Grrreta and Fam said...

Happy (belated) Gotcha Day, Nigel! We are so glad your mom and dad rescued you and gave you such a wonderful forever home.

meowmeowmans said...

Happy belated Gotcha Day, Nigel! We are so glad you have such a wonderful home with a family that loves you so much! :)

Purrfect Haven said...

thanks for popping by - we reckon white is the new pink (at least when its not yet Spring). We loved your visit and posts. Love Darcy, Bingley, Helen xxx

The Creek Cats said...

Happy Gotcha Day, Nigel!!!!

Ariel said...

Happy Gotcha Day Nigel your a very lucky kitty :)

Brian's Home Blog said...

Oh Nigel, Happy Gotcha Day, those are the best kind of days ever!!!