Where there is Flora, there also is Fauna

by Cynthia MacKinnon-Morris

The Stiltskins have a firm belief in the duty of humans to care for the creatures of this planet. I must, however, admit to playing favourites--while I wouldn't deliberately hurt a snake or frog, I certainly wouldn't take it into custodial care. We are most definitely cat-people. Before we met, each of us were taking in strays--in a fashion. I had an apartment and could never have a cat; my strays went home to the farm. Scott had the Big Bad Wolf so he had to find other means of helping his strays. Now that we have escaped our former prisoners, The Stiltskins are open for business!

Winter of 2003/4 Scott acquired Angst Maybelline, (a garage cat) from a co-worker. Within a couple months, he went back to rescue Angst's kitten Jessica from the same garage. These two girls are quite reserved (Jess on the left; Angst the right)and will only come out of their shells if the other cats are absent.

While Scott was picking up Jessica, his co-worker told him the sad story of Kot. Kot, a small gray male, was also a stray who had recently moved into their garage. He was constantly been beaten up by other tomcats in the neighbourhood, was starving and weak. Scott of course brought him home and with the help of the vet and a lot of TLC, Kot thrived. Kot is a wimp, plain and simple. He would rather the girls check out new things and he takes the rear position. Kot rarely sleeps alone. If there is a person present, that is where Kot takes up residence. In a pinch, however, one of the other cats will do and he wiggles his way into their space--which is why we do not have any pictures of Kot solo.

Kot snuggling with Koda and below, Kot snuggling with Leper.


In the summer of 2004, we were married and I moved to Lafayette. One of the best things about my move was the ability to have cats in residence! Shortly after arriving, I met Scott's 19 year old step-daughter. She was a single mom of 2 toddlers and had these two darling kittens: Koda and Leper. Circumstances had it that she was forced to move back in with her mother--who is not a cat person--and who insisted that the two kittens live in a very small cage on the door step. Well, Scott and I conferred and voila! we took in two foster-kittens. Koda and Leper's mother was a small Siamese; obviously their father (or grandparent) was not. They were mammoth in size right from kittens--and they were a going concern right from the get-go.

Koda and Leper had skills that the older cats hadn't even heard of...but they caught on quickly. The most noteable was the drinking hole trick:

Above are the Twins at four months; below at 8 months.
We had the Twins for several months, until Kim moved into a place of her own. We did visit often and took the Twins for respite weekends.

One cold and wet November evening while I was attempting to get home (was a wee bit lost), I came across a kitten who was starving, wet and cold, and very straggly. She was out in the middle of nowhere (to me, it really was nowhere--I hadn't a clue!). I didn't miss a beat but swooped up the kitten and brought her home. The next morning I took her to the vet for a check-up and vaccinations, etc. We were very surprised to learn that this small cat was actually 6 months old--about the same age as the Twins! Poor nutrition had stunted her growth. She was to be kitten-sized for ever.

At home on the farm, my family has a 'tradition' of giving cats people-names: Edith (Edie), Brian, Mona, Madison, Emma, Mike, etc. you get the idea. Well, this kitten's colouring reminded me of a cousin my sister and I used to see during the summer. So, this poor kitten received the moniker of "Mavis." Right from the start, Mavis seemed to enjoy car rides! So we made the decision that she was going to be a road-trip gal and we had to practise for our trip home to B.C. in the summer. Her first road-trip was to Missouri.
Scott secreted her into our hotel room in his gym bag, then went back to the truck for a 2nd trip to bring in her dishes and travel litter-box. She was a perfect lady the whole time. Of course, we didn't leave her in the room alone--where we went, she did as well.

Since that time, Mavis has taken several trips to Illinois when we visit or stay with Scott's Gramma and Dad--they too have taken a shine to her; Larry refers to Mavie as "my Grand-Kitty." In fact, while Scott's Gramma has been in hospital and then the nursing home Mavie has made each and every trip. She has been a big hit at the nursing home! Mariah refers to Mavis McWavis as her little sister and even though they are not able to spend much time together (Mariah stays with us every 2nd weekend), Mavie adores Mariah, especially as her road-trip mate.
While in the car, she wears a harness attached to a lanyard--although she is very well behaved, we are not about to take chances with her jumping out of the car. She is really an enigma in the Stiltskin family as she manages to look well groomed all the time!


Just one more: the cats all claim what we call the "storm chair" for their own. Like me, they like to sit in it and watch the weather change--and in Indiana it does so often and suddenly. Here is Leper basking in a sun beam.