To all the good friends I've made on this forum and in the related chat rooms, the very best of wishes and greatest of good luck for the holiday season and especially the new year. I'm graphics-impaired but hope you like the Chrismas card anyway.

A CHRISTMAS TAIL

'Twas the month before Christmas

When all through the grounds

A marmalade cat

Was making his rounds.

He stopped at the food

And ate of his fill,

Then stared through the window,

His paws on the sill.

The couple inside,

All cozy and warm,

Looked out at the cat

Woebegone from the storm.

"He can't stay out there,"

Said The Wife with a sigh,

"We must bring him in--

He's a sweet little guy."

The husband said naught;

He knew better than that.

The Wife is a psycho

When saving a cat.

The cat was dried off

With a touch that was tender.

Then off to The Vet

To neuter his gender.

The Vet did his work

With a smile on his face.

He tested and shot

And cut with good grace.

For he knew that the bill

Would be fat and extensive.

The couple knew too

And waited, quite pensive.

They shuffled and wriggled

On chairs of blue vinyl,

Then came the moment--

The total was final.

It was big, it was vast,

But a discount was there.

Thank goodness for that,

The Vet gave a care!

But still it was large,

As you see from this greeting.

It's all that's for Christmas,

Along with this bleating.

But Cat's quite content

In his home with five friends.

He's sombre and mannered

And to their will bends.

He sleeps on his blanket,

All cares far away.

And dreams of the meals

He'll be eating today.

He knows his true worth

When he hears his name said,

And fast he comes running

Even if straight from bed.

His name is just perfect,

(It's really quite funny).

What else could it be,

If not "Christmas Money"?

[We got Chris six years ago and he's turned into an affectionate, well-adjusted animal--worth giving up the presents and tree that year.]

Happy Christmas, Hannukah, New Year and Kwanzaa!

-- Old Git and Sweetie--and Sooty, Polly, Minou, Ginger, Chris, Soc, Rambo, Groucho and Woolly Bear (anon@spamproblems.com), December 18, 1999

Answers

HAPPY CHRISTMAS & A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR to YOU too

From

Chris,Mike & Zeki

in Somerset.

(See you all when we all get together for that beans & rice party !!.Guess it will have to be in the the States .Sigh.....

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), December 18, 1999.

What a special story about a special family! Blessings upon you, from another multiple cat owner! Thank you for your big hearts and sharing with us.

-- Jo Ann (MaJo@Michiana.com), December 18, 1999.

Purr,purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

-- Four Paws Committee Chairperson (maggiem@nehp.net), December 18, 1999.

OG FOR PRESIDENT! :-)

Merry Christmas OG!!!

From: Deb M., Mom M., Chris M., Platinum, Harry, Fred, Molly and Socks(!)[he's always in trouble, hence the "!"]...

Merry Christmas everyone and a blessed New Year!

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), December 18, 1999.

Thanks, O.G., for all the stories and great tips. Happy Christmas to you too, and especially a Happy New Year!

-- Margaret J (janssm@aol.com), December 18, 1999.

Old Git,

Hey, cute poem! And all the best for your holiday season, yourself and all the NICE people on the forum, from John Ludi and Jeff The Cat. Meeerrrrow!

John Ludi: player of music, friend of cats.

-- Ludi (ludi@rollin.com), December 18, 1999.

He He Old Git, I read this just at the hour when my hubby and daughter are about to pick up the deaf white persian kitty from the vet after having "THE OPERATION". We saved this kitty from not too caring home at 4 weeks, flea ridden with infected eyes and nursed it back to health. Camaro (hey, don't blame me for her name) is now a loving georgous pet who flies around the house with our other cats playing.

So from one cat lover to another, Merry Christmas and love to you and your family.

-- Debi (LongTimeLurker@shy.com), December 18, 1999.

Thank you dear Git for the wonderful greeting Christmas Money, I'm sure, was glad for his meeting.. such a generous soul, with a "Sweetie" included, and is thankful that someone is preparedness "deluded."

Megatonnage of catfood and an eye for the stray Moral support for people caught in the fray My sincerest warm wish for peace, love, and humor May our paths cross again when we're no longer called doomers.

-- (resolved@this.point), December 18, 1999.

(Oh, I get it now...you have to space between lines in a verse.) Oops.

-- (resolved@this.point), December 18, 1999.

Merry Christmas, Old Git!

From Doc', Jo, Haley, and Pepper LaPew.

-- Spindoc' (spindoc_99_2000@HeadDown.now), December 18, 1999.

Thank you, Old Git, and seasons greetings to all from...

-- Brooks, Ginger, Bandit, and Black Kitty (brooksbie@hotmail.com), December 18, 1999.

That was great OG. And many Christmas blessings back to you.

Isn't it interesting that so many of us that are prepping also take in stray animals. (rather, rejected by someone else animals). Hmm.

from:

Gene & Bron (the only two human types in this list) Mary, Martha, Max, Louie, Fred, Cassie, and Bert.

-- Gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), December 18, 1999.

Old Git, thanks for keeping your promise and telling us the Christmas Money story - in verse yet. It was great!

Merry Christmas to you and yours, too. From me, Kaos, Shadow, Cici, and Pierra the parrot; DH, Carla and Miriam.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), December 18, 1999.

Right back atcha, treasured Old Git!

Lon, with Alli, and Fishcat Charley

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), December 18, 1999.

Old Git,

Three dogs wagging tails

Greeting feline friends afar

Merry Christmas, cats!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Merry Christmas from the whole "Wilferd" home,

Wilferd, "Mr." Wilferd, Charlotte, Shellie, and Annie

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), December 18, 1999.

Thank you for sharing the story of Chris - I loved it.

Merry Christmas to you, Old Git - a real Sweet Heart - and your Sweetie and all those lucky kitties,

from Mewsette, Phelicity, BamBam and

-- Scat (sgcatique@webtv.net), December 18, 1999.

Old Git -- Merry Christmas to you! Thanks so much for all your contributions to the forum!!! Now I've got to run out and make another stock-up trip to PetSmart. (Last time I was there for litter, we walked out without the litter and with a new cat!) peace and good luck! Libby, J (partner), and the felines: Casco, Oops, Idgie, Brattle, and Mystery (the new addition)

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), December 18, 1999.

Got this in the mail today:

TOP TEN FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONGS FOR CATS

10. Up on the Mousetop

9. Have Yourself a Furry Little Christmas

8. Joy to the Curled

7. I Saw Mommy Hiss at Santa Claus

6. The First Meow

5. Oh, Come All Ye Fishful

4. Silent Mice

3. Fluffy, the Snowman

2. Jingle Balls

1. Wreck the Halls!

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 19, 1999.

Happy Holidays, O.G., to you and yours. (Even your cat named "Polly"!)

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), December 19, 1999.