Sharan’s cousin Gummi found Shanta on the streets of Sadashivnagar bitten by some animal back in ‘99-‘00. After giving first aid, Shanta was in Gummi’s house recovering and that’s when her ferociousness was seen. She started chasing the cats AND DOGs of the house away. They were just petrified of Shanta. So she was handed over to Sharan as he didn’t have any pets at that moment in time. It never occurred to me once during ‘courtship’ that she would come as part of the parcel. I had to look after Shanta, once we got married. I come from a family which isn’t so much into pets. Pets are either outside the house or in the farm. This whole new deal was very over whelming for me. To add to that I was allergic to her fur and Shanta has been 1 FURRY cat.
I set some ground rules for Shanta right from the beginning – no sitting on sofa and no entering kitchen or bedrooms. I could close the bedroom doors but the kitchen never had one. I covered the sofa with bedsheets so that her fur doesn’t fall on it. So she obeyed me – NOT ONCE did we catch her in the act. But the sofa upholstery was torn, there was always fur in the kitchen and some kitchen cupboard or the other was open. It was cute that she thought she wouldn’t get caught if she did things behind our back – she forgot that she had to close the doors behind her or stitch up the torn upholstery. Screaming and scolding her after reaching home from work was a usual story and was of no good. But at least it helped me vent out my anger on her. Was she or office or hunger the real reason? According to Sharan the only person she ever feared was me – BULL I say. Why would she harass me, if so?
It took me around 2 years, a lot of medication and fights to get used to Shanta and her fur. It all boiled down to the question I posed for Sharan – choose Shanta or me – and he didn’t answer that one. So it dawned on me only then that I might as well get used to Shanta.
Otherwise Shanta is easily one the prettiest cats ever with the bushiest tail ever. She is toilet trained and is extremely clean. She eats only cat food (so no mess with fish or milk around). She doesn’t eat/steal food or milk kept in the kitchen. Not once has she broken anything in the house – unlike the sweet monsters of Zo’s (Sorry Zo, couldn’t help mention the 3 Pussketeers). We’ve had people visiting our home exclusively to meet and greet Shanta. They spoke with us because we happened to be there.
We had to find Shanta a new home due to our Calgary move. Though over the years I got fond of her, it’s been truly heartbreaking for Sharan and his cousins. We searched high and low for a new home. A lot of friends and folks mentioned that if no one took her, they’d keep her. Damn sweet - we knew it was difficult for those who offered – they had pets already (Shanta may chase them off knowing her history) or never had pets before (wouldn’t know how to deal with cats). Either ways was difficult with Shanta around. Luckily Sharan’s friend in Mumbai offered to accommodate her.
We decided to fly with her. We had to get Shanta vaccinated as the airline required us to do so. It took 3 people to give her 2 injections. She was more sour than sore due to the vaccination. We bought her a hard case just for the journey. We decided to stay there for 3 days till she got accustomed to the place. She took one whole day to get used to the new (and hot) environment by starving herself. By day 3, she had taken liking to her new owners.
Now I don’t have to close bedroom doors or cover the sofa with bedsheets to avoid her fur but I still almost go for it out of habit. I didn’t realize that letting go of Shanta was difficult me too.
Who would I vent all my frustrations on now? BTW, these days I look forward to meeting Sharan in the evening…
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