Meet Little Miss Mew

 

Meet Miss Mew

Look what I got! This sweet little kitten appeared under my trailer a week ago. No Mama or other kittens, just the one cutie pie. She was full of purr and immediately approached to rub up against me. She even let me pick her up right away. There wasn't a collar, and she also wasn't dirty. This kitten didn't appear to be feral but one that had been around people and had been loved. She seemed like someone owned her very recently. 

There is a pet ministry at the church where I'm staying. Joni's daughter, Amy, takes care of strays, spaying them and finding new homes. She went into action. First, she and Joni posted a picture to the local neighborhood websites. The following day, the kitten was taken to a vet to check for a microchip. No responses from the websites and no microchip. 

In her 1st box

I have been talking about getting a cat for a couple of years and decided to keep her. I have dreamt of having a traveling cat. Hopefully, a triking cat. At the moment, I'm naming her Little Miss Mew. 

Having a cat changes a lot of things, it is a big responsibility. I got her spayed, microchipped, tested for kitty viruses, and she had her 1st kitten vaccines a few days ago. She weighed in at 4 lbs. That was a lot for the poor kitten, and it will probably take a couple of weeks for her to fully recover. 

Fast asleep

In the meantime, Amy was a big help in providing kitten toys and a litter box. I also had to figure out what to feed her. So far, she is not a picky eater and has gobbled up everything I am feeding her. 

I've had many cats over my life. This is the only cat that didn't hide under the bed for the first 3 days, and she seems to completely trust me.  She is very sweet and loves being close.  I've had her in the truck several times, and she was fine hanging out in a carrier. Every cat I've had previously was a nervous wreck in the car, meowing loudly as if they were being killed. Little Miss Mew just curled up and quietly laid down. 

Literary kitten

I want to harness train her, but right now, she is too small and easily wriggled out of the smallest harness I could find. I am hoping she can be harnessed in a carrier that I can keep on the rear rack of my trike so I can take her on rides with me. I bought a Rad Bike rack that her carrier will fit in securely. 

Rad Power Rack

Carrier in the rack

Next week, I am taking the truck, trailer, trike, and Miss Mew kitten to Tucson to stay for January and February. I'll be at an RV Park, which is located 1/2 mile from the Tucson loop through a quiet neighborhood. I think having her get used to trike riding on the bike path will be a great introduction. This will be better than doing most of the riding on roads with traffic.  Miss Mew is such a sweet and mellow cat, I think she will take to the trike easily. 

Once I see how she handles being on the back of the trike on the bike path, I'll know if she can handle trike touring. I have always wanted to have a cat that could go touring with me. It is unusual for cyclists to tour with cats, but it is not unheard of. I have followed many journals of bikers traveling with cats, and it is always hilarious. Nala the cat is probably the most famous. 

She loves to look outside.

Sweet little Miss Mew

I have pretty much decided on a route for my next trike tour that I tentatively want to start next May.  Getting a cat has thrown this plan into uncertainty. My route was to leave the church in the desert and head to Hwy 395, continuing north through California, Oregon, and Washington to go to the Spokumbent Retreat and then the Tater TOT rally in Idaho. If the kitten can handle touring, I will need to change the beginning of the route to the Sierra Cascades through the mountains. This is an Adventure Cycling Route with cycling maps, so it should be terrific. This is also a very challenging route that parallels the Pacific Crest hiking trail with lots of climbing. At Yosemite, the Sierra Cascade route joins Hwy 395, where it will be much cooler. I will need to make this route change because the southern desert section of Hwy 395 will be too hot for Miss Mew in May. Unfortunately, I can't leave before May because I'm having dental implant surgery in April. I also don't need more time to get to the Spokumbent Retreat or the Tater TOT rally. 

There are many new things for Miss Mew and me to learn and get used to. Stayed tuned!! Let me know what you think of this big change and Little Miss Mew.