Mystery

Mystery is a young cat who found herself in a terrifying position; scared and hungry she managed to survive for over two weeks on the site of Howe Sound Pulp & Paper, a large pulp and paper mill in Port Mellon; approx 10 kms from the nearest community.  Spotted by employees darting under dumpsters, out buildings and dodging heavy equipment Mystery was too scared to approach anyone.  She ran so low to the ground that some people weren't even sure that she was a cat and thought she was a mink or ferret. 

Frightened and literally starving, Mystery wouldn't let anyone approach her.

But, after almost two weeks Mystery found herself inside the massive building that houses the paper machine - where once again she was spotted darting between machinery, pumps, rolls of wrapper and yes, still starving.  This was the best thing that could have happened to Mystery though, as it was easier to leave food and water out for her; and attempt to trap her.  A plan was made to set food out in the massive building to coax Mystery out of her hidy spot.

Which worked well !  Mystery was so hungry she overcame her fear, and an employee attempting to open a can of tuna for her received a good bite on the finger as Mystery came flying out from between some wrapper rolls and started darting in and out grabbing mouthfuls of tuna before the lid was even off the can!  The finger just happened to be in the way :-)   The tuna and some sardines along with fresh water were then left for her.  

After two days of leaving kibble and tuna and water in the same location, keeping Mystery close by, a live trap belonging to a Happy Cat Haven volunteer was set, with an employee at the mill monitoring it once set.  Within minutes of the trap being set, Mystery was inside!   She was then out of harms way and on her way to the shelter; extremely emaciated, dirty and with what looked like a chemical burn on the bridge of her nose.

You'd think that Mystery would be at least a tad grateful that she was now somewhere warm, dry, quiet and with a constant supply of food . . . but no, she kept trying to leap out of her admittance cage whenever anyone opened the door!  Still in escape mode. 

Advertised as Found in the local paper, no one came forward; and how she found herself at the mill site so far from town was a mystery . . . hence her name :-)   Did Mystery hitch a ride on a truck or was she driven out there and abandoned ?  

Humm . . , a young, un-spayed plain black cat shows up on an industrial site with no one looking for her, gotta admit the second option seems to be the most likely. 

A lively gal, Mystery is quick, agile and very playful and enjoys racing after her toys and bounding up and down the cat perches.  Affectionate, Mystery still tended to the call the shots, most likely due to her traumatic experience, but she did like short petting sessions and once she feels totally secure will probably come around even more.  Mystery has now found herself a home with a lovely couple who have previously lived with a cat similar to Mystery . . . and yes, she will be an inside cat !