Telling the tale of St. George's most heroic cat
larson@thespectrum.com
Seeing Quiver run through her home chasing a feather and a red laser light, cozying up to strangers just begging to be rubbed, it's hard to believe this is the same cat who suffered injuries when she was impaled by an arrow earlier this year.
"Her activity level has increased because she's healing," said Valerie Anderson, who adopted the lynx-point Siamese cat in March.
In February Quiver was shot through the face and shoulder by a 16-year-old boy with a bow and arrow. When she was first taken to the veterinarian office, they weren't sure if she could be saved, but once the arrow was removed an examination determined that although Quiver's injuries were "pretty extensive," the arrow somehow missed her lungs and her brain.
The juvenile has since been court-ordered to complete a mental health evaluation, pay restitution and complete 40 community service hours.
A little more than a month after her surgery, Quiver came into the Anderson home, filling the void Tom and Valerie Anderson felt after their previous cat of 17 years died. After considering all this animal had been through, Valerie realized Quiver's unique story of survival was something she wanted to share.
The idea blossomed into a project to which Valerie currently devotes several hours each day — writing the story from Quiver's perspective in a children's book that Valerie hopes to use to educate children about proper treatment of animals.
"I think it's making children aware that these little animals have feelings and we as humans have a stewardship for them," Valerie said of what she hopes to convey with the book. "Shooting animals for sport is not acceptable. Shooting them for target practice is not acceptable."
Kim Rubel, a pet sitter who has taken care of Quiver on multiple occasions, was thrilled to hear about Valerie's book project because of the great need she sees for such education in this area.
"Quiver was meant to do some good in this life," Rubel said. "It was meant for them (Tom and Valerie) to have her. Education with regard to the treatment of animals is vital."
As an oil painter with a little background in creative writing, Valerie is tackling the project mainly on her own as both the author and illustrator. She has 14 illustrations in rough draft form and is anticipating the final product to be about 30 pages long, ending with some truths about Quiver's life now.
"I will live happily ever after because I am loved, I am cared for, I am Quiver, and I am still curious," Valerie said.
One example of that curiosity happened when Rubel was cat-sitting for Quiver. She arrived to the Anderson's home to discover that Quiver had somehow opened the cupboard above the washing machine and spread cat nip around the home.
"She loves cat nip," Valerie said.
She also loves bringing her toys out to play, sleeping at the foot of Tom and Valerie's bed and exploring both indoors and out, though Valerie said they are very careful to keep Quiver on a harness and leash when they take her outside.
"I would be devastated if she got away," Valerie said.
But Quiver seems pretty content to be the queen of her new castle and the Andersons are more than happy to let her be the queen.
"We don't spoil her at all," Valerie said with a laugh.
Either way, Quiver has come a long way from her injury to being the happy, healthy, safe cat she is today; ready to embark on a new adventure as an advocate for proper animal treatment.
"They (kids) need to see that she's OK and what happens when (animals) have lots of love," Valerie said. "They can get better."
Valerie hopes to have the children's book released early next year in time for the one-year anniversary of Quiver's injury.
Spectrum reporter Casie Forbes contributed to this story.
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