Furry stowaways
For transparency sake, let me state that I am a complete “sucker” for any kind of animal or story related to an animal. So when I was first contacted about four furry stowaways on the USS Orleck, I could not wait to write this little fluffy tale. No hard news here: just cute, cuddly orphaned kittens. I am just lucky to have walked away without adopting one.
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When the USS Orleck departed Orange, TX for Lake Charles on May 18th, the gearing-class, navy destroyer had four extra passengers.
The stowaways hid out-of-sight and managed to remain undetected for the two day trip to Lake Charles. Once the Orleck docked at its current location on the Calcasieu River, their adventure was foiled.
Debbie Lynn Hoffpauir and other volunteers with the USS Orleck Naval Museum discovered the four stowaway kittens as they inspected the newly docked destroyer.
Hoffpauir was uncertain how long the kittens had been without their mother, but later heard reports that a few dock workers in Orange had seen a cat jump from the Orleck before its departure.
Orphaned and in a strange place, the kittens’ fortune changed as Hoffpauir took charge of their care.
Since the kittens appeared thin and frightened, Hoffpauir decided to trap them as quickly as possible. Using what she described as a coon-type trap, she managed to bring all four kittens home safely within a couple of days
“I knew they would need a lot of love and care,” Said Hoffpauir.
The kittens were also very feral according to Hoffpauir. She and her 11-year old son, Je’An, spent a considerable about of time playing with the three female kittens and one male kitten trying to tame them. The kittens’ favorite activity in the Hoffpauir home is playing while “high” on catnip in their custom built, three tiered cage. Hoffpauir even attached a fan to cool the quadruplets as they play.
Now about four months old, the kittens are loving and docile. Hoffpauir feels they are ready for new homes. 
Hoffpauir spent eight years in the Navy Reserve. Her duties included working on the Orleck when it returned to Orange in 2001. With these ties and in honor of their voyage, Hoffpauir decided to name the cats: Orleck, Gearing, Destroyer, and Joseph. Joseph is the first name of the USS Orleck’s namesake. She has made each cat a name tag for its collar.
“I really hope the cat’s new owners will keep their names,” said Hoffpauir.
In preparation for adoption, Hoffpauir had the animals spayed or neutered and immunized with help from Animal Angels S.N.A.P. facility in Lake Charles.
Hoffpauir has decided to keep Gearing since she was the runt and since Gearing has taken to her. She is quick to mention that cats don’t have owners, they own you.
Interested cat lovers can contact Hoffpauir via email at dlynn111766@yahoo.com if they would like to adopt Joseph, Orleck, or Destroyer.
The USS Orleck is currently under renovation by the USS Orleck Naval Museum organization. The group holds work sessions every Saturday to prepare the destroyer for use as a Museum.
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BY KAREN WINK, Published August 23, 2010 in the American Press
