The Rainbow Bridge

We all die. So, this part shouldn’t be a shock to anyone. It still was to my girl. I think she knew the end could come at some point. We were going to be separated by death. Yet, she didn’t act like she had prepared herself. She just noticed that I was limping. She asked me what was wrong. I honestly didn’t know at the time.

Then she took me to the vet. She stuffed me into a carrier and took me for a walk. Eventually, we got on a bus and went to the vet that way. She told the vet what she had noticed and she voiced her concerns. The vet asked me to walk around the room. As soon as I was free of the cage and everyone, I jumped down to the floor and walked around the room.

I was still limping and not sure what they were going to do to me. Blood was drawn. I don’t remember how much or what for now. But the next morning, I knew it was over for me. I tried to tell my girl. Thankfully, both Spot and Isis left me alone. They had for quite some time now. But my girl was distracted. She got a phone call and tried to talk to me about what I wanted.

She offered to take care of me more than what she had been doing. She was already giving me wet food on demand because I didn’t have enough teeth to eat crunchies anymore. But what she would have to do was beyond that. Yet, I knew it was already too late.

I told her to forget about taking care of me and begged her to kill me. She never really could understand me well when I talked to her. I don’t know why. I could understand her just fine. But this was important. I had to get through to her. I kept repeating my message. Finally she understood and cried.

She realized that I couldn’t move the back half of my body anymore. I had no bladder control. That was embarrassing. She just had to understand that I couldn’t move on my own anymore. It was over for me. I was ready to die, but she didn’t seem to do much at first about my last request.

I know how much she loved me and still does. She was a wreck, but she made some phone calls and before I knew it, she scooped me up in a blanket and carried me out of the apartment. She held on to me while the next door neighbor drove us back to the vet. He dropped us off and she carried me inside.

I was still repeating my request. I didn’t know how much longer it would take. Then we were ushered into an exam room. She set me down on the table. Finally, everyone understood what I wanted. My last request was about to be fulfilled.

The vet rolled me over and shaved my leg. I had become quiet because I knew it was the end for me. Everyone understood what I wanted. My girl held my forepaw. I let her. Normally, I didn’t like so much affection from her, but this was a special time. We were being separated. Really, dying wasn’t so bad except for the fact that my girl was so upset about the whole thing. I knew it was my time to go.

The vet injected the poison into my shaved leg. In a few minutes, my body was dead. Everyone left the room to leave my girl alone with my body. She said nothing to his condolences. I saw her carefully move the blanket out from under my body. She no longer wanted my body. She knew I wasn’t inside it anymore. My eyes had become glassy. My body was lifeless.

She sighed. She held the blanket close to herself and walked out of the examination room. She sat down in the lobby and called the neighbor to come get her. Everyone was kind to her. I was a spirit and I didn’t want to leave my girl. I sat down next to her. She knew I was there, but said nothing to me. No one else saw me or knew my spirit was nearby.

Soon the neighbor came and took her back to the apartment. She stepped inside and locked herself in with Spot and Isis. They didn’t know where I was. I didn’t come back in the physical form with my girl. I was free of my physical body and I was still with my girl. I’m not sure they could see me. Isis was quiet. Too quiet as far as I knew. But my girl knew I was there.

Spot, was a different story. My girl sat down on the bed and set the blanket down on the floor. He came over and yelled. He was mad that I was gone. He ate what little hair of mine was left on the blanket. But my girl was silent. She couldn’t respond to Spot at that time.

I stayed with them. I watched my girl. I loved her so much and I still do. I saw her watch “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” over and over again. Towards the end, when Dumbledore tells Harry he’s not well, my girl cried and cried and cried. It was awful to watch. I couldn’t believe how much in shock and how painful it was for her to have me die when I did.

Eventually, she stopped crying. She told me she’d be fine and that I should just go ahead and move on. I deserved to have another life. So, I crossed the rainbow bridge hoping that I would meet my girl again in my next life.

My girl notes that I died three days after her birthday in 2010. She wasn’t happy about it, but she coped. She still had Spot and Isis living with her. I could see the three of them without me. Spot learned to accept that I wasn’t coming back as the cat who had raised him. Isis and I didn’t know each other very well. She had been living with us for just one year.

My girl used to tease them and complain that it was too quiet without me. Spot didn’t say anything. He wasn’t much of a talker. Isis tried to make up for my lack, but she wasn’t loud enough as my girl told her. Besides, Isis was much too happy to be me. She laughed and was just as silly as my girl was.

As I crossed the rainbow bridge, I could see in spite of my girl’s pain and sadness at our separation, she would be fine. She was not alone. I took a deep breath and finished crossing the bridge.

As I was crossing the bridge, I soon discovered I wasn’t alone. The fairies soon appeared all around me. They were happy to see me. I was glad to see them too. They complimented me on helping the witch stick to her better self. She had become very selfless as she needed to. The fairies flitted and danced around me. I was sad that I had to leave my family, but glad I wasn’t alone either.

It was time for another adventure. This time I would have more choices to make. My girl was right. She knew it was my choice and she didn’t want me to worry about her. It wasn’t her time to cross the bridge yet. I just hoped we would meet again someday.

I got to the other side and was soon joined by Isis. I was shocked to see her. She was just as shocked as I was. She told me our girl had told her to go on and get another life. It wasn’t fair what had happened to her.

Isis had become sick after I had died. She told me, she was shocked by what had happened to me. That shock must have triggered the dormant illness inside of her. She died about a month after me from feline leukemia. The same vet who had killed me killed her too. Isis said she wasn’t ready, but our girl petted her and calmed her down. Without our girl, Isis said she would not have been able to cross the rainbow bridge.

Isis wasn’t sure what was happening with our girl and Spot. We both worried. I told Isis, we had to move on without them for now. I stressed there was a chance that we would meet them again someday. I didn’t know if they would be in the same or in different bodies. But when we did meet them, we would recognize them and know they are still our friends.

We’ve been inseparable ever since. I don’t regret my life or my adventures. I just wish Isis had a much longer life as I was blessed to have. I don’t think it’s fair.

Isis was much too young to die. She wasn’t a middle aged cat. I thought it was an outrage. But I didn’t leave her. I told her I’d look out for her in this spirit realm. She accepted my help. She was glad she wasn’t alone. I was also glad to have a friend in this new world besides the fairies.
*******************
If you’re wondering how I could write my memoirs and have a Twitter account, the answer is simple. My girl and I were never completely separated. We could still sense each other and talk to each other because of the strong, long lasting bond between us. Yes, I have moved on. But I still love my girl very much. I always will. I know she will always love me just as much too.

December 1, 2020 1

The Dollhouse

When all three of us had established a routine, my girl decided to build a dollhouse. As I’ve written before, she is insane and will admit it. I wasn’t interested in getting close to the dollhouse. So, I stayed back and meditated. My girl is typically active and doing something. She typically has some kind of project going on. It wasn’t anything new with her. Spot and Isis had to get up close to see what my girl was doing.

They had to watch. I don’t know why they had to watch, and they both thought she built the dollhouse just for them. As you can see from the pictures, they both liked the dollhouse my girl put together by herself. I’m no judge of crafting, so I can’t tell you how good or how bad it turned out. All you have is the pictures to base your own judgements on.

At least Spot and Isis liked the dollhouse my girl built. I was never into toys as those two were. I prefer to ponder and meditate. So, you can see why I don’t care for those two whenever they attacked me. I’d asked them to leave me alone, but nope, those young ones just had to play with me too. It was much better when they played together and left me alone.

My girl loves dollhouses. Don’t ask me why. I don’t know. But she had fun with this project. She decided to build it even though there were three of us living with her. I watched from afar. I didn’t care to get close and check it out. Both Spot and Isis had to check it out as she was building it.

I don’t know where they got an idea like that. Not from me. They got close and watched her build it. They got so close they were nearly in her way. They weren’t afraid of what she was doing. It was quite a sight. I can’t tell you if she did a good job or not. I didn’t inspect it or test it out.

But Spot did. He got top of the dollhouse more than once. He would jump on it and it held together. You have to understand he was bigger than I was when he was fully grown. And bigger than Isis. Unbelievable. I don’t think he ever grew up. He is just a big kitten and probably will be all the way to the end of his life.

It was a big dollhouse and to me it wasn’t that great of a thing in our home. But Spot and Isis both liked it. Well, so much the better for them. My girl was proud of herself for building it all by herself. Although I could tell she was frustrated by it. She’d complain the instructions weren’t written well. She’d complain about her crafting skills. Yet, even I have to admit, it was quite an accomplishment for her.

She is a writer. So, she would know how well the instructions were written. I wouldn’t know. I never read the instructions. But she was happy to build such a thing in front of us. I can’t even complain about this project other than the noise. It made her happy. It helped to keep Spot and Isis occupied and entertained. My family was there and yet kind enough to let me have some peace. That’s all I care about.

November 1, 2020 0

Isis

My girl is a crazy cat lady. There could be no doubt of it by this time. I know her so well. I was happy with her and Spot. I didn’t even mind if the fairies came to visit me on those rare occasions when they would make me run around crazily. But I nearly had no warning for this new cat. Apparently, there was one who needed a new home and my girl was asked.

Of course my girl could not say no to another cat. What crazy cat lady can? Especially to a cat who is in trouble?

When Isis first arrived, she wasn’t fixed and she was an adult. Spot and I tried to teach her her place. We cats must have an established order. It is much easier to create with new kittens. But adults are an entirely different matter. My girl actually intervened in this. I don’t understand why. She never had before this. But my girl would tell us to stop trying to dominate Isis. She would scream even though Spot and I are eunuchs. We couldn’t get her pregnant.

I did stop when my girl asked. Then Isis would slap me with her forepaw. I was completely confused. Why was my girl telling me not to do that to Isis? And Isis didn’t like it either. Was it a girl thing? I know they are both women. *Sigh.*

When it was my girl’s bedtime, she would give Isis her own litter box, a water bowl, and a food bowl. Then Isis would be isolated from Spot and me. What that necessary?

Whenever Spot or I was on Isis, she would fuss and complain and eventually scream. It’s the way cats protest against having another cat dominate them. I suppose it doesn’t sound pleasant to most humans. We did live in an apartment with neighbors close by.

Then my girl took things a step further. She took Isis out of our home for several hours. My girl said it was to get Isis fixed. Isis thought my girl was silly to talk to her about the operation. But it happened. When it was time, my girl took Isis away. My girl came back later without Isis. I was terribly upset and asked my girl to bring the new cat back.

What was wrong with me? I was upset when Isis had come and then I was upset when my girl had taken her away. My girl assured me it wouldn’t be long before she’d bring Isis back. But I couldn’t understand what was happening to me. To our family. Once again my girl the whirlwind had introduced another element into our life.

And here were the results. Me complaining that the new cat was gone. That same day, my girl left the apartment again to return later with Isis! I was happy. I missed the black cat while she was out to a place I had no idea of.

But when Isis came back, she was out of it and not walking all on four paws. She didn’t even want to come out of her carrier right away. That’s odd behavior for a cat. Spot went over to her to greet her. She didn’t like that and my girl pulled him out of the carrier. I suppose Isis was acting that way because of whatever the humans had given her. She certainly smelled different now.

Eventually, Isis came out and soon acting like her old self. It was after this that she decided I was an okay cat to have around. I was relieved. I didn’t want to lose her after she had came into our lives. Besides, she was a good playmate for Spot. I was happy when they played together. It meant they would leave me alone. So much the better.

Isis was a bit different too. She knew she couldn’t get pregnant. That’s probably why she was okay with me after her surgery. Spot and I no longer tried to dominate her. My girl was relieved we were all getting along better. She no longer isolated Isis when it was bedtime. We were all much quieter again. So the neighbors didn’t need to be bothered by our antics.

So Isis became a part of the family. We got along. I could meditate as much as I wanted. Spot had a good playmate and it didn’t have to be me now that I was a senior cat. My life couldn’t have been better.

October 1, 2020 0

Our Last Home

We had to move a couple of more times, but this last place was our own. So, I finally got my wish with her. It is the last place I remember living at. This was also the place in which Isis came to live with us. My girl was working a regular job outside of our home again too.

I was glad when we could stay in the same place for years. This was a comfort after all the moving around we did. I just hope my girl doesn’t have to keep moving when she doesn’t like it so well. Having a safe and stable home is a wonderful thing to have. It’s the place you go to when you need to hide from the world.

That’s how I feel about it. I still believe that home is a place you can come back to time and time again. Adventures can be good from time to time, but a safe place to hide and be loved is a must in this crazy world. Home is not just for cats, but also everyone who needs one. So I can’t complain when this was the last place we lived in together.

It was safe. It was stable. It was home. It had a great view. I could keep an eye out on humans who came and went on the street and the sidewalk. I could look down on them. I know Spot loved the view too. He watched lots of humans everyday. We watched my girl too.

It was clear that she was a crazy cat lady who couldn’t say no to us because we are cats. It’s as simple as that. I wasn’t alone at this time of my life. I was a senior cat and I could enjoy my naps and meditation. My girl gave me all the love and attention I needed whenever I asked for it.

I could not ask for more from the home she gave us. By this time I had become a quiet cat. I was so quiet that my girl’s mother couldn’t believe it. She just didn’t understand. She thought I was still a loud whiny cat. Well, my girl understood me so well that I didn’t have to ask her for much of anything.

I could enjoy my senior years without worry. I was content and relaxed. I was surrounded by my family in our last home we shared together. We were happy. All of us. I was aging and my girl could see some signs of it. She would look at my coat and see some white hairs speckled throughout my black hair. She’d ask me if I was getting old on her. I just looked at her and said nothing. I’d close my eyes and go to sleep seeing her smile at me.

I knew she was just teasing. She was making an observation. She does the same thing to herself and it doesn’t bother her to see fine lines forming around her eyes. If she stares at her silvery hairs streaked in her French black hair for too long, she laughs. She now wears lined bifocals. She’s not ashamed. She knows she is getting older. I doubt she will care as long as she doesn’t get sick.

But when we age and get sick on top of it, it’s no fun, as I will discuss in the last chapter. So, I hope my girl continues to enjoy good health that gets better not worse.

September 1, 2020 0

New Apartment—Moving Again

After some time, my girl was able to get another apartment for the three of us. We were there for a time. Moving wasn’t fun, but after all our things were in and we were there, things got better fast. There was another sleeping alcove. She put up a curtain to make it dark and cozy just as before. Spot and I used to cuddle and sleep on her bed. It didn’t matter if she was there or not.

It was a noisy place. Much too noisy. Spot and I thought there would be strangers coming into the apartment. But there weren’t. It was just us. I’m glad it was just us. Strangers bother me. I don’t know if I can trust them. My girl understands that. She managed to get some good pictures of me and of Spot in this place.

We could hear our next door neighbors. There was at least one cat who meowed loudly enough to rival my vocal prowess. My girl thought we would end up talking to each other. But being cats knowing we lived on the opposite side of the wall and in a different apartment, we ignored each other.

The walls were too thin there. We could hear the neighbors watching tv. It wasn’t good for my girl. She had to go to bed earlier than they did and so she had a hard time falling asleep while they were watching tv. I did what I could for her, but it wasn’t very much.

But we didn’t stay here forever. I don’t know why. My girl never told us why. She just packed up our things and got us ready. We have moved too many times during our time together. I still don’t know why. My girl didn’t like it anymore than we did. I could tell by the way she was acting.

I just hope she will be okay sooner or later. I get that sometimes she has to work outside of our home, wherever it may be, and I miss her when she’s gone. But she does come home and pays attention to us. I just wish she could stay here all the time and work here instead.

I wonder how she would like that. But she has done that quite often. She seems happier when she works here at home than outside somewhere. Sure we could watch her leave the building. I’ve seen her many times on the street or sidewalk just outside. When that happened, she would wave at me.

I knew that it would be any minute that she would come through the door. So, I’d turn around and face the door. She’d get the message and come home in a matter of minutes. I just wish we could have stayed in the same place together for years and years. Moving around all the time was awful to deal with. My girl knew that and yet she was still able to keep us together though that rough period of her life.

But it wasn’t to be in this place either. *Sigh.* It makes me wish I could have done something to help her out. But I’m just a cat. There wasn’t anything I could do but offer my moral support. It wasn’t enough and she knows it as well as I do.

But I did at least get my wish. Eventually, we were able to stay in one place for years. It was the last home we shared together.

August 1, 2020 0

Outside Again?

I used to be an indoor and outdoor cat. I came and went as I pleased. That was until after I had lived with my girl for some time. At first, she wouldn’t let me out at all. Eventually, she let me out when she left to go to school. When she came home, so did I. Although, she once saw me on her way home and I was running in the opposite direction. As soon as I realized it was her calling me, I ran back to the porch where the door to where our first home was. She came around to the porch after locking up her tricycle and we went inside where little Spot was waiting. We were all happily reunited after a day apart.

At least that was how it was once. But this new place was where we came after a long plane trip trapped in a cage in the cargo hold. I had no idea where we were. I didn’t realize the climate was different. The ground was certainly different here than where I was born and raised. I soon found out quite by accident…

I managed to get outside once at this place. Someone had left the front door open and I took the chance. I walked outside on the porch. Then I walked off and past the sidewalk. I stopped when I had reached the grass. The ground was much too soft. Where was I? I hollered for help. I couldn’t help it. I was so confused and scared.

My girl came up behind me and talked to me. I was too upset to notice what was different with the tone of her voice. Then she scooped me up from behind and carried me back inside the house. Trust me, it didn’t take long for me to calm down after that. I don’t appreciate someone catching me and picking me up, but I was freaked out and once again my girl saved me. She carried me back inside to safety.

I didn’t go outside after that. It was too strange and scary for me. Besides, I could hear dogs out there. I have never liked dogs. Also my girl was inside with me. She was looking out for me. Better than anyone else ever could. I had no reason to go out after that.

I was used to hard dirt. Not soft grass. I didn’t know how to react or what to do. Besides, my foreclaws were gone now. How would I defend myself against another cat? I didn’t know. I did know there were plenty of strange cats out there. One even came up to the house and tried to talk to my girl. Spot and I weren’t having it. We told the newcomer he wasn’t welcome to my girl and his mama.

We were the two cats here and we weren’t allowing another to come in. My girl didn’t say or do anything. I know she heard the cat. Perhaps she had remembered the other cat that had come to her? That much have been it. That one was a full fledged tom cat. He was a lean mean hunting machine. He had lived in the desert, where I’m from.

But Spot and I wouldn’t allow him into our home either. My girl tried to help him, but to this day, she can’t say what had happened to that cat. I know she must have cared. She even tried to call after he was placed into a shelter. But she never found out anything.

So, she probably was afraid to do anything wondering if the first cat who had tried to join us had been killed in the shelter. I think she also didn’t want to upset Spot or me. We were her priority. A new cat was another added responsibility that she couldn’t afford to have. Seeing it from her point of view makes me very grateful that she never got rid of us and did what she could to keep us together.

I knew my hunting days were over. But my girl would feed me well. That much I knew I could rely on. What would I have done without her? I have no idea. I think I would have died early without her care and love. Sadly, my claws and teeth aren’t the best. I have lost most of my teeth over my life. I don’t know why it happened to me. My claws tend to be brittle too. But as I have written before, my girl takes such good care of me, I don’t have to worry about going hungry.

I know how much she loves me too. She shows me by giving me wet food whenever I ask for it. She even told me she’d keep even if I ever lose all my teeth. She is so sweet and kind. I’m glad she’s a part of my life even though she is a whirlwind.

July 1, 2020 0

Losing My Foreclaws

This wasn’t my idea. I know now it wasn’t my girl’s idea either. It was her mother’s. That woman wouldn’t let Spot or me into house until after we had our foreclaws removed. It was major surgery. Not a pleasant thing. I was already a middle aged cat at the time. I don’t remember the surgery, which is probably a good thing.

My girl believes removing a cat’s foreclaws is a form of mutilation. She is correct. We are maimed for the rest of our lives. Yet, too many humans think it’s a good thing to do. What they mean is they think we cats are objects who shouldn’t mess up their immaculate furniture, which is more important than having someone who will love you unconditionally. I’m glad my girl loves me more than she cares about how her furniture looks.

The vets and vet techs were good to both of us. We were both unconscious during the operations. They put a mask over my face and then I was out. I woke up later in a cage unsure of what was going to happen next. I was groggy and don’t remember much of anything else. That is until my girl was there and happy to see us both. She sat in the back seat of the car with Spot and me in our carriers.

Spot yelled and used terrible language to all the humans in the car. I was so scared that sadly I lost bladder control. My girl knew it happened and didn’t give me a hard time. It was quite embarrassing. Of course, he couldn’t stop complaining loudly and angrily about being trapped in a cage as I was too.

She took us upstairs to her room and closed the door before letting us out. I, of course, found a place to hide. Spot went exploring like the crazy bottle fed half human raised cat that he is. My girl seemed more relaxed. I sensed she had missed us overnight.

It didn’t take me long to find our things. The litter was different to help our paws to heal up. She told us don’t worry about it, she would clean it up. Just use the box. Spot used it first and true to her word, my girl cleaned up immediately. Then I used the new litter too.

I do remember what happened afterwards in the house more clearly. I’m lucky my girl was there when one of my paws starting bleeding. I was sitting on the back of the couch at the time. And to my surprise, I fell into the blinds. I wasn’t expecting it. I tried to use my foreclaws forgetting they were now gone.

I was so startled that I ran up the stairs and into our room. My girl noticed the blood and without any warning, she scooped me up and grabbed a washcloth. She took me into the bathroom and closed the door. She got the washcloth wet and wrapped it around my paw. She held me on her lap and talked to me.

I was scared. But she was comforting me. I didn’t want to be trapped in such a small room, but she wouldn’t let me go. She was firm, but gentle with me. She told me she was worried because my paw was bleeding. She said it was bad and tried to get it to stop. Eventually, it did. She let me go and cleaned up the blood I had trailed around the house.

She covered for me and kept me out of the hospital. So, I didn’t complain after that. She had taken care of me once again. What would I have done without her? I don’t know. I think I would have just hidden away until my paw stopped bleeding on its own.

I also remember jumping on top of the stereo cabinet. I slid towards the mantle over the fireplace. At that time I didn’t understand what was happening. I was always such a good jumper. Even my girl had noticed and told me so. She’s seen me do it quite often and was impressed by my skills. Yet, here I was sliding. It was because I didn’t have foreclaws to use as stop moving after a jump.

My girl and the blind guy tried to encourage me and keep me calm. Her mother didn’t want me to jump on any of the furniture. I don’t know where she got such notions. It’s what we cats do. The blind guy and my girl understood that kind of cat behavior. Why couldn’t my girl’s mother understand too?

I guess the woman thought she could control everything and everyone around her. Well, I hope she’s learned by now, she can’t control cats or even my girl. I’m glad my girl never took that attitude towards cats or anyone else for that matter. It’s just one of the many things which makes me love my girl all the more.

June 1, 2020 0

Across the Country—Plane Trip

Spot and I had to travel in some planes to get to another part of the country with my girl. We were separated from my girl during the journey and then reunited in the new place. We were placed into carriers. I hate being trapped in a box and I wasn’t the only one. Spot hated it as much as I did. We were separated from my girl and stuffed into cargo with luggage and a dog… I do not like dogs. Even when they are nice and fans of cats. Fortunately, the dog was in a carrier as we were. No way that one was going to come near either one of us.

We were frisked before we were separated from my girl. She was tense and I could sense her guilt towards Spot and me. Oh, I do wish I knew what was wrong with her. I didn’t understand at the time. I’m not sure I understand now. I look back now and realize she did what she had to. She did keep us together. She kept her promise to us.

I know she will continue to keep her promises to my kind until she is no longer able to. I know she will do her best. Her best was good enough for me. I hope it will be good enough for any other cats she will have to look after in her life after I’ve gone over the rainbow bridge.

Oh, humans why do you put cats in cargo? We’re people. Yet, you want to treat us as if we are objects to be owned by you. You don’t own us. You can never own us. We choose to live with you. You only think you choose us. We allow you to believe that little lie so you will continue to care for us for the rest of our lives.

Well, it was horrible to be in the cargo of a plane. It’s cold. We were trapped inside of cages. There was turbulence. The planes weren’t that still in the air. It was a bumpy ride! It’s painful on our ears. You think your ears pop when you’re on a plane? You think it’s uncomfortable? Imagine what it feels like to be us. I couldn’t stop screaming during the flights.

I couldn’t have one sensible thought while trapped like that. Spot was near me, but it wasn’t enough. He was busy shouting the whole trip.

Spot yelled and cursed my girl. She did deserve it. Of course it was her fault. She put these things in motion and then we landed in the cargo hold of a couple of planes. That plane trip was terrible. I don’t recommend flying on a plane as a cat. My girl didn’t like it either. She was so worried about us that her anxiety was too high. Served her right. She wasn’t even on the same planes as we were. Yet, she could hear the two of us.

Then Spot and I were put in a garage. We weren’t allowed into the house until after we had our foreclaws removed. I at least did the sensible thing and found a safe place to hide while I waited and became used to my new home. Spot— I don’t know why he’s so curious— he went and explored our new home. While he was exploring, he stepped on something he shouldn’t have.

But I suppose it was going to happen. He tended to walk around everywhere without a care in the world. The blind guy and my girl’s mother must not have known he is like this. They had left a remote garage door opener lying around in the garage. Then Spot stepped on it and opened the big door with a very loud noise.

It scared him so much, he ran to my hiding place and jumped on top of me. *Shakes head.* Honestly, I don’t know why he did things like that. It was his fault he stepped on the remote. Well, my girl’s mother came out and figured out what had happened and checked on both of us. Until she found us, she had thought Spot had run away.

I’m glad he didn’t. As much as he drives me crazy, I love him and I never want to lose him as I had my mother and my brothers.

It some time later when my girl arrived. She came in and checked on us. I’m just glad that in spite of that terrible trip, she still loved us and wanted to take care of us. I didn’t want to lose her too. Even though she couldn’t tell me what was wrong, she still stood by us.

If she hadn’t, I don’t know what I would have done without her. That whirlwind had become such a big part of my life, that I couldn’t imagine what life would be like without her. I know I wouldn’t have felt safe enough to complain whenever things were wrong.

Who would be there to listen to me and do her best to fix everything for me? In spite of her fumbling and her silliness, she was the one constant that I love to keep in my life.

May 1, 2020 0

New Home

I’m not sure what happened after we had camped out. I saw my girl moving our stuff out of the place we were in for one night. Spot and I hid from her. Just out of her reach. But it was no use. After she had taken everything out, she came back for us. By then it was dark. She stuffed me into another carrier. She put Spot into a backpack that she put on her back. She set my carrier down in a basket. The back basket of her tricycle. She took us to our new home.

I had a lot to say about this move. It was the first time I had ridden on a tricycle. It wasn’t as bad as a car. My girl could ride it well. I knew it was her vehicle of choice. I couldn’t understand why Spot was so quiet. Perhaps because he was on her back? He could see better than I could. He had nothing to say about this ride we were forced to take.

It was a short ride. She locked up her tricycle and then picked up my cage. She carried us into the new place. I was still complaining. Now Spot was joining in too. We met no one along the way to our new place. Well, as soon as we were inside, my girl let us out.

Spot went exploring. I wasted no time finding a place to hide. Our stuff was everywhere. It was a big mess. I couldn’t find anything. I didn’t want to do anything. I just wanted to hide. It was a strange place. It was much too scary. My girl was busying organizing things and making too much noise.

As a cat, I don’t need to own a lot of things. It’s just the way it is. Sometimes we get some good extras like furniture made for us. But typically we just need food and water bowls, a litter box, a place to sleep, and something to claw up. We can use the furniture typically thought of as just for humans. It’s our home too. We like to share everything. Have you noticed? I know my girl did. She is quite smart about us cats.

But you just wouldn’t believe how much stuff my girl used to own. It was unreal whenever we had to move. It was too much. She doesn’t have that much anymore. She is traveling as light as she’s been able to. Some people have told her she still has too much. She’s shocked by that. She has reduced what she’s owned over the years and feels freer and lighter than when we were moving around too much as far as I’m concerned.

Even she could agree on that. So, it was good for all of us that we had another apartment for just the three of us again. It had a sleeping alcove. My girl loved it. She had a job that caused her to be on a different sleep schedule and she appreciated having that alcove. She put up a curtain and it was cozy and dark. There were lots of pillows to protect her when she tossed and turned as she slept.

She even went swimming in a pool at night. I could smell the chlorine on her when she came back. It wasn’t a pleasant smell. Then she would do some writing and work on her magazine that she had at the time. It was quite a life for a time.

But that place was so dark when she turned out the lights that she couldn’t see me at all. In fact, she couldn’t see much of anything. I could tell her I was right there. She never stepped on me when I told her how close she was to me. Bless her for that.

Then I don’t know what was going on. I made a vocal sound that disturbed her. I was loud about it too. She complained that I was sounding just like a full fledged tom cat. She reminded me I wasn’t one anyone and hadn’t been for quite a long time.

I didn’t listen. I kept making the noise, but then I would jump up on the bed and rub up against her. I so love my girl. For once I was the one who was driving her crazy. I suppose we were outside for too long. Spot never did this. It could be that he was fixed at a younger age than I was. He never sprayed either. I of course knew how to spray. I did it on purpose to get my girl’s attention whenever I got mad at her. It annoyed her so much… And the ways in which she reacted tended to get ridiculous that I still knew she hated what I was doing, but still loved me unconditionally at the same time.

But he was the one who sometimes would venture out with her. We were inside a building, so it wasn’t a big deal. But he usually freaked out when he heard someone else. I don’t know why he wanted to explore the place beyond our apartment. But that was Spot. I was quite content to stay inside our little place to ponder my life as it was in our safe little space.

My meditation was good there. It was a nice place. Don’t ask me why we left there. My girl never said. I was beginning to think something was wrong. Something she found difficult to talk about and difficult to deal with. But our lives were about to change radically again.

But at least we were able to stay together. Otherwise I don’t know how I would have gotten through it. The whirlwind was having some serious trouble. I just never knew how bad it was for her. But I do know she did everything she could to keep us all together.

With her serious problem, I don’t know how she was able to keep her promise to Spot and me, but she did. As far as I’m concerned, she did what she should have for us. She did it without complaint to us. But it made her cry too much. I knew she was sick to some extent. In spite of that sickness, she could take care of us and herself. As a cat, I do have a unique perspective on my girl.

I doubt my views of her matched what some other humans were saying about her. Those humans weren’t very nice to my girl or to my kind in general. Unfortunately, they were the ones who dictated certain things to my girl and she had to comply. At least for a time. But never forever.

April 1, 2020 0

Camping Out

Tragedy had struck again. To this wonderful second family of mine. I was terribly upset, but I was able to adapt with them. I was able to look after Spot and my girl. I don’t know what happened or why. My girl couldn’t talk about it. Whatever it was, it was hard on her. Perhaps harder on her than on Spot or me.

So, we had to move out of our first home we had shared together. We went to live in someone’s backyard in a tent. My girl slept in the tent at night. Spot and I would sleep with her as well. I don’t think my girl found the situation ideal, but there wasn’t much else she could do at the time.

Things seemed bad for her. Spot and I were safe. We knew where our home was even if it meant we were outside. I had lived outside from my birth, so it wasn’t anything new to me. I just had to give him a few lessons. My girl still had food for us, but being me, I hunted and caught a couple of birds.

The first one was tasty. I left the head and a wing as a gift for my girl. I left it at her feet. She saw it when she woke up the next morning. And what did she do when she realized what the gift was? She screamed. She is a vegetarian. There was no thanks for that gift. *Sigh.* Yes, my beloved girl is a vegetarian.

I guess I should have known. I guess I may have overlooked that fact because she did tend to eat animal products. But she is a vegetarian. I know anymore she tries to eat mainly plants because they make her feel better. But that’s another story.

At least Spot and I didn’t need a litter box at our camp. We could bury our waste outside where the humans wouldn’t know. It was one less thing for my girl to worry about. Sometimes I would stay out all day and then I’d hear my girl calling for me. I could tell she missed me. So, of course I went to her when she called.

But then something odd happened while we were camping. A bird came to dive bomb me! It was an angry bird. It was loud and vocal about who I had eaten. I was in trouble and didn’t know what to do. So, I called for my girl. She came to my rescue.

She explained to me why the bird was upset. Surprisingly, my girl wasn’t upset with me. She understood why I had eaten the birds. I guess I never realized that a bird would be upset about my hunting. I never knew my prey could love as I could. Now I know better. I’m glad my girl saved me. She didn’t have to do much. She just flung her arms around while the bird was flying. Then it would fly up in a tree, but it was still complaining.

My girl could hear how upset the bird was as I could. I never expected anyone to complain about me being a hunter. I just don’t understand it. I’m a cat. I hunt for food. To eat. To survive. Spot even tried to catch a bird, but he got clawed and didn’t try again.

I didn’t try to hunt any more birds either. It just wasn’t safe. What would I do if my girl wasn’t around to protect me from any angry birds? I didn’t know. Getting pecked isn’t fun at all. But we didn’t camp out forever. I had no idea how soon it would be before we would have another apartment again.

The three of us moved again into a temporary house. Our stuff was hidden for safety. So, we waited. We spent that night not in the tent, but in a bathroom. All three of us. Spot and I were fine sleeping on the floor. My girl seemed to be okay. I don’t know how big she rates as a human. But she had to curl around to fit on the floor. Spot and I cuddled up to her without any trouble.

The next day, my girl left for quite a while. Spot and I were alone with strange humans around. There was a mama cat who had some kittens to look after too. I don’t know what my girl was doing. Perhaps she was making arrangements for our new home. She didn’t tell me.

Well, the mama cat and I got into a fight. It wasn’t pretty. I didn’t care she was a girl. We had a territorial dispute. I thought since my girl slept there last night that it was our place and this mama cat was encroaching on our turf. So, the other humans separated the mama cat and me. Spot was still with me and not causing any trouble.

One of the humans came to take a shower in the bathroom and had no idea he was there. He ended up soaking wet, but never complained. He didn’t learn that from me. I knew to stay out of the bathroom when someone wanted to take a shower. It’s just common sense for a cat. But he had been bottle fed and half raised by a human…

When my girl found out that I had a fight with the mama cat, she scolded me and told me I should have let her win. Something about the mama cat was just defending her kittens. Where did I go wrong? My girl wasn’t mean about it, but I was shocked she was telling me these things.

Fortunately, for us we weren’t staying there again for another night. So, the kittens weren’t separated from their mama for very long.

And to think I got chewed out for fighting a mama cat? What was my girl thinking? She isn’t my mother.

March 1, 2020 0