I've supplied the bowls of Catnip Tea for the celebration...
...And thanks to Cheysuli for donating the Ham....so let's PARTY! ;-D
It started early, last night. ;-D
TALES FROM THE LITTER BOX 2: An Old Cat Remembers.
My earliest memories are not only of Daddy taking me home from the shelter that early April 1998 day, but of a grizzled, old, orange Tabby Cat.
It is still hard for me to believe that I am now the same age as he was when he entered my life, and I his.
I would like to dedicate this celebratory trip down Memory Lane to the memory of my Mentor, Tom (1986-1998), who you will meet, and see here, in pictures Daddy has from all the 12 years of Tom's often rough life.
In an earlier post, in January, I shared the outdoor pic, thinking that it, and a couple somewhat blurry ones were all Daddy had.
Earlier in the week Daddy surprised me with the fact that they were not!
I was stunned, and deeply moved by the new images of Tom.
TOM was an outdoor Cat Daddy's family had since birth, who took to the indoors, at Daddy's insistence, when he took charge of him in the last 3 years or so of his life.
He lived only a few short months more after I entered his life, long enough to impart his hard fought for wisdom into this young whippersnapper, before passing on.
On April 22, 1998, Daddy let me out of my seclusion...
I awoke to find the door to my sanctuary open, and Daddy's voice from afar...
Nervously, I jumped to the floor, stood up, and slowly, cautiously, walked toward the sound of his voice.
The first thing I noticed was that this room was larger, with so many new things to explore, I didn't know where to start! Shelves, a couch, toys, a window from which all sorts of interesting sounds could be heard on the outside.
But no Daddy and no sign of that OTHER voice that I'd been hearing for a week (
"Who are you? What are you? Are you like me? Why are you here?")
I found another room with a table and another window, and saw Daddy, standing at the entrance to another room, looking at me with a smile. He knelt down and encouraged me toward bowls of food and water.
Happily I scampered in his direction, but was suddenly brought up short when a HUGE yellowish-orange wall of fur stepped from behind Daddy and blocked my path!
I skidded on the floor and fell on my rump! I looked up and said meekly, "hello"...
My first thought was, "Whoa, he's OLD!"
My 2nd thought was , "Mother of God help me! I'm dead!"
I stood back up and walked forward, offering another meek "hello"...
He stared at me for what seemed like forever, hissed "Why are you here? GO AWAY!! And SLAPPED me visciously upside the head in a blur of yellow so furious I was knocked skidding across the floor with him charging right for me!
I've told this story before, and there's more...
The short version is that Daddy rescued me, tossing Tom in the bedrooom, and picking me up to comfort me.
Calm again, I was set back on the floor and allowed to explore to my hearts' content. ;-D
I really, REALLY, wanted to get that string! I came so damn close, too! ;-D
For the next 3 weeks I was allowed out and about under Daddy's close supervision. I warily took advantage of this freedom to get used to my new surroundings.
I discovered that while I could climb onto the couch, I couldn't get on tables and chairs or even the window ledges, which was damn frustrating, especially since Daddy was not inclined to be of any help in this regard.
It didn't take me long, however, to develope the skill, and fearlessness, to climb onto everything in sight...
Including Daddy himself!
By the summer I was climbing Tom's Cat Tree, and making myself at home. ;-D
Curiosity didn't kill THIS spunky little kitten! ;-D
Oh, and yes, that is the "Real Men Admit they Love Cats" shirt Daddy used to wear, and wishes he could find again!
Tom, and I, warily kept our distance as much as possible. While I was curious about him, he didn't SEEM to want to have anything to do with me. The slightest thing would set him off, and he would gruffly say something mean to me, and slap me.
Just his yelling "BOO!" if I even looked in his direction was enough to send me running to find a place to hide, his laughter ringing in my ears...
I quickly learned what was his, and to respect his space.
A month into my new life the memories of my Mother, and my siblings was still affecting my dreams, and Daddy would hold me close...as at the foot of the bed, a Battle-Scarred Old Warrior lay and watched....
Then one day in May, May 3rd to be exact...it happened...
He softened...ever so slightly, but he softened!
I have tears in my eyes as I write this...
The memories are so damned strong right now!
He was resting on the couch, in our Pomona Bungalow, watching me play on the floor.
Bu there was something different about him that morning.
He was watching me intensely, not in anger, and distrust anymore, but with amusement, and what, to me, seemed to be a welcoming twinkle in his eyes....
Sooo...I took my young life into my hands, and decided to risk losing the first of my 9 Lives. ;-D
I hopped up on the couch, and approached him from behind...he didn't move an inch, watching me out of the corner of his eye, as I tentatively reached out a paw in friendship...my eyes wide in fearful curiosity...sure that I was about to die!
The fact that I am here to tell the tale is proof that I didn't. ;-D
He let me touch him, and even climb on his back!
From that day forward our relationship changed.
I think he knew that he didn't have long before it was his time to head for Rainbow Bridge...
He taught me everything I needed to know, things Daddy couldn't teach me...not being a Cat, and all. ;-D
I miss that Cat! So does Daddy.
There are no more pictures of us together.
I'll end this post by paying respect to those who came before Tom & I in Daddy's life.
Boots was Daddy's Best Buddy, before me, and died the year of these 2 pictures, in 1995, at age 12.
At the end he could barely walk, and Daddy took him to the vet, late at night, for his journey to Rainbow Bridge, carrying him in his arms, telling him he loved him.
Ginger (Brown), and Junior (Both Age 3, 1978), were brother & sister Chihuahua mixes, the family had their whole lives in the 70's, and 80's, and live to age 13, passing on a week apart from each other, he first, her next, a feisty old gal who missed the brother she had picked on all their lives.
Baby Girl was a champion purebred Show Boxer with the sweetest heart, who live with Daddy's Aunt, and Uncle, and is seen in 1978, at age 8.
Blackie, and Bonnie were cats who lived with his sisters in the early 90's.
Tomorrow I begin to look to the future. ;-D
A certain Feline Utility Vehicle, and I, have been getting acquainted! ;-D
I think I just might like the contraption. ;-D
Them old pictors is grate!
Mom's showed us pictors of the First Cat and the cat afore Bonnie, an we show Nina pictors of Bonnie.
Nina an I was amost full-growed when we dopted our beans, so we don't haf real baby pictors.
Bonnie only showed me a soft moment a week afore she died and made sure to whap me HARD acrost my nose the day afore she died.
Posted by: Victor Tabbycat | March 05, 2010 at 01:31 PM
Awwww, those are lovely, but heart-tugging memories, not only of Tom, but of all the previous beloved fur companions.
Our relationship with non-humans animals is so different, the love purer, I think, because it doesn't come with all the baggage and expectations that we place on other humans.
Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Fuzzy Tales | March 05, 2010 at 04:06 PM
What great pictures, and what wonderful memories.
Happy purrthday to you, Nikita Cat!
Posted by: meowmeowmans | March 05, 2010 at 06:43 PM
What a beautiful and touching story.
And of course Happy Birthday to you.
Posted by: Esme | March 06, 2010 at 08:35 AM
awwww the old photos are simply wonderful :)
Thank you for sharing.
We love them all.
Happy Birthday! :)
Posted by: Love Meow | March 06, 2010 at 10:50 PM
Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories, and photographs with us.
We enjoyed reading about your relationship with Tom.
What a grand old cat he was, and obviously he was a great mentor to you.
Whicky
Posted by: everycat | March 08, 2010 at 04:38 AM
Loved looking at tha olden photos an reading yours story.
Fanks so much fur sharing this wif all of us.
Love & Purrs,
KC
Posted by: KC | July 11, 2010 at 09:03 AM