Cate Tales: Affectionate Cats
Many people thing that cats are aloof loners that really lack affection. I can tell you that not only is that not true, but they show affection in distinctly different ways.
My oldest cat, Rogue, was the runt of her litter (but very strong willed, liked the little Grandmother that everyone feared!!!). But she would often climb on my lap and chest and then flop down on her side and purr like mad when you started petting her.
Shadow, who was my middle cat, changed as she got older. When she was around a year old, she would actually climb on my shoulder and stick her nose in my ear and purr. Crazy, huh. As she got older, the purring didn’t stop, but the mechanisms were different. She would often curl on my side, making herself very comfortable and “hug” me before flipping over and having me pet his belly.
Cats even show each other affection, often napping together.
Gambit, my youngest, was a neader. Many cats have done this, but not of them. It’s like they are giving a message. Gambit would do this on your arm or leg, but he would also press his very wet nose into you why he did it.
A Funny Gambit Story
In honor of all of my feline friends, I’m going to start writing short anecdotes from their time with me. Here’s the first one about Gambit on the day that I lay him to rest.
He was about six months old when he came to me, but I could already tell that he was going to be a big, athletic kitty. Well, on day two of him home with me, I came home from work and went into my bathroom, to find Gambit hanging from the top of the shower door, trying to pull himself up. I was both amazed and amused, as it was something I never had seen before.
Saying Goodbye to a Friend
In August, 1994 I took one of the first big chances I had ever taken in my life. I had been excepted into Graduate School at Xavier University in Cincinnati. Unlike most people, I had spent the previous couple of years in the work force after receiving my undergraduate degree, and hated. So thanks to some prodding from a good friend, I applied to grad school and was excepted at X, but I had never been there. Never saw the campus, or even been to Cincinnati. But I decided to go. After finishing my first semester, and starting work with the local minor league hockey team, I felt that something was missing. What was missing was a pet. I had always had pets and kind of wanted a dog. But between school, and work with the team, and the fact that I lived in an apartment, I decided against a dog and instead adopted two wonderful cats, since cats take care of each other.
About a year or so later a friend of mine came to me at work. He was out walking his dog when he discovered an alley cat that someone hit over the head with a brick. He wanted to keep him, but because of his dog, couldn’t. Being a sucker for animals, I told my friend that I would take him, but we would need to find a better home for him.
About two years later I left Cincinnati to come home to the Philadelphia area. Me, a UHaul with my Chevy Blazer towed behind, and three cats. I put the two girls in a large carrier and went back into the house for my boy, who promptly ran out of the apartment at 3 in the moring. Luckily, he didn’t go far, as I was wondering what I would do if I couldn’t find him as I was running down the steps. I scooped him up, placed him in his carrier and off we went.
I’m very grateful for having my feline friends. Several years ago I was suffering from severe depression. This is a disease that I don’t wish on my worst enemies. I constantly felt as if I was drowning, alone even among a group of people. I was suicidal. I couldn’t go on. I was literally driving to a place where I could end my agony until I thought about who would be there to take care of my “babies.” It was that thought that aloud me to get the help that I needed.
It is truly amazing to be the anamosity that some people feel for cats. If they do, they have never had the pleasure of knowing these amazing creatures. Whenever I came home, they were there to meet me at the door. When I was sick, they would sit by my bed. Their purring was always there when I needed a pick me up. The day I thought about making my last in this lifetime, I went home and hugged my cats like never before, and they just stopped and let me. Except for the youngest, he licked me.
Last year, I buried the two oldest, Rogue and Shadow. They were 17 and 15 1/2 years old and lived a wonderful life. But my boy and I went home and he continued to be there for me. Until tonight. Tonight, I had to put Gambit to sleep. His kidney’s were failing, and I couldn’t give him the care that he needed. I didn’t want him to suffer, so I made one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. Tomorrow I will lay him to rest with his sisters at the family farm.
Gambit, 1995-2009, Rest In Peace.
He was a very, very special cat. He tucked me in every night when I went to bed. Literally. I would turn out the lights and get under the covers. Then he would jump in bed with me, head butt me, and then sit by my legs for a while, while drifted to dream land.
He also had a kneading habit. Many cats do, where they start kneading a part of your body with their front paws. But Gambit, being special like he was, would stick his very, very wet nose on your arm or leg while he kneaded you.
I could go on with stories for a long, long time, of all three of my feline friends. They were my favorite photography subjects, and my favorite culinary critics. Oddly enough, unlike his sisters, Gambit was never big on human food, except of course, for tuna. And then only little bits from the can.
I really miss him, and his sisters. In fact, their loss from last year still weighs deeply on my heart. But I know that the three of them are together now in heaven, that better home I promised Gambit I would find him one day. I know I will see them there again one day, but thanks to them, not for a long time.
Goodnight Gambit, tonight I tuck you in.
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