tiltjlp
PN co-founder
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2003
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I never was much of a cat person until a few years after my dad suffered a massive stroke in the fall of 1988. I became his sole caregiver, and only months later, I was involved in an auto accident which disabled me. Starting in the spring of 1990, we adopted four wonderful cats over the next few years, each with distinctive personalities. While the cats didn’t all get along with one another, they all liked both me and my dad. Dad and I each had a cat that simply adored us, which is always a nice feeling. As I got to know Sugar, Samantha, Smokey, and my darling Sarah Lee, I was surprised to realize how strong their personalities were. And how those personalities could and did clash sometimes. Sugar tormented Sarah Lee, while Samantha was afraid of Sarah Lee. Smokey, who had been set on fire by a youngster, was lovable but somewhat the loner. While things were usually peaceful, the cats seldom spent much time all in the same room.
My father, who lived a hard but good life, died in May of 1995, and that was when the cats showed me that not only do they indeed have souls and spiritual feelings, but a deep sense of caring. Returning home from the hospital after I’d been told of my dad’s death, I sat down and cried for a few minutes. All four cats came into the room one after another and each one came up next to the chair I was sitting in, so I could pet them for a minute.
Next, they all sat in a close semi-circle just in front of me, and stayed that way for fifteen minutes, while I told them what had happened. Then they all turned around, and laid down quietly facing away form me, as if they were giving me time to be alone with my thoughts. They stayed with me that way for over an hour, while I made numerous phone calls. Finally they walked out of the room, except for Sugar, who was my special cat, who came a laid next to my chair. They got along peacefully for the next three days.
Samantha, who’d been dad’s constant companion and lap cat, spent most of her time in dad’s room, sleeping in his bed, just like she had done every night. While she would come visit me, she seemed to understand that dad wouldn’t be coming home. Once the house was sold, I had to give three of the cats away to friends, which is the hardest thing I have even done in my life. Sugar and I were inseparable, so it was heartbreaking when I decided to keep Sarah Lee and not Sugar. But Sugar and Samantha were as close as sisters while Sarah Lee was a loner. Being able to keep Samantha and Sugar together eased my pain some, but I felt guiltier than I have about anything I’ve ever done.
But I’ve always believed that things happen for a reason. Six months after Sarah Lee and I moved to an apartment, she was diagnosed with cancer in her upper right gum and jaw. I nursed her back to health over nearly a year, and she and I became as close as father and daughter. She and I shared over nine years together, and eventually, she became the lap cat I had hoped she would be. Whenever I was in my recliner, Sarah Lee would be in my lap, getting belly rubs or just napping.
I believe that Sarah Lee somehow knew she was dieing, and became a lap cat to strengthen the bond we had. I think she wanted to make sure that my memories of her would be good ones, and that I wouldn’t mourn for her very long. While I did grieve for her, I really never mourned for her, since we had such a wonderful life together. I think of her, and of my dad often, and of course I miss them both. But I celebrate both their lives, because I know they both were special in their own ways. She really was a sweet cat. All four cats are gone now, of course, but they all hold a very special place in my heart, as my dad does.
My father, who lived a hard but good life, died in May of 1995, and that was when the cats showed me that not only do they indeed have souls and spiritual feelings, but a deep sense of caring. Returning home from the hospital after I’d been told of my dad’s death, I sat down and cried for a few minutes. All four cats came into the room one after another and each one came up next to the chair I was sitting in, so I could pet them for a minute.
Next, they all sat in a close semi-circle just in front of me, and stayed that way for fifteen minutes, while I told them what had happened. Then they all turned around, and laid down quietly facing away form me, as if they were giving me time to be alone with my thoughts. They stayed with me that way for over an hour, while I made numerous phone calls. Finally they walked out of the room, except for Sugar, who was my special cat, who came a laid next to my chair. They got along peacefully for the next three days.
Samantha, who’d been dad’s constant companion and lap cat, spent most of her time in dad’s room, sleeping in his bed, just like she had done every night. While she would come visit me, she seemed to understand that dad wouldn’t be coming home. Once the house was sold, I had to give three of the cats away to friends, which is the hardest thing I have even done in my life. Sugar and I were inseparable, so it was heartbreaking when I decided to keep Sarah Lee and not Sugar. But Sugar and Samantha were as close as sisters while Sarah Lee was a loner. Being able to keep Samantha and Sugar together eased my pain some, but I felt guiltier than I have about anything I’ve ever done.
But I’ve always believed that things happen for a reason. Six months after Sarah Lee and I moved to an apartment, she was diagnosed with cancer in her upper right gum and jaw. I nursed her back to health over nearly a year, and she and I became as close as father and daughter. She and I shared over nine years together, and eventually, she became the lap cat I had hoped she would be. Whenever I was in my recliner, Sarah Lee would be in my lap, getting belly rubs or just napping.
I believe that Sarah Lee somehow knew she was dieing, and became a lap cat to strengthen the bond we had. I think she wanted to make sure that my memories of her would be good ones, and that I wouldn’t mourn for her very long. While I did grieve for her, I really never mourned for her, since we had such a wonderful life together. I think of her, and of my dad often, and of course I miss them both. But I celebrate both their lives, because I know they both were special in their own ways. She really was a sweet cat. All four cats are gone now, of course, but they all hold a very special place in my heart, as my dad does.
That always screws things up around here when I do It .
