Mom and Dad had a beautiful Abyssinian cat who adopted them in the mid 80’s. She had a litter of kittens in the spring of 1990 and tried valiantly to be a good mother, but she didn’t have any nutrition for them in her milk. As a result, two of the kittens were hand fed. When Mom and Dad left for vacation, the kittens were brought to my house to care for while they were gone. Somehow, Rascal and Scruffy stayed with me after Mom and Dad returned. Mom wanted to call the all black kitten Rastus but I didn’t think that fit a cute little girl cat. The name Scruffy didn’t fit the little black and white one either after she grew up, but she always got so much food on her when she was little that she did look a bit scruffy right after meal times. (Scruffy was with me for nearly 15 years. She refused to come in the house one night because there were too many fun things to do outside-like chase mice and lizards. She chased something onto the highway just as a vehicle was driving by and didn’t make it back off the highway. I will always remember her because she really liked Cashew nuts. Most cats won’t eat nuts, but she thought those were better than cat treats and there was no way I could eat them without sharing with her.) Rascal also had a terrific personality. She was playful and intelligent. As a young cat she was a bold hunter and very creative as well as patient when it came to killing mice. As old age took its toll on her body, she could no longer hunt and became content to be in the house, particularly lying in the sunshine as it streamed through the windows or sleeping beside the wood stove in the winter. She slept on me most nights keeping us both warm. She insisted on being as close to the keyboard as she could get when I typed on the computer and was always in the same room with me if possible.
She had been failing in health for the last 3 or 4 years, but started declining at an alarming rate about a month ago. Although she never appeared to be in any pain, I could tell it was frustrating for her not to be able to get around. She could no longer jump quickly onto my lap or wherever I was working, but still managed to figure out a way to there by climbing on shorter things and working her way to wherever I was sitting.
I know I gave her a comfortable and happy life. In return she gave me comfort and companionship which I will always remember and I thank her for it. It was her time to cross the rainbow bridge, but I am sad she left me behind.
2 comments:
So sorry for your lose. Saying goodby to a good and old friend is hard.
So sad to hear about Rascal. The biggest problem with cats is that their lives are too short.
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