Friday, January 11, 2013

Sorry I coudn't keep you with me longer ...

About four years ago , still living in Maple Ridge i noticed a little black cat hanging around . She appeared to be staying close by as I would see her at my neighbors. Knowing she didn't belong to him, i started leaving food out for her on my bench in the carport. One day talking to my neighbor over the fence , the little black cat came up in the conversation. Mario told me he could pet her. I was surprised and asked him if he was feeding her and he told me he was. I then asked if he was going to bring her inside and he wasn't so i asked him to stop feeding her so i could get her. When the food was taken away over there she was forced to come to my place more often. A place with a big dog , many pigs and horses ..but she would of already met Luke , our big orange tabby. And she did come and joined Carport Penny as i prepared a nice warm safe place for her on top of Penny's house that was tucked in the back of my double carport. I called her Patou, short for Cutie Patootie. She was jet black, little tough fluff ball from living in the outside world and she would eat anything and everything. Trying to get in her to stay in the Big hosue when we became trust worthy was another story. I would bring her inside and shut doors that only cats could get threw and left a window open for her. Having lived outside for Lord only knows how long, it was her safe world now. I left a window open so she wouldn't feel trapped , but every morning her bed i had prepared for her inside on top of the dryer would be empty. When I moved us all here in December of 2009 her and Luke were both confined inside until i was sure they had grown accustomed to there new surroundings. There was no carport here, no benches to leap up on and get up to the rafters. And over time it became obvious to me that both cats now didn't want to go outside and were perfectly happy. Doors open for pigs and dogs during the summer months lured them out for a quick pee and right back in again. Patou's health started to decline and a few weeks ago her weight dropped dramatically. A vet trip and home with medication. Suspected cancer would be looked at if and when we got her stable. She ate all her dinner last night but i could see she was not doing as well as i had hoped after a week of meds. When i woke up this morning I found her flat out on the living room floor. I thought she was gone... Roxane and I got to the vets before they were open and they took her right in. An hour later we were told she wasn't going to make it. I don't know who didn't care about you when you came upon us. We were told you were about 15 years. Not old for a cat well looked after but i suppose it is , for one who wasn't for her first 11-12 years. I will miss you sitting on the edge of the couch bumping me..holding your head into my cheek for a moment . I will miss you pushing your face in my dish when i am trying to eat dinner. I will miss your meow, your face and your little big self.