Cats.

Some people love them, some actually despise the cute tiny little death machines, and in case you didn’t figure it out by this sentence alone, I am definitely in the camp of the former, not the latter.

I guess it makes sense as when I was but a wee lad still ambulating on four legs myself my best buddy was a ‘tuxedo’ cat named Charlie who, so legend has it, would allow me to pull on his tail without anger or retaliation on his part.

He also allowed me once to paint his white spots with black watercolor paint, something I vaguely remember, especially the fact that it caused more amusement than anger when discovered.

From then on both cats and dogs were my best friends, my companions on many adventures, special gifts from above that got me through a lot of hard times.

There were many cats I’ll remember for the rest of my life but of course some stick out a lot more than others.

Besides Charlie there was E.T., an all black cat you may have guessed was named after a science fiction film that was pretty popular when I was a kid.

He was an awesome cat and loved me a lot but died young as he was an indoor/outdoor cat and even near the house got into fights with other local felines.

That cat came home once after being gone quite a while just to pass away from some bad injuries from a fight the very same night, an act of both bravery to make his way home and sadness at his early passing.

(Note: As an result in my adult life I’d never have any of my cats outdoors.)

Another notable cat was Elmer who ‘talked,’ which meant he would answer any questions you directed at him with a series of meows and yowls.

Now, say what you will about cats’ intelligence levels, all I know is Elmer had something to say on every subject from anthropology to zebra migration, something not every Human can claim…he was one smart kitty.

Lucy was one of the best cats I ever owned too, she was a sweet cat who would cuddle and purr and was so tiny even as she aged so she still looked like a youngster as an adult.

She also had two sets of sex organs, something we found out after getting her fixed and she still went into heat three months after her surgery.

Lucy was a very unique little girl
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My current cat, Baby, has to be mentioned here, I’ve only known her for almost four years but in that time she has been a solid presence in a life that seems upside down most of the time the last three years or so.

We’ve gone two states over and then back again, got through the tumultuous year that was 2020, the death of a mutual family member, and have had to survive together in less than ideal conditions.
These small examples of a childhood filled with these wonderful cats and other animals really makes me appreciate them for being with me (still to this day) during all those hard times and makes me really value the little things in life, like the unconditional love from a faithful pet.

Love and respect is where we find it, so always take time for your pets, they won’t be here forever, so make sure you’re there while they are here.