The story is a familiar one. Stray cat shows up in backyard, family agrees not to feed it, hoping that it will go home. The following is the story of Bob, a lucky cat who lives with Mom Janet, Dad Jeff and two kids, Jolee (13) and Kyle (10), as told to me by Janet.
The white furry creature with apricot markings had made himself contentedly at home on our front porch bench. When I put on my meanest face and made my best growl sounds, he simply looked up at me as if to say “Lady, you are totally nuts. Don’t you know you’re going to love me?” He didn’t budge. He didn’t even flinch. He just kept right on purring like he was entertained. So I gave in and secretly fed him.
Shortly thereafter, Jeff was recovering at home from a knee injury, when he accidentally left our garage door open. The curious kitty found his way inside the house and calmly walked behind a computer desk. Thinking he’d never get the cat back outside, Jeff started talking to him. “Kitty, you’ll have to go back outside.” Much to Jeff’s surprise, the cat immediately stepped out from behind the desk, looked up at Jeff and slowly walked out the way he walked in. This cat could understand English!
Next, a friend visited, and excitedly told Jeff that this was no ordinary cat. Jeff called me at work to tell me that “our new kitty is a flame-point Siamese, and he’s special. This breed is smart, vocal, and has personality.” Vocal is something we were quickly finding out, and it’s probably the attribute that won this cat a permanent home.
Our other cat, Osu (pronounced Oh-Sue), was strictly an indoor cat. On several supervised visits indoors, the stray kitty had met Osu, who had been our only pet for 18 years. Jeff called me at work again. “You’re never going to believe what our new cat can do.”
“What?”
“He can talk.”
“No way.” After I stopped laughing and started to wonder if Jeff had hurt more than just his knee in his accident, I asked, “Well….exactly what did he say?”
“He was outside the den glass door. Osu was inside looking out. The new cat ‘said’ her name perfectly, over and over. ‘Oh-Sue. Ohhhhh-Sue.’ At first I didn’t believe it. And I don’t think Osu believed it either.”
“No way could he be that smart. It’s just a coincidence.”
Sure enough, it wasn’t long until I heard it. The new kitty took great delight in pushing Osu’s buttons, and they played this game often. We also heard other “words” like “Momma,” “Hello” and “I want in.” The talking kitty, now called “Bob,” had found a home.
When we went on vacation, Bob went to board at Camille’s Cathouse. Camille observed that Bob had a “drinking problem,” consuming large amounts of water. I hadn’t notice that before, because Bob preferred to drink out of our swimming pool. A visit to the vet confirmed that Bob indeed had a kidney problem.
Due to all the medication, Bob’s eyesight has declined and he is almost blind. But that hasn’t affected his attitude or his style. He can still find all his favorite chairs and hang-outs in the yard. He enjoys boxes and kitty beds, and even toys that make noise. He seems to navigate well using his hearing, stopping to carefully smell the air and adjust his path accordingly.
Bob continues to keep us well entertained as the most laid-back cat we’ve ever had. He has happily socialized during a wedding reception in our yard, purrs all the way to the vet’s office, is king of the kennel at Camille’s, has been Kyle’s show and tell, and takes in stride the visits to the pet store filled with dogs. He doesn’t even mind being dressed up as Cowboy Bob for Halloween to make the neighborhood trick or treat rounds!
Osu has since passed away of old age, and we have adopted a new young cat named Midge. No, Bob hasn’t learned to say her name yet, but his vocalizing does change when we talk about her. One day Jeff and I were telling him what a good kitty he was. He was so content, taking it all in, purring and “answering” us in mellow meows. I then asked him, “Is Midge a good kitty?” Bob stood up and his vocalization tone immediately changed from contentment to frustration as if to say “No! The only good one here is ME!”
We’ve occasionally questioned ourselves whether we should continue Bob’s medicine or just let nature take its course. Our vet has worked with us to keep costs as low as we can, and Bob pays his part by ridding our backyard of moles. Although Bob seems happy and he’s holding his own, he is in the polyuric phase of kidney failure, and that won’t last forever. Once he enters the next phase, the end can come rather quickly. Our family dreads that day, but we know we’ve given extra years to one of the best pets we’ve ever had.
In choosing us as his family, Bob has taught us many things: 1) Seek out those who love. 2) Make the most of the hand you are dealt. 3) Love everyone. 4) When you sign on for a responsibility, you can’t just quit when there’s a problem. 5) Never stop purring.
