Max has agreed to live with me as long as it's on his terms.
Posted on 12/15/2007 9:34:11 AM PST by Congressman Billybob
We have two cats: Weasel, a grey female calico, and Orion, a male orange and white tabby. Orion is a big, lump of a cat, twenty pounds if he’s an ounce. He’s taught me a lesson for years that I finally realized today. He teaches by example.
Orion showed up at the door four years ago in the fall. He was obviously a house cat, not a feral or wild one. He had no collar. We brought him water and food. He wanted to come inside, but we didn’t let him. He was obviously someone else’s cat; we shouldn’t prevent him from going home.
Winter came. The wind chill dropped to its mean minus ten at night. Orion had apparently gone home. Then one morning in the snow, I saw little cat prints from the barn up to our door and back. We started putting out food and water, and changing the water every time it froze.
We kept watch. We saw the orange boy, much thinner, and with a cut on his cheek, from a fight with another creature. Eventually, we got Orion inside.
For more than a year, he was frightened of me, but not of females in the household. He would skitter and run when anyone attempted to hold him or pick him up. In time, we found he had a knot on one of his ribs where it had been broken, and healed badly.
So, we knew his story. He was abused where he used to live. He was kicked, probably frequently by a grown male in the house, and suffered a broken rib. We showed him nothing but kindness from then to now.
How has this sweet creature responded? He obviously has deep affection for his folks. He sleeps with us, usually on the far side of Michelle, nearest to the window. Especially on cold winter mornings, he wants to be first in line for the warming sun of dawn to wash over him, and warm his fur.
He no longer fears being touched or held. Quite the contrary, he will curl up within touching distance of one of his humans. And, when you scratch him under the chin, he will often respond by rolling over on his back, catch your hand with his paw, and encourage you to rub his belly.
Mind you, please don’t tell this to the President of the Cats’ Union. Orion will be drummed out of the Union if word about this leaks out.
The most telling thing that Orion does is a deep, rumbling purr whenever he is generally satisfied, which is most of the time. It is such a loud purr that, unlike most cats, when he is in full fettle his purr can be heard from way across the room.
It took years for Orion to reach that point of being at home and comfortable, so he will curl up close to his humans, invite rubs and scratches, and purr to beat the band. He was doing that this morning while I was reflecting on the political debates that I have watched (that have been inflicted on me recently).
I follow politics closely. As I listen to national politicians speak, I can spot about one bald-faced lie every 30 seconds. Yes, I’m being charitable. There is exactly one of the candidates for President whom I think is telling the truth all of the time. And that makes him all the more frightening, that he actually believes what he is saying. No, I won’t name him. And thanks be to Heaven he will never be elected to any nationwide office.
But this morning as I watched one more spectacular sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mountains, and over Michelle’s shoulder, and over the ears of an orange, purring cat, I thought of the difference between Orion and all those politicians. Orion is honest at all times and in all ways. And every aspect of my relationship with him is based on trust.
Can you say that of any politician you know? I can’t. So, I suggest this standard to use when you are listening to, or reading, any speech by a politician: Is this as honest as a cat’s purr? The answer to that first question will be no. So, you can follow up with mille-cats. Rating a politician at 400 mille-cat means he/she is 40% as honest as a cat.
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About the Author: John Armor practiced in the US Supreme Court for 33 years. John_Armor@aya.yale.edu He lives in the 11th District of North Carolina.
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John / Billybob
I agree, but cats do not have a union, they are all independent contractors. There are rumors of a professional association (like the Bar or AMA), but it is a secret society.
You want to be a Congressman. Should we expect lies from you when you run for office?
2 dogs
4 cats(2 in the house, 2 outside/garage)
the last 2 dumped just down the road from me. They had been in a cardboard pet carrier from a vet and just tossed in the side ditch.
Yep. Cats are wonderful. They don’t fight because a the fat cat on Nob Hill tells them to. They are wonderfully independent creatures and people could learn a lot from them.
Max has agreed to live with me as long as it's on his terms.
John / Billybob
“Those of y’all who own (or are owned by) cats will especially appreciate this.”
“Dogs have owners, cats have servents”
One day, about 17 years ago, I heard a noise at out front door. There was a most beautiful orange color young cat. 3/4 of its tail was skinned off and the remaining was really discolored and showed signs of extreme danger. He was just calling for help by the way he acted.
Both my wife and I almost cried, and we picked him up and put him in a box. He had no collar, so we had no way to determine who owned him. Off to the Vet we went and after a HUGH sum, the vet removed the tail to a stub. The Vet released him in a few days and home he came with a tightly bandaged stub and a plastic collar to keep him for aggravating the area.
From that day to his estimated 15 years of age, he always curled up on my lap to sleep. He was free to go outdoors, via a cat door I put in the door, and never left the yard. He was such a joy and watching him run and play throughout the house with his little stub twitching in the breeze. In the morning he would jump up on the bed and curl up next to me and just purr. One of the most sad days of my life was when he passed away. I will always believe that kindness would be rewarded with love and loyalty.
“When my kids were small, we had a large tabby that would come to visit during the day. The girls dressed him in doll’s clothes and put him in baby strollers. He would have a little something to eat. Sleep on the back of the couch and around 5 he would leave to go home. We have tons of pictures, but we never knew his name or who he belonged to.”
Similar story: I had a neighbor somewhere with a calico. She stopped by on the weekends at the same time everyday at my doorstep, so one day I let her in and she went directly to my fish aquariums and just marveled and stared at them for a couple hours, then she would want to leave. This went on for several years until I moved away. I have a picture of her too.
“I had a neighbor somewhere with a calico.”
“then she would want to leave. This went on for several years until I moved away. I have a picture of her too.”
The cat, I meant.
We found an extremely thin young white/calico/siamese mix female six weeks ago, hiding in our garage. We coaxed her out; she was covered with cuts and scratches.She is also deaf. We brought her into the house. She is making friends with the other two (both were ferals who came into the house).
She’s gained weight; is very laid back and follows me around like a dog. We named her “Frankie” for her amazing blue eyes.
Great post.
We rescued Tucky from a shelter. He's been the best cat ever. He's so loving and loves to cuddle. I can't imagine life without him.
There used to be a comic strip called "Useful Eustace," about a character who was always trying to be helpful and ended up making things worse. Mother referred to that cat as "Eustace." I knew what she meant.
I was adopted by a stray orange tabby in 1999. He is a delight and he also has quite a loud purr.
Great story. We’ve had cats come and go through our lives that all rated as characters!
We’ve got two indoor cats, one of whom never is quiet! and a garage kitty. She can come in if she wants but seems quite content to live in the garage. She also is the only cat I’ve ever had that purrs while she eats. She also has the sometimes annoying habit of reaching up and stretching on whatever part of your anatomy is handy! Them claws can be somewhat sharp!
“Dogs have owners, cats have servents”
I would rather be a cat!
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