just an old stray cat

bikermikearchery

bikermikearchery

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Jan 18, 2007
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Never thought of my self as much of a cat person. Always liked dogs better. After all dogs do seam smarter, and there loyalty is unquestionable. My Wife and I seam to accumulate a lot of strays. We took in my Dads dogs after he had passed had them just long enough to get really attached to them them then one by one they passed from age and natural causes. We still have 2 dogs Her little border collie and my big 140 pound Shepard mix. I lost a little Spaniel last year on Valentines day she was 18 years old, so she had a good long run. Cats have always been another thing. Always kept them out-doors. They do less damage that way. If you feed cats outside and one of them disappears. another one will just show up and take its place. About 8 years ago one of the critters was killed by the coyotes. So after a lot of pleading and a little crying my wife convinced me to let this stray cat come in to the house. I said we'll give it a try, but I was ready to give the cat the boot in a second. He didn't even really have a name we just called him TC, (the cat, this cat, that cat) Now this cat,(or This Cat) had never even let me get near him. Spooked the minute I come around, but the first night he spent in the house he kept me awake half the night by laying on my chest and purring and kneading. I guess we became instant buddy's. When he came inside he put on a few pounds as well, about 20 in fact. and earned the name Fatboy. I always told everyone that he was named after my model of Harley, but at nearly 30 pounds He was Fatboy. A few years ago I had a very bad crash that nearly took my leg off. For 2 1/2 years when I wasn't in the hospital having a surgery I was stuck on my couch with a bunch of tubes sticking out of me. I got so damn mean I drove nearly everyone I know away from me, but through the worst time of my life that cat was by my side. Always bringing me a fresh caught mouth or lizard, and doing those silly cat things that make you laugh. Fatboy even seamed to know things that just made you wonder. He would gentility bit my nose if I was asleep and it was time to hang a new IV. He even woke me up one time that probably kept me from bleeding out. That could be a coincidence, but thats not what I believe. There has never been an animal that I have bonded with like this cat.
A few months ago Fatboy started to loose some weight. We got him to the Vet and found a bad tooth, but when they did a blood panel we found out his kidneys were failing. For the last few months we have been keeping him going with sub-Q fluids to flush the kidneys, antibiotics, appetite stimulants, and some other stuff. Last night we made him as comfortable as possible with some fluids and painkillers and I left him on the couch. I awoke this morning and and he had made it to my side like always, and that was his last act.
By by little buddy.
 
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Man I can feel your pain, or at leat know how it is as they become part of the family. My sorrows for your loss.
 
Thank you for sharing your buddy's story; it brought tears to both of us.
I've never underestood why I can be stoic about people dying, accepting it as part of life, but animal friends, that always hurts.
May his love always remain fresh in your memory, and uplift you.
 
Back in the late 70's I had an alley cat that we adopted. He was afraid of nothing -- he ran a doberman off the front yard once. I still remember the look on the face of the guy with the doberman. Good times. My cat was maybe a little smaller in weight. He was still an alley cat even though he had a free meal ticket at our house. Usually he would disappear for several days and then show up all torn up. We would try and doctor his torn up face, but nothing doing on that. He never put a claw on me and I had him trained to "gimme five." He was such a constant that we never worried about him much. Like your cat he came home to die. He showed up one morning not looking good. He layed up in front of the refrigerator (his fave spot) and let go the ghost. I was in high school by then. We had several cats/dogs/snakes and a quail as pets. He was the only cat that cared for catnip so I buried him with his box of catnip. My heart broke.

I'll say today that I don't like cats....
 
Cats have a way of really bonding with you.
I understand the way you feel. I have lost two cats in the last five years, and cried both times.
Stacy
 
Mike thanks for sharing the story of Fat Boy. When a cat bonds with a human, it's a special thing. You are a lucky man. I have had numerious animals over the years and all have been strays. Only one cat really bonded with me. His name was Jo Jo. I cried like a baby when he passed.
 
Lovely stories, guys. I'm definitely a cat guy. Nothing against dogs, there's just something about cats.
 
What a heart-rending story. Very sorry for your loss. :(
 
I love cats too, and believe they have an intelligence far greater than man.
 
I'm a dog person too but I'm going to miss my wife's "Fluffy" when the time comes. Most of her's are strays that were fixed and adopted so she really doesn't know how old a couple of them are. He comes to me to get petted when she's not around.
 
I'm mainly a dog person but your fondness for your stray had me crying, bikermikearchery, and the title of your thread hit close to home. Hope you don't mind if I post this story...


…only a dog

The family lost interest and turned
him loose to fend for himself.
Why should I care if
this mutt lives or dies…
he’s only a dog.

I watch as he roams the street
looking for a friend.
Some kids chase after him
yelling and throwing stones.
Still… he’s only a dog.

Down the street he runs.
Tail tucked between his legs
and staring neither left or right.
He’s scared and confused but no
one cares… he’s only a dog.

I stand up and whistle, then see
his head turn towards me.
“C’mon over here you little mutt.”
He stops in his tracks & cocks his
head to listen… he’s only a dog.

Took him a minute to realize
I wasn’t throwing stones and
meant him no harm.
The tail gave a wiggle and slowly
he came over… he’s only a dog.

After smelling my hand, I scratched
his head and rubbed his back where
some stones had landed.
I took him in and gave him a meal
and yet… he’s only a dog.

He’s learned to relax some but he
puts his head on my foot for
reassurance that I haven’t gone.
Makes me wonder what kind of life he’s
had up to this point but… he’s only a dog.

When I feel down and tired of living,
he knows what to do to bring me around.
He’ll listen to what bothers me while
looking me in the eye; grab an old tennis
ball and get me to play… he’s only a dog.

I’m older now and can no longer hear.
He lets me know when someone rings
the bell or is calling my name.
He knows my bones ache and that his
warmth does soothe… he’s only a dog.

Looking back on the years that this
dog has been my friend and I his, I
still have to wonder what he did to
deserve such treatment from his
original family. Ah yes… he’s only a dog.

Clydetz 5/29/08
 
Thanks for the words. It looks like it could be a sad year. I took my big old Dog "Mac" for a walk last night. He lost control of his back legs 3 times in one block.
 

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Buncha tough grown men sittin around with tears in our eyes. :o

And that's OK... I think it's good for a person to care.
 
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