To my cat. Hey, I don’t have kids, this is one of my furry kids.
This is Claudius. We chose his birthday and that of his brother’s (Johann) to be January because it was after we came back from our honeymoon in 1994 that we decided to break the rules of our lease and get a cat. In Seaside, CA we had a friend, an appraiser, who attracted cats like Willy Wonka attracts chocolate. He was affectionately known in his neighborhood as the “Cat Man”.
Tom had a cat that had recently given birth. She was a terrible mother that kept trying to kill her kittens. Unfortunately, she succeeded in doing just that with all but three of the kittens. Tom had fallen in love with the runt of the litter, Boo Boo Kat. She was tiny and he had to nurse her. So that left the two healthiest ones, two rough and tumble fellows, a black cat and a black and white cat. Against our good sense, we took them both that day. We also, unfortunately for them, had to haul them off directly to the vet for a risky flea dip; they were infested.
Once home, though, Claudius and Johann made themselves at home and enjoyed free reign in our apartment. Both Claudius and Johann had to endure a move; a rough drive from Monterey to Redding, CA. Cindy, my friend, drove the distance. For us, it was a great drive. I think, though, that the two brothers were cursing us all the way.
Johann died of pancreatitis about four years ago, and Claudius, who adored his brother, turned the affection for him, to us. Even though we brought another cat into the house (much to Claudius’ evident distaste), he still loves Richard and I.
Claudius, by my calculations is 12 years old this year. He’s still quite spry, but demands a lot more affection than he used to. He sleeps with me every night, usually starting out by perching on my left side (my left kidney is probably dead by now). There have been times when I’ve wakened up with his cheek against mine. And when I have migraines, he likes to knead my head.
It’s late, so I think I’ll go give Claudius a few extra snacks and trip off to bed.
~jd
Claudius sounded so much like my pampered cat, Curl! We used to have 7 cats, all strays and they joined us when we moved to another country. Then my parents moved to a house by the golf course and eventually only 2 were left. Curl and his dad, Tiga. Tiga was mom’s favorite cat with a unique stories of his own. On day we found him dead in front of our house, knocked down by a bus. How mom cried for months. I still miss him but I have Curl which sleeps on my pillow every night!
wow this is soooo beautiful!!!
LOL! I have a Black cat named Marvin the Martian! Blumoon has a black cat too. What is it about artists and black cats?
H-P B-Day to Number One Cat (: