I have encountered and owned many cats throughout my life. They each have a story to tell. I suppose that is why T.S. Eliot wrote "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" and Andrew Lloyd Webber adapted it into the musical "Cats."
T.S. Eliot wrote this book which was a collection of whimsical poems about feline psychology and sociology. Being the cat lover that I am, I have read this book countless times. Andrew Lloyd Webber had the genius and foresight to turn this collection of poems into one of the greatest musicals of all time. I would probably be too embarrassed to say how many times I have seen "Cats."
Both the book and the play start out with the naming of the cats. This is always my favorite part. It seems so sophisticated and so mysterious. Each cat has 3 names: one common, one fancy and one only the cat knows. Somehow this tickles my funny bone!
I don't know the moment I fell in love with cats, but I honestly don't remember a moment when I DIDN'T love them. So I must have been fairly young. I can picture one of those tiny little hardback books that we all had as kids entitled 'Kittens.' I can see it so clearly in my mind. It was a light blue book with an adorable white and grey at on the cover looking at a butterfly. Maybe Santa brought me that book and that began my love affair with the furry little felines. I remember looking at it again and again and I would circle and draw hearts around the pictures of the kittens I liked the best. I think when I go back to Mom's house one of these days, I am going to look on the bookshelf and see if this or any of my Little Golden Books are still there. It would be awesome if I found this book!
I also loved the Dr. Seuss books about The Cat in the Hat. These were very different types of books from the sweet book about cats and kittens that I loved so much. The Cat in the Hat was known to be a mischievious cat and was always 'up to something!' I think Dr. Seuss must have been a crazy cat person himself. He captured our hearts with these books and touched on the true side of mischief that cats are so known for.
I always load Mom up with books from the library. She has become an avid reader. She particularly loves biographies, but occasionally I choose another genre of literature and sneak it into her stash. She pretty much reads whatever is put in front of her these days. Recently I got the book "Dewey" for her. Someone had recommended it to me and I never got around to reading it. This book was written by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter. It is a true story about a cat named Dewey Readmore Books. Dewey was the resident cat at the Spencer Public Library in Iowa. Someone put this cat in the book return in 1988. The library board agreed to neuter and declaw the cat and keep him around. I can't imagine who could put a kitten in a book return and leave him for dead, but God did His work and turned this tragedy into a blessing. Dewey lived a good life and didn't die until 2006. 18 years for a cat is a good long life. When I look at pictures of Dewey, I think of my own sweet cat, Leo. They look a lot alike.
I know I forced this book on Mom, but she did admit to enjoying it!
We all remember the Cheshire Cat in "Alice in Wonderland" and of course the endearing Puss N' Boots. But my love of cats stems far beyond the world of arts and literature. Cats are very real to me and are a very necessary part of my life.
I have had several cats in my lifetime beginning with a little kitten I got in kindergarten. I came by this cat in a most peculiar way. My grandmother, on Mom's side, was such a lovely and fun woman. I loved to visit her and spend time with her. I only knew her for a short 7 years, but there are some things about her I will never forget. I have two stories about her that I have told over and over again. I guess they are stories that make me happy and so they bear repeating. One of these stories is about a sleepover I had at Nanmama's. I didn't like to sleep away from home very much, but I was happy to have a special day/night with this sweet woman. She certainly had the true 'grandmother gene,' because she let me get away with a few things that my mother wouldn't. Nothing bad, of course, but she did allow me to eat corn and olives for breakfast! I never have been a breakfast eater and mom always had trouble getting me to eat anything in the morning. When my grandmother asked me what I wanted, I told her leftover corn and olives. She didn't flinch. Corn and olives it was. I remember she let me play in the backyard. She had grapevines and I loved to pick the grapes. They were those slipskin grapes where you just pushed on them and the juicy middle popped in your mouth and the skin stayed put. Thinking back, I ate these until I was stuffed, and I didn't wash a one of them. I pulled them right off the vine and popped them in my mouth! She also had pecan trees and I am sure she loved it when she convinced me to gather the pecans in a pail and bring them in and help her shell them. It was okay. It was simply a good time spent with my Grandma.
The other story I love is about a kitten. I can't remember the circumstances or the whys or wherefores, all I know is that my grandmother had a tiny gray tabby kitten and she gave it to me! Yes. Without asking my mom or anything! That was pretty bold of Nanma, but I am sure she figured Mom would be okay with it since everyone knew of my passion for these little creatures. How could Mom tell me I couldn't keep the kitten when her own Mom gave it to me? That kitten didn't last long and he had a very sad demise. I won't write about that now as I don't intend for this blog to contain anything sad or unpleasant. Let's just say I know Mom feels very badly about what happened to that little guy.
When we moved to Ridgeview Drive I was in the 3rd grade....8 years old. Martha met the girl across the street, Karen, and they became fast friends. This friendship lasted throughout high school. Karen had a cat who had a litter of kittens. Soon after we moved in, she showed Martha these kittens and offered to give her one. Of course, Martha told me and we began the begging and pleading for this pet. Mom and Daddy finally agreed but the rules were that we had to feed him and keep after him and he had to be an outdoor cat. We were willing to agree to anything! We also knew to keep the cat away from Daddy because he really didn't like cats at all and I guess we were lucky that he gave in (or should I say, caved in?) Mom doesn't really like cats either, but I don't think she was as bothered by the idea as Daddy. She would let me sneak this cat into my room often when I got home from school. I would keep the door to my room shut when I played with him and I made sure he was back outside before Daddy got home from work! My dad was far from a mean man, he just didn't care for cats!
Martha and I were not very original as we named this cat Tiger. He was my first of several orange tabby cats and he did have beautiful markings and looked just like a tiger. Someway somehow throughout the years, we began at some point to call this cat Dinkle. I think one time he was being a cute little kitty showing off for us and I giggled and said he was 'such a Dinkle cat!' Martha thought that was really funny so the nickname stuck.
Tiger Dinkle lived a long time. The summer before I went off to college, he passed away. My dad was the one who had to handle the situation and break the news to us. I was devastated, but I really have fond memories of all my years of growing up on Ridgeview Drive with this cat.
When Jim and I got married, we became more 'dog people.' I think Jim always wanted a dog and so I was happy to have a dog. We had several dogs throughout our marriage, but we finally decided to get the kids a kitten when Madeline was just 2. We surprised them with an orange Tabby kitten. He was so precious and Joseph, Jimmy and Madeline were totally surprised and they loved him! They all decided to name him Oscar, which turned out to be a fitting name for him. Madeline was really too young to get into the naming of the cat with her big brothers, so it was a battle of the wits between Jimmy and Joseph. One day Madeline was watching "Sesame Street," as she did religiously, and the boys were watching Oscar the Grouch with her on "Sesame Street," and thus the name!
Oscar moved with us to Florida a few years later. There was no way we could imagine not bringing him as he had truly become a part of our family. Jim was already in Florida, so I drove down with the three kids and the cat in my mini van. I took Oscar to my friend, Dino, who is a veterinarian in Shelby. He gave me a couple of tranquilizer pills for Oscar to help him with the travel. They worked magically and Oscar traveled like an angel!
Oscar lived several years with us in Florida until one day he disappeared. We believe he just went off to die, because he had disappeared before and returned....more than once. Oscar was a beautiful cat and we always say he truly had nine lives! Never has a cat had more mishaps and survived than that guy.
Before we lost Oscar, we got yet another orange tabby cat. His name is Peabo and he is still with us today....17 years later. Peabo is without question the sweetest cat in the world. He never meows or complains. For years we thought he didn't know how to meow because he was so quiet! He always made way for Oscar, as he knew he was the Alpha Cat. They never fought and life was peaceful with two cats in the house.
Peabo, as I said, is a very sweet cat. He is old and his fur is matted. He seems to have trouble seeing and hearing, but he is still quite lovable and is always ready to be petted and brushed. He does purr a lot to let his human-folk know that he is still quite happy. Madeline worries about him and I understand why. She sort of "took to" Peabo and views him as her cat. In fact, she likes to call him Her Prince. I wonder what Eric thinks of that? Ha ha! Peabo loves Madeline too, and I know he will be missed by her when he's gone, just as he missed her terribly when she was in Philadelphia for 5 years.
We now have Leo and I vow not to be TOO obnoxious as I write about him. He is my BFF right now and I sometimes feel silly because I love him so much! I know he came into my life at a time when I needed him and for a reason that is unexplainable. My husband surprised me with this 8 ounce orange tabby kitten that was rescued from under the dumpster at his office. I am sure Jim thinks I give Leo more attention than I do him, and he might be right. But I always tell him it's a reflection that he did a wonderful thing by bringing Leo home. I shudder to think what might have happened to this little guy (who's not so little any more) had Jim not rescued him. So, really Jim is my hero!
Although Jim has always tolerated the cats we have owned, he isn't a true cat lover. That is, until Leo came along. Even Jim says that Leo is 'like a dog.' He says it like it's a good thing, so I go with it! Leo is unusual and anyone who comes in contact with him agrees....from Leo our painter, to Phyllis who helps me around the house, to my bridge friends, to any handyman or repair man who comes in to do something in the house, to the pool guy that Leo loves to 'help,' to any visitor we have. No one is exempt from Leo's true affection. Even Mom has warmed up to Leo. Leo kind of makes you love him. He loves everyone and therefore he thinks everyone loves him!
Leo doesn't run from the vacuum cleaner or the mop. Instead, he wants to run behind them and act as if he is helping. Leo is always in the room....the middle of the room....where everyone else is. This cat doesn't know about hiding under beds or under sofas. He is always in the center of the action. If several of us are sitting around the family room watching TV, he literally plops in the middle of the room facing us so that he can have each person in his view. When he was tiny, he was always on my chest or in my lap. Now he just likes to be around everyone.
Leo isn't annoying. He doesn't beg for food or meow. He 'squeaks' occasionally when he wants to be let out onto the lanai, but he never makes annoying sounds. He only eats dry cat food. You can't get him to eat anything else. He isn't messy. Eric thinks it is so funny that when he hears my cars keys he runs to the back door and rubs against me and 'squeaks.' He never wants his 'mommy' to leave!
I sometimes think something is wrong with me because I love this cat so much. But like I said, he is very lovable and he came into my life when I needed him. I met him when I walked into the door from a trip to Philadelphia. Martha, Porter, Mom and I had gone to see Madeline. It was my birthday. We had a wonderful weekend that I will cherish forever. It was my last time to be with Martha before she was in the hospital. Leo was there for me during my terrible period of grief. I talked to him and hugged him and he was my constant companion. I think I needed him as much as he needed me.
Leo is good to Peabo. I think he wishes Peabo wasn't so old because he always wants to play with him. But he realizes that Peabo is not much for playing, so they often just nap together. Not too close, but always in the same room and always facing one another. We all talk about Leo every day and there is not a day goes by that he doesn't make us point, laugh, or comment about something he is doing. He provides a lot of entertainment for us all.
Throughout the years, we have had names for the poses our cats make. Martha and I started out with these and they have stayed and been carried down to my kids. A few of our favorites are the 'laying eggs' pose. This is when the cat tucks all four paws completely under him but has his neck and head very erect. He looks just like a hen on a nest laying eggs! Another is the 'praying pose.' This is when he is in a similar pose to the laying eggs pose, but his eyes are shut and him nose down on the ground, as if he is bowing in prayer. Madeline thinks Peabo is the cutest thing when he licks his paw to wash his face and she loves it when Leo sits tall after a meal and licks his lips.
The cute things cats do could take up volumes, in my opinion!
Lately I have come across some adorable cat and kitten pictures on line. I like to post them on Facebook. I guess I think if these pictures are the cutest things in the world, others will too. I guess I am a lot like Leo! Porter was teasing me recently about all the pictures of cats I put on Facebook. Madeline told me it was one of the reasons she wasn't going to close her Facebook account....she looks forward to my pictures! I think Madeline will grow up to be a crazy cat lady too. She's already closer to it than she might realize.
There are so many cats that I have encountered in my life it is hard to mention them. There are a few, though, worth mentioning. There's Pebbles and Cooper....these are my friend, Carol's, cats. I love them both! I recently stayed at Carol's house when I was visiting Shelby. I fell in love with both of her cats. She had told me that Pebbles was sort of mean sometimes, but he never showed that side to me. I think cats know who love them, so Pebbles became my buddy and let me hold him and love him often. He is a calico cat, and I love the way he looks. Cooper is Carol's other cat. He is tiny, soft and fluffy. He is unique, kind of like Leo. He looks totally different and acts totally different from Leo, but he is a very social cat and likes to be around people. Carol is a dog person, but I think Cooper has changed her heart a bit. When I was leaving and Carol gave me a hug goodbye, she said "I love that you love my cats." She needn't say more. I knew exactly what she meant and where she was coming from.
Another special cat is Mr. Cat. He is a big gray cat and he belongs to Sally and David in Shelby. I might say, David belongs to Mr. Cat. Again, not particularly cat people, these dear friends of mine took in Mr. Cat and now they know the meaning of having a cat be a part of your family. Seeing David with Mr. Cat makes me chuckle and warms my heart. I can picture the two of them snoozing in the recliner together right now.
My son and his wife have a cat, Aphex. They are really crazy about him and although I've never met him, I have seen many pictures of him. I guess Aphex is my grand-cat! There's Skittles, Eric's cat and Sugar Baby, Jane's cat. Skittles is skittish and isn't the center of attention in that household. On the other hand, Sugar Baby is truly the Princess of Jane's house. The two cats look and act totally different. All cats have their own distinct personality, that's for sure!
There was Midnight, Beth's cat. He was a huge black cat that was so sweet. Madeline and I used to look after Midnight in the summers when Beth and her family would travel to Maine. Madeline also watched our next door neighbor's cat, Diamond, when they went away. Unlike Midnight, Diamond would hide and Madeline never saw him. She only knew he was okay because when she would go back each day, he had eaten his food. Again, two totally distinct personalities.
Mom never has really been a cat person, but simply by virtue of the fact that she's my mother, she knows a lot about cats. She knows how much I love them, so I think that's enough for her. She has bought me many cat things in my life. I have cat statues and pictures all throughout my house...many of those from mom. It's a case of Love Me, Love My Cat.
Cats. Real cats. Statues of cats. Pictures of cats. Books about cats. Stories about cats. Art and music about cats. These are all a part of my life and who I am. Call me a crazy cat lady. It's okay because memories are made of this.
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| dancing cats |
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| AWWW...... |
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| Stressed out cat |
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| One of my all time favorite pictures! |
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| Little Leo playing on Madeline's bed |
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| Madeline dressed as cat for Halloween |
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| Madeline with Peabo |
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| Madeline with Oscar and Peabo |
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| Leo helping me with the laundry |
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| Tiny Leo |
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| Leo is about to go swimming! |
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| Leo and Peabo with play tunnel from Aunt Linda |
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| Prince Peabo |
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| Peabo |
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| Porter and Madeline love Peabo |
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| Needlepoint pillow from Mom's |
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| Leo is Eric's partner in a game of cards |
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| Leo celebrates with Porter on his birthday |
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| Tiny little Leo |
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| Leo lying next to me as I write this blog L.O.V.E. |
