A Purrfect Moment With Chloe
My Chloe
I called this blog Purrfect Moments because I feel all the moments with my cats are some of the very best moments in my life. They give us such a huge amount of love and trust. Who can look into those beautiful eyes and not have their heart melt?
The other day I was feeling very down. I just lost one of my babies, Heidi, to kidney problems. She was 16 years old and I got her when she was just 8 weeks old, a little stray looking for food. Like all my babies, she had my heart in her little paws. I was sitting in a small sun room I have and crying, just missing her so much.
Chloe, another little stray I found 15 years ago, is not the most affectionate cat in the world. She likes to be petted but doesn’t like to cuddle much and doesn’t like being held or picked up. She came into the room and got up on the couch with me. I told her that mama was just sad, but it was ok. She came over to me and crawled into my lap and let me hug her. She stayed there for a long time, which for her is very unusual.
It was one of those purrfect moments. There is a quote I found somewhere: “We don’t remember days; we remember moments.” I think this is so true. That moment will forever be in my mind. We finally got off the couch and went to the kitchen for some treats. She gave me a comfort I doubt anyone else could have. I just wanted to share one of my purrfect moments with you. I would love to hear about yours.
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Hi Sheila,
I’m so happy to have found your blog; I was led here after reading your hub on how to get a stray cat to trust you. I could go on forever, but I’ll try not to blather too much.
Firstly, I’m so sorry to hear about Heidi. I can’t imagine the hurt. I’ve spent the better part of my adult life with my kitties, and three of them are getting on in age. I know I’ll find the strength somehow when the days come — it’s just so hard to imagine where that strength will come from. Anyhow, my heart goes out to you, and it’s so sweet that Chloe knew to comfort you.
I have four sweet kitties — two are litter mates that are now 14 years old (Ingmar and Jonas — the tabbies); I’ve had them since they were 8 weeks old. I have a long-haired blue/grey that I rescued from animal control — she’s roughly 14 as well (Fuzzworth). My little one (Scooby — she’s 5 years old), we rescued from my husband’s grandmother who is a cat hoarder. She has a colony of ferals, semi-ferals and domestic/indoor cats.
Scooby was maybe only 5 weeks old when we got her. We took a short road trip to visit my husband’s grandmother (she lives in Wyoming; we were briefly living in Montana at the time while I attended MSU for 2 years). We had no intention of bringing home a kitten, but my husband randomly picked Scooby up and put her in my arms — it was over. I knew we were meant to be together, and I knew she’d be dead within a week if we didn’t take her home.
I took her to the vet as soon as we got home; the vet said, “I can’t promise you she’ll make it through the night.” I bawled like a baby — I’d only known this kitten for 24 hours, but I was so affected by her. Anyhow, I was told to come in the next day around 10:00 am. When I arrived, the receptionist said the vet had taken Scooby home with her and nursed her all night, and that Scooby was going to be just fine w/ some tender care and meds. So, 5 years later…she’s the healthiest, happiest cat ever.
Oh, and that wonderful vet gets a Christmas card every year!
Anyhow, I wanted to mention that my female tabby (Jonas) isn’t a cuddler either; she doesn’t like being held, and she’s very particular about where she likes to be petted (head and back only). But, whenever I have the blues or I’m distraught, no other cat picks up on it like she does. She immediately knows to comfort me — it’s an instinct she has, and it always amazes me. This reminded me of your Chloe.
I want to thank you for the wonderful advice regarding how to gain a stray cat’s trust. I’m currently feeding a stray, and we’re getting near the stage where s/he’ll stay and eat in my presence. I’m building a cozy, well-insulated shelter out of a potting shed I never use, so kitty will be warm and comfortable all winter. I’ll keep you posted as to whether, or when, stray kitty decides s/he trusts me enough to rub on me — I love the “hands dangling over the knees” advice! It makes so much sense.
Take care and thanks for everything,
A
Thanks so much for your comment. And thank you for your condolences about Heidi. It is heart wrenching to lose them, but somehow you get through it. I think the only thing that helps me is knowing that they no longer have to be sick and in pain. Having other cats to take care of helps too. You have to carry on for them.
It is so wonderful that you saved Scooby (love that name!) and that you rescued Fuzzworth, as well as getting your other two. There need to be more people like you in this world.
I am so happy that you have gotten that far with your stray. Just keep at it and she will be “petable” (I think I ust invented a new word…haha) in no time. And please keep me updated!
Thanks again for your wonderful comment and letting me get to know you.
Later,
Sheila