Oscar
I was still fairly young when I met Oscar and living in a Townhouse with my small son and attending University. I would go to the shelter daily in search of a missing cat who dissapeared from my moms house the day after she was spayed and was very timid. It was the first time in my entire life I had lived in a home without a pet. That only lasted 2 months as I ended up adopting 2 cats while searching for my moms cat. At that time the shelter had communal living quarters for the cats and I had often bypassed Oscar thinking he looked "evil". Yes I'm ashamed to say that was my first opinion of him. He had a unusual nose - it could be described as a bulbous nose that one often sees in long term alchoholics. He also had a deep stare which I found un-nerving. It was as if he was looking right into your soul. Kinda gave me the willies! I had noticed Oscar for aprox 3 wks on my daily visits and once stopped in at the shelter on the way to my boyfriends parents house for dinner. The kennel person picked up Oscar and placed him in a metal cage and my heart sank. At that time they also still gassed cats and I knew immediately where he was headed- it was down THAT hallway. "Stop!" , I yelled, "I want that cat!!!!!". So was the beginning of my 21 years with Oscar. I showed up for dinner at my boyfriends parents house with a cat in a box. I'm ashamed to admit that I felt compelled to take him at that time but I hadn't felt a connection with him. Within a short time all those initial things I felt about him at first dissapeared and he grew on my heart and everyone that ever met him. Again, I'm ashamed to admit that the place I lived in didn't allow pets and the landlord of the townhouse I lived in..lived directly behind me. Unlike the other two cats which were content to stay in..not Oscar. He had the unfortunate incident to one day get out of my window and crawl onto the roof into the open window of the landlord's place and jump on the woman's belly at 2 am causing her to scream in fright. They finally discovered who owned the cat as Oscar was forever parting the curtain to look out at the world. I was given the ultimatum to give up that cat or move out. I think the landlord was suprised I chose to move out as these were nice places with a 2 year waiting list. I found another place that allowed pets. That lasted 3 months as new owners took over and said from now on no pets allowed and we would have to get rid of our pets. This time I got all the tenants together and we actually fought the new law and took it to court! They stated that new owners couldn't change the laws for pre-existing tenants but could only do that with new tenants. We all got to keep our pets! Even after aprox 20 or more cats that I had lived with by the time I met Oscar he was definately unique. A very independent cat that never sought a pat on the head or ever jumped on furniture. Ever! Instead he would spend his days a permanent fixture on the fence post overlooking his domain - the neighborhood. He would eat and then go back to his post. By the time he was aprox 17 and I now lived in a house with numerous pets he still remained aloof and solitary. He arrived home one day with a huge lump on his head..like those of cartoon characters when they get bonked on the head with a hammer or something. The vet said it was very unusual - she had only seen an injury of this type from horses being kicked in the head by another horse. We were at a loss as to explain what this lump was. Surgery at his age was dangerous and the vet and I kept tabs on this enormous lump at the center of his head. Poor cat..he now had rather thin fur, bulbous nose, a piercing stare and this huge lump on his head. Not a pretty cat by any means. In all those years not once did Oscar ever have an accident in the house..ever! As he approached his 19th year he still made his daily romps outside but I noticed his old arthitic body would stay pretty close to the front door of the house. In fact I seen that same old body move faster than I had ever seen him move when a flock of gulls flew overhead...the mystery of the lump on the head was solved! I suspect it was a gull that had pecked his head as he remained terrified of them for the rest of his life. It was the only thing that made him leave his "post" and race through the catdoor at breakneck speed, even in his 21st year with me. The last year of his life I finally managed to coax him up on the couch. He was endearing in that he always seemed to think it was a bother to have him around. He had a very heart warming habit of gently tapping me on the knee with his paw, nails always in, and staring with that intense gaze. It was almost as if he was saying "excuse me hate to bother you but...I'm hungry" (Ironically, Panda does the same thing.) People would frequently comment they swore it was the eyes of a human staring at you with such intensity. His post was an ornamental stone slab placed directly outside the front door in the garden. On the last day of his life in which I had shared 21 years with my beraggled friend. I gently placed him on the bed as I knew his time was near. This will be forever etched in my memory. He was laying next to me and placed his paw over my hand. It was if we were holding hands and we lay like that for 2 hours. His breathing started becoming labored and I didn't want him to suffer. I drove in the middle of the night with my two boys to the emergency clinic. Oscar in a basket, the three of us with our arms around each other we circled the basket and each of us placed our hands on him. He's buried beneath the stone slab at the front of my garden..still keeping watch over the house. Okay I'm gonna go cry now. Losing so many of my beloved friends is always so painful and hard to let go. With each one that passes however is room for another. That is what helps each time. Each is unique and not to be replaced but in their passing there is room for another. Marianne and the boys |
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| That is a wonderful story, Marianne. Of course, I'm crying too! |
| Thanks Annie's mom and although I'm always sad when I think of him..he lived a long and happy life. What a character he was!
Marianne and the boys |
| Ron:
I think we need a new forum category titled: "Marianne", in which we can place all her wonderful heartwarming experiences. |
| ^^^
Indeed. You have so many that are all very touching. I can't imagine anyone not being moved. Amazing all that you have gone through. |
| Another lovely story Marianne. Of course I'm now in tears. The lump on the head was pretty funny, even though I know I shouldn't laugh. Such a personality. |
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