Well, here's a story for the books, sometime in July 2023 there were a bunch of stray cats, more like ferals around the neighborhood one even hung around our porch.
He was a Grey tuxedo with white paws, who kind of reminded me of Sheeva, another cat we found over 15 years ago who was abandoned but we took her in and despite how I wanted to keep her, things didn't work out as planned so she ended up in a shelter only to be adopted just in time as my wife insisted that they didn't put her down.
The sad part is after Animal shelters get overpopulated; they are "forced" to play Sophie's choice. We were relieved that she had a happy ending.
So, we fed this cat who was very skittish at first and even hissed at us because he was afraid or the fact that some cat hating pieces of shit, tried to scare or harm him.
Eventually he warmed up to us, especially my wife who bonded with him. He used to walk around her leg and purred as she petted him. After he gained his wait back and his coat was shiny, I suggested that we take him in and adopt him especially after being vetted. But when the rubber met the road, he preferred to be on his own even after two or three attempts of trying to rescue him.
The cat still had trust issues and did not want anyone capturing him even though it was for his own good as the life expectancy for strays are usually two to three years.
But we kept feeding him as he had this routine of running up the stairs to the door like a drive thru and after his belly was full, he would stretch and go about his business from the hot Sumner nights to the bone chilling cold mornings and as he wandered off, I would jokingly say "Go, my Silver Surfer." Mugsy as we named him, was a venturer at heart, he roamed the streets, alleys and even the backyards within the neighborhood. While most of the passersbys adored him, there were others who wanted him gone and one crazy bitch who suggested we no longer feed him till he starves to death.
Even Sky and Ollie wasn't too happy with him being around because of jealousy but we still fought for Mugs.
So we built Mugsy a shelter in our backyard which he had all too himself, there were times that we gave him toys to interact with and one was a bird that made noise.
Little did we know that it was a hunting simulator as weeks later, my wife told me that there were two dead birds in our yard. I guess this is where his Instinct came in. "Cat gonna cat!"
So over a year later, as I fed him I noticed that his eyes were squinty and he gained a lot of weight. Was someone else feeding him? He often went across the yard and after a week as Thanksgiving passed, my wife assumed either someone took him in, or he succumbed to an illness.
She got a call from her friend who walked her two dogs and noticed an eerie sound under a car. It was Mugsy.
I along with someone who works in Animal control managed to get him from under the car and he was taken to a vet. I thought that by some divine intervention, this will be our chance to save him but then reality is a cruel bitch and a half, while under anesthesia, the vets noticed that his infection was so severe, there was nothing they can do to save him so of course they had to do the unthinkable.
It's Deja vu all over again when one of our cats 16 years ago, had pancreatitis and couldn't be saved.
This was a gut punch of course and my wife was crying hysterically.
Although Mugsy passed, we tried to give him as much comfort while he was lying in a blanketed box before Animal control can take him in for evaluation.
My hopes were dashed and yes, I am heartbroken. We showed compassion for a stray animal and a cruel payoff landed on us. We thought there would be an endgame to all this and that he would find a loving home, but silly us, I guess. Well, if this has taught me anything, is that I will never go out of my way to feed or try to rescue another stray, let Animal control handle it as apathetic as they can be at times. The other being my affirmation that Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the Year.
I knew this since I watched that All in the Family episode as a kid when Edith Bunker's friend was killed by a bunch of muggers, or how a homeless Black woman froze to death on Christmas 1985. Like John Rambo when asked "how will you live?" Day by day.
If there is a "Cat afterlife" I hope Mugs is happy somewhere above the stars.
Rest in Eternity, Surfer. You will be missed!
Letter from a Feral Cat
"I may never be a lap cat, Or one who comes when called.
I may resist the hand that tries to touch, And some may think I'm flawed.
I may prefer my freedom, To your warm and cozy house, I may reject the bowl of finest foods, For the chance to chase a mouse.
But the box you put out for me, Feels safe and warm and dry.
And I raise my eyes to thank you, When I see you walking by.
And I eat the food you give me, And I listen to your voice, I may never be a lap cat, But you offer me that choice.
One day I'll see the winter, One day I'll see the rain.
I may grow old not knowing That there is freedom from this pain But I know you try to help me. And although my days will end. I may never be a lap cat. But I know you are my friend."
-Melanie Nordberg
