Wooster My Cat

by Timothy
(Grass Valley, CA)

Wooster, who will be 2 years old in July 2011, came from the county shelter when he was only a few months old. I went in to find a cat of no particular age or breed, but I planned to bring home the first one who I seemed to "click" with.

When I stepped into the room where the cats were kept, I turned and looked at the first cat, in the first cage.

Click.

There he was. A fluffy, bright white cat with a brown-grey tail and one matching spot on his head. (Who turned out to be a Turkish Van)He was playing with a toy they had attached to the door of the cage. He stopped playing for a moment, looked into my eyes, squeaked that little kitten noise, and then attacked my fingers as I stuck them through the door. I didn't know what to do. I was afraid to walk away to get someone to help me, for fear someone else would come along and claim him. Fortunately an employee came through a couple minutes later and told me I could open the cage and handle them if I wanted. So I immediately grabbed him and took him up front, paid the fees, and stuck him in the brand new crate I bought on the way over. He hardly made any noise on the ride home, and when we got home, he came out of the crate and "kitten-strutted" around my room as if he knew it was his place. I will never forget that day, as it was the day I met my Soul-Kitty.

A few months earlier, I had broken up with my long time girlfriend, and had made the decision that, at a few days away from my 40th birthday, I had given enough of a try, and that it was time to call it quits and move on with my life without a significant other. That is when I realized I needed a cat. Now, I don't know how I managed to find exactly the RIGHT cat after looking at all of ONE cat, but that was what I had found.

Wooster immediately filled the hole in my life. He climbed his way in and dug in all of his claws. Throughout my life I have always been surrounded by animals, though mostly dogs, and had only switched from dog person to cat person when I met the afore mentioned GF. (Who is a wonderful cat person herself) I have loved each and every pet my family has had, but never before have I connected with an animal on this level. He is such a part of me. He takes care of me as much as I take care of him. He helps me deal with my disability and chronic pain, and has made this new lifestyle far less lonely.


His fourth week with me was a rough one. That was when I discovered he is a Pica kitty. I was lucky enough to be looking at him when he picked up a small piece of metal that has fallen onto my floor. (Basically a 1 inch long aluminum needle) I took him to our wonderful Kitty Doc, and that day he went into surgery, where the removed the bit of metal, along with: 6 leather tails off of his toy mice, 3 inches of a fleece string toy, and almost 6 inches of a wide shoelace (with plastic tip), and few assorted other bits of plastic. So now, along with being an already very spoiled cat, he is a very carefully restricted cat. Care has to be taken that no small objects make it into his mouth. If he sees a speck on the carpet, he will just grab it as he strolls by, and swallow it. Aside from his little mental issue, he is a very happy, healthy cat.

Wooster is my best friend, my constant companion, and the biggest source of joy in my life. I don't know how I got so lucky to have this wonderful beastie choose me as his cat-daddy, but I am so very grateful that he did! Thanks for taking the time to read this WAY too long story, but it is one I wanted to share at least this once.


Comment from Kate
great story. I am a firm believer that somehow cats find us and come into our lives in times of true need.

I wish you many ,many happy years together.