Clea
So, Clea is our 18 year old cat, and I just scheduled to take her in to the vet to be put to sleep. To be honest, I feel bittersweet about it. She has been a sweet companion in that she is nice, occasionally she lets me pet her , and she does her very best to coexist with the rest of us in the most unobtrusive way possible. But as cats go, she's sort of boring. The beginning of her life wasn't boring, so maybe this is what she wanted and needed - to live out the rest of her years in peace - anyway, I like to think this.
Clea was found in a plastic bag on the campus of Kent State University. It was winter, and she was somewhat frostbit. It made perfect sense that she was a total bitch to me when we met (as I would have been too if someone threw me out in the middle of winter without a fighting chance), as she would rear up on her hind legs, hiss, and bat at me with her razor sharp claws. I didn't like her, but felt that she deserved a better life, and thought I was the one obligated to give it to her. So, I did.
She put up with my princess cat Jessica, who always wanted to be the only cat, and always thought that she was - then got to live a long and less harrowing life long after Jessica. She and Emma were best buds, and she and Bella got along tolerably well for 2 cats who weren't really interested in anything beyond themselves and just wanted to be left alone - for the most part.
I can count on one hand how many times she sat on my lap. Always held there, never willingly, never fully comfortable, and with all claws out - just in case. She purrs and rubs up against me when she wants to, will be pet happily when she's in the mood, but never fully trusted anyone since being bagged. I guess I can't blame her for that. She has been a sweet and loving cat once she decided that I could be trusted to the point that she would trust any human, but I guess opted to always stay on her own feet and avoid laps. She just felt more comfortable and in control that way. Again, makes sense to me.
I always liked the cats that needed - no, correction, no cat needs a person - wanted me. I liked the cats that I could cuddle with, snuggle down with, hold and kiss their cheeks and stick my head in their bellies --- but I would walk away seriously bloodied if I did that with Clea. Plus, I don't have time for all that now with the boys and all. So, over the past years, my life with cats, along with my passion for cats, has really changed. I still love them, but there are other, more pressing priorities at this time. Clea has been a good cat for this time in my life. I am exactly the kind of owner she needed - although maybe I could've been more attentive to her water and food bowls, and litter pan. But otherwise, she didn't care if she was priority, just that she wasn't in a bag. (This is kind of a funny and positive perspective to consider in life: it's all good since I'm not in, or going in, a bag.)
I'm sorry to see her go in that we're used to one another, and I've shared the last 18 years of my life with her. That's a lot of history together, I guess. It seems like we ought to be a lot closer, but on the other hand, we've made enormous strides together during that time, and stayed together without any conflict. I know of marriages that didn't do that well. I think poor Bella will be bored out of her mind without Clea - maybe we'll get her a puppy. No, I'm just kidding.
Clea was found in a plastic bag on the campus of Kent State University. It was winter, and she was somewhat frostbit. It made perfect sense that she was a total bitch to me when we met (as I would have been too if someone threw me out in the middle of winter without a fighting chance), as she would rear up on her hind legs, hiss, and bat at me with her razor sharp claws. I didn't like her, but felt that she deserved a better life, and thought I was the one obligated to give it to her. So, I did.
She put up with my princess cat Jessica, who always wanted to be the only cat, and always thought that she was - then got to live a long and less harrowing life long after Jessica. She and Emma were best buds, and she and Bella got along tolerably well for 2 cats who weren't really interested in anything beyond themselves and just wanted to be left alone - for the most part.
I can count on one hand how many times she sat on my lap. Always held there, never willingly, never fully comfortable, and with all claws out - just in case. She purrs and rubs up against me when she wants to, will be pet happily when she's in the mood, but never fully trusted anyone since being bagged. I guess I can't blame her for that. She has been a sweet and loving cat once she decided that I could be trusted to the point that she would trust any human, but I guess opted to always stay on her own feet and avoid laps. She just felt more comfortable and in control that way. Again, makes sense to me.
I always liked the cats that needed - no, correction, no cat needs a person - wanted me. I liked the cats that I could cuddle with, snuggle down with, hold and kiss their cheeks and stick my head in their bellies --- but I would walk away seriously bloodied if I did that with Clea. Plus, I don't have time for all that now with the boys and all. So, over the past years, my life with cats, along with my passion for cats, has really changed. I still love them, but there are other, more pressing priorities at this time. Clea has been a good cat for this time in my life. I am exactly the kind of owner she needed - although maybe I could've been more attentive to her water and food bowls, and litter pan. But otherwise, she didn't care if she was priority, just that she wasn't in a bag. (This is kind of a funny and positive perspective to consider in life: it's all good since I'm not in, or going in, a bag.)
I'm sorry to see her go in that we're used to one another, and I've shared the last 18 years of my life with her. That's a lot of history together, I guess. It seems like we ought to be a lot closer, but on the other hand, we've made enormous strides together during that time, and stayed together without any conflict. I know of marriages that didn't do that well. I think poor Bella will be bored out of her mind without Clea - maybe we'll get her a puppy. No, I'm just kidding.
posted by Kevin and Stace @ 3:16 PM
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