An old, beat-up, one-eyed cat came into our lives last year, homeless, and malnourished. We already had five cats, who were all born in our house, and we did not need another. I did remember seeing this same orange cat with a big head walking around the neighborhood from time to time over the years. He was now in pretty bad shape, and apparently unable to hunt, or to defend himself. I decided to give him some water and dry cat food before sending him on his way, but by then it was too late. Ginger Cat had won our hearts.
We fed and cared for Ginger Cat and his condition greatly improved. He resumed patrolling the neighborhood, as he had been doing for many years, but our house was now his home, where he was loved and fed. I made him up a place to sleep in the garage for when it was cold or stormy, but mostly he liked to sleep in the cat-cube on the front porch bench. We sometimes found Ginger napping on the living room sofa, or in one of the beds. He was very affectionate, and always up for a "head butt" or a good scratching. On many mornings, I would sit on the front porch bench with my coffee, and Ginger Cat would snuggle up next to me and watch the birds in the yard.
Last Saturday afternoon, I watched Ginger head out across the back yard on one of his walks around the neighborhood, and I fixed him up a bowl of cat food for when he came back hungry. I put it in a zip-lock bag and set it in the fridge. I don't know why he didn't come back later that day, but it was not unusual for him to stay out until the next morning. The following day he had still not shown up, and I later found out that on Sunday at about midnight Ginger Cat had been attacked and killed by a dog, about two or three blocks away.
We miss Ginger Cat very much, and we treasure the memories of all the good times we shared with this wonderful friend.
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     "Good Bye, my beloved, beat-up, old, one-eyed friend. I will never forget you." |
Photos by Michael Boyd and Rebekah Fusina
6 comments:
well done foe looking after him for the short time he knew what love was bless him x
Poor baby... I take care of a stray too. I named her Pickles and she is just the sweetest. Took me 2 years to finally gain her trust enough that I could pet her. I have been taking care of her for 3 years now and I just love her so. She is strictly outdoors but she has her own dog house and heated pet bed. She never leaves my yard ever... Pickles is part of my furry family! ♥
I`am sorry for the loss..He had a good home at last.....
So very sorry to hear about Ginger cat - he must have been so happy with you at last finding a loving home. We have adopted a similar Tom cat who was un-neutered and in a bad way but he is now a loving healthy cat. He too insists on patrolling the neighbourhood but to stop him would be cruel. You allowed your ginger boy his freedom & anything else would have been cruel. He made a sad but grand exit from this earth no doubt defending himself to the last.
Thank you all for your kind words. Ginger cat was very special. Rescued cats have a way of letting you know they appreciate what you have done for them.
Craig
We take care of our next door neighbors cat because they don't feed him much and leave him out to fin for himself. That old, beat up Ginger Cat appreciated you just like old Phil (from next door appreciates us). So sorry for the loss of Ginger Cat but I know he was happy knowing that someone loved him and gave him a home and food to come to.
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