Although we had pets when I was growing up, I was never into pets in my adult life. I was too busy to think of anything else but the clinic and my patients. I would stay at the clinic until 10 p.m. and get there by 7 in the morning. I was pretty used to this routine because I didn't have to come home to anyone. I opened the clinic door one afternoon so that I could just breathe some fresh air, when this hairy, gray cat stopped and looked at me in my doorstep, and proceeded to climb in to my arms.
I took him into the clinic and kept him there for a few hours. I noticed that he was sick (he was bleeding when he urinated). He was immediately brought to the vet and had to have an operation for kidney stones. I took him home that night, he slept in my arms like a child . . . and it has forever changed my life.
I never understood why "those people" with pets are so weird about their animals. Now, I understand. Alex is always there, follows me around the house, and just sits there by me. The first night I was with him, I took him upstairs, turned of all the lights and watched "Catwoman" with Halle Berry - I thought it would be a nice treat for him after having kidney stone surgery. I know that to some, it is funny to think of someone having affection and love for an animal. Alex has been with me through two hurricane evacuations. He even stayed at my friend's house in Plano for a month when my house was still damaged. Needless to say, Alex has been there with me through rich and poor, thick and thin.
When David and I moved in together, his apartment was vacant for about a month before we completely moved his things out. The last day of clean up, he found a mother cat with 4 kittens on his porch. Someone had put the cats there on purpose, all of them in a cardboard box. When David came home to bring his final things from his old place, he brought 5 cats with him. The cats took the upstairs office as their room, until 4 of them were placed in other homes. We had to take the runt of the group and called her "Blue" becuase of her eyes. David became blue's mother. I have seen David nurture her and carry her all around the house. She would sleep on David's chest (maybe becasue of the warmth and the comforting heartbeat) - I was jealous! :)
Blue and Alex have now become best friends. They play together all the time, and take care of each other.
Yes, Alex and Blue are our kids right now. David and I feel lucky to have been "visited" by these cats... and they decided to stay. Life will be different without them. They play with us, hang out with us, and we believe that they understand our feelings. These cats have our hearts.
These cats can give us joy, warmth and love; they give us a sense of responsibility. Always reminding us that they depend on us for their welfare. We can only imagine the magnitude of the same feelings coming from our own child!
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