This morning I paid a feline eye surgeon (I didn’t know there was such person) $1,660 for an emergency corneal flap operation for my gato and his sick eyeball. Surgery done. El gato and bank account now in recovery.
My beloved phoned for an update. “You could’ve put him to sleep for less than that”. True. In case you’re into cost comparisons, option B would’ve been about $165.
But I didn’t choose to put him to sleep.
I love this cat. I met him when he accosted me in a parking lot the week after my mom died. I sat down on the cement. He crawled in my lap, put his paw on my cheek, and held my gaze. I needed comfort just a little bit less than I needed air that day. Not sure how he knew but he did.
Stray cat, said the neighbors. Could I take him?
My two dogs promised to be an impediment. The introductions went like this:
Dogs met cat. Dogs were OHMYGOD beside themselves. Cat was unfazed.
Dogs were LOSINGTHEIREVERLOVINGMINDS. Cat licked himself.
Dogs COULDNOTSTANDIT another second and charged the cat.
Cat puffed his body and DARED them to mess with him.
They tried. A few rumbles ensued. Then, just like that, we were a family of four.
Have you ever felt love at the at the exact moment you needed it? If so, you get why this cat came to live with me.
And you get why I spent half of the money in my checking account to try and give him quality of life for the next however many years he decides he wants to be my cat.
Quality of life. Meaningful living. Franco Franklin Ranger Atkins has given me both. Glad to be able to pay him back a little today.
Boxers and cats. You are truly a good soul.
You spot it, you got it.
Thanks for saying hi, Beth. Cheers.