A couple of months ago I wrote a post titled Night-time: interior with cat, which told of our previous adventure with snakebite; last week, we got to repeat that experience. Turns out, eight lives had already been used up, and this time the warrior did not live to die another day – or bite another snake. He died the day before my birthday.
Pugsley was one of those cats who people noticed: with his plush, smoky grey tabby fur, he was truly handsome; he had great self-assurance, once he got over his shyness of meeting people, and would often settle quickly into a puddle of fur on their lap with utter surrender, or present his belly for a bliss-inducing rub.
Once, just recently, he followed me all the way across the paddock to my parents’ house and back.
He was very smart, and there was a time when I taught him to sit for his dinner (though once dogs came into our family, I no longer felt the need for that!); he also learned to use our toilet. I invested a lot in him, and he gave me back so much more.
I remember how he disappeared once for two days; eventually we found him when we opened the garage door, and he strolled out, blinking in the sunlight.
Pugsley was the most irritating, frustrating, selfish, arrogant, companionable, chatty, loving, wonderful cat, with a larger-than-life personality. It’s early days still, and the spaces he has left in our home are often met with the sound of heartbreak.
This photo of him dates from around 2004, when I got my first SLR film camera, a manuall focus Canon T50 with fully automatic settings. He was around a year old, and this was taken in our home at night time. I still love this photo of him best of all. The most recent shot I took of him featured in this post.
Today I’m dedicating Coldplay’s song Green Eyes to this lord of my heart.
Honey you are a rock
Upon which I stand
And I come here to talk
I hope you understand
That green eyes
Yeah the spotlight, shines upon you
And how could anybody deny you
I came here with a load
And it feels so much lighter
Now I met you
And honey you should know
That I could never go on without you
Green eyes
Honey you are the sea
Melanie – this is so sad!! My thoughts are with you – My girl Anna had a small cat that she love to bits and she still hangs out for the crazy thing even though it used to climb the screens and drive everyone nuts – he even used to jump on her door to wake her in the mornings if she wasn’t up!! They become a part of you – but he will watch down on you for sure!! Funnily enough (her) name was Honey!
Thank you Wyn – that is a funny thing about her name! It’s too soon to contemplate right now, but I know I’ll be looking forward to bringing a new kitten home.
He was marvelous.
He was indeed.
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