Sammy +
I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul. - Jean Cocteau
From today, my house and my heart lost a piece of their soul.
After a wrecking weekend I had to say goodbye to my best mate, my roommate, my cuddlebear, my mousecatcher, my Sammy.
Nine years ago this stripey little creature came running towards me in his kitten little way and it was love at first sight. We've shared much since then.
Many precious things he'd broken from me, but I'd never cried or shouted at him. Today I cried, for he broke my heart.
Nine years I ate with him, talked to him, slept with him and laughed with him. Almost a third of my life. His catlike gaze talked back to me, his whiskers smiled with me, his tail consoled me when I cried and his heavy body on top of my blanket held me stuck in a most uncomfortable pose while I was sleeping.
He has chased out bad spirits from my house, he has teared mice apart, tried to catch pidgeons (and always failed misarably to his own shame) and ate flies.
Every day I went out of the house while Sammy was sleeping, in a beam of sun, in front of the heating, in a drawer or in an old shoebox. And every day he greeted me when I came back with this cute ritual.
First he stretched himself on the scratching pole, then he rubbed his whole body against my in a quasi elegant way before he rushed into the kitchen and gave me the most amazing and annoying concert in mieuwing Minor B so that I would give him his food immediately.
This house will always remember Sammy. Those tiny stripes on the wall are a token of his impatience when I failed to open the door fast enough. The stains on the carpet are signs of his many throwing up moods. And it will take a very, very long time before every cat hair will be removed from every crack, every blanket or piece of clothing I own.
It will be quiet in my house from now on. Empty.
Spring is coming. To celebrate spring I will, just like Sammy and I always did, drop everything I am doing at the first moment a stripe of fresh sunlight enters the room and strech down in the sun to enjoy the warmth and the light. Like every good cat would do.
_________________________________________________________________
The Rum Tum Tugger
The Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat:
If you offer him pheasant he would rather have grouse.
If you put him in a house he would much prefer a flat,
If you put him in a flat then he'd rather have a house.
If you set him on a mouse then he only wants a rat,
If you set him on a rat then he'd rather chase a mouse.
Yes the Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat--
And there isn't any call for me to shout it:
For he will do
As he do do
And there's no doing anything about it!
The Rum Tum Tugger is a terrible bore:
When you let him in, then he wants to be out;
He's always on the wrong side of every door,
And as soon as he's at home, then he'd like to get about.
He likes to lie in the bureau drawer,
But he makes such a fuss if he can't get out.
Yes the Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat--
And there isn't any use for you to doubt it:
For he will do
As he do do
And there's no doing anything about it!
The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious beast:
His disobliging ways are a matter of habit.
If you offer him fish then he always wants a feast;
When there isn't any fish then he won't eat rabbit.
If you offer him cream then he sniffs and sneers,
For he only likes what he finds for himself;
So you'll catch him in it right up to the ears,
If you put it away on the larder shelf.
The Rum Tum Tugger is artful and knowing,
The Rum Tum Tugger doesn't care for a cuddle;
But he'll leap on your lap in the middle of your sewing,
For there's nothing he enjoys like a horrible muddle.
Yes the Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat--
And there isn't any need for me to spout it:
For he will do
As he do do
And there's no doing anything about it!
T. S. Elliot
From today, my house and my heart lost a piece of their soul.
After a wrecking weekend I had to say goodbye to my best mate, my roommate, my cuddlebear, my mousecatcher, my Sammy.
Nine years ago this stripey little creature came running towards me in his kitten little way and it was love at first sight. We've shared much since then.
Many precious things he'd broken from me, but I'd never cried or shouted at him. Today I cried, for he broke my heart.
Nine years I ate with him, talked to him, slept with him and laughed with him. Almost a third of my life. His catlike gaze talked back to me, his whiskers smiled with me, his tail consoled me when I cried and his heavy body on top of my blanket held me stuck in a most uncomfortable pose while I was sleeping.
He has chased out bad spirits from my house, he has teared mice apart, tried to catch pidgeons (and always failed misarably to his own shame) and ate flies.
Every day I went out of the house while Sammy was sleeping, in a beam of sun, in front of the heating, in a drawer or in an old shoebox. And every day he greeted me when I came back with this cute ritual.
First he stretched himself on the scratching pole, then he rubbed his whole body against my in a quasi elegant way before he rushed into the kitchen and gave me the most amazing and annoying concert in mieuwing Minor B so that I would give him his food immediately.
This house will always remember Sammy. Those tiny stripes on the wall are a token of his impatience when I failed to open the door fast enough. The stains on the carpet are signs of his many throwing up moods. And it will take a very, very long time before every cat hair will be removed from every crack, every blanket or piece of clothing I own.
It will be quiet in my house from now on. Empty.
Spring is coming. To celebrate spring I will, just like Sammy and I always did, drop everything I am doing at the first moment a stripe of fresh sunlight enters the room and strech down in the sun to enjoy the warmth and the light. Like every good cat would do.
_________________________________________________________________
The Rum Tum Tugger
The Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat:
If you offer him pheasant he would rather have grouse.
If you put him in a house he would much prefer a flat,
If you put him in a flat then he'd rather have a house.
If you set him on a mouse then he only wants a rat,
If you set him on a rat then he'd rather chase a mouse.
Yes the Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat--
And there isn't any call for me to shout it:
For he will do
As he do do
And there's no doing anything about it!
The Rum Tum Tugger is a terrible bore:
When you let him in, then he wants to be out;
He's always on the wrong side of every door,
And as soon as he's at home, then he'd like to get about.
He likes to lie in the bureau drawer,
But he makes such a fuss if he can't get out.
Yes the Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat--
And there isn't any use for you to doubt it:
For he will do
As he do do
And there's no doing anything about it!
The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious beast:
His disobliging ways are a matter of habit.
If you offer him fish then he always wants a feast;
When there isn't any fish then he won't eat rabbit.
If you offer him cream then he sniffs and sneers,
For he only likes what he finds for himself;
So you'll catch him in it right up to the ears,
If you put it away on the larder shelf.
The Rum Tum Tugger is artful and knowing,
The Rum Tum Tugger doesn't care for a cuddle;
But he'll leap on your lap in the middle of your sewing,
For there's nothing he enjoys like a horrible muddle.
Yes the Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat--
And there isn't any need for me to spout it:
For he will do
As he do do
And there's no doing anything about it!
T. S. Elliot