There’s a video of Theodore that I can’t stop watching. He’s on his back, on my lap, purring.
It’s the purr the reach of his paw the pink of his nose his eyes staring at me
It’s his back legs resting on a pillow
He was sick on Saturday. He died on Sunday.
My youngest keeps saying “He was just so young.”
Before I took him to the emergency vet, I had to look up his birthday. I couldn’t remember which year we adopted him.
Born in 2017 Home in 2018 Died in 2023
He was just so young.
For the first couple of years he and his sister Talula had to be isolated away from the dog. Thank goodness we finally got our dog Finn trained, but I can’t stop thinking of those wasted years when he didn’t have the run of the house. I’m sorry, Theodore.
He was the fluffiest cat I’ve ever had. His name was Theodore Hobbes We called him Theo and somehow the kids called him Bearlious and I was known to occasionally call him fluffer-nutter-peanut-butter.
He was the sweetest.
He used to wake up from his nap to check on the other cats and the dog whenever there was a little scuffle. When our newest kitten Clyde got into it with Finn, Theo would shuffle in, usually still groggy. He would walk over to Finn and give him a swat.
He liked to sleep on my head at night, and swat all my things off my nightstand in the early morning.
The vet said his urinary blockage was most likely caused by stress. It could have been his change in routine after Clyde came home from surgery and was isolated in my room for two weeks. (No head sleeping for Theodore.) It could have been something we weren’t even aware of, like a new cat in the neighborhood.
Clyde is our baby cat. He had a urinary blockage problem and needed surgery a few weeks ago. But Theodore? Theodore never had this problem. I don’t understand.
I miss him, and I don’t understand.
Did he try to take care of Clyde by taking Clyde’s health problem? Seems like a crazy question unless you ever met Theodore and watched him take care of his family.
He used to love sitting by the window next to the frontdoor — the one he could just reach — and just stare.
Sometimes you’d walk into a room and he was sitting in front of a mirror just looking at himself.
Usually you’d walk into a room and he was napping.
If you were lucky enough to have him sit on your lap, like I was most mornings, you would have a chance to scritch and scratch his soft, soft fluffy self.
Scratch him in the right spot and he’d lick his front leg. Without fail. Full of party tricks, this one.
Grief is full of wishes. I wish I snuggled him even more. I wish I never got annoyed when he tried to sleep on my head while I was reading in bed. I wish I took him to the vet sooner this past weekend. I wish we had more time with him.
We miss him so much here.
But, I know Theodore is fine wherever he is.
What do I know about cat after-life, but that he’s free of any pain.
I just hope that somehow he is in a lap purring reaching his paws — and that somebody is loving his pink pink nose his pink pink toes and his fluff oh that fluff
I’m writing every day of March for the Slice of Life Challenge at Two Writing Teachers
Not to complain, but this morning I reached my hand into a pocket of my backpack , right as I was about to leave the house, and I really shouldn’t have done that. The top to my bright pink lip gloss had gotten off somehow. Magenta gloss dripped off of pens and post-its, and an old mask and mini-notebook. As I tried to wipe things off my cat jumped up and started investigating. Finally, I just decided to put everything into a grocery bag, stuff a paper towel into that pocket and go.
Not to complain, but it was raining on my dog walk this afternoon, and also I wondered why my dog’s poop was green. Then I noticed the lego. So I guess it’s nice that he didn’t complain. But, he really shouldn’t be eating legos.
Not to complain, but there were 4 jelly beans left, until one dropped to the floor and that same dog chased after it and grabbed it before I could even see where it landed.
And that’s just the kind of day – well week this has been.
I’m writing every day of March for the Slice of Life Challenge at Two Writing Teachers.
I want to know how my cats know it’s 5:42, and also why they can’t just wait 3 minutes for my alarm to wake me up.
Maybe they know I’ll hit snooze.
But, I can’t snooze Theodore. He’s the fluffiest cat I’ve ever known, and usually the chillest too. But, like clockwork he jumps on my nightstand and starts swatting things off of it to wake me up. It is almost always at 5:42. It’s not really my favorite way to wake up, hearing my books hit the floor. This morning I noticed the spray bottle I had set out to try to stop this situation was also on the floor. Well, that strategy won’t work I guess.
The cats pace around until I get up and then then chase each other down the steps, ready for breakfast. It’s actually super cute, or would be if it weren’t 5:45 in the morning.
If they are this smart, I could probably teach them to press “Brew Now” on my coffee maker.
This morning they were heartbroken. I forgot to set up the coffee maker last night, so before I fed them, I had to get the coffee started. Luckily they get over the sting of betrayal much faster that I do, and they were able to enjoy their breakfast.
Just like every morning, Clyde kept me company while I drank my coffee. Although, I think he was wondering why my hands were busy writing instead of petting him.
Clyde is a busy kitten He runs toys up and down the stairs, Hisses at the dog Chases the other cats.
So you’ll understand why it’s such a gift that he has decided to sit next to me while I write — First to stretch and look cute on the cushion next to mine Then right up against my thigh.
He cleans his feet – six toes splayed out Licks his belly He lets me scratch his soft soft head But tries to kill my hand when I rub his belly
Sleeping on my other side, not noticing Clyde- The dog is clueless But, the battle is imminent
You might be worried about baby Clyde, the smallest creature in our house.
But, let me assure you.
He holds his own.
The dog backs away from his hiss.
He chases his older cat brother and sister around the house, and sometimes off of the cat tree.
At dinner time today, Clyde ate all of the big cats’ food. So I gave them some more. He ate that too.
Later, when he went upstairs, I gave the big cats another helping. He must have heard the food clattering into the dish, because I soon heard his feet pattering down the steps.
This is why, if you had looked in my window tonight, you would have seen me spraying a sweet, tail-less baby kitten with a water spray bottle … so that the other cats could eat.
Yes, I used the same spray bottle I told my 15 year old to stop using not two hours ago, when I felt that he might have been over-disciplining baby Clyde.
This summer, I’m living in a nature documentary, waiting to hear Morgan Freeman or Sir David Attenborough narrate our life with our new kitten, Clyde.
Please do your best to read this slice of documentary narration in Morgan Freeman’s or Sir David Attenborough’s voice.
Hey! It’s a choose your own narrator slice! How might you narrate a part of your summer?
“Upstairs in his private den, the new baby practices his hunting skills. Watch as he perseveres against all odds.”
“As Clyde rests in his den, the cats and dog go about their daily routines, perhaps sensing a shift in the wind.”
“Soon it is time to introduce the animals to each other. In the wilds of the first floor, the cats and dog work to create their own social order.”
“The young kitten is brave. Maybe braver than he should be.”
“While wary of the newcomer, the fluffiest member of the family instinctively watches out for the baby. He even puts himself between the dog and the kitten when necessary. His sister is not so quick to protect. She wants to live her own life and starts lowly growling if Clyde comes too close.
The older cats will share their food, but, so that nobody is confused, they will still guard their sleeping habitat with all their heart.”
“The cats are working it out, but over here you see this 55 pound dog who is trying hard, but still unsure of what to do. He knows he isn’t supposed to fixate on the new kitten, but he’s curious. He wants to play, but he’s also afraid. Only time will tell. Will they will become friends, or simply creatures that cohabitate?”
“Listen for the sounds of the social order being created: The low growl of warning from a cat high up in their tree; the warning hiss from one cat to the another; the frightened hiss of a young tailless kitten; the whine of confused dog; the wagging of a tail; the crunching of food shared among the felines.”
“These sounds tell the real tale of this non-traditional animal family. We can only be but silent observers of the majestic dance of these household pets.”
it’s been raining, and it’s about to rain again but even dogs who don’t like rain, need walks so Finn and I walk down, around, through the park, back up and around he sniffs the rain-green grass, I sniff the air the smell of the wood burning stove from the house on the corner is my favorite
we cross the quiet street on a diagonal avoid a Prius silently coming closer finn loves the sound of a Prius it’s the sound of someone coming home he stops at the corner, head turned wags his tail sits at perfect attention won’t budge when I ask him to I don’t have the heart to force him, show him I’m boss
the Prius parks the man stares at us Finn’s tail keeps wagging expectantly I want to explain to the man my dog thinks you’re his dad he doesn’t understand that our Prius doesn’t come home anymore that is why we are standing on the corner staring at you and the rain-green grass
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers March Slice a Day Challenge! I’m slicing every day this month. Thanks for stopping by!
The Truth About Cats and Dogs
Theodore Snuggling is his favorite. He thinks that wherever I am, he should be.
Sometimes he sneaks up, investigating the couch, slowly walking towards where I am reading. This is a familiar dance. He knows he needs to be careful.
He isn’t the only one who thinks that wherever I am, he should be.
Finn Snuggling is his favorite He thinks that wherever I am, he should be.
Each time Theodore tries to sneak on the couch, he must think that this time I’ll be alone. But then he takes one more step and realizes, it’s not his lucky chance for snuggles. Finn thinks the couch belongs to him. He’s pretty sure I belong to him too.
But, when Finn is away, the couch belongs to the cats.
Talula Playing is her favorite. She can catch a pipe cleaner and loves to play fetch. She’ll snuggle nearby and on her terms
She’s one smart kitty. She waits until Finn is distracted to get her couch time.
Then, when she’s sure he’s occupied, she jumps on the couch to hang out nearby.
The truth about these cats and dogs is that they would be bestest of friends if they stopped being so possessive about snuggling me. They’ll touch noses sometimes, and I’ve seen Finn bring over a toy and ask Theodore to play. He’s usually not in the mood, but I’ve also seen him play with Finn’s tail. They have so much in common. I think maybe they hang out while I’m at work.
On a Thought 