Last November, our daughter went for a walk with our neighbor and their chocolate lab, Maverick. She came back carrying a white cat she had found on the sidewalk. The cat didn’t seem to mind. We took him to the vet who scanned his chip and forwarded our contact info to the registered owners. The next day, a woman and her two young daughters came and told us his story: Govinda, as they called him, was their cat’s kitten. They had given him away but he had recently been brought back to them because he, being very much the outdoorsy type, hadn’t been the right fit.
The woman thanked us with a handful of cookies as her little girl unceremoniously grabbed a silent and un-protesting Govinda. Away they drove.
To our surprise, two days later, he was back in our yard, lounging in the shade of the palm tree, resting on the recliner chair, climbing the tree. A day passed. Then a week. Then another. Whenever we looked outside, there was the cat. No inquiries from the registered owners, until one afternoon, a familiar car pulled into our lane. We recognized the mother and her two daughters. When they asked about the cat, we pointed to him sitting on the grass nearby.
This parting was more difficult. Our daughter started sobbing as soon as they left. We consoled her the best we could. He wasn’t ours and we had to let him go even though we all had grown attached.
We weren’t sad for long however. When we woke up the next morning, there he was, in his favorite spot. Clearly, he had chosen his new home. He had chosen us and, at that moment, we all agreed to be his family. We were not looking for a pet. The truth is I had never wanted a pet and yet… this blue-eyed white tabby changed my mind.
Although he spends most of his time outside, he now also has full access to our home and our furniture. Most evenings, you’ll find him cuddled by me on the couch. He rests his head on my hand, gives a big contented sigh and falls asleep. It makes me feel all kind of feelings.
When his warm body lies relaxed on my lap, there’s nothing I want or need. It’s all there in that moment. Trust. Peace. Contentment. Joy. I don’t have to say anything, do anything, be anything.
Anyone who has or has had a pet knows all of this but to me, it is all new.
I love when he purrs as loudly as a jet plane.
I love watching him and my daughter sprawled in deep sleep together.
I love when he gently grabs my hand between his paws and licks my fingers.
I love him.
Enough to have left a big beaten up cardboard box in the living room since Christmas because he enjoys jumping in and out of it. Enough to not mind the white hair on our clothes (we bought lint brushes) and our floors (we sweep more often). Enough to already dread leaving him the next time we travel.
He is fierce yet gentle; independent yet sociable; nice to children and very playful. He makes us laugh so much.
I never wanted a pet but I’m glad I’ve got this one…
Sir Frosty, we’re blessed to be yours.
It’s been over two months now that Frosty has lived with us and the previous owners have not come back though I’m sure they know where he is. If they do, we will not return him. Google seems to agree that he is now officially ours.
Edited to add: Official ownership of Frosty has been transferred to us as of March 2020.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We love Frosty!!! ❤️❤️❤️