[fgallery id=4 w=250 h=200 t=0 title=”Tinkerbell”]
Two years ago this past January 22nd, I adopted a medium haired Calico cat. She belonged to a friend of the gal I was dating at the time. They had tried and tried to give her away but were about ready to give up and take her to the shelter. I had been debating getting a cat, but didn’t want to go through the hassle of dealing with a kitten.
Shortly after getting Tink, she became extremely ill. She would hide all the time. The only way I could get her out was to use some ham or other morsel that she really liked. She wasn’t eating other than when I hand fed her. I took her to the vet. She had severe ear infections in both ears. The vet felt she had extreme social problems or health issue and I may not be able to keep her. Tests showed nothing more than worms and the ear infection. It has taken a while, but I now have a wonderful friend.
I had a cat back in high school, Missy. Missy was fairly smart, but Tink (short for Tinkerbell) is far more intelligent than most cats I’ve met. Either that or she has me trained really well. She knows what the basement is. Where her food goes and will gladly show you if you don’t put it in the right place. She has never been a lap cat and is not much for being held. Lately though, I have been able to pick her up and put her on my chest while I lay down. She will stay for a little bit without grumping. This has led to a new habit of walking up on my chest or my side while I’m sleeping. She will lay down and purr loudly.
I find it amazing how animals get into our lives. They start out as companions or critters to entertain us and move into the state of being like children. Tink greets me at the door every night. Jumps up to make sure I’m awake every morning when the alarm goes off. She even seems to know when I shouldn’t be sleeping and comes to check on me to make sure I’m ok. We have grown quite attached to each other.
This past year has been tough on me with losing Mom and the ATV crash. There have been many times where I have sat down on the couch or the edge of the bed and felt like breaking down. Tink comes over and rubs my legs and feet or jumps up and smooths against my back. I find her purr soothing. She will lay near by as if to say “I’m here. It will be ok.” I don’t know what I’d do without her little furball presence hanging around the house.
To think there was a time when I thought to myself “Do I really want a cat?” We’ve both benefited from our time together. I am so glad I didn’t say no when she was offered to me or didn’t listen to the vet when the vet thought she was too sick/unruley to keep. She is the child I never had.