Zeus2

On July 11th, 2001 I adopted a cat from the shelter. I am allergic to cats. I’ve never understood why I suddenly wanted a cat. I grew up with cats, but never in the house. I had two dogs already and I was living in a small rental house (more like a shack), so why did I want a cat?

I took myself to the shelter during that summer of 2001 to play with the cats and prove to myself that I didn’t want one because I was so allergic. So I went and played with a few of the cats and looked at the rest of them in their cages. There were so many cute cats there! And kittens! Oh and I loved the cute orange ones! But one average looking grey cat kept getting my attention by purring and rubbing himself on the front of his cage.

I got a nice allergic reaction from playing with a few cats and went back to work. But I couldn’t stop thinking about that cat! So I went back at lunch the next day and asked about that grey cat. I found out he had a long rap sheet. His name was Zeus and he had been there several times. He was only 2 years old but he had 4 homes already and because he kept stealing the kids food off the plate at his last home he had a warning not to adopt to kids on his cage. The ladies working there were so fond of him though. Well I went back to work again. Sounds like this cat was trouble, no thanks. But I thought about that damn cat all afternoon and stopped at Zellers to buy a carrying cage after work and swung by the shelter with $40 to adopt him.

I always thought he had a purpose but I had no idea what it was. I figured he was destined for something, whether it was saving my life in a fire, or heck, I didn’t know, I just knew there was a reason I suddenly had to get a cat for no good reason.

Now I know why fate brought him here. He was destined to keep me company when Winger and Surf died. I swear he’s the only thing keeping me semi-sane when I’m home by myself. He greets me at the door now when I come home from work and he curls up on me and lets me pet him for as long as I want. He’s tolerated big squeezing hugs very well. He even licks off tears sometimes.

I threw myself a huge pity party tonight. I haven’t missed my dogs as bad as I am tonight. I swear the grief is almost crippling. It’s probably because I had a really lousy day at work (lousy work days have been outweighing the good by many this year) and I’m really concerned about this massive financial hole I’ve dug for myself in the last few months with the truck repairs, back step repairs, and the bathroom, and the vet bills and now more truck repairs. I’ve cried for hours. I’m trying to find some sort of good twist on anything to make sense of all of this. I know I need to stop the “why me?” blubbering, so for right now, I’m thanking the powers that be for telling me I needed a cat. And while he’s not a dog, and I don’t have to take him outside to pee, it’s really nice to at least have Zeus here so I can hear noises in the house still, I can hear his soft breathing when I wake up in the middle of the night, and I know I’ll wake up in the morning with his warm body curled up on my legs. That right there is more than what some people have (or probably want, right Julie?).

Well g’nite all, Zeus and I are headed for bed. I really need some sleep….