Sherbert

Sherbert is my feline soul mate. He is the definition of love and loyalty. Sherbert is my companion, he has held my hand through rough times and my heart through the best of times. Parts of his story seem unbelievable, most of it is typical. All of it is special.

Alot has happened in my life. Some good, some bad. I remember little about growing up, key moments here and there. My life truly began when I left home. After leaving collage I married my best friend, We are still best friends and share our home with 4 cats, a dog and our 2 lovely children.

After we married, we moved in with his 2 disabled parents to help them stabilize their finances. After the wedding I was sitting outside enjoying the crisp air, it was March and snow was in patches on the ground. As I sat there a car passed the house heading down toward the cattle fields, past the woods and out of my sight. Living on a dead end road in the middle of Nowhere USA, it meant one thing, Someone had decided to get rid of another unwanted pet. Since strays and ferals were shot on sight in the area, I decided to walk down and see what was left behind after the car sped away. (And I still think people are cowards as they can only dump their animals under cover of darkness).

Sitting on the side of the gravel road in the snow was a bewildered looking, very pregnant cat. I spoke to her gently and waited for her to follow me home. We named her Cricket. For several weeks she would sleep under the cast iron stove in the living room, but wanted to go out on warmer days. When April rolled around i started pruning back hedges, and she would follow me about watching. One warm day I was trimming back some bushes when I heard footsteps behind me. Being busy I didn't turn to see who it was, since no one but the family was around, or maybe a neighbor for down the hill a mile away. A woman spoke to me, a light gentle voice I do not remember ever having heard before. truthfully to this day I do not remember how long the conversation was or what we even spoke about. All I remember is finally turning around and seeing no one there but the cat, and she just stood up and walked away. That night I dreamed of a cat, a orange male with large golden eyes. I knew he was mine.

On April 6, 1993 The 3 kittens were born, a silver striped female, a grey and black striped female, and a single orange male. One day watching the kittens play, Cricket picked up the male and dropped him at my feet, the male was to be mine, I knew it then and I still believe it now. Eventually all the females, including Cricket and another litter were rehomed. I named the male kitten Sherbert.

The night I brought Sherbert indoors, I placed him in a crate to sleep, when the lights when out, he started to whimper, Scooping him up I set him on the bed and he has slept by my side ever since.

He is now 18 years old and has the prettiest gold eyes. He is no longer orange, but a wonderful buff color.
During these 18 years, he has rarely been out of sight. When I am home he is almost always in arms reach. Spending as much time draped over my shoulder as he possibly can, riding about as I do chores or read. He is not as playful as he used to be, preferring to sleep next to me or sit on my lap as the younger cats tumble about. In the last month he has went deaf, He no longer hears my words, but his eyes rarely leave me as he waits for me to look at him and speak in his direction.

He has gracefully allowed other cats to seek refuge in our home while homes were looked for, Taken care to parent the young ones found left beside the road. He has regally accepted dogs coming and going, again parenting the puppies on proper behavior around cats. He has accommodated 2 children being born and reared in his house. Also taking the time to educate them on treating cats with gentleness.

He has made me laugh when I was depressed. Has comforted me when I was ill. I provide him with food and shelter, he provides me with love and devotion.

I feel blessed to have him with me for this long and daily I hope for many more years with this special soul.

unfortunately he passed 4 months after I wrote this..

art by BarkBreath