Leela

Houses need cats. I could not imagine myself without having a cat around, they are wonderful companions in life. They are independent enough that when you've won their affection, you've earned it. They can be friendly, and are excellent company.

I selected Leela from a bunch of kittens at the SPCA. She seemed fairly active, and came up to me in her cage. The only other tabby I knew well was Tab, who lived with me at my parents' house from high school. Tab died of a kidney infection in 1979.

Right from the start, Leela was a rambunctious kitten, who loved attention and loved climbing anything, including me. Somehow, as she dug her claws into my side, she held on as I yelped!

That was ten years ago. She's matured into an adult cat, big, usually friendly, and she likes to play rough. Her favorite game is something I call "grab the head," she rolls onto her back, expecting me to scratch her stomach. After a while, she starts clawing at my arm, so I try to grab her head and (gently) shake it. She meanwhile tries to disembowel my arm. I've got a cut or two from that, but she's purring as we play.

As she's gotten older, Leela has become a bit more of a lap cat. In her young adult years, she tended to be a bit more aloof. Never unfriendly, she would allow me to pat her, but never sought me out. Now, a day doesn't go by when she doesn't jump into my lap, asking me to scratch her head or just pat her.

As she has only known me, it doesn't surprise me that she is shy around others. It usually takes her a day or to two become friendly to my guests.

Gremalkin has been quite a disturbance for her, she's still the affectionate cat around me, but she hates Gremalkin, and even after a year will rarely tolerate his presence. It's too bad, because Gremalkin is a sweet cat, who doesn't mind Leela at all.

September 7, 2004 was a very bad day for Leela. I put out some special food for Leela and Gremalkin when I got out of the shower. Gremalkin got there first, with Leela following. Leela did what she normally does when she sees Gremalkin; she took a swat at him.

This time, I heard a snap, and Leela started howling and limping.

Leela broke her leg, very severely. Instead of drying off after my shower, I found myself rushing Leela to the emergency veterinary clinic, where they immediately gave her a pain killer. She was xrayed, and a tumor was found on her bone, near the point of the break.

Right now, she is resting, with her leg in a sling. According to the doctors, her leg will not heal, and it is a matter of time before the cancer metastasizes. The only treatment would be to amputate the leg -- extremely expensive, and not even guaranteed to help. Leela's lived for seventeen years, a phenominally long time for a cat, and I am going to help her live her last days as pleasantly as I can.

While Leela became accustomed to her sling, she did not regain her spirits. She'd spend most of her time hiding, with the exception of some time she'd spend with me. When with me, she'd be happy, but it was clear that her happiness with me was an exception. She died peacefully at 5:51PM on September 29, 2004.