Sammy, Our Cat

Sammy used to belong to my son and his late wife. It was a little helter-skelter watching her as a kitten, for she got lost in the fray most of the time. Our son was off working hard at Intel, while our then DIL was in the process of dying, although no one suspected it. She was on pain pills that eventually destroyed her liver and kidneys, and so a month after her 30th birthday, she went into a coma, and two days later, died.

Sarah is who named Sammy. I would never name a pet Sammy, because so many people use that name. I would have given her a more exotic name. But she answers to Sammy, and so she remains.

Meanwhile, Sarah had two babies to care for. Gregory was two years old on the same day as his mother's birthday. Lily was all of three months old. There was also the dog. And the two parakeets. When we would visit, we marveled at how disgusting and filthy the house always was, and why Sarah always wanted to be asleep on the couch with the tv area walled off so that little Gregory couldn't wander out of her reach. Had we only known, perhaps her life could have been spared. She was a very loving young woman. Nonetheless, we were the ones who saw to it that Sammy was spayed. We always loved that dear little tabby kitten and many times I would see to it that she was fed and supplied with fresh water.

Our son was very eager to find a mother for his half orphaned babies. It wasn't even a year when DIL # 2 entered the scene. She did not want Sammy to live inside, because she and our son brought into the world a new baby.

Cats love warmth and companionship. Poor Sammy had to live outside now. Well, my husband and I chose to ask for Sammy a few months after she'd lived solely outdoors, because our area had a serious stretch of extremely cold and icy weather. It was so treacherous outside the day we drove to get Sammy, that it actually took us two hours to get to what normally takes a half hour, and then with Sammy, back two more hours. And by the request of the law, we were among the very few who had ventured out that stormy night.

It was so worth that journey. Sammy is happy and content and very loving. Although she suffers still, just a wee bit, from the memories of two small children banging on "Kitty", and of course ultimately being stuck outside, alone. Occasionally the dog would be out with her, and she and he did get along, so at least she took comfort in his company.

We spoil her, because we love her. She has, in just over two years, eradicated any trace of the mice that enjoyed creeping about our home. Of course, she did that almost immediately, and she makes sure nary a one creeps back!

We bought her a lovely, old yellow ware Kitty dish at a very fine antiques venue. I serve her fresh water daily in a pretty, very pale blue, Fire King dish. And we keep dry food available to her at all times. You can sort of see her catnip mouse next to it.

Sammy says Meow, prrrrrr....