Uncle Tiger

I wasn’t quite ready to get a cat. I’d grown up with animals, but now I was on my own; or so I thought. The interesting thing about animals is that you can plan all you want as far as adoption, but it doesn’t matter; when the time is right, they will adopt you.

He showed up at my doorstep one evening; matted coat, hungry, friendly, and wanting to come in. I actually thought he was the neighbor’s cat; she had an orange tabby named Pumpkin that looked very much like this cat. I even came up with an elaborate theory: someone tried to bathe Pumpkin, and she got away and was looking for solace…..then the orange stray and Pumpkin showed up at the same time, discounting my theory. I did what any animal lover would do; I took the orange kitty in…

It was clear from his condition, that this cat had been around the block, and yet he was familiar with house behavior; at one time he must have had a family. It was obvious to me that I was his family now.

After determining that this kitty was not the neighbor’s cat, I promptly made an appointment with a local vet (whom I’ve found from the phonebook). At this time in my life, I was new to a lot of things concerning animals, so I relied on this vet to guide me in what I knew was a new journey unfolding.

I gave this kitty a name: Tiger. He actually looked the part because of his features. Then I found out that he is a neutered male. The next step was to test him for feline leukemia; the vet explained to me that it is just like a pregnancy test (eeek!!!). Tiger tested negative, so he is vaccinated and I leave him at the vet’s to be cleaned up. The first night I could tell he was so grateful to be safe; and I am grateful that such a wise old soul choose me, for I know that I am about to begin on a journey. Little do I know where this journey will take me and the impact it will have on the rest of my life…

Over the next couple months, we bonded. Once Tiger was feeling more secure in our house, he wanted to go outdoors. I didn’t want to take the chance of having him get hurt or worse, so I compromised and harness trained him. He loved it. I was working from home at the time, so I developed a routine; I’d take Tiger out at lunchtime; he actually go to the door and say: “me out.” It was our routine by day, and at night, he would sleep in bed with me. Tiger also enjoyed many hours on my lap. I look back and realize that perhaps in many ways we needed each other.

Tiger saw many changes in the household over the next few years. Shortly after he adopted me, I was also adopted by a stray kitty that I named Samantha. Samantha was brought home by our neighbor, who basically let her roam free outside. Like any unspayed female, Samantha ended up pregnant, and when I realized her: “delicate condition” I knew that not only was I going to keep her, but her kittens as well. Tiger and Samantha got along well, but Tiger had no idea as to the change he was in for…

After the kittens were born (there were 4), I introduced Tiger gradually to them, so as not to upset Samantha. She was very protective of her brood at this point, and any other cat was viewed as a threat. When I brought Tiger into my makeshift nursery, he seemed indifferent, yet I could sense the wheels turning: “All I wanted was a quiet house! What did I get myself into?!” Little did he know…

As Samantha’s kittens grew, they loved to play with Tiger. I could tell that he’d rather be left alone, and yet he was so tolerant. I gave him the nickname. “Uncle Tiger.”

Two years after Tiger adopted me, I found him one day in the bathroom, unwilling to eat, or even leave the room for that matter. A visit to the vet confirmed liver disease. I nursed him at home, and ended up having another wonderful year with him. Then one night, I took him to the emergency room for difficulty breathing. X-rays revealed heart failure, and after being hospitalized, Tiger went home on medication. The next few months were a rollercoaster of trying to help him fight, both of knowing that it was a losing battle. Eventually, Tiger got tired of fighting….

I’ll never forget that night. Tiger’s health took a dramatic turn for the worse. I really didn’t expect him to make it through the night. The next morning, he was still with us, but it was clear that he needed release. I made an appointment with my vet and called everyone who had been special to Tiger, so that they could say goodbye to him…..

Tiger crossed over to the rainbow bridge on a beautiful fall day in October. It was exactly the kind of day that Tiger liked to be out in. It seemed fitting somehow, as though heaven was waiting to receive his beautiful, but weary soul….

As I brought him home, I noticed a quietness in the air; almost as the Tiger was trying to tell me that he was finally at peace. I allowed the other cats to view and sniff his body if they wished; I had my closure, and I felt that they all deserved it too. Oddly, most of the other cats stayed far away, as if they knew that what was wrapped in a blanket was but a shell of their beloved friend.

My family and a couple close friends stopped by that night. I held a wake, and then a candlelight ceremony in the back yard, where we laid Tiger to rest. Our backyard was the perfect resting place, as Tiger loved it there, with all of its wonderful sounds and scents. Somehow, I was able to reflect on that and take comfort in knowing that he was finally in a better place, where illness and frailty do not exist.

After wards, we all went inside and talked about the wonderful ways that Tiger had touched all of us. I knew my life would never be the same, not did I want to go back. After everyone left, I remember feeling the same peacefulness and stillness I felt earlier right after Tiger had passed. A chapter in my life had now closed, but a new one was about to begin….

Ellen M. White
Copyright January, 27th, 2007