Lilybit's Tribute to Wild Cat
Last year I
had an interview with a wise old Wild Cat. She was a precious
feline friend and muse to Mom’s writer friend, Elaine Stock. I’m sad to report
that Wild Cat has passed away recently—at the ripe old age of around 19! (That
has to be comparable to at least a 100-year-old human!)
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| Wild Cat helping her she-human, Elaine. |
She gave
good advice, too, saying the best feline muses take care of themselves first
and then make sure their humans are happy and well rested, so they will be more
productive. (Like I’d ever let that happen around here. It’s just too tempting
to be a pest while they’re sleeping. Wild Cat was much nicer than I am.) Not only
was she a great muse and liked to cuddle Elaine while she was writing, but she
also helped her he-human, Wally, restore pianos. (See photo below.)
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| This was Wild Cat in her younger days. (Her he-human restores pianos for a living and she's making sure this piano doesn’t walk away.) |
In her
earlier years, Wild Cat was at the bottom of the pecking order with two cat
siblings, though she had enjoyed snuggling with them on top of clean laundry in a basket. Since they went on to kitty glory about nine years ago, Wild Cat had reigned supreme. She liked to keep Elaine company at her 3 a.m. breakfast and
often enjoyed a few stray muffin crumbs. Though quieter than her name
suggested, Wild Cat did like to bellow at dinnertime, waiting for her own, well-deserved taste
of Elaine’s dinner.
No more will
Elaine and Wally see Wild Cat's ears peeking through the window while she waited
for them to come home. And even though she tried to disguise her gladness at
their return, as she thumped down off the trunk by the window where she waited, they knew she
cared.
Wild Cat is
greatly missed and onto her eternal reward, which I believe must include an
all-you-can-eat tuna buffet, mice to chase (Hey, it’s not their heaven.), and laser beams to attack, while running through a meadow of sweet smelling grass! And when she’s tired,
she can nap in the sunshine. So I say a fond “good-bye” to my elderly friend,
Wild Cat, who lived a full and delightful feline life with her humans, Elaine
and Wally.
See you on
the other side someday, Wild Cat. May you eat, nap, run, and play
in peace.
in peace.
