A wee Hobbes story.
Hobbes arrived as one of two as a birthday present for my son 8 years ago. Adorable Maine Coon ladies – Hobbes with her snowshoe like paddy paws. Calvin her slightly smaller alter ego. It became clear that Hobbes was not your average cat. Super smart, not keen on people but needing a person. Calvin was chilled and played with anyone. Hobbes stuck to her one person (my son) and skedaddled at others. If he was away she’d choose me. I was okay being number two in her life. Years ticked by and all was in a state of reasonable equilibrium. Then when we moved to our latest home, after a year of settling in and loving the garden, the neighbours got a new cat. At first he was kept as an indoor captive and not a problem. But suddenly after a year of captivity he Houdinied his way out and landed with a thud in their garden, tremors rippled into their world. It became clear he was a fat fluffy bully with no boundaries. He'd attack the girls on their territory, come into the house and take their food. We grew adept at his pursuit. But the girls were nervous and increasingly unhappy. We had to close the house at night and suddenly we were back to kitty litter as outside seemed unsafe. Then my son moved out and Hobbes lost her constant companion. She turned to me. When my son visited we thought she’d be beside herself with joy at seeing him. Instead she was spooked and would run and hide out for hours – maybe her version of seeing a ghost. She doubled down on me as sanctuary. She’d follow me around when I was in the house, always settling where I settled, keeping close. The problem was that there were times I had to be away. My need to travel for work. She’d struggle more when I was gone – prowling the house for company. Finding none. My partner was their feeder and sort of cares but they’re not a cat lover, and the girls know it. Hobbes badly needed her person but had no one to be hers. Then last year a longer three and a half week trip saw Hobbes simply have enough of being left, she disappeared for three days in protest. It was three days of fraught long distance calls. She did it again before I got back. But back she came. It was so strange. It seemed impossible that she was seeing another family – she won’t let strangers near her. She won’t even let other family near her. After that each time I went away she would take off. 2 days, 3 days – then a gruelling 5 days – only to reappear at 4am. Then, this last time she went the days ticked over and it got to the 5 day mark. Longest ever. Then 6, then 7 – I sent out flyers and door knocked. Contacted Lost Pet Finders. Called my vet, and the Zoo even, maybe she was eating there with the other animals when the keepers weren’t looking. At the 10 day mark I was feeling like she would never come back. It was just too long – and we’d had huge storms. My mind imagined terrible scenarios. I felt like the worst pet owner. Then, at 4am again, day 11, there she was. Slightly slender. Hungry. And pleased to see me in her own unique way. Is there someone else? Where is her somewhere else? Will she go again? We shall just have to see. I guess the moral of the story is – we can’t know their world – we can’t see what they see, think or feel. And we don’t own our cats. They choose to be with us, or not. We simply have to do our best to connect and to give them love. That’s our choice – to love cats. Like tiny tigers stalking through our lives – and hearts. It can be terrifying, and vulnerable, and gorgeous. And yes, it’s worth it.
