NaturallyResilient

About

When we lived in the duplex in north Austin, we had a cat door insert for the sliding door. This allowed any and all stray cats in the area to come in and make themselves at home.

My husband and I had recently married, he had 4 cats and I had 2 (hey a guy who likes cats is something to hold on to). We bought the duplex and finally moved in together. All this shuffling around had confused the cats and they were not sure who was and who was not suppose to be with us anymore so our legitimate cats were very welcoming of strays.

One stray stayed on the outskirts of the back porch for quite a while, unsure of his welcome. He was very scruffy looking; the kind you really did not want to touch. He looked and acted like he had been kicked out of a lot of places. I thought he needed some food and kind treatment. He was a very ugly cat with a stub of a tail. I was never sure if it was natural or had been cut off. That tail is why we started calling him Bobbie. He also had a medical problem that I am sure kept anyone from taking him in. He had a tumor. His side bulged like a tennis ball was in there.

My husband and I decided he needed some kindness and some good food. We cajoled and bribed him until he finally let us close. The good food did help. His fur started getting smoother and shinier. He finally decided to make the plunge and he came in the cat door.

He liked it indoors. It was cool and safe; he did not have to worry about predators or the pit bull down the street.

Since he had moved in, I decided he needed his shots. At the vets, I asked about the tumor and he said that he could operate and remove it but it would come back. We decided to let nature take its course.

Bobbie stayed with us for about seven months and I could tell the tumor was taking a toll on him. His favorite place to sleep was in the bathtub with its cool sides. One day he disappeared. After being gone for several days I assumed he had gone off to die.

About four months after his disappearance, he showed up! He came in the cat door and in his weakened state managed to climb into the bathtub. Paul and I petted him and made over him and offered food and water but the timing was bad. We were just on our way out when Bobbie walked in. We had to leave; our bowling league was depending on us. So I left Bobbie in the bathtub. When we got back several hours later, Bobbie was no longer in the tub or the house.

We never did see Bobbie again. I think he came to see us one last time before he died. I like to think he was appreciative of our efforts to help a starving, sick stray.