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During our second year in Cambodia we moved away from our small flat overlooking the river, which had always been so interesting, with all its constant activity.
We took up residence in a bungalow on what was then called rue Dr Hahn which I can picture still. I’d find my way there now, if it wasn’t so changed.
In that same year, I met my Australian friend Sabrina and I spent a lot of time with her family.
We were all animal lovers and Sabrina’s mother was always rescuing cats.
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One night when I was staying over, Sabrina’s parents went out to a social function and as they left we were admonished:
“No more cats!”
Their car was barely out of sight when we heard a noise at the door and opening it, we found a kitten.
The Russians having recently launched a spaceship, the kitten was named Sputnik and joined the rest.
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The closest I came to having a cat of my own was when Sai See, my mother’s helper moved in to the attached servant’s quarters with her cat Kliang.
He was the first cat I ever had to say goodbye to. Sai See brought him to the airport which didn’t seem at all odd at the time.
It was many years before cats entered my life in a permanent way but I always thought that if I did have a cat one day, I’d like it to be grey.
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When finally they arrived one after another, the cats were an assortment, but it was not until Mama and Baby Girl came to live in the foster suite, that I actually cared for a grey cat.
They were really Grant’s cats but they were not allowed upstairs because of litter-box issues.
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Which was also why Abe remained downstairs.
Abe had a bad heart, which is likely why he’d been abandoned.
One morning I found him lying dead. He appeared to have simply drifted off.
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Bridget and her sister Macy came to me from a woman who had found them abandoned in an apartment that she managed.
They had been left without food or water.
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We quickly fell in love with this duo, seen here with Joey who was a real sweetheart.
Soon, we discovered Bridget had litter-box issues and after that Grant decided it was a “grey cat thing”.
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But Cinder and her baby Ella were grey and there was no such problem with either of them!
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They had arrived with a group of kittens from a shelter in western Washington, as did a big tabby who we re-named Toby.
Cinder and Ella always stayed by him, though I think they had not met before coming to us.
Someone soon wanted to adopt Toby and it was very unlikely we would find a home for all three.
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But it was heart-breaking to see Cinder and Ella searching for their friend.
Luckily though, we found a good home for them together.
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The other three kittens were Maks, Mikal and Oliver.
As you can see…they were grey.
And, as I recall there were no litter box problems.
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Maks was adopted by a friend and they went to live in Texas, but sadly his life was quite short.
Oliver and Mikal got separate homes.
When I look back at all these faces I wonder how I ever let them go, but I could not become a hoarder. I had to hope their homes were well-chosen.
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My own first grey kitten, the one that was to become my companion, marched down a steep hill behind my house, barely visible under the ivy and fixed me with her eyes.
Those eyes.
Still grieving, months after Panther’s death, Willow came to heal my heart. It wasn’t that I stopped missing Panther. Maybe it was that this new young cat filled the same need in me. Or maybe she needed me in the way Panther had.
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There are so many things in life that cannot be explained. I long ago stopped expecting them to be.
Willow climbed into my lap purring and it was clear she believed I was her person. She knew me. But how?
It mattered only that she’d found me.
Those eyes, I swear, see into my soul.
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This past June, another mysterious grey kitten came into my life.
His arrival was equally unexplained.
A kitten was nowhere in our expectations, definitely not part of our plans.
But it seems we were part of his.
Look at that face.
Could you imagine me denying him a home?
Your love for cats (and not only) only tells of your kind heart! Also, love the glimpse into the past, your first cat goodbye and the photographs!
I love, Carolyn, this nostalgic trip down memory lane and interesting pictures as always! Good that cats find you, if I was born a cat I would strive to live with you!
Lovely to see this beautiful Sweetheart so well settled with you.
Joanna
Those eyes definitely tell a whole volume of stories!
Wonderful history of your cats
My first grey climbed through my bedroom window in the night when I was five. When I woke up in the half-light of morning I thought it was a football on my floor. It was just Smokey from somewhere in the neighborhood curled up and seeking a warmer spot to sleep.
You can’t! I am not a cat person, but even I can’t deny him. 😊
Louise, my last cat, was predominantly grey in colour. She was very affectionate, and has no issues with her litter tray. She stayed with my mum once I got married and moved out, and lived to be almost 16 years old until her kidneys failed.
Best wishes, Pete.
Yes, it’s Willow’s eyes that can look right into one’s soul! When I look in my wardrobe, grey is one of my favourite colours to wear in the winter — and I like grey cats just as much! I love your old photos – I’ve said it before, but you have wonderful memories from a long time ago! And saying no to that cute face – NEVER!
Oh no, you found Abe dead…
We humans are cruel aren’t we?
You reminded me of one time that I rented my house to a single mother and her 2 daughters – no pets on the lease. She was a Legal Secretary. However, she took advantage of the fact we were working a thousand kilometres away. We were meeting up on the weekend for the Exit Inspection but when we got there, found she did a scarper as she also owed us rent. After only 6 months (and with carpet that old), the house was a disgusting mess.
We walked in and could hear meowing coming from a kitchen cupboard. Opening the cupboard, the scared cat screeched out the kitchen and outside never to be seen again. Not sure how long it had been in there, but on checking the rooms, old cat pee was on the carpets. She must have locked the cat in the bedroom as the carpet at the bottom of the door was scratch to pieces and threadbare. I could go on, but it was awful. 🙁
Love when you share with us your childhood memories – so interesting.
When you have tenants you really learn all about people. My parents ran apartments for a number of years. I went in once with my dad after a tenant had left. Just as well mum didn’t check it out. There were bits of Kentucky Fried chicken all over the place and general mess but wht would have upset my mum was that there was a condom hanging from a light bulb. It had been used, I believe. I allowed Dad to remove it!
That’s so disgusting! I can’t say that I’ve experienced that one before, thankfully. People really are feral.