My red point siamese became a member of our family a few months after I was married. Ping came to me from Purr-Mew Cattery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa via United Airlines.
When I first saw Ping, she was just seven months old and I thought she was the most beautiful cat I have ever seen. She wasn't too thrilled with all the commotion and was letting her little feelings known. I took her home quickly so she could settle down in a quiet environment. I didn't see Ping for a few days,but I eventually found her peeking around corners and as soon as she saw me looking, she would scurry back to her hiding place. This began our life-long game of playing peek-a-boo.
After a while, Ping decided that we weren't so bad after all and she could live with this change. I was watching television the night she ventured out into full view, sat in the middle of the living room floor and started talking to me. I scooped her up, gave her a BIG hug and kiss, sat down on the floor with her and played for hours. That night she even decided to come to bed with me to snuggle up close to dream the dreams that only kitties can.
When I first brought my daughter home, Ping was very curious. She would come up to Julie, sniff her head, look at me and ask, "What in the world is this strange creature?" She came to love Julie and became her guardian. She slept in the nursery at the foot of the crib and would come to wake me when Julie started stirring during the night for her feedings. I think Ping would have fed her if she could. She always sat close by, watching to make sure I did the right thing.
Ping always adjusted to new situations quite well. When we moved into a bigger house, I decided to get another cat and Toby entered our lives. Ping never demonstrated the usual cat behavior whenever a new cat joins a household. She accepted Toby readily and made her feel right at home.
The years that Ping and Toby were together, they were inseparable. Ping had developed a bad case of arthritis where she could not even climb the stairway, we had to carry her up and down the stairs. She was also diabetic and ended up with cancer. Ping was 19 years old by this time and she was in pain. Because of her age there was very little they could do so her vet suggested having her put to sleep. When that sad day came, I held her in my arms so she could feel the love I had for her and not be afraid. Toby was completely lost without Ping, she would wonder around the house crying out for Ping. Toby and I grieved together and in that process became very close companions.
TO MY ANGEL KITTY
The joy you brought always kept
the sun shining in my heart.
You knew me, my moods, my self...I could always count on you
to comfort me with a tender
pat on my cheek.I could always count on you to make me
laugh when you played peek-a-boo.I could always count on you to keep me
warm on cold winter nights.I will miss you my angel kitty,
but, I know, your memory will always
keep the sun shining in my heart.
KittyKapers 10/98
