The year 1994 brought many changes in my life. Some were high and some very low. One of the most wonderful events that year was a phone call from our local ASPCA. I had signed up to be placed on a waiting list for a white Persian. I was told they had a badly injured white male Persian if I wanted to come and look at him. The day arrived for our visit and this first encounter sold me. I was informed his name was McDuff. He was in a quarantine room and the only cat among 12 kennels. The tech took Duff out and placed him on the floor where he promptly walked very slowly in front of all the dogs as if to say, "You can't get me!" I just loved his attitude and hardly noticed the halo around his head and drains and stitches in his thigh. So home we went.
Duff became not only my pet, but my best friend and a wonderful teacher. I had a past that did not include a lot of love or attention, so the term "unconditional love" was foreign to me. One evening while saying my prayers, I looked up and noticed that Duff would lay on my bed facing me while I did this nightly ritual. I looked into his beautiful copper eyes and at that very moment realized what unconditional love was.
Through our short 9 years together, friends would laugh at Duff's meows as they actually sounded like words. An example of this was when I walked in the door at the end of a long day and there would be Duff meowing what sounded like a "hello". He had such a unique personality that he won over every person he came in contact with. There is no doubt he left tiny paw prints on many hearts.
Sadly on a Thanksgiving evening, Duff suddenly became very ill. I rushed him to an emergency vet and was solemnly informed that he had cancer. The following day I took him to a vet that gave me a lot to think over. He said that he could operate, but that the cancer looked quite advanced and he might have to be put to sleep during the operation. We went home to think this over. A friend sat with us and helped me nurse Duff. We agreed to take shifts staying up with our very ill Duff. My friend decided that since I had not slept for days, that she would take the first shift. True to the end, my best friend, Duff, let me fall asleep before he slowly crawled back to my bedroom where he laid down and went into eternal sleep.
I will always miss Duff and will never forget him. I'm sure he has earned his wings and is one of God's kitten angels.
BooKats Steely Dan
1-25-06 - 5-22-06
Although Steely Dan was only with us
for too brief a time, he won our hearts and
was loved so much. Our little boy was a real
trooper even to the end. We will miss you.
Little Ghost Cat
Little Ghost cat,
Your footsteps pit-pat
In the hallway of my mind
The kiss of air, whisper-soft purr;
I hear the echoes of your purr;
See your pouncing shadow everywhere....
And smile through my tears.
Author Unknown
