Squirrel

by Mickie
(Winchester, Ky.)

I helped bring Squirrel into the world. I owned her mother (an outside cat) and naturally she got pregnant in the Spring of the year.

I usually had 3 or 4 litters of kittens in the Spring and sometimes in the Fall. For some reason unknown to me, my pregnant ladies wanted to give birth to their litter in my cat carrier. I think it was because of the privacy and I always had a nice bed in there. The carrier was on the front porch where I fed them also so it made it convenient for mama to eat and to teach her babies where the food was.

Squirrel and her twin were born 17 years ago. Both were a soft solid gray with long hair. They looked like baby squirrels. I brought them inside when they were about eight weeks old. I named Squirrel and my son named Ladybug. I had both spayed when they were about a year old. I also had their mama spayed as she had had two litters and I thought she needed a break from all that.

Ladybug was not an affectionate kitty most of the time. Now Squirrel was totally different. She slept with me- always laying on my hip. When I turned over she just waited for me to get comfortable and laid on the other hip. I have had several serious illnesses over the years and Squirrel always tried to comfort me by staying very close to me until I got well. If I got sick she got worried and stayed so near and fretted until I got better.

We now live in a senior highrise in Kentucky and of course Squirrel is here with me. I have buried two husbands in five years and Squirrel has always been there while I cried; always close and worried. She still loves to chase a string or go after a fluffy little ball. She and I will always be together- until death do us part.