Sammy came into my life in the spring of 2005, as a comfort for me as I grieved the loss of my sweet Sassy, 5 days before. I accepted him from Mark and Lisa. They had him for 2 years, so I already loved him. Sammy was one of a kind. He started out on our screened in porch and I left the door open if he wanted to come in. He gradually checked our home out and appointed himself "Alpha" over Shali (our other Himalayan)and our 100lb. dog, Bear.
His markings were very unique, being black and gray stripes and swirls.
He had beautiful green eyes.
He loved sleeping with us and walking all over us as we tried to sleep.
He liked cuddling in my lap while on the computer but got annoyed if I tried to type
He had unusual, I think, eating and drinking habits.
He would use his paw as a spoon eating one piece at a time.
Drinking water the same way, getting his paw wet, then licking the water off his paw.
For the first few years, he annoyed us, trying to slip out of the house every chance he got. That's one reason Mark and Lisa gave him to us. Several times he almost tripped pregnant Lisa. He was supposed to be an inside only cat, having no front claws. He had a few "accidents" I'll call them, since he's not here to defend himself. I think for the last 3 years, we let him go outside. I was afraid he'd wander off and get into trouble but he stayed fairly close to our home and the three neighbors. If I went to a neighbor's he'd follow me and wait for me to come out of their home. HE WAS SUCH A HAPPY CAT, OUTDOORS! HE LOVED IT!
He'd bring me "presents" from time to time wanting to bring them in. "Nothing doing", I'd say. How he could meow and hold onto his gift, I'll never know but one day, he meowed a little too loud and the bird flew away. I'm sure he spent the rest of the day trying to recover what he thought was his.
A gross but weird thing with Sammy was his taste for plastic bags. No, I mean LITERALLY taste for plastic bags. How did I know this fact about Sammy, you ask? I would find bits of plastic bags in the Cat Genie litter box, wrapped around the mechanical part of the machine. There was only ONE way, it could find it's way to that part of the litter box. Yep, you guessed it, so I don't even have to say the word, do I?
For the last 2 years, Wayne has been regularly feeding squirrels in our front yard. Sammy thought they were fair game but they always outran him. The last 6 months, I've seen him just stretched out on the sidewalk watching the squirrels eat. His ONLY defeat! :) Maybe he thought he was a squirrel since he started eating sunflower seeds also and then throwing them up at any given time...indoors or out.
Sammy, being the curious cat he was, could be seen inside a car,snooping around if the windows were open. We were always afraid that would be the end of him, being locked in a hot car. We were very careful to make sure that never happened. I owned a truck for a few years. I was on an errand one day, got on the feeder close to home, kept hearing this cat sound. I thought it was a stray out off the street somewhere, What I found was Sammy in the bed of my truck going for an unintended ride. I quickly pulled over in a parking lot and grabbed him. I was so afraid, he was going to jump out into the traffic being so frightened.
Another incident was when he was on the hood of my van. I got in the van, he didn't move. I started the engine, he didn't move. I started backing out of the driveway, he didn't move. Started to go forward on our street, he didn't move. All this time, he was all stretched out on top of my wipers, with not a care in the world. Of course, I got out picked him up and put him in our yard.
If he was outside when Wayne was pulling into the drive, to show his delight for Wayne arriving home, He'd stretch out in the path of Wayne trying to back into the drive. Of course, Wayne knowing he does this, he or I would pick him up and move him.
Sammy was also very vocal. Sitting outside our front storm door, he'd wait patiently (as cats do) for someone to let him in. When he was acknowledged and let in, he'd give us a me-e-o-o-w,as if to say "what took you so long?" If I was sitting, I'd pat my leg for him to jump up. If he didn't, then I knew he wanted something else. He'd reach up and paw at my leg, like a child trying to get their parent's attention. Then I knew he wanted out. I'd say "you want out?" And he'd give me the me-e-o-ow and jump in the air running toward the door.
Jumping into our lap or our bed, before settling down, h'd always kneed us. I've heard cats do this when taken from their momma too soon. He loved lying in bed with Wayne as Wayne worked a crossword puzzle or on his laptop. He loved taking an afternoon nap with him. Sometimes Wayne wanted him out. Sammy would watch me, knowing I was about to pick him up, he'd just cry, not wanting to go. Wayne works mostly nights and when I'd go to wake him for work, Sammy would run ahead of me, wanting to lay with Wayne before he got up.
As most cats, he checked out the clean sheets to our bed while the bed was being changed. Tucked him in and he would lay there for what seemed forever, before he'd slither out of the fitted sheet, coming out inch by inch onto the floor.
His paw would stroke my face in an affectionate way. Or my arm if he couldn't reach my face. He liked being with me while I put make-up on.
He was a very social creature, never knowing a stranger and assumed everyone was a catlover. Well, at least loved him. I mean who wouldn't, if you met him??
Even though Beka is allergic to cats, she would take a benadryl and love on him and cuddle with him. This was supposed to be her cat. Sammy would let her play with him as one of her toys, when she owned him.
He could be found in the oddest places to sleep. A few of the places come to mind:
baby bed (I don't know why I had it, the babies never slept in it)
He loved sleeping next to Alex, Maya and Phoenix, while I was laying with them.
baby stroller
baby carseat
Wayne's closet on top of hunting clothes
bathroom cabinets, if left opened
the dirty clothes hamper
basket of clean clothes
any inviting lap
And then it happened. I pulled into the driveway to my usual spot. Sammy was coming across the driveway to greet me, as always(but not seeing him, I just know) In haste, I remembered somewhere else I needed to go. Not seeing Sammy, or rather not looking for him, I put the van in reverse. Once I heard and felt the bump, I knew the unthinkable had happened. I ran over my poor sweet, just wanting to greet me, Sammy. I rushed to pick him up and drive to the Emergency clinic, only to find out they don't open til 6p.m. Not time to go anywhere else and seeing it was hopeless as constant expelling of blood, ear bleeding and his eye pushed out, I drove back home and just wailed. My gut screaming out in horror at what I had done. The whole time holding my baby. For almost 24 hours, except for taking a sleeping pill, I could not quit crying with the guilt of not taking care of my pet. Hating myself for being in a rush, as usual. I just kept reliving the whole thing and hearing and feeling the crush. My head hurt, my face hurt from crying so much. I've never have experienced this before. I've put animals to sleep but never killed one.
One thing I won't miss, is the misery he put himself and others thru, when going to the vet. He would literally go the "wild animal" act. The vet I've used for 38 years, just gives him the most needed shots and calls it quits on him. It's really been sad to watch because I know he's just scared to death. Well not anymore, poor Sammy, you never have to go again. I love you, Sammy Sosa. You were a very enjoyable pet.
This is for me. It's been good for me to write this, labeling as I see it!
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