He Came with A Warning Label
I was normal 2 cats ago…
The sweetest cat in the world came with a warning label. Meet big head Ernie, the orange tabby that I always wanted…"It was a lovely spring day when I stepped into the local Petland and laid eyes on this charming orange tabby. He was crouched in his cage, which had a notice posted on it in bold letters: 'Warning! Loves people but absolutely hates and will fight a dog.' This declaration likely explained why he had yet to find his forever home. He was 1 year and 4 months old when we welcomed him into our lives and rescued him from Death Row. As morbid as it sounds, there is a shelf life for the animals at these places."
Anyhoo, for as long as I can remember, I had always wanted an orange tabby, you know, like Morris the Cat from those 9 Lives cat food commercials. Right from the get-go, this little fella was a bundle of love, spreading affection to every soul he crossed paths with. But here's the kicker that likely kept him from getting the boot back to the Humane Society—as he had quite the extended stay AND he was a return. Ernie was his name. Well, some sweet little old lady took him in, but because things didn't mesh between him and her snooty lil pocketbook Pekinese, she brought him back. (Her loss was our gain) But, let me tell you, while he was there, Ernie was a hit with the ladies at Petland. Reminds me of a scene out of the movie Puss 'n Boots...It must be the boots!
Now, this cat was Mr. Personality, no doubt about it, except when it came to dogs. His aversion was as solid as a brick wall, and why that was, well, that's anybody's guess. Perhaps life on the streets before finding us left its mark. He did hail from a bad part of town, after all.
Despite his doggy disdain, Ernie became a fixture in our family, bringing an overflow of joy and companionship. His personality shone bright, brightening up our days, and his love knew no bounds. He was hands down the most affectionate and loving cat you could ever cross paths with.
When our dear dog Smokey passed on, that amazing cat of ours knew just what to do. For two nights in a row, he found his way to my pillow, right above my head and slept there, as if he could sense his human mom needed a bit of TLC.
Ernie is still with us and his daily routine includes climbing up on the arm of the couch each morning to get his insulin shots without complaint. YOU GO BOYEEE!
