On October the eighth 1980 I got home from my day at school
I was in the third grade and was a very happy child.
I came in from school and was about to go up to my room to
relax when my mother stopped me.
“Colleen there’s a surprise for you downstairs in the basement.
” “A surprise?” I asked with curiosity.
I went to the basement when to my surprise sat a tiny
beige-and-white cat. I was so happy so I went to cuddle the kitten.
We were best friends ever since that day. That evening
my parents and I were discussing the name of the kitten.
“Bambi” I said. “Why Bambi?” asked my dad.
I shrugged. “He’s the same colour as Bambi” I replied.
After much talking we decided on Puffer or shortened to Puff.
I once again suggested that name after a character in a
book I loved. Days passed with the frisky kitten sleeping
at my side. The two of us would play together for hours on
end and he’d always end up sleeping on my bed.
At this point in time my three year old brother was learning to
climb stairs so our mother would put a lawn-chair pad up against
the stairs to prevent child and kitten from going up the stairs
while everyone was in the family room watching television.
The years went on and baby and kitten as well as owner me,
Colleen got older. That same year that Puffer was brought into
the family; I had Show-and-Tell at school so with my mom’s
and teacher’s permission we brought the frisky kitten to
school so I could show her classmates.
They had fun petting the frisky-yet scared kitten. The following
year once again; I had show-and-tell and with a new batch of
classmates to show I brought her beloved kitten to school again.
Every day when I would go to school I would be sad
because I left my cat at home and I wished I could spend
the time with him. I was glad when the weekend came because
I would spend time with him playing inside and outside.
One thing about Puffer he loved his young mistress.
Through my elementary school years Puffer would be there by
her side disrupting me from time to time. He loved pencils and
one day when I was writing my speech; about him!
He jumped on the coffee table and tried to get the pencil away
from me. I just sat there and laughed and wrote what he just did
in my speech. One day the family was watching television Puffer
was perched on the back of the couch and suddenly without reason
he pounced on my mom’s head! To tell the truth it sounds funny
but my mom wasn’t laughing!
One day I was in Grade four or five I brought my cat to school
in my arms I was almost at the school when I put him down in
he bushes and told him to stay there (as if he would!)
Puffer wasn’t there when I got home so I was worried.
I told my mom what I had done so both of us went looking for
our cat. We found him in someone’s bushes along the street.
Lucky for them!
That was the last time I tried to take him to school!
One day in December a few days after putting up the tree,
the family was doing their own thing; obviously not paying
attention to Puffer; Puffer was a curious cat so he decided
to climb the tree. He ended up knocking it down instead.
When the family heard the enormous crash they came running
to see the tree down and the cat… no where to be seen!.
Puffer was an independent cat; he decided whether or not he
wanted to curl up on a lap. He decided if he wanted to be petted;
and when he had enough.
Puffer had a wonderful life until… August 28 1989
He had a near fatal accident. He was hit by a car.
Back then I was a total wreck worrying about him.
Puffer’s pelvic region was damaged and if he didn’t urinate
soon the veterinarian would have had to put him to sleep…
but God’s eyes shone down on us and Puffer urinated
and he was operated on.
So when he came home from the vet he was put in a cage;
and to prove how much I loved him and despite the fact that
I was breathing in cat hair all night I slept in the same
room with him right next to his cage.
His cage was set up in the family room and every night I’d
set up my sleeping bag right up to his cage.
That year I was in grade eleven I was part of the
Bronte Creek Project and she had to go away for one week
at the end of October on a Camping trip.
I had to leave her cat … I didn’t want to leave my precious cat…
but when I returned home I was back at her cat’ side
sleeping in the family room. About six weeks later he was allowed
to come out of the cage and he cautiously walked around the house.
He wouldn’t go outside for a long time. We’d take him out and
then he’d hear a bus or a car and run for the door.
We coaxed him out and gradually he was more comfortable
being outside and he was not as scared.
About October of 1991 I had accidently slept in.
I had three classes before I completed high school.
My classes had only begun at about 9:45am not at 8:30am.
Anyway Puffer began meowing at my door just knowing I was
in there but my mom not realizing I had accidently slept
in told the cat that I was at school and that she’ll show him.
But the cat was right! I wasn’t at school but was sleeping.
Puffer then gave my mother a self satisfied look and walked away.
My mother and I laughed as I got ready to make me last class.
(I figured I was already late for my second class – History
so why bother going in late so I went in for my Geography class –
only because I liked he teacher!) Two and a half months later;
around Christmas time tragedy struck once again
this time Puffer is not going to get better.
Kidney failure…when my mom got the phone call that horrible
day and she was talking for a long time and in private
I knew it was bad news.
It doesn’t take fifteen minutes to say
“The cat is all right it is just the brand of food!”
My mom came up to my room with a kleenex and told
her the awful news by saying “It’s time to get a new kitten”
My mom had rented a comedy movie that night instead
of laughing; I kept thinking about her cat Puffer and
sobbing on and off. What a way to begin a new year!
The following day my mother and I went to look for a new kitten
while my father took care of the paperwork at the veterinarian’s
office. After going to many pet shops and finding nothing suitable
we went to the Humane Society and found a cat who
would not take Puffer’s place but fill the void in our lives.
The new cat was named Charlie and we came to love him very
much in the seven years we have had him.
by Colleen Robinson
copyright 1992
| Puffer |