And so we go on with another word for the Alphabet Meme.......Once again, this is rather lengthy.....so there will be more "B" posts...(Forgive me Judy....)....I have written about this particular "B" before, but not in a very long time......So, here goes.
BABYBaby was my very first cat, along with her brother, Sugar.....They were strays that my sister and I found one day while we were still in Great Neck after my mothers death, in 1966. We were doing all those things one must do to divest a home of the treasured belongings--and the not so treasured things, as well.....It was a big big job....my mother had lived in that house for 40 years. We had all grown up in that house. My mother died April 2 and we were finally finished with the dividing and disbursement of the "belongings", in early September....Here is how Baby and Sugar came into my life......
One day, my sister Gene and I came home from somewhere Baby and Sugar came into our lives. It was in late April or early May.....(A third little stray, Silky, came a few weeks later---another story for another day.....), The kids across the street where all upset because they had found two little kittens who were seemingly stuck up underneath this parked car....The Kittens were hiding, of course....Somehow, we got them out of there and since these kids weren't able to take the kittens....We brought them inside the house and put them in a back room with food and water and a sand box, and then closed the door, so Gene's cat Louis would not scare them and so they could get used to being there and being with us. They were both so adorable and so very young.....
Baby was a Calico, though she was more Black & White with just a small amount of Orange/Brown. Her brother Sugar, was all Orange Tiger Stripped and a very sweet very scared little guy....The two of them clung to one another....Dear Sugar even took to sucking Baby's toe(s) as if he were nursing, and she let him do that for quite a while till she got bigger and I think got kind of bored with it....He then discovered his own back toes and would kneed the bed as he sucked his back paw, which he brought forward so he looked like he had three paws as he 'nursed'....So very endearing.
Gene and Jimmy's cat Louis, never did get used to the kittens, and it was decided that I would take them back to California with me....by this time, Silky had appeared....So, when we were finally finished with the tasks at hand in September, I brought them back with me to Los Angeles.....The joy and pleasure and love and laughs that they brought into my life was immeasurable. As Baby came into her first heat, I mated her to another cat who had 6 toes, as she had.....her paws were adorable. The day she gave birth to her baby's was a fantastic experience, all around. The "boys" were in the room, resting and sleeping and watching over her...She was in a big box that I had prepared, which luckily, she was very happy to use....Watching her give birth and realizing that she knew exactly what to do was a stunning thing for me to see.....She was "A Queen" that day, in my mind. No one had taught her anything. She just knew exactly what to do by instinct. So this little scared stray kitten, became this magnificent 'mother-earth mother' that day....It was pretty Awesome....
Baby lived to be 20 1/2 years old. She outlived Sugar by almost 15 years, and her son Teeny, from her second litter, who became one of my crew---yes, I had four cats all together for a couple of years, and they were all indoor-cats---(They never went outside....not up here in these hills). Dear Baby outlived Silky, a very special spirit, who was 17 1/2 when he died.....Both Silky and Baby died in my arms, right here in my house. Baby was a wise beautiful girl who understood all sorts of things about comfort and comforting. All four of this first group understood that. But because Baby was with me the longest, I think I remember her the best....
Although, in truth....Sugar, with me above, was incredibly memorable, too.....Everyone loved Sugar...even people who didn't like cats. I think it was because he would go up to people like a dog....He was very very friendly and I guess one could say 'needy', like a dog....I think if he could have wagged his tail, he would have....lol! I lost him when he was only 5 years old....and it just about broke my heart. Below.....is dear dear Silky.....
A quiet, contemplative spiritual cat. He was like a Buddha, in a way.....He would just sit by and quietly bring a peacefulness to wherever he was....
A calm contented comforting presence. The only time I heard him 'meow' was the day he died......He was a great great cat. And then there was Teeny....Baby's son from her second litter....
The "baby" of the family, who quickly became the alpha cat...He was such a sweet dear funny ballsy little guy. Very bonded to me....we slept like spoons sometimes, his back to my front, or his back to my back. I had him for nine years. In truth, each one was memorable, But, maybe because Baby hung in with me for those 20 1/2 years, she held a special place in my heart. And as I have said elsewhere on this blog, she was the longest most enduring intimate relationship in my life.........What a great cat she was...and I want to say, what a great 'dame' she was, too.....More To Come......
- had this to say:
Hi Naomi, Loved the cat story. My first two cats here in Pinehurst were a black and white, Scruffie, and her brother an orange tabby. Love your posts... Sending separate email. Hugs, Bud
- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 1:37:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
love love love the kitty pictures!! Cats are so individual, and yet so alike... I think animals are essential in all our lives!
- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 4:49:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
I love a good cat story and yours has to be one of the best. I can't believe Baby lived 20 1/2 years! That's amazing! What a thrill it must've been for you to watch her give birth.
My Tabitha (aka Tabby) is an 18 year-old tabby/calico mix, and she's still a badass. All the neighborhood dogs are afraid of her. Don't you love their cute little personalities? Cats are all so different. Kimba, our all-white cat with gorgeous blue eyes, is the quiet, shy male who doesn't come around much (he's the neighborhood stud).
I've always wanted a cat like your Silky, that color with the same expression. If I can possibly find that combination out there in a kitten, he'll be mine!
PS - When you mentioned the cat with the 6 toes, I thought of the Hemingway museum (his former home) here in Key West. Six-toe cats, decendents of his first polydactyl, still roam around the estate. I'd love to have one of those as well.- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 5:38:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
20 1/2! That is amazing. Oh I hope my babies make it so long and can be healthy. I just can't take the thoughts of losing them they are such a part of my life.
I love the photo of you kissing Baby. Loving my own so much I love what that picture conveys to us. What lovely kitties they both were.- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 7:49:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
I am smiling and laughing and weeping - you know how I feel about my own guys and all animals
what wonderful photos - portraits really - family portraits
I adore you!- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 9:52:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
Oh, I love cats. I have one now that we found in the park. My first cat was Guy, who I found in Pasadena. He moved around with us for many years, and lived to at least 20 years old. He was wonderful.
- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 10:55:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
I loved the story of all your babies -
Boy - Silky and Killian are for sure related somewhere down the line...They look so much like each other...it's amazing...- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 12:42:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
I wish all your cats would have lived as long as Baby.
How wonderful that she lived that long!
My husband loves dogs more than cats, but he always likes what he calls cat-dogs which are cats that act like dogs. I can't remember which one you said acted like a dog, but my hubby would have loved that cat.
:-)
We are still planning our visit this Saturday. Jason said to push it to 2:30 since he needs to give time to drive home after his school function that day.- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 1:29:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
No apologies necessary, Naomi, you can take all the time you need for the meme. You know how much I love cats, so it is always nice to read about them. They were both good-looking cats.
- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 2:02:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
Baby must have felt the most loved and secure cat in the world to have lived such a long life.
- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 2:36:00 PM PST
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had this to say:
Great story and I am still "wowing" over the 20 1/2 years!
- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 5:54:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
I hope this meme takes awhile! It is so interesting to read about things in your life.
It's amazing how deeply animals can wiggle their way into your heart.- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 6:18:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
Meowwwwwww........so sweet & nice about Baby & the gangs :) I love the photos too.
- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 8:36:00 PM PST
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had this to say:
The most wonderful cat story I have ever red!
Typical you Naomi; written with passion, love and care.- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 9:27:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
there is a spiritual nature to animals, I think...
- Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 5:42:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
awesome post naomi love animal post its so funny i posted then i go around and check blogs and i did a animal post a lot different from yours but still has the same meanings in some way.
your awesome!
kisses- Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 7:52:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
Ahh...it was so nice reading this and it just made me smile. You know how I love cats!! They are such good companions, moody, and funny too!!
Thanks for this heartwarming post!!
Big hugs to you Naomi! I think I'm caught up now! Whew!!!- Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 9:10:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
I still have a wee calico girl, Jessie is 10 now and not very social at all lol.
All your cat pictures are wonderful, Baby sounds like she was a very special girl.- Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 9:34:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
Awww RIP all of the sweet kitties. So wonderful to know ... so hard to lose.
- Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 10:37:00 AM PST
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had this to say:
Beautiful cat pics and how great do you look in that simple sun dress!??! Love it!
- Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 3:31:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
Naomi,
Your intelligent, well-cared for cats show the love you have given them.
In their eyes is both wisdom and trust.
Cats are wonderful pets, companions and loves in our lives - very much "family".
Baby, Sugar, Silky and Teeny are great names too :)- Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 5:23:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
You've been lucky to have such nice kitties!
- Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 7:32:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
20 and a half? Wow that was one amazing kitty! Great photos of you there too, I just love going through old photos of mine too.
- Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 7:53:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
What gorgeous cats and I really love your Mia Farrow hairstyle. That must have been something taking 3 cats across the country. Did you fly or drive?
- Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 11:23:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
What a nice story. I'm so glad you were able to take the kittens in. It's a testament to your love and attention that so many of them lived such long, and I'm sure, happy lives.
- Friday, January 23, 2009 at 5:51:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
A fine letter indeed! ;)
- Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 4:13:00 PM PST
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had this to say:
Oh, what a great cat story. I just loved it! Baby was indeed quite special. They really all were. How fortunate for you to have such great cats in your life. They were really gorgeous and the love between all of you certainly showed through in the photos. I just love the one of the two together sleeping.
Terri
http://www.islandwriter.net- Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 9:45:00 AM PST
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