MY FIRST CAT
When a black cat emerged from the shadows, he became a friend for life to Grace King.
When a black cat emerged from the shadows, he became a friend for life to Grace King.
It was like a shadow — silent, quiet, and seemingly unreal. It kept visiting our back garden. I knew it was a cat, but only had fleeting glimpses now and then. It would disappear and I would look around wondering if I had seen it at all.
However, one day, I caught it sleeping in our old rabbit hutch at the back of the garden. I do not know who was more surprised, me or the cat. He shot out of the hutch covered in cobwebs.
After that, I began to see it more and more.The cat only stayed at the back of the garden, but then, very gradually, I would see it closer to our house. It was a black cat who looked in rough condition.
One day, when I was sitting on the garden bench, the cat suddenly looked directly into my eyes. It was love at first sight.The cat had the most amazing, stunning, and mysterious green eyes. All cats seem to have amazing eyes, but it seemed to me that this cat had really incredible eyes, and he had that special look that opened the soul.
Shortly after that occasion, I was sitting on the bench again, reading in the garden, when the cat jumped very nervously on to my lap. He was super tense. I knew that if I moved suddenly, he would disappear. He did not disappear.
Over time, he started hanging out around the house.The cat had a collar on with a tag. On the tag was the name Dave. He belonged to a neighbour down the road who was moving out of the area. She did not want the cat and so it stayed with us. Dave had originally come from a rescue centre and she said he had always been very frightened to be around people and that he only appeared sometimes for food.
LASTING FRIENDSHIP
Dave was with me for over ten years and we shared good times and bad times. Dave was always there. When I was feeling stressed and upset, he seemed to sense it and at those times, he would cheer me up.
Dave was an extremely nervous cat. He would hide if someone new came into the house. However, he used to love cuddles and would spend hours sprawled out on my lap. During the winter time, he used to keep me warm as he snuggled up against me. Dave was like a hot water bottle at night — a cat teddy bear.
Thanks to Dave, I became interested in all cats. When Dave died, it was a big loss for me as he was such a good companion. Since Dave, I have had a black stray and a tuxedo cat from a rescue centre. I have also helped with two black feral cats. Dave really opened my heart to all animals and their needs.
Thanks to Dave, I became interested in
all cats.