Wedding was fine; cat was unforgettable
With perfect weather and a full moon, we started walking the half mile to Healdsburg for dinner. After we crossed over a small bridge, we noticed a cat following a short distance behind us. We turned back and, to our surprise, the handsome tabby didn’t run away but approached us without fear. He was an intact male, perhaps not fully grown, lean and athletic. This was no ordinary cat; he nonchalantly accepted our petting while very much remaining his own self.
On our return, the tabby reappeared as we approached the bridge. Cars were whizzing by and, concerned for his safety, we tried to shoo him back to where he had joined us. But he continued to follow at a sprightly pace, so we picked him up and crossed the bridge, then put him down and resumed our moonlit march to the lodge with our new friend beside us. We were amazed at his confidence. He appeared to be in charge, leading the way and happy to have us along on what seemed to be his own trip.
The next morning at breakfast, we found that our feline friend was the talk of the inn. He had somehow slipped inside and was discovered in the morning, sound asleep on the manager’s desk. The staff fell in love with him. He seemed perfectly at home, as if he owned the place.
We were intrigued. Asking around, we learned that this mystery cat had been seen at a house down the road where some young bikers lived. When we dropped by the house, we learned that he was about 6 months old and a “river cat,” meaning he lived outside. The bikers called him Richard.
When we checked out of the inn, Richard was right there with us, so we drove him back to the bikers’ place. When we returned a few months later, we were eager to visit our friend but found new people living at the house, none who knew Richard. He was gone.
We’ve never forgotten Richard the cat. Since our honeymoon 17 years ago, he has become as much a part of our mental scrapbook as that flat tire on my old Benz. The fading Kodak photos we took of this cocky little cat are mixed with our wedding and honeymoon photos, and his story is fondly shared as an indelible part of our memories. Richard, our extraordinary cat friend, would be 17 now. We hope our latter-day Puss ’n Boots is still roaming the banks of the Russian River and having great adventures; fearless, confident, independent and providing visitors with a lifetime of memories.