Ode to Cats Gone Bye

That's Squirrel. She was one of my best friends ever. I rescued her from a dumpster eating macaroni that was molded and had dirty diapers all around it.
Squirrel was unlike any cat I've ever had. She thought she was a dog. I suppose it's because I trained her as such. Yes. I trained her. 75% of the time she would fetch, roll over, play dead when you shot her with a pointed finger and said bang. 75% is not bad considering she is a cat and cats are, well, opinionated.
Squrriel moved away when another stray came into the house and had kittens. She'd sniff the little things and hiss at them and eventually she had enough and moved to the junior high school across the street where she could hunt and have command of her world. I'd visit her often late at night or when I'd take off on my bicycle. She could always trust papa for a can of tuna. The picture above was taken some 5yrs after we had moved away from the neighborhood and she was still glad to see her papa.

Kittens. That stray I mentioned, she gave me Sugar. Here's an old picture of my dearest Sugar.

I bet you can't guess how she got the name. Just look at her, she's the color of sugar cane and just as sweet. Sugar was one of the most loving and affectionate cats, as long as you were me. If you were not her papa she could care less about you and oft times would strike at you telling you to leave her alone, she was owned, and wanted no part of other humans.
Here she is again showing her loving trust of her daddy.

I was so saddened the day she had got hit by a car. It was like an omen. My ex got hooked on drugs again and started her chaotic ragings, winter that year was cold and unbearable without my sweet Sugar to keep me warm and calm my nerves from all the madness that had insued. Truly, Sugar kept me grounded and protected from the evil world that seemed to be surrounding me back then.

Stupid cats. I never used to like them that much until Squirrel came along dropping her kills aty feet then looking up at me as if to ask permission to eat it. Then Sugar came along and offered unbridled love and affection when there seemed to be none. I do, so miss her.

I've learned in life cats are like days, and people, they come, they go, and you should cherish them for their sharing their time with you. Today I got Mr Cat

And his little sidekick and exercise instructor, Valda, the little warrior princess that keeps him on his toes.

Needless to say there in hardly a dull moment when those two go at it, and just like the girls gone past I'll be saddened when these two are gone, but until then there will be love in the house.