I’ve got you Babe.
Posted by joan
About two years ago, my eighty-year old mom decided she should get a cat. My dad died nearly seven years ago and although my mom has more of a social life than I do, she was longing for company. So off she went to a shelter. My mom was smart enough to know that she didn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t have the energy for a kitten so she started to scope out the older cats.
She came across a loner cat, off by himself, anti-social. The cat didn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t really get along with anyone except this one volunteer to whom she was devoted. There was nothing adorable about her. The cat had half a black mustache.
She told me she was afraid that no one would ever adopt this sad sack.
So she did.
My mom chose a name quickly. The cat arrived at my mom?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s and before darting under the couch (where she remained for the next three weeks), my mom said ?¢‚Ǩ?ìWell, I guess it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s just you and me, Babe.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù
Babe has become a very important part of my mother?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s life and I can?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t begin to tell you how sweet it is to see them together. Of course people don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t get much chance because she hides for company. Actually she hides for everything. Except of course my mom.
Soon after her arrival, my mom decided to take her to a vet for shots and a check up. This was a good idea in concept but Babe clearly knew she could be diagnosed as bipolar and dashed to the couch every time my mom made an appointment. Then there were the sedatives the vet prescribed (for the cat, not my mother). My mom had little success ?¢‚ǨÀúpilling?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ the cat ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú she?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢d think she got one in the cat?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s mouth but then wasn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t sure and then was afraid if she administered another, she?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢d euthanize the neurotic feline.
My favorite strategy was the call-in pet show. My mom tried for several consecutive Saturdays to get on the air to ask the radio vet for his advice on how to get this uncooperative meatloaf to the vet. And the need was becoming more urgent as Babe had begun to wheeze and cough.
Finally, one Saturday she got through. She described the problem and the radio vet outlined the process to get a cat into a carrier. Leave the carrier out, toss favorite toys in it and maybe a few cat treats. The cat will begin to identify it as a comfy place and enjoy being in it. On vet day, just close the door and off you go.
The vet?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s idea worked like a charm, my mom told me one evening on the phone. She was so excited. So have you made the vet appointment? There is silence. I can?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t, she said. What? Why? Babe loves that carrier now, I said. I know, I know but whenever I see her in there I feel so guilty. I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve played such a dirty trick on her.
I thought that was the point. I prodded gently and reminded my mom about the coughing and wheezing. Babe (who makes appearances from time to time when I visit) is sprawled all over my mother?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s shoulder, resting like a mink stole. She gives me a very dirty look.
My mom was silent for a few minutes.
Then, in a very small voice,she said ?¢‚Ǩ?ìI don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t really want her to go to the vet. I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t want the vet to find something really wrong with her.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù
Now it was my turn to pause. To consider how sweet that comment was in a nutty sort of way. To consider how attached my mom is to this neurotic, overweight cat with half a mustache. To make a wish that the wheezing and coughing was yet another idiosyncracy of my mom?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s devoted companion.
Babe has been with my mom for two years. My mom still talks about taking her to the vet but I think it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s just talk now.
Last week I visited my mom and brought my camera and Babe had a photo shoot. I wanted to be sure I had a nice picture of the two of them. I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m happy to report that Babe looked very well fed and continues to wheeze and cough from time to time. And that half a mustache is really starting to grow on me.
