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The cat is in standby mode. He wants the food, not because it smells good, but because the human is eating and after all those years of hunger, he still worries about his own next meal.

And if he can’t have the food, then he wants the lap, because it’s the most comfortable thing he’s ever experienced in his life. But the bowl of food is currently occupying the lap. You can see his quandary. And so, he waits. Sometimes he tries to occupy the lap when the food is there but the human doesn’t seem to love that. “I’m going to spill it on you if you don’t settle!” she scolds lovingly. She never pushes him away, but he will admit that having a hot bowl hovering over his head does seem a bit unsafe.

And so, he will wait. If there is no room beside her then he has learned that he can fit behind, half on the back of the chair and half on her shoulder. That way he can watch closely as the bowl empties and lap grows closer to being available. He would like to be able to just settle while he waits, but if he gets too comfortable he might miss the moment the lap is free!

Occasionally she will get up the moment she finishes eating, thus thwarting his attempt to instantly curl up on her. “Wait there, I’m coming back,” she always says. He understands the words, but he doesn’t want to wait. He knows he is not long for this world, and so he wants to follow her wherever she goes. He has spent his entire life up until her having no comfy human to snuggle with. He is not letting her out of his sight for a moment longer than necessary.

There were other humans in the shelter but they were not as snuggly. Some were there all the time, some came and went and took other cats with them. None took him, until she came along. He didn’t know at first that she was the one. He hid under a table and watched her across the room. She didn’t look at any of the others, just him. She sat on the floor and waited. He watched her watch him, and he watched her get up and leave the room. And suddenly he was being scooped up and put into a dark box and being jostled around - and when freedom came it was in an unfamiliar space with strange smells and sounds.

But she was there. Watching and waiting. And she didn’t leave. He found a nice safe desk to hide under where he could keep his eyes on her, and this was good for a few days but then one day he decided to move a little closer to the edge, just to see her better.

She seemed happy with this, but then for some reason she moved away from him! And so he had to creep a little closer… and again she moved away. This was strange, because by now he had decided he wanted to investigate her but every time he inched towards her, she would inch back… and so this slow dance went on until suddenly they were both down the other end of the room, where there was a soft couch and a big heater, and he realised that had been her plan all along.

The couch was comfy, but leaning against her side was even nicer. One day he decided to climb onto her, just to see what that was like, and it was in that moment that his life exploded into colour and meaning. This was the point of it all! To sit on a soft, warm human, after spending all those years hiding under cars and in sheds and being cold and on the run. While she was available, he would never sit anywhere else.

And so he waits, watching the food that he doesn’t really want, but that he wants to help her eat so that it will go away faster. And he lets her rest a book on his back, and when she lifts him up so she can reposition he calmly waits a few seconds before curling up again. And when he is no longer there in body, he guides the scared little orange baby into that same place, and if cats can smile, then his spirit smiles when she says “wait there, I’m coming back” and the little orange gets up and follows her anyway.

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krispykritter

Awww. He found his forever home at last!

lapis_lazuli615

Aww. so sweet. Lovely that his soul guides the new companion to the best resting place.

My Thomas has learned that I won't allow him in my lap while I'm eating, but his motivation to climb into my lap isn't necessarily the best resting place.... it's to hoover up any tidbits I've inadvertently dropped onto my chest while eating - as I am more wont to do, the older I get. :)

drippedonpaper

Aww..I know this sounds weird but your cat reminds me of my dog. We adopted her at age 2 from the pound. She wasn't like this for the first few days, but now (5 years later) she acts like she needs to be touching at least one of "her people" at all times (preferably 2). She prefers to be in a lap, but, at 58 lbs, that is often not easy. She will settle for leaning on my leg, or being petted (or both.) Or sitting on my foot. If I don't think and have a hand anywhere near her, she will get under it ("force" a pet.)

My dog doesn't believe in personal space :) And neither does your cat it sounds like.

What is your cat's name? He is a tuxedo cat? (Black and white?)

Your entry is so sweet :)

simplyn2deep

Oh, this was so sweet, and then that ending quietly broke my heart. ❤️ The idea that he finally found his safe, warm person after spending so much of his life without one, and then guides the little orange baby to her after he’s gone, was beautiful.

thephantomq

<3 cats are simply the best, and the ending got me a little. Such a sweet piece.

kandigurl

The ending! So bittersweet.

My own cat definitely wants the food, and the cuddles are his consolation prize. 😂

humanbeansradio

This was so tender. I loved the way his little habits gradually became something much bigger and sadder and sweeter.

halfshellvenus

What a sweet kitty! I'm so sorry you've lost him, but it sounds as if he had a wonderful home while he was with you.

bsgsix

This is so very sweet (as cats tend to be - or, our view of them most of the time, anyhow)! I have a baby like this, too - if I eat, SHE should be eating, but if not, then why waste the energy? LOL. It's cute, albeit a bit frustrating. The ending is so bittersweet, too; what a lovely guide. <3

gardeningatnight

That feeling of knowing you've gained an animal's trust is the best feeling. Especially one that you know has experienced a tough life. This was really sweet.

ofearthandstars

Such a sweet entry, but those last lines! I appreciate that you can still feel and see him in action. ♥

wolfden

Awwwww.

n3m3sis43

Awww, I love this sweet baby. <3

inchoatewords

Sweet baby! I'm glad that he got to know the good things in life before he departed.

murielle

You made me cry! But they are warm tears.

What a beautiful story, and with kitty pictures.

Such a gorgeous boy, and with a little black spot on his nose too. ❤❤❤