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One Cool Cat, My Pal Boots

By

Ed Duke

When I was about 13 years old my family had a beautiful female German Shepard named Candy.  She was playful, intelligent and loving.  Everyday my Mom would send her out on the lawn to retrieve the newspaper.  One day she retrieved not only the paper but a tuxedo type cat that adopted her and us on the spot.

The cat was a male and had four white paws so we named him Boots; he was the greatest, coolest cat, ever.  Candy and him were great friends from day one; they wrestled and played everyday.  Boots would stick his head in Candy's ears and clean them which I thought was pretty gross but Candy loved it.

My parents were getting divorced and things were difficult for all of us.  Our pets entertained and loved us; they helped us cope with all the tough feelings kids have when families break up. 

Candy had a special link with my sister.  Boots and I formed a deep friendship from the beginning.  I missed seeing my Dad and some times felt depressed but Boots always made me laugh.  He was the sweetest cat in the world but outside of our house when he was prowling the neighborhood he was tough as nails.

I saw a National Geographic special about domestic cats that helped me to understand that when Boots brought me mice or large bugs he was trying to teach me how to hunt.  To me this was very cool.  My cat was trying to teach me something very primitive and landed up teaching me a lot about life.  For sure, I didn't want to know about hunting bugs and mice. 

Boots was a great cat because he was an incredible hunter and a beautiful, gentle animal.  He often accompanied me when I tended to my plush vegetable garden.  He would prowl around in my garden looking for critters that might eat my vegetables.

In some ways, Boots was sort of a role model for me because he taught me how to be tough on the outside and soft on the inside.  Every night Boots slept with me and was really a comfort to me.  He was always there for me during some lonely years.  As I grew up, Boots and I shared a very deep friendship.  He was my best friend.

When I was 18 we had to sell our house because my parents were settling the divorce.  I decided I wanted to learn auto mechanics but I couldn't take Boots with me because the place where I was going to go for training wouldn't allow cats.  One of my friends took Boots and kept him for me until I got settled.

After about 18-months of training I moved into my own place and my Mom sent Boots to me by plane.  Boots recognized me right away and it was such a wonderful reunion of two old friends.

I lived in the south and now Boots was a country cat.  He would often prowl the property because of his fierce hunting ways.  Yet, at night, Boots would be the gentle being I loved and he would sleep with me just like he always had.  He always helped me feel so peaceful.

Within a year after he and I were reunited I noticed Boots was losing weight.  I took him to the vet and was heartbroken to learn he had kidney disease.  He was a grown cat when he found us so we didn't really know how old he was.  The vet told me that he thought Boots was about 15 years old but I never thought of Boots being an older animal because he was so alert and energetic.

The vet said that there wasn't much he could do for Boots because of his age.  I never thought that I would have to face losing my best friend so soon after we were reunited.  Boots continued to sleep with me and be my best buddy even though he was getting sicker.  I pretended it didn't bother me because I was tough on the outside like him but inside my heart was breaking.  I prayed he would die naturally and I wouldn't have to put him to sleep.  Boots deteriorated and I spent extra time with him, petting him and talking to him.   He would look up at me just like he always did with an "it will be OK" kind of gentle look in his eyes.  He always made me feel so good when I was alone, lonely or scared when I was younger.  It was my turn to comfort him.

One night I awakened in the middle of the night.  I had fallen asleep with a lamp on and I could see Boots sleeping next to me as he had since I was 12.  I pet him and his body was stiff and cold.  He didn't move; he had died or so I thought while sleeping next to me just as he had for years and years.  I was relieved and saddened at the same time.  I got out of bed slowly, walked across the room and just watched for about 10 minutes.  I was grateful that my prayers were answered and so sad that my best friend was gone.

I walked back to my bed and sat on the floor and my eyes filled with tears.  Suddenly, Boots took a deep breath and slowly looked up at me.  I was so shocked because I was sure he had died right next to me.  My heart was pounding with happiness and sadness because I knew it was a matter of time and that I might have to take him to the vet to be put to sleep.

About three days after this event, I called my Mom in New York and told her the story.  She said: "Ed, I think Boots was just about to cross over but his spirit stayed because of the strong bond you guys share.  Boots can't leave you unless you tell him it's OK for him to go."

My Mom told me to spend some time with Boots, thank him for being such a good friend, say good-bye and tell him that I loved him too much to make him stay and suffer. I followed my Mom's advice and took my time saying a long good-bye.  I pet him, I said thank you for all he taught me about life and all the laughter he gave me, I explained to him it was time for him to go and I would always remember the warmth and love he gave me during a difficult time in my life.  I told him that it was time for him to go to heaven and that I didn't want him to prolong his pain because of me.  I stayed with him and said a long good-bye and I pet him over and over again.  Then I left the room and let him be alone. It was tough to leave my pal but I knew I had to do it because he needed me.

I went back in the room 15 minutes later and Boots was dead.  He left as I asked him to do.  I was thrilled and so grateful that I could spare him the pain of continuing to live and be so sick and yet I was so sad to lose my buddy. 

There is so much power in love; there is a time to be gentle, a time to be tough and a time to let go. My cat taught me that. 

©Copyright ~ 2004, 2005-Edward A. Duke, Jr.-all rights reserved. Ed Duke is a reporter for Starlight Network News and a master craftsman specializing in old world craftsmanship at affordable prices in the NYC-metro area. The above story will be seen in an upcoming book that will be reviewed at this site.