Posts Tagged ‘cats’

The Joys of Cat Companionship

Posted on Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Many years ago I had two black male littermates, Castor and Pollux. Though no one else could tell them apart, I found them as different as night and day: Castor was bigger, more solid, had shorter hair, and was just like Eeyore; Pollux was smaller, rounder, had coarser hair, and was just like Tigger. But they were alike in one respect – when I fed them in the morning, one always finished before the other and asked to go outside. But when the other one finished and asked to go out, he would find his brother waiting for him on the stoop, not willing to go off on his adventures for the day until his brother had joined him. And when Castor died at the age of 16, Pollux did his best to follow him, and would have, if I hadn’t begged him to stay, which he did for another 3 years.
Since then I’ve had several cats join me – briefly – on my journey: Willow, Chiron, Luna, and Clive, none of whom looked or acted like Castor or Pollux. Clive went missing around Thanksgiving last year, leaving a hole in my heart, house, and life. On New Year’s Eve day, I found Trip, who is the spitting image of Castor and Pollux (as kittens), but otherwise resembles them in only 1 way – when I let him outside, he often waits there, hoping I will join him. Once I do, he will head off on his adventures for the day, coming back often during the day to check in with me.

A peaceful walk

Posted on Thursday, July 31st, 2008

From 1/8/8
Willow was sick over the holidays. This is the first morning in a long time that she joined me out in the labyrinth. The morning was balmy; I was in shirt sleeves, enjoying the warm breeze blowing in a new sense of inner peace and calm.

Dancing the Labyrinth with Willow

Posted on Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

From 12/24/07
Willow hadn’t been coming to the labyrinth for a while. This morning I entered with a different energy than usual—dancing (a la Chocolat)—and she ran through a portion of the labyrinth, like a kitten playing, chasing an unseen friend.

Cats in the Labyrinth

Posted on Friday, July 25th, 2008

My cat companion Pollux never walked my backyard labyrinth. Shortly after her arrival in my life, my most recent cat companion, Willow, followed me right in. Other mornings she went her own way. Some people do not respond to labyrinths at all, and some only want to walk them occasionally. There have been periods of time during which I didn’t feel drawn to the labyrinth, but eventually it has always called me back.

Cats in the Labyrinth

Posted on Saturday, July 19th, 2008

In September of 2007 Pollux, my cat companion of 19 years, died. After buryiing him in my back yard next ro his brother under the butterfly bush overlooking my labyrinth, I walked the labyrinth and swear I heard the bell on Pollux’ collar tinkling as he walked with me in spirit.

Unexpectedly, by October I had a new cat companion, named Willow. One of her first mornings with me, she joined me in the labyrinth. She walked the first couple of turns and then sat there, waiting for me to double back and pet her as I passed. I was delighted to do so.

A few days later, Willow once again followed me into the labyrinth and, as I made the first turn, she continued straight ahead to the center, where she sat and waited patiently for me to reach her.

Sometimes we can do that—begin a new enterprise and fly straight to the center—bull’s eye. More often, though, we do take a number of twists and turns to get to our destination.