My Prize Jewel - An Amazing Cat Story
- a non-fiction story
Sometimes when we are at the lowest times in our lives, God has a way of bringing us hope in the smallest of packages. Animals have always been my link to sanity in this crazy world and my first wonderful friend is a great story of one little feline’s incredible tenacity and commitment. It is a rare and wonderful experience to truly be chosen by an animal and despite the odds that were not in favor of our friendship, she sunk her claws in so to speak, and never let go of me.
It was summer 1984 and after a great family struggle and a string of foster homes, I found myself living with my grandmother at age 17; but that is a different story. I had graduated high school early that year and found a job within walking distance from where we were living. Saving every dollar I could, my greatest focus was to buy a car and get a place of my own. At the time I was desperate for my freedom from the control of my family. I did not have a boyfriend at the time and was only beginning to have a social life. My grandmother and I were not close so I spent much of my time there in my room. My grandma was not an animal lover like me, in fact she hated them and did not allow them in her house. I on the other hand had almost always had an animal to keep me company, even in most of my foster homes. I was missing that connection and friendship and many a night I prayed for a companion… little did I know those cries fell upon a pair of tiny little ears!
The sun was shining brightly that summer afternoon as I was walking home from a hard day’s work at the local grocery store. Our house was just four houses down from the school at the end of our street, and as I walked past the empty school courtyard I heard a very faint but familiar sound. I stopped and looked around but saw nothing, so continued on my way. I had only taken a few steps when I heard it again… that was definitely a meow! My attention captured, I stopped again to find the source of this cry but still saw nothing. I was about to give up when a small dark tabby kitten ran up to me from underneath some nearby bushes. I guessed her to be about five or six months. She certainly sensed that I had a connection with nature, and as I knelt there to pet her, she started purring like she had known me all her life. As we shared our mutual admiration, my thoughts wandered back to bittersweet memories of my last calico cat Liz. I had raised her from a kitten and she had been my friend for about six years when I was forced to leave home without her. Unknown to me before it was too late, my mother had abandoned her to a local shelter, and though I tried, I never found out what happened to her. Shaking the memory I started to get up and startled the little creature who ran back under the bushes. I smiled and walked on up the street to our house without thinking much more about it.
But the next day… once again as I passed by the school on my way home from work, the little creature came to greet me! This made my day, so I lingered there to pet her and play with her for a while, and then we both went our separate ways. This went on for a couple of days until I was enticed into bringing her a few tidbits of my lunch. That day after our little session she followed me two houses up the street before she turned and headed back to the school. Each day I would bring her some tiny morsel of food and each day she would follow me a little farther up the street. This thrilled me as well as filled me with guilt and sadness, knowing she could never be mine as long as I lived with my grandma. Eventually of course, she followed me all the way to our back door. My heart dropped as I turned the key (my grandma always kept her doors locked) and the little creature looked up at me and cried just once. I tried to smile, apologized to her, and reluctantly shut the door. I walked upstairs to my bedroom which faced the front of the house and the street. There I watched her trot back down the street, teasing myself with the thought of having a pet. The little one was obviously homeless, and I knew that sooner or later she would have to give up on me and find herself a home.
Naturally I was thrilled when this little one continued to meet me at the school every day. Sometimes she would follow me home. I would then hurry upstairs to my window where she would look up at me as I waved to her before she trotted back to the school. It was only a couple of weeks later that in the middle of the night, I was awakened to a very strange noise. It was coming from outside the bedroom window. My big double bed pressed up against the wall with the window, so I crawled across it and pulled back the heavy curtain where of course I saw my small stalker. She was sitting on the roof pulling at the screen! As soon as she saw me she let out a small cry. I was so overwhelmed I had to let her in. Then I got up, shut the bedroom door, and begged her to be silent. My grandma slept downstairs, and was a sound sleeper, but we could take no chances! She seemed to understand and had no more meows to add now that she had infiltrated the fortress. I got back into bed and watched her stalk around the room. After a few moments she jumped up onto the bed with me, picked a comfortable spot atop my legs and proceeded to give herself a bath. Clearly this little cat was quite proud of herself; she had conquered me and I belonged to her now! As I lay there stroking her soft fur and she filled me with the warm vibrations of her purrs, I had no idea how I was going to pull this off.
However, I had just survived some strange times in my teen years and I had learned to be resourceful. Besides, I was a seventeen year old girl from a dysfunctional family who had managed to stay out of trouble. I wasn’t pregnant, and I was holding down a full time job. If this was the worst thing I did, I was sure that God would understand even if grandma didn’t.
The next morning before I left for work I said goodbye and put her out onto the roof, then shut the window and the curtain. I didn’t know yet how she got up there, but she was obviously smart enough to get back down. She sat on the roof watching me as I walked down the street, but I had to get to work. I said a little prayer and hoped she wouldn’t stay there long enough to be discovered. Later that day I was none to surprised to find her waiting for me at the school. Business as usual! I fed her some cat food I had bought at work and we walked home together. She followed me to the back door again where I reluctantly said goodbye and went inside. My grandmother and I were not close, so I said hello to her and quickly went to my room. And as I hoped she would be, my little friend was already waiting at the window!
Over the next few weeks we started to establish guidelines and a relationship. I had discovered that her front feet had been declawed and she had not become pregnant yet, so I hoped she was also spayed. She had a tiny white goatee beard hanging from her chin that sort of made her look like a “Gremlin” sometimes, but it seemed to suit her assertiveness. The second night she spent with me she got up in the middle of the night, went to the door and began to paw and meow. I got up quickly and began to pet her and quiet her, but she wanted out!, so I slowly opened the bedroom door. And though this may sound strange, I was thrilled to see her go right across the hall to the bathroom, jump in the big old claw foot bathtub, and do her business.
I had not thought of her litter box needs, but this was easy to clean-up, with no litter box smell. I also discovered her “ladder” to the roof… I stood there amazed when on the third day at the back door I watched her scale the old triangular, runged tv antenna that ran from ground to roof . What a clever girl!, and none too small a feat for a declawed feline! This little creature had been watching me for some time… Ok, so I said I never got into any trouble, but I was not a “goody 2 shoes”… You see, the window and the tv antenna had been my “ladder” out of the house all summer. I had just graduated after fighting my way out of foster home hell and I couldn’t stand being locked up by grandma’s curfews. Sure I was learning to party a bit, but nothing out of control. I would just meet up with a couple of friends or coworkers that had cars and hang-out. When I had first moved in, I just snuck out to take walks around the neighborhood or the schoolyard to clear my head of the mess I’d just been through. I began to ponder how long the tiny eyes had been watching me. Clearly she had belonged to someone, somewhere and though I wondered what had separated them, I knew that God had sent her to me “special delivery”.
But as weeks went on, it became more difficult to keep our relationship a secret. One morning I made a mistake and left her in my room while I went to the basement to take a shower. Before I was finished, I found myself grabbing for the towel and quickly running upstairs at the sound of commotion. I was horrified to find my grandmother trying to hit the little cat with a broom! And even more horrified that I couldn’t do anything about it. I had left the window wide open for her to come or go, so thankfully my little friend ran out the window and out of sight. And though I’m sure grandma had her suspicions, she only scolded me for leaving the window open and sternly reminded me she didn’t want animals in her house. It had been a close call, but at least maybe now this creature would better understand this “system” that we had.
I was afraid at first that this terrifying moment with grandma had put an end to my new friendship, but only ten minutes later after my grandma had gone back downstairs, the beautiful little face came right back to my window. Late that same night as she lay on top of me purring, I decided to name her. I toyed with ideas for a while and then the most beautiful name suddenly became clear. It was only a few short days until my birthday and this cat was like a gift from nature. “Sapphire” is the September birthstone… my birthstone, and now her new name! “Sapphire”, I whispered it to her several times and she rubbed her head against my cheek in approval.
Amidst my teenage struggles, not only did I not have a car, I didn’t even have my license. So for my 18th birthday that year, I was able to sign for my own license and buy myself a used car. Finally I had the freedom I had so long desired! No more sneaking out the window and no more walking to work. And though this changed Sapphire’s and my routine a bit, she remained faithful to me. And though not perfect, she learned the “stipulations” of our arrangement. I had a full time job and paid my way, I had a right to a life. But as I took more control over that life, it only heightened tensions between my strict, religious old-fashioned grandma and me.
Sometime shortly after the holidays we had reached a stalemate and with nowhere to live but my car, I gladly left with what I could take. I was not without appreciation for the time I spent at my grandmas, but I had just come out of the foster system, move after move, never having much say… it’s a long road. Which was why now, after working so hard to graduate early and working and saving all summer, no one would stand between me and my freedom! My dilemma was now Sapphire, as this drastically changed things for us. But just when I thought I would loose her for good, she proved her loyalty to me once again and reaffirmed that she had chosen me.
The frozen, snowy, Michigan winter was well underway and I had one close girlfriend Michelle, who lived alone with her mother and was willing to take us both in. The first night after I left my grandma’s I drove over to her house after dark and there was my feline friend sitting on the roof, ever waiting at the bedroom window. I quietly got out of the car and walked towards the back door. Sapphire got the hint and came over to the tv antenna where she meowed and hesitated, then climbed down to meet me. I picked her up and quickly got back in the car and drove down the street without seeing my grandma. Sapphire promptly jumped onto the floor of the back seat and voraciously devoured the can of cat food that I had emptied there on a paper plate for her.
I drove to where Michelle was finishing her shift at a gas station so I could follow her home. Even though it was cold, I had left my driver’s window open about six or seven inches from the top after chatting from my vehicle with Michelle before we left. We had just had a light snow, and the street off the main road that led to Michelle’s had a slight curve not too far from the turn off. As we turned onto that road, something spooked Sapphire and she jumped onto my left shoulder from the back seat right near the open window! It completely surprised me and of course my first thought was “oh no, she’s going to jump out the window”! I reached for her with my left hand and as I did of course I put my car right in the ditch! There were no houses on this side of the street, only a small wooded area, so this “ditch” was more like five feet deep. I had both hands on the wheel by now and when the car stopped, Sapphire who was still perched on my shoulder, jumped out of the window and ran off into the woods.
I was calling for her when I saw Michelle’s headlights come back around the curve just a few moments later. I told her what happened and she couldn’t believe it! I was completely freaked out. I had to go to work in the morning, and almost everything I owned was in that car. Worse yet after all this, was that my Sapphire was all alone in unfamiliar territory. I finally had to stop calling for her and ride back to Michelle’s house to call a tow truck. Since there was fresh snow on the road, it was a busy night and we had to wait for about forty five minutes. It was cold so we stayed at the house for probably about twenty five minutes before I made Michelle drive me back to look for Sapphire while we waited. I don’t know how many times I got in and out of the car to call for her, but each time she didn’t come I felt more and more helpless. The truck finally arrived and though it took some doing, my little white AMC Concord was back safely on the road. I knew there had been too much noise and commotion with all the chains and towing, but I stayed a few minutes after everyone was gone and called for Sapphire one more time… she didn’t come.
I went back to Michelle’s relieved that I had my car and my things back, but devastated that I may have lost my feline jewel. The place where Sapphire had jumped ship was just a couple minutes from Michelle’s so I waited for fifteen or twenty minutes, then drove back to call for her again. Again she did not come and I drove back. I knew she was extremely smart and able to take care of herself; after all choosing me for her human, she had been spending much of her time outside already. It was getting late but I refused to give up on her. She had never given up on me and I couldn’t bear the thought of her out there in a strange place, all alone in the cold. I knew I wouldn’t sleep for worrying about her, so sometime after midnight I made one final effort to find my little friend.
I carefully pulled up to the edge of the road, rolled down the driver’s side window and began to call for her. I called several times, but didn’t see or hear anything. My heart sank. But then just as I was about to pull away I thought I heard a faint meow. I called her name into the woods again and again I heard it, accompanied by a pair of glowing eyes off in the trees. “Sapphire, come on girl!” I cried ecstatically as I opened the car door. She ran out of the woods, through the ditch and jumped in my car! I don’t know who was more excited! She jumped into my lap with the usual warm purrs and rubs of affection. I could tell she was shaken up a little, but she had survived the ordeal without a scratch and we exchanged a little mutual affection for a few moments before I drove back to Michelle’s.
The next few weeks that followed would see me leaving Michelle’s house, staying in my car for a couple of cold nights, and then finally staying with my new boyfriend and his family before landing an affordable apartment. I knew that Sapphire was better off in familiar territory when she couldn’t be with me, so after I left Michelle’s I dropped her back off at my grandma’s after dark. She would then run underneath a big old pine tree that’s branches reached the ground in my grandma’s front yard. I knew like feral cats, she was capable of surviving winter outside but after warm nights with me at my grandma’s house, I wouldn’t have blamed her for finding another person to take her in. But every afternoon after I fed her and spent time with her I would drop her back off at my grandmas and hope to see her the next day; and every next day she came running to my car when I pulled up just as happy to see me as if I’d never left. Then finally the day came and I was able to rent my first apartment. I was so excited that day when I picked her up knowing that I would never have to drop her off again!
My first apartment was the small upstairs of a duplex house. It wasn’t much, but it was furnished and it was cheap. It was exactly what two little orphans needed. We both slept well that night, tied together by the bonds of survival, warm and safe in our new home. No more windows, no more late night drop-offs and no more brooms! She had provided me with unconditional love and loyalty when I needed it most, and now I could finally provide for her needs and whatever else her little heart desired.
Through the course of her life, she remained loyal to me, surviving several moves and a short, failed marriage. She ruled over three different big dogs that I also had as pets. One by one as they would challenge her as youngsters, she would stand on her hind feet, grab their faces, and then bite them on the lip for a few seconds. This would send the dog off squealing, unharmed, but lesson learned… this feline always got the respect she deserved! She received the nickname “Fu” short for “Fu-man-chu”, because of her little beard. She also won over the heart of my second husband who really didn’t like cats when we met, but she quickly showed him she would not be ignored and that she and I were a package deal. She learned how to work anything electronic that had push buttons, like radios the old cable boxes, and of course the alarm clock. (Good thing we didn’t have touch screens back then!) Timed proved to me that she was indeed spayed and she remained an indoor- outdoor cat her entire life, and was always as cunning and resourceful as the day we met.
We lost her in the fall of 2000, but as sure as I am that some part of my lost Liz found its way into Sapphire, I am sure that Sapphire will live on in my heart forever. Of all the gifts I’ll ever receive, she will always remain my prize jewel.
-for Sapphire, alias “The Fabulous Fu”
-Excerpted and revised from “The Private Wars”
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