Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Cycle 19, CD 13

[Click here for more information about Emhart's September Photo Challenge] 

Prompt: Blue

Growing up, my mother had life-threatening allergic reactions to cats. So despite my tears and incessant pleading, we were never were allowed to bring one home. When Mike and I moved in together, I saw my window of opportunity. After 30 years and a trip to our local animal shelter, (the mighty) Hunter joined our family. 

Back then, we had plenty of land for him to explore. But I was always worried for his safety. Because with that freedom, came the threat of harm in the form of vicious raccoons,  stealthy coyotes, and nasty possums. Despite Mike's constant assurances that he would be fine, I voiced my concern to the vet- allowing him to be the arbiter of truth. What he said was profound, "An outdoor cat lives a happy life. An indoor cat lives a long life." I used to hold my breath every night until he was snuggled back safe in my arms.  

PICTURE REMOVED

Hunter was a happy cat for a quite a few years. And then we moved into the city, where he could no longer roam free. Urban living was just too dangerous. He was automatically sentenced to life of imprisonment. Didn't even get his day in court. Relegated to live a long and monotonous life. 

I feel like I understand, in a sense, what it is like to be my cat. I know what freedom feels like. The unabashed happiness and naive belief that things will be wonderful forever. And I also know what it is like to have it all come to a screeching halt. I'm imprisoned too. I look longingly out the window and wish it was safe to go outside again. And I wonder if life will ever  go back to how it used to be. 

8 comments:

  1. We let our old cat become an outdoor cat again during his last couple of years. All he wanted to do was sit on the warm cement on our patio and it was too hard to say no :( Our current kitties only get to escape to the apartment hallway and make valiant attempts to jump out our 11th story windows...and they are certainly sad about it.

    If only they too could have a blog and bond with fellow strugglers across the country.

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  2. What a beautiful kitty cat! And even if he has been sentenced to an indoor life, at least he is well-loved. So, so many cats don't even have that.

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  3. Awwww what a beauty!!! I love him. His eyes are so deep. When I first moved to LA I let both my cats be outdoor kitties, and sadly I lost them both within a year. So needless to say our cat now is indoors. I get what you are saying about feeling imprisoned. Hopefully it won't last much longer;)

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  4. Oh, he's such a handsome, dignified fellow. That look on his face is so expressive. Our kitty has only ever known apartment-in-a-city life, too, but like Sass's cats, he gets to explore the hallway and loves to perch on our fourth-story window ledge to stare down the pigeons.

    You make a beautiful yet heartbreaking analogy at the end of the post. I don't think life can go back to how it used to be, but there will be a different kind of freedom at the end. I'm sure of it.

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  5. What a cute cat! My cat would love to be an outdoor cat too, but alas, due to an eye infection when she was still young and homeless, she is blind and not allowed out (not that it stops her from trying to sneak out every.single.time the door is open!).
    I totally understand what you mean about being imprisoned. There is such a distinct line in my life of before trying and after. I hope we are all free again soon.

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  6. Aww...your kitty is so stinking cute! And I love his name. I am inspired to come up with a creative/fun name for our next pet (most likely a dog to go hunting with my hubby).

    I can totally relate to his feelings of imprisonment since moving to the city. I'm a country girl myself trapped in the big city. I long for the day I am able to move back to my family's ranch and the open landscape.

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