I buried someone’s cat today.
As I was leaving to go hiking around noon today, I saw a kitty lying dead on the street in front of our apartments. Dodging cars, I scooped her up and took her to the parking lot. She was a pretty kitty, a tabby, with white markings on her face and neck. There was very little blood—just a few drops in her mouth. She had not been dead long, as her body was still limp and warm. I held her in my arms just like I hold my own cats. Only her sweet little head flopped over the side of my arm, her half-closed eyes stared straight ahead, and she breathed no more. Her right front leg was broken at the humerus; I could feel the two ends beneath her skin, and the leg flopped unnaturally.
I’m describing this in such detail for a reason. It’s a warning…a warning of what it will be like for you if you let your cat (or dog, for that matter) roam outside in an urban area. Someday, you’ll probably be the one retrieving your pet’s lifeless body from the street. Because this was someone’s kitty. She was well nourished and had the plump physique of a cat that had been spayed. Her fur was soft, and her ears were clean….not the trademarks of a stray. I want to warn you of the sadness you’ll feel when you hold that animal’s lifeless body, knowing only hours before it was enjoying its life.
Maybe this kitty’s guardian thought it was cruel to keep her inside. I agree with the Humane Society of the United States: keeping your cat indoors is the kindest thing you can do. Dying on the street alone and in agony isn’t kind. Maybe this kitty’s guardian could no longer keep her, for whatever reason, and thought she would have a chance on the street. Well, we can see how that chance turned out. If you are experiencing financial difficulty and worry about providing for your pet, please contact your local Humane Society or your veterinarian. They can either help your pet find another home or direct you to local organizations that can assist you with vet bills and food so your pet can remain with you. Dumping your pet is never the answer.
I buried kitty in the same area where five of my cats are buried—under a big tree in the countryside. The land abuts a nature preserve where I like to hike. I only knew this kitty in death, but that didn’t stop the tears from streaming down my face. When the grave was covered, I said a prayer for her…a prayer asking that, when her spirit returns again, may she find a home with a responsible guardian where she will be well-cared for and kept safe. Because that is what every animal deserves—a guardian who will love them enough to keep them safe.
Tonight I will light a candle and think about her. I’m sorry, kitty.
Chaos ensues when Martin gets tangled in a plastic grocery bag. He races madly from room to room, sending cats careening and humans tripping. Ah, kittenhood!