Bob the cat

Growing up my parents always had dogs but they were their dogs. I never really had one to call my own, whichI felt was mine. Sure, I’d have fun with them and loved them, but they’d always sleep in my parent's room and follow them around.

Now I live in a small place and haven’t gotten a pet but a friend of mine had a cat named Bob who recently passed away. Unlike a lot of cats that keep to themselves and do their own thing most of the time, Bob was very personable, he loved attention.

Bob and I had a special bond, even though my friend Jeanne had him a few years before I even met her. He would greet me at the door and follow and meow at me until I acknowledged him and pet him. If I sat at the kitchen counter, he’d jump on it, if I sat on the sofa, he’d jump next to me or sit on my lap, If I stayed over, he’d sleep next to me cuddling on my arm. He’d leave us presents, stuffed animals on the bed.

Bob was a very foo foo cat, he loved ice in his water and he was very vain, he couldn’t walk 10 feet without stopping to clean himself. Sometimes I think he thought I was dirty because he’d lick my arm, my goatee, or even my bald head if I was lying down. as I said he was one of a kind.

He loved looking out the window and when he saw a bird, he would get the eh eh eh’s (the sound cats make when they see prey). He loved playing with the bird on a rod, he’d usually break it but he seemed to have fun while it lasted. Bob would get the stick and prance around like he was king and so proud of himself.

He seemed to always want to be one of the guys. He wanted to hang out with me, or her father, or her son, her roommate, boyfriend, all the guys. Not that he didn’t love her, he’d give her attention too, but mostly the guys.

Bob hated baths, he would never stay still and sometimes he’d even run out of the bath with soap on him and we’d have to chase him down. He was like a greased pig slipping through our hands. He loved drinking out of the bathroom faucet though. Almost every time we’d wash our hands he’d be right there trying to get at the water. Sometimes even going in the room he’d jump up on the counter and stick his two feet into the sink, look at us and meow. I’d usually give in and put the water on for him and he’d get his head all wet while drinking.

During Covid, I didn’t go over to my friend's house for almost two years and Bob was angry. When I finally walked in the door, he gave me the cold shoulder and stink eye, he wouldn’t sit with me or sleep next to me.

When Bob passed away it broke our hearts. He was a big part of our lives. He was the most loving cat I’d ever met and probably ever will meet. I have a picture of him and I on my desk and every so often I’ll look at it and have fond memories of this cat who stole everyone's heart he met. Jeanne now has a kitten, she’s skittish but we’re trying to make her feel at home. She won’t take the place of Bob, the most unique cat I ever met. Every pet that chooses us gives us love and happiness and we should cherish that while we can.