Lizzy

Margaret welcomes Lizzy

AKA: Lizzy Lump-Lump Fat Cat

          Margaret didn’t really want a cat. Growing up on a farm, the animals were separated to the barn and field. Even the dog and stray cats were fated to spend their lives outside. Cats are feral and snooty, she thought. Yet there she was, sitting in the “Getting to Know You” room at the Humane Society, while her daughter, Janet, fluttered about, examining potential feline companions for her. It had been more than a year since her husband suddenly died and she was, admittedly, lonely. But a cat?

          When Janet brought Lizzy to meet her, Margaret nervously tried to figure out how to hold the big, soft, limp ball of fur. She was flustered when Lizzy crawled up her shoulder and wrapped her body around Margaret’s neck. And there she lay. Lizzy began to purr. Surprised, Margaret was a bit tickled. She giggled nervously and asked her daughter what she should do.

          Just relax and enjoy it, Janet explained. She sat next to Margaret and began petting Lizzy’s back.  Janet explained that she thought Lizzy would be a great pet for her mother: she was only a year and a half old, she clearly she wanted to be with Margaret, and she was used to be indoors, only. “Besides, she obviously wants to be with you. Look at her. Isn’t she beautiful?” Margaret smiled broadly and leaned in to Lizzy.

“Not particularly,” Margaret replied. “In fact, I think she’s kind of ugly.”

“Mom!”

“Well, she is!” Lizzy stretched a paw further around Margaret’s neck and leaned her head to meet Lizzy’s. In spite of her opinion that Lizzy wasn’t gorgeous, Margaret intuitively found herself telling Lizzy what a good girl she was. She stroked Lizzy’s body that seemed like a fur collar tucked tightly around her neck.

          There they sat as Janet vanished. Margaret wasn’t sure how to peel Lizzy off of her. Oh dear, she thought. I don’t know the first thing about cats. So, she tried ever so hard to enjoy the feline affection, quietly trying to calm Lizzy’s nerves-and her own.

          When Janet returned she explained that they were ready to leave and that they only needed to pay for Lizzy up front. Margaret tried feebly to protest but Janet didn’t even acknowledge her objection. The next thing she knew, Margaret was in the check out line at the pet store, a cart overflowing with a bed, litter, toys, and food.

          Understandably, Lizzy was skiddish as she sprinted through Margaret’s townhome. Before she knew it, Janet  had the litter box set up, the bed tucked in a corner of the bedroom closet, and dishes filled with food and water. She found Lizzy and placed her in the litter box. Lizzy darted out, scattering the sandy material in her wake. Stunned, Margaret was ready to return the cat for fear that she would not use the litter box and would continue to make a daily mess, even if she did. Janet reassured Margaret and explained that Lizzy only needed to know where the litter box was located and that she would use it when she was ready.

Lizzy hiding near the bed.

          That evening, Lizzy was no where to be found. Janet handed Margaret a much needed glass of red wine. Margaret couldn’t get her head around the fact that she had somehow adopted a cat. A cat! Even the wine didn’t calm her anxiety and she worried that she had somehow gotten out. Janet sprung up from Margaret’s flower patterned love seat and began to probe all corners and cubicles of Margaret’s abode. Janet knew that Margaret would not settle down until she was confident Lizzy was in the house, and safe.         

Lizzy with “cousin” Melissa.

  Quickly, Janet found her and confirmed that Lizzy was curled up behind the sofa. No worries, she told her mother; Lizzy just needed time to adjust. She explained that during the night, Lizzy would probably roam the house, exploring her new surroundings.

          The next morning, the litter box had been used and food had been consumed. Although Lizzy was still in hiding, Margaret was relieved to know that her new feline companion was settling in.

          After her daughter returned to school, Margaret found herself looking for Lizzy and encouraging her to come out and say hello. It took Lizzy a week before she approached Margaret, who was sitting in her sliding chair having coffee as she gazed out her large picture window overlooking a frozen pond and snow covered walking path which hadn’t yet been shoveled. When Lizzy quietly sat beside her, Margaret jumped in surprise. She wasn’t used to having another being in the house. Lizzy looked up her with curious green eyes and released a soft meow. When Margaret bent down to pet her, Lizzy darted into the living room and looked back to see if her new human would follow her. Margaret got up and again approached Lizzy – who walked quickly into the bedroom.

Margaret with toy for Lizzy

          Lizzy was a beautiful tortuoise, calico cat. Her first owners surrendered her because the man was allergic to cat dander. Luckily, Lizzy had spent only a few days in the animal shelter before Margaret came to her rescue.

          After all the friends and relatives visited Margaret so they could meet Lizzy, they settled into a routine. It was a quiet home, which Lizzy liked. For Margaret, having the companionship was surprising to her. A month later, Margaret told son who’d stopped by kitty treats, that she found herself talking to Lizzy. Her son explained that “that’s what you’re supposed to do!” They both laughed as Lizzy emerged from the bedroom somehow intuiting that there were treats to be had.

          Margaret never allowed Lizzy onto her bed even though Lizzy asked and rubbed herself on the comforter hanging off the edge. But as the years wore on, Margaret succumbed to Lizzy’s pleas and invited her up. Lizzy immediately tried to nuzzle up to Margaret’s head, but she was firm and insisted that Lizzy stay “on her side of the bed.” Yet when Lizzy began scratching at the covers as an indication that she wanted to crawl underneath for the warmth, Margaret acquiesced.

          And so it went. The two of them visited in the morning as Margaret drank her coffee. Lizzy approached the slider where Margaret would drop her hand and scratch Lizzy’ back. She, in turn, would meow with great pleasure. Margaret told her that she wasn’t a very pretty cat, but her tone said otherwise. Lizzy always came back for another scratch.

          For fourteen years they shared their routine, comforting one another as humans and felines do. When it was time for Lizzy to be put down, Margaret cried quietly for the first time since her husband died. The house was so quiet. It was so empty. She missed her Lizzy more than she ever, ever thought she would.