Cat Sitting, Day 1

Between the snow and the kids being home from school and not wanting to put clothes on, I've been in a more blah mood than normal, so I was looking forward to cat sitting today.

I had a cat when I was growing up. We found him living under our porch when I was five. It was a very cold winter and evidently I told my dad that I heard a cat out in the snow. We didn't know if it had a home or not, but it being cold we brought it into the house. Must have been around Christmas, for I remember that we had Styrofoam in the kitchen that the cat batted around under the table. This playful behavior is why my brother wanted to call the cat "Hockey." When no one claimed the cat, I got to name it since my brother had named our dog. My cat died while I was in grad school. The last time I saw him was when I was home for Winter break. He was sick, and I remember him vomiting on my favorite jacket while I held him. Just as the stain never came out, I never saw my cat well again.

Well, the cat that I'm watching this week is 18 years old. I have known of the cat 11 or so years but I first ever petted him last week. It's just fur and bones, just like my was when I last saw him. I'm a stranger to this cat so I won't be lifting it or anything too familiar, but I will let him feel my company while his owners are gone. Reminds me of when I first babysat my college friends' baby. I had no business watching a child, but they needed someone and I was available. I remember being afraid of the baby crying or needing changed, but neither happened and I was asked to watch the child other subsequent times without incident.

Well, I'm afraid of this cat dying. I went over and its food bowl was seemingly full. The cat meowed at me when I approached him, but he didn't run from me. He didn't seem too thrilled about my offering to pet him either. After a few moments, it seemed pleased to be petted, but didn't purr.

I checked the house and found its pan okay but vomit on the kitchen floor. I cleaned up the vomit and cleaned out the food and water dishes. After filling the bowls, I saw the cat come in and drink some water. He went to his pan and I left him to wait by the spot I found him. I sat and finished a Sudoku puzzle, when the cat came in smelling of food. I felt a moment of relief. If the cat is eating, then I have a good chance of not having a dead cat tomorrow.