It took just a few words to break my heart ...
A mere 24 hours ago I received a phone call from my choked up Dad which devastated me: "Dear, it's Nelson ... I'm so sorry" *Waaaaaaaaaaaaaugh* Dad had just found his body lying outside in the middle of the carport (where he always sat and waited for me when I was out in the car) He was still warm.
Nelson was my beloved black cat - my other half. I was THE most important creature in the world to him and I, in return, would have done anything for him (I almost flew back from Perth IV when it looked like his medicine from the vet wasn't working). He always wanted to be with, and preferably on, me at all times.
I first met Nelson at the Vet Surgery where I was Nurse and Receptionist rolled into one for a few months before I started teaching. He was brought into the surgery as an approximately 2 year old stray with a cut paw after I had gone home one night so the vet stitched it up and de-sexed him. The next morning I met this beautiful personable black cat who was amazed that he was being given food. He seemed to like being petted so I decided to pick him up and give him a cuddle. Oooops. As I picked him up he seemed to go "Yikes! Where'd the ground go?" and promptly sank 20 very sharp claws into my chest and shoulders! Once up he seemed happy as long as he was holding on! I spent the next few days teaching him to trust me as I picked him up - I needed to wear a very thick jumper and wrap myself in towels for these lessons though! Over the next two weeks he became the surgery cat only being placed into his cage at night when I went home as we advertised him as "Free to a Good Home". The relieving Vet and I named him Nelson Mandela as he was black with a few grey hairs. He became my shadow.
When the normal vet returned he insisted that Nelson was locked into the back part of the surgery during consultations. He used to spend the time almost screaming for me, making these powerful yowls as he continued to hurl his body against the door to try to get to me via the small window above it.
I was finally able to convince my parents that he and I were meant for each other when someone completely unsuitable offered him a home (he brought his female cat in to be de-sexed one week before she was due to birth kittens. She had escaped to find a partner by jumping off a balcony of his one bedroom first storey flat). Nelson consequently moved to the country and became a farm cat on our 20 acres shared with other cats, dogs, horses, cows, chickens, birds and fish! His hunting skills were used to keep the rabbit and rat population down however these forays were few and far between as he never left my side when I was home. He even would follow my horse and I down the road or around the 20 acre property! If he needed to go out at night he would yet at me if I didn't accompanying him. We were inseparable.
My shadow and beautiful companion has grown old with me. He had a wonderful and yes, very spoiled, life where he slept in my bed, sat on my chest. lap, shoulder, mousepad, keyboard, in fact anywhere as long as he was touching me and he was given anything he wanted. He contracted FIV (cat AIDS) about 14 years ago yet was amazingly healthy despite this. He kept me company and he loved me unconditionally.
As I am still stuck in Queensland, Dad and a friend of the family buried Nelson yesterday afternoon outside my bedroom window where he would sit after his early morning walk waiting for me to get up. I will never get to cuddle him again or have him bury his head into my face.
I will miss him.
Nelson was my beloved black cat - my other half. I was THE most important creature in the world to him and I, in return, would have done anything for him (I almost flew back from Perth IV when it looked like his medicine from the vet wasn't working). He always wanted to be with, and preferably on, me at all times.
I first met Nelson at the Vet Surgery where I was Nurse and Receptionist rolled into one for a few months before I started teaching. He was brought into the surgery as an approximately 2 year old stray with a cut paw after I had gone home one night so the vet stitched it up and de-sexed him. The next morning I met this beautiful personable black cat who was amazed that he was being given food. He seemed to like being petted so I decided to pick him up and give him a cuddle. Oooops. As I picked him up he seemed to go "Yikes! Where'd the ground go?" and promptly sank 20 very sharp claws into my chest and shoulders! Once up he seemed happy as long as he was holding on! I spent the next few days teaching him to trust me as I picked him up - I needed to wear a very thick jumper and wrap myself in towels for these lessons though! Over the next two weeks he became the surgery cat only being placed into his cage at night when I went home as we advertised him as "Free to a Good Home". The relieving Vet and I named him Nelson Mandela as he was black with a few grey hairs. He became my shadow.
When the normal vet returned he insisted that Nelson was locked into the back part of the surgery during consultations. He used to spend the time almost screaming for me, making these powerful yowls as he continued to hurl his body against the door to try to get to me via the small window above it.
I was finally able to convince my parents that he and I were meant for each other when someone completely unsuitable offered him a home (he brought his female cat in to be de-sexed one week before she was due to birth kittens. She had escaped to find a partner by jumping off a balcony of his one bedroom first storey flat). Nelson consequently moved to the country and became a farm cat on our 20 acres shared with other cats, dogs, horses, cows, chickens, birds and fish! His hunting skills were used to keep the rabbit and rat population down however these forays were few and far between as he never left my side when I was home. He even would follow my horse and I down the road or around the 20 acre property! If he needed to go out at night he would yet at me if I didn't accompanying him. We were inseparable.
My shadow and beautiful companion has grown old with me. He had a wonderful and yes, very spoiled, life where he slept in my bed, sat on my chest. lap, shoulder, mousepad, keyboard, in fact anywhere as long as he was touching me and he was given anything he wanted. He contracted FIV (cat AIDS) about 14 years ago yet was amazingly healthy despite this. He kept me company and he loved me unconditionally.
As I am still stuck in Queensland, Dad and a friend of the family buried Nelson yesterday afternoon outside my bedroom window where he would sit after his early morning walk waiting for me to get up. I will never get to cuddle him again or have him bury his head into my face.
I will miss him.
