rock and roll musings by Tim Byrnes

Elvis Has Left the Building: And the Road Takes Another Brother Home

   Elvis the Cat: 2004 - 2006

     Regular readers of this page know that, along w/my best friend/dog Buster I have 2 cats (Bleeker and MacDougal). In addition to these 2, who live in my apartment with me, I have befriended (by feeding) a small colony of stray and/or neighborhood cats who live in an abandoned house off the alley behind my place. For the last year I've been feeding, petting and basically loving a long haired tabby I named Elvis, just because. This morning on my way to work I saw that Elvis had been hit by a car right in front of my place.

     Now, dead cats on the highway are just a fact of life, I know that. I also know that a cat who crosses the highway is bound to get killed. It still breaks my heart and tears me up. This cat, who I believe had a 'home' a few blocks over and just liked hanging out by me, had over the last year become a bright spot in my day. And regular readers of punkrockblues know that I don't find too many of them, right? When I ffirst came back from Denver and moved into my present apartment, Elvis was a fixture in our backyard/alley. Soon he was following me when I walked Buster, coming up for pets and food. He was the happiest cat I'd ever known. He'd hide under a truck in the alley and would pounce out, batting at Buster's head, always w/claws retracted. He'd run to me when I knelt down and he'd jump up to meet my hand when I reached to pet him. It became a ritual I looked forward to and one I will sorely miss.

     The one thing that led me to believe that Elvis indeed had a home, is that he was clean. I'm talking spotless. The other cats in my 'colony' (Handsome, Speedy, Doc, Debbie and Rochelle -Bleeker and MacDougal's girlfriends) all have the same street look about them. A scar here, there, matted furr, that hungry look etc, but not Elvis. Not until recently. Becoming a full grown tomcat led to the pursuit of the female which led to fights etc. The loss of innocence showed on Elvis. He showed up at my job 3 weeks ago, looking a little worn, fur matted, He wanted to come into the store but I couldn't let him in.

     Two weeks ago Elvis showed up at my door, limping on 3 legs. His front left pay had an abscess on it. I was pleased that he knew me well enough to come to me and I was blown away that MacDougal sensed that this cat was hurt and left him alone while I tended to his wound and let him 'sleep it off' for a few hours. MacDougal's reaction was far from this friendly the time I brought Elvis in 'cause it was snowing. In no uncertain terms my Mickey let Elvis know he was not welcome in our home. But when push came to shove, my cat showed a good heart and (I know this sounds crazy) he made me proud.

     Over the last 2 weeks, I'd see Elvis in the alley but it/he wasn't the same. No longer did he come to me. He was looking for women (a pursuit that has caused many of us hurt, no?) and running w/MacDougal. As a matter of fact, just last night both Elvis and Mickey were playing close to the highway. This morning I found Elvis' body, though I'm happy to report that both Bleeker and MacDougal made it home alright. I'm now seriously re-considering my 'let the cats out at night' policy.

    But cats will be cats and I got to let them be cats, y'know. Nothing real profound or even musical to report, just that I miss my friend.

Posted by: timbyrnes at 20:46 | link | comments (3)

Comments:

#1  20 April 2006 - 22:40

 

so sorry to hear about Elvis. very sad. but glad you took such good care of him. you probably did a lot to add to the time he did have as a stray guy, which tends to be quite brief as it is -- especially if he wasn't neutered.

i don't let my five wayward boys out of the cat hotel at night. they get a couple hours when i get home from work to stretch and roll in the dirt and do their business, but once it starts to get dark, i call them all in with canned food. night time is cat prowl and fight time, as well as traffic, foxes, raccoons, and coyotes.

limine

#2  21 April 2006 - 14:09

 

hey tim -- left you a comment yesterday, but i don't know where it went. so sorry to hear about Elvis -- the way of things for an unneutered stray. but so glad you got to know him, and take such good care of him while you could.

me, i don't let the wayward boys out of the cat hotel at night. that is, i bring 'em all in when it gets dark -- they get to go out and do their business, roll in the dirt, scratch the trees and romp in the grass in the evening when i get home from work, but then they've got to come back in for the night. night time is traffic time, as well as fight time, not to mention raccoons, foxes, coyotes, etc.

anyway, Elvis will be missed. best wishes for his journey on. take care.

limine

#3  21 April 2006 - 21:24

 

thanks. life goes on, but what a rotten way to start a day. But, again, thanks Limine
tb

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