I'm not a cat person!!! Well...it's true. I have had the opportunity to have a cat or two in the household before, but none of these were my cats. Besides with all my other animals, who could even imagine the challenge of keeping a cat, with all it's nine lives, and curious instincts in the same house. It would be unfair for me to ignore my set ways at this point either. No I certainly wasn't looking for a cat of any kind. In fact, I was all set to acquire a new dog. I mean I had done all the search, cross referencing, and characteristic evaluation, you can imagine. Yep, I found just the one. A Bearded Collie! This dog was going to be perfect for me, my life style, and the new home I had just purchased. I was just biding my time until I found one. It was the end of January, and the weather was as seasonal as it gets here. Pretty dreary, over cast, and ready to rain. A friend of mine wanted to take in the cat show. She being an animal lover, and certainly a cat fancier, made it a natural for here to be looking forward to the event. Joining her in this anticipation would be another animal lover and cat lady. In fact both of them are Zoo professionals. I can do anything for an hour, and it was going to be a first for me. They just had their lunch hour to work within, so I felt safe from being over-extended for an event that I had to admit, would not excite me, but certainly should be interesting.
By the time we arrived the weather had advanced to the torrential down pour stage.The spirits were not dampened however, as we made our way into the convention center. Quite a display of cat sundries greeted us at the entrance, only to be over shadowed by a large convention size room full of cats. Big, small, short hair, and the ever popular, Persians, and Angoras. No two ways about it, they were all groomed and looking their best. The judging booths lined one whole side of the room, and would go on for the rest of the day and most of the next. We began to roam up and down the isles, while the gals ooooh'd, and aaaaah'd, with every new type of feline that was on display. For some reason they both had a particular liking for this rather unique species of a totally naked cat!!! Wow, they were different. We came to the entrees brought in by a local organization called TEARS. They were in the animal rescue business, but staffed, and funded all by volunteers, and fellow cat lovers. They had quite an impressive layout of row upon row of rescued cats, of every type and color combination you could imagine. These cats to me were more attractive then the rest. Maybe because I knew that each and every one of these cats had probably used up one or more of it's original charge of nine lives. They had been on their own for one reason or another, and most had a scar or two to show for it. We had only just started down the first isle of the array of entrees by TEARS, when my eyes were attracted to this black and white cat. Without being able to see much of him in the carrier that housed him for the show, I have to say it was the eyes, his eyes. Nothing unique, just the look itself. No big deal, I moved down the line glancing this way and that way at the rows of cats. TEARS supports the show itself by entering everyone of the cats they bring. They are all entered into the "House Pet" category, while their primary goal of adoption is promoted to all by the many dedicated volunteers. The girls were back to chatting with a couple of the owners of those naked cats again.Good time for me to bail out and move to a different isle. I let them know I was going to go back up the isle. I went immediately to the cat that had previously caught my eye.
I walked up, and this cat came right to the front of his carrier, and began meowing away at me as if he was picking up a conversation that been previously interrupted. He continued with intensity. I couldn't resist talking right back to him. It was then that I noticed his name on the label of his carrier, "Black Beard". You had to like the name. As I peered into his carrier to verify his name by his markings, Delores made her way to my side. She had rescued Black Beard, and given him his name. She immediately encouraged me to take him out, and hold him. I responded with a half firm, "no..no, just looking" . Delores never heard a word I said. She had Black Beard out, and in my arms in less time than it takes to say it. He seemed totally content with this move. No wiggling, or threat to jump for freedom. In fact he was purring immediately with content. Delores shared with me that she believed that Black Beard had "chosen me". I have to admit I had seen this behavior before toward others. These others were, in my opinion, cat people. Those individuals that are expected to be "chosen" by cats. Now, the next few minutes, and the decision that is included in this time frame is without foundation. Why would I, absolutely not a cat person, even have the thought enter my head of adopting a cat? We are not talking about one of those irresistible little kittens, that everyone is capable of getting sucked into saying, "How cute." This is a cat! A two year old male.. big.. cat!! It was at this time that the girls re-joined me at my location in front of Black Beards' carrier, with me holding him in my arms. One of them, asked me," Why don't you just take him home with you." She was kidding, of course, knowing my attitude toward cats. They are incredible animals, but not my type of animal. So why did I say,"I think I will."Everyone was surprised, except the TEARS "cat lady." She just kept that big, "I knew it all along", smile on her face as the paper work began.
So there you have it. I had just adopted Black Beard. Notice I didn't say "cat". To me, it became quickly apparent that all the mysticism associated with these felines has at least some foundation. I too felt it. I agreed to leave Black Beard until the next day to allow him to finish his rounds of show judging. I didn't leave however, until I had purchased a large cat tree, and a few toys. Tomorrow I would return to retrieve Black Beard. Sunday came fast enough as I made my way through the activity of the final day of the show. I found Delores showing off that huge smile of satisfaction again. She proudly showed me all the early round "honorable mentions" that Black Beard had all ready won. He was in the finals now, and we hastened to the booth where he was being judged. We arrived in time to see the ribbons being placed on the top of the carriers. Wow, Black Beard had won third place in the House Pet category out of literally hundreds of cats!!!
A big ribbon and a trophy for a "top cat"!
Over the next few months the bond between Black Beard and myself would deepen quickly. He became more like a dog, with the way he followed me everywhere around the house. He loved the new home. Oh....yes...all those other animals. That could be another whole story. He is fascinated by a few of them, respectfully watches, and watches. He truly seems to enjoy it. Others that would normally give anyone concern for their well being around a cat, well he just ignores them. Black Beard is a "talker". He constantly, "meows," and, "meows" at different intensities, and with varied intonations. I find myself believing he actually understands, and that he is conversing with me. Maybe it's because I tell him everyday that I love him, and thank him for "choosing" me.Black Beard remains a special member of our Family. Oh yes, I did leave a little out of the time line. Later that same year that Black Beard found me, We both became part of a new, extended family. We all now share the same amazement of this incredible feline. Black Beard is seven years old now and really hasn't slowed down even a little bit. Although his waste line has grown just a "tad" he still is as busy as a cat can be at being, well, a cat! We have been thinking of getting another cat, well kitten, for Black Beard as a play mate. He has always shown the patients required by the person (or animal) that he feels is special. So we are thinking we will soon add a new "special" cat to the family for Black Beard.In the meantime Black Beard continues those tough duties..like getting our youngest daughter to bed on time and staying with her until she falls asleep. He hates for her to be alone. Of course he loves our teenagers music too. Don't we all? Sometimes all these duties just ware him out.
