Wednesday 19 January 2011

Being philosophical about this...


Raphael: Aristotle

"In all things of Nature there is something of the marvellous." (Aristotle, Greek critic, physicist, philosopher and zoologist, 384 - 322 BC.)

This marvellous thing of Nature is 17, blind and deaf, and had the sense to wander up an icy back lane on a dark night and position himself at my back gate. He is called Aristotle too.



We had a busy day today, Aristotle and I....

He had a morning trip to the nearest vet, to be checked for the presence of a microchip. No luck. But he was identified as an elderly gent.

He was as good as gold in the car, purred like a motorbike while being examined by the nurse, had some of his matted clumps of fur cut off, and returned with evident pleasure to his crate, litter tray and elevenses, before having a long sleep in the brilliant sunshine streaming through the windows.


More vet practices were contacted, to leave my contact details, should he be reported missing. I spoke to my own beloved vet and arranged to bring the old cat in tomorrow morning for examination and a blood test. We had a frank talk about stray cats, euthanasia, the authority of a vet to proceed with same in the absence of an owner, and the willingness of Muggins here to keep him should he be pronounced Not To Be Suffering. I hoped Scooter wasn't listening in, and tried not to think about my overburdened monthly pension.

Later, I printed more leaflets and notices, and faithful neighbour Sandra and I set off on our self-appointed mission, wondering if we looked like a pair of Jehovah's Witnesses with our sensible clothes and our papers, traipsing from door to door.

I was made painfully aware of how savage some people's letterboxes are, with killer springs and impenetrable brushes; postmen must have cast-iron hands to push anything through those innocent-looking slots.

Then I spotted a woman walking up to her front door pulling a small suitcase, and I pounced. Did she have an old cat? Er...yes. A tabby? Yes, with long hair - and she began to look alarmed.

Blind? Yes! So I reassured her that it was alive and well, but she suddenly realised that in order for the cat to have got out, something bad must have happened to her house while she was away for a couple of days.....

So Sandra and I accompanied her inside, where she found that she had been burgled; the kitchen window was broken, glass was strewn everywhere, the cat's dish with timer in the lid stood open, food untouched, and the cat was nowhere to be seen.

And that was because he was safely tucked up in my house, thinking philosophical thoughts.

He's still here, while she deals with the police and the clearing up. I know he's on medication for thyroid and blood pressure, and is monitored by a vet. I shall volunteer to be her cat feeder/visitor when she goes away in future.

"In the arena of human life, the honours and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities." - Aristotle the Greek.


"Take that!" - Aristotle the Cat. Do scratches count as rewards, do you suppose?

35 comments:

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

So many good turns done by both you and Sandra today ! Congratulations to you both .
It was awful enough for that poor woman to come back to a burgled house . But at least you could reassure her that her cat was safe and help with that first ghastly inspection of the damage .

Lyn said...

Oh I am sure you will be rewarded, what a wonderful thing to do and to help out a fellow cat lover too. Well done, glad it ended happy for Aristotle and your hand heals soon.
love
Lyn
xxx

judy in ky said...

Oh my! What a heart-stopping story. I feel so bad for the poor lady; she must have been frantic. Thank goodness you took her cat in and cared for him. She must be very grateful to you, and relieved that in the future she will have a reliable caretaker for her cat when she goes away.
It breaks my heart to think of that poor cat, he must have been so frightened when you found him. Thank goodness he has been reunited with his owner.
I hope they catch the burglars and they are kept away in the future.

Anonymous said...

Oh my, what a story!
In the midst of all this, I'm sure Aristotle's mum is immeasurably grateful that he found a Good Soul to take care of him.
As for the scratches, may I suggest that you take it... philosophically?

Anonymous said...

I do like a happy ending.

Anonymous said...

What a tale ....... and how fortunate that you were there to accompany the woman into the house - having come home years ago to find we had been burgled, I know just how awful that is. Aristotle was most ungrateful to scratch you!

Shelagh said...

Well done, you! Nothing I love more than a happy ending!!
xo

Val said...

What a wonderful ending to this poignant story. I wish I'd had someone to keep an eye on my old cat when a night away was unavoidable, although towards the end we preferred to rearrange our lives rather than his! I'm so glad he found you and I think you and Sandra are exceptional human beings.

BumbleVee said...

wow.... you know how sometimes we never find out the rest of the story? ... this time you did and thank goodness...

awww...and I'm so glad you found the old guy's Mum... poor lady.. what a rotten thing to have happen....

Lucille said...

What a story. I'm glad she had you with her when she found her house. I have twice come home alone to a burglary. It's not nice. How lucky Aristotle was to find you.

annie hoff said...

I think that's brilliant. Well done. What a lucky cat to have landed on your doorstep and what a lucky owner too - even though she was burgled! A happy ending. Hope the hand gets better soon!

the veg artist said...

The poor cat must have been terrified when his house was being burgled. So lucky to land with you, too. But the poor woman. What a homecoming. Scooter will be relieved though.

Dragonfly Dreams said...

I am in agreement with everyone else - what a wonderful, heart-warming story, Rachel! It made me smile!

Jenny said...

Happy ending for all.....especially Scooter!

Anonymous said...

Really glad you've found his owner...but what a week you've had!

Wish I lived closer and could go out for coffee and sympathy for you - that sounds like a tough time.

All the best to you and yours

Jan x

flwrjane said...

My goodness, there's never a dull moment in your hamlet is there?

Not for the first time do I wish we were neighbors.

You're a lovely person.

xo Jane

Linens and Royals said...

I have tears in my eyes reading this sad story with such a happy ending.

Val said...

Very rude words to burglars.. I'm glad the Old cat has a home to go to for his and your sake... I think your bunch must be happy too!

I wince over the scratches though.
My brother hauled an old lab out of the canal one holiday and got nastily scratched up..evil deep bloody welts..but the lab appreciated the rescue.. he was going down for the third time..at least my brother had long arms (though he was prepared to go in for him)..his owners on a canal boat were too blase until too late..still it ended well .

Jinksy said...

You are one of the kindest persons I've ever had the good fortune to come across! I hope the universe rewards you handsomely, with no scratches!

Dartford Warbler said...

What a story! I`m so pleased that Old Cat and his owner have been reunited. How much worse the burglary would have been if the woman`s beloved old cat had disappeared for ever.

One of my ex-strays rewarded me with a septic thumb while we were in the process of getting to know him. Now he is the gentlest of cats. I hope that Aristotle can soon be home again with his Mum and that your scratches heal quickly!

Pam said...

Oh dear, I haven't read you for a couple of days and you have had a lot of excitement! Poor you re the paint and good for you re Aristotle. At least they didn't actually harm Aristotle, but what an awful homecoming for the woman.

So much for the slow lane...

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

you are a very good person Rachel.

mountainear said...

What a reasonably happy ending - cat safe and home found good, burglary and scratches not.

Well done Rachel and Sandra.

Anonymous said...

Not cat burglars then. That poor animal will have been so scared and so its even more special that he found you.

Sweet Virginia Breeze said...

I'm so glad you found Aristotle's owner. He was so lucky to have been rescued and delivered home by you. You are very kind and will be rewarded one day with something better than scratches.

June said...

WOW! WOWEEE! What are the odds that you and the lady would be on the street at the very same moment?
Now there's a happy-ending story!

Kathie said...

You will be blessed for your kindness. Thank you for sharing the story.

Floridagirl said...

Oh my goodness, I'm happy for the partially good ending. Her things may be gone but her friend has been well taken care of by you. How kind of you!

Ms. Becky said...

I've been quietly following this story as a cat lover myself, and that it has a happy ending is amazing. I was hoping you would keep it, but now, no worries at all about its future well-being. good job. a miracle, really.

Hazel said...

Firstly...what a lot of comments! That is probably because it is such a lovely story with a happy ending.

mrspao said...

What a very kind lady you are. Aristotle was wise to have headed in your direction. It was very sad to hear about the lady's house being broken into - it was good you were on hand to let her know her cat was safe.

Rattling On said...

Poor woman, to come home to all of that. But she must be relieved that the moggy was ok. He must still have a bit of rev to have got out of the window fancying a roam, at his age and being blind.

Jenny Debeaux said...

I was just thinking that if you'd moved, there probably wouldn't have been anyone like you to love Flossie and save Aristotle. There must have been a reason......

And now? Bring on a sale and then the right house wherever! Deo gratias.

Lesley said...

What brilliant timing - to catch her before she discovered his loss. She would have been frantic worrying about him alone and lost.

So pleased for a happy ending - what real time drama on the internet!!

Well done, you've done a grand job.

Lesley xx

John said...

I apologize on Aristotle's behalf for the scratches. Who knows what lurks in the minds of old cats? No rhyme or reason upstairs. I adore old cats, a completely different animal from your young feisties.

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