To my independent cat...

On November 1st, I moved out. Seven days later, on a quiet evening, I was on the couch reading a novel. Whitesoak was lying next to me on my left, Chouchou on my right. As for Louloute she was sleeping on another sofa. The house was quiet too. Around 10 PM, Chouchou got up and I could see that he was listening hard to something. I was observing him and for a moment, I thought that he was going to have one of his little feline crises: starting to run around crazily because he was trying to catch something my human eyes could not see. But I was wrong. He went to the front door and suddenly I heard a weak miaouw. I could swear I've never heard it before. So I approach next to Chouchou who was pacing curiously in front of the door. I finally opened the door and I went on the porch. Outside, the night was dark and I couldn't see anything unusual. I went back inside, sat down and read my novel.

Five minutes later, I heard the same miaouw and Chouchou was still in front of the door. I went back outside and... Nothing! Then I realized that I had forgotten to turn on the porch light. I turned it on and Chouchou went back outside where he sat in front of the stairs of the porch. I looked in his direction and no wonder I couldn't see you. You were as black as the night. I called you softly but you didn't come to me. I paid more attention and I saw your height: you were so tiny that you couldn't climb the stairs. I concluded that someone must have put you on my porch and that you fell when I opened the door the first time.

Just as for Louloute, I fed you but I didn't bathe you. I thought you were too young to be wet for the season. When you've finished eating, I looket at you and I said to myself "I already have three cats and that was more than enough. Tomorrow I will put some notes and knock at people's doors to know who has lost you." Well I forgot my good heart. When you've finished licking up your lips, you came at my feet, you raised your little head and the look in your eyes was saying "well, are you taking me on your laps now!" Ididn't really want to because I was afraid to love you. And my fears came true. You started to miaouw so loudly that it broke my heart and I took you in my arms. Then I put you on my laps and while I was petting you, I went on reading my book. As for you, with your stomack full, you fell asleep. I looked at you and I smiled to myself.

Of course, the next day, all my thoughts to find your home were gone. You were already part of the family and I loved you immediatly. Although you were tiny, you already knew what you wanted and you had your character. You also had a bad attitude. All that mattered to you was your independency, freedom, meals and hugs when you wanted some. If I ever felt the need to hold you, to pet you or give you a kiss: no way! You always have decided when you wanted my attention.

At the age of five or six months, Louloute gave birth for the first time. You thought it was cool. When you saw the little furry balls moving, you wanted to play with them. I had to stop you, they were just born and too young to play. And even when they became older, I had to watch you as you have always played roughly.

You, my BlackJack, who were so tiny, you became a beautiful tall black cat, strong and muscled. You were taller than the other cats. I wanted to keep a little black cat: missed. You were magnificent, so majestic and you always had a cat's personality.

I never saw you as much as the others as you spent most of your time outside, but each time you came back home, you made me know you were back. Loud miaouws until you found me. As time passed by, I have learned that when you were back, I could not approach you, otherwise, you were running back outside. But it became a game: who is going to be faster? I was running towards you and you run as quickly as you could. I knew in advance that I would loose. When you were back outside, you were staying in the backyard, rolling in the grass and then, finally you came back to eat, to be pet, and... back outside.

Independent, friendly, bad attitude, I always thought you were just tolerating me. After a year and a half, I was moving out again and I couldn't take you with me. You knew something was happening. A friend of mine was going to adopt you but in the meantime, you stopped asking to go out, you spent most of your time next to me. I found out that you were more than tolerating me and it really made me happy.

My lovely cat, I will miss your loud miaouws, I will miss to run after you.

Little stubborn cat, wherever you will be, I know you'll always be a winner. It just breaks my heart to loose my independent furry ball. I wonder if you will be present when I'll visit my friend, or  will you be roaming some backyards, chasing girls? It is sad to know that I will you not see you much.

You're a pure feline and I love you.

Kitty

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