“The cat still hasn’t shown up.”

Schmitty at a New Home

“The cat still hasn’t shown up,” Lynne remembers infrequently since her move to a new apartment. Then she moves on to something else. No worry. No curiosity about why.
Not surprising, because her cats have always come and gone on their own. They’ve disappeared for long periods of time, even chosen neighbors to adopt, so it’s a typical cat attachment for Lynne. She feels no abandonment. Just a feeling Schmitty can take care of himself and may show up, or not. She is busy with a new room, rules, caregivers, exercises, songs, friends, dining.
She needn’t worry because he’s been well cared for, except when he was left alone in the old apartment growling and meowing. “That was not a good plan,” said Skylar, a caregiver who took him home for the weekend.
Several volunteers have agreed to adopt him, including Skylar. She, Patricia, the volunteer from the rescue shelter, and other staff have considered the best trial homes for Schmitty.
We received news he appears comfortable at his present home, as you can see from the above photo. An update from a director said, “A nurse is trialing adoption of Lynne’s cat and she loves him so far! Seems like a good fit and he will have another kitty friend to play with.”
Next time Lynne remembers the “cat,” I think I’ll update her that it may be a long time before he shows up because he’s found a loving adopter and kitty friend.

Hopes and Fears in Moving Out of Isolation

Short Story 3086 words

Lynne waving from her new apartment

Two days after nothing could go wrong about moving Lynne to Life’s Neighborhood, Skylar, a caregiver on the night shift, called me at 9:00 pm because Schmitty the Kitty was out of cat food. She said, “Kim had noticed it a few days ago. Luna was going to call you, but I guess she forgot. I’ll go get some food.”

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Lynne and Cat — Day One

This morning Lynne exercised with her new mask from Patricia the cat guardian angel while the cat hid behind the sofa. He’s had a rough week. He trusted Patricia after his first rescue, and then she dumped him head first into a carrier bag and he ended up in an apartment. Pam said her rescued cat hid under the toilet for a week. This afternoon the cat is under Lynne’s chair. He’s been in her lap. She says he’s mellow. Patricia says “As soon as she starts brushing him he’ll show himself as the purring sweetheart he is.” However, Kim, the Aegis fiction author-in-residence wrote a move-in-alert from CAT warning caregivers about his needs and plans. He seems bossy. Judge for yourself.

“Hello, I am CAT. I had a name before in my life, and I am sure I am about to get a new name. I will absolutely refuse to respond to that name, because: I am a CAT.” Regarding his needs/plans: “I plan to knock things off the counter tops whenever possible. When you find things on the floor of the apartment, please put them back in a good location for me to knock them off again.” Also: “I will shed. On everything. I will make it a goal to cover Lynne, her belongings, and all of you with a fine layer of my home-made fur. Deal with it.” Regarding affection: “I will be extremely snuggly with you. Until I am not. It will bring me joy to keep you on your toes.”