Tigger & TS
The Saga of Tigger and TS
Tigger had been “king of the hill” for ten years; we got him and Blackie at the same time, but unfortunately, Blackie was hit by a car a year later. After that, we just didn’t get another cat and Tigger ruled our roost. Our boys (and actually, me as well) wanted a second cat, but we were afraid Tigger wouldn’t like it. He had a hissy fit every time he so much as saw another cat in our yard – and he was looking out the window!
Last fall, a young tiger striped cat wearing a white flea collar started hanging around our house. He seemed to be hungry and son Matt started feeding him outside the back door. We also put a box with some old towels in it by the door for him to sleep in. We called the animal shelter, but they had no reports of a missing cat matching his description.
We placed a “found cat” ad in the newspaper for ten days but got no response. In the meantime, Matt was getting more and more attached to the stray. We told Matt that if it was OK with Tigger, we could keep the newcomer. One day, we opened the door and let the new cat into the kitchen. Tigger came out, and I waited for the fur to fly. Lo and behold, Tigger sniffed noses, turned around and walked back out to the living room! We had our second kitty.
TS (short for “Tiger Stripe”) was one goofy kitty! He had obviously been an outdoor cat and he loved it. It was impossible to keep him inside for a full day and/or night. He played in the snow; he chased blowing leaves and anything else that moved. He climbed trees and toured the neighbor’s rooftop! But he also came a-running when we called him – he would come in long enough to say hello and then want right back out. Oh, how we grew to love him. He and Tigger would chase each other around the house and have a great time entertaining us.
In the spring, Tigger suddenly slowed down, was lethargic and wouldn’t eat. I took him to the vet and it was suspected that perhaps his spleen was ruptured. The doctor performed surgery, thinking that the spleen could be removed if necessary. It wasn’t the spleen – Tigger was diagnosed with liver cancer. His doctor thought he might live another two weeks. We took our precious Tigger home and watched over him. Two weeks went by, and he slowed down a little bit again. We went back to the vet and they were able to remove some fluid from his abdomen again, which gave him yet another lease on life. Over five weeks went by – another trip to the vet, another small lease on life.
It had now been almost six weeks; we knew it wouldn’t be much longer, as Tigger had all but stopped eating. But we would have TS to help fill the void when Tigger crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Monday night, TS went outside. It got late, and he had evidently found something more interesting than coming in when I called. Well, he would be sitting on the front stoop in the morning, ready to bounce in when my husband got the newspaper.
Only when Tuesday morning arrived, TS wasn’t there. We called and called; Matt went out and walked around before he left for school. I called again before I left for work. It was close to noon, and my husband still hadn’t seen him. I called the animal shelter to see if perhaps he had lost his collar (again) and someone had picked him up. The lady at the animal shelter said she had some bad news. Evidently TS hadn’t seen the car, and the driver must not have seen TS. My husband went and picked him up and we buried him at the edge of the garden.
Now it was even harder to watch Tigger as he grew weaker and weaker. I held him and cuddled him as often as I could. At the end of the following week, he drew his last raspy breath and followed TS over the Rainbow Bridge. It had been exactly seven weeks since the doctor gave him two weeks to live.
Our darling Tigger and TS – we’ll never forget you, how special you both were – Tigger for allowing TS to come into our home, and TS for being that one special enough to win Tigger over. Have fun as you play together again, and we’ll see on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
