Category: Cats

Freddie: iCalico

This summer has been an enjoyable revival of an old love affair with the outstanding band Queen. The film, “Bohemian Rhapsody” shook loose the fondest memories. “Killer Queen” came on the radio just when I entered the teen years. Every year, they had a new single. Every song carried their sound, their grit and their soul. The “Bicycle Race” was fun. I loved the ching-ching of a European bell. Not many bands had the gravitas to put out something so not a pop song. The imagery was priggish. As a young feminista, it was actually quite appalling .

Freddie has been gone for years now. Truly, he was a calico cat in another life. He doesn’t look like the cuddly type and neither are they. A man with energy that sparked outward. Calicos tolerate us, appreciate us but in the end, don’t give a flip. Freddie talked like that quite a lot. He loved what he was doing but never suffered fools. “Death on Two Legs” comes to mind whenever I tangle with an asshat boss on some nonsense tension involving power plays. Freddie was very sharp as are calico’s. They sit back and consider. They observe and pass judgement with an ear twitch.

If there is a most perfect song of their repertoire, it must be, “Somebody to Love.” It’s brilliant. The ebb and flow, pacing and emotional power is perfect. But, then there is “Seaside”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love, “and “39”. I miss Freddie. I miss a flamboyant, fan it in front of everyone kind of personality. Such an old friend Ω

 

Celebrate Each Day with a Song ~ La Gatta

In May of 2017 I took a second trip to Italy staying for two weeks in Lucca old town. Lucca is in Tuscany Province near Pisa and about an hour from Florence. The Tuscan hills can been seen all around the city and bring cooling breezes every afternoon. The aromas of roasting coffee and jasmine in bloom will forever remind me of this spectacular region in Italy.

During the first week in Lucca, I took Italian lessons and we learned the “imperfetto” verb tense. This tense is used to express things that happened many years ago. This song by Gino Paoli, was used to teach imperfetto.

Cats are a favorite companion and what fun it was to bring this “souvenir” back home.

Here are the lyrics with English translation.

La Gatta (Italian)

C’era una volta una gatta
che aveva una macchia nera sul muso e una vecchia
soffitta vicino al mare con una finestra
a un passo dal cielo blu.
Se la chitarra suonavo
la gatta faceva le fusa ed una stellina
scendeva vicina vicina
poi mi sorrideva e se ne tornava su.

Ora non abito più là tutto è cambiato,
non abito più là ho una casa bellissima
bellissima come vuoi tu.
Ma io ripenso a una gatta
che aveva una macchia nera sul muso a una vecchia
soffitta vicino al mare con una stellina
che ora non vedo più.

La Gatta (English)

Once upon a time there was a cat
with a black spot on her muzzle and an old
attic by the sea with a window
steps away from the blue sky.
If I would play my guitar
the cat would purr and a little star
would come down really close
then it would smile and go back up again.

Now I don’t live there anymore everything has changed,
I don’t live there anymore, I have a beautiful house,
beautiful, as you want.
But I think back to a cat with a black spot on her muzzle, to an old
attic by the sea with a little star
That I don’t see anymore.

Houdini Needs a Home

Update – With a happy heart, I am able to say Houdini has a new home! He was at Dakin Animal Shelter for about one month. That little rascal found his way into someone’s heart. I knew he was a winner. This cat is on his fourth life I figure and going strong. Good Luck Houdini!

 

This sweet kitty cat is in search of a new forever home. I believe the owners abandoned him after a house in the neighborhood was taken by a bank in foreclosure sometime last fall. Somewhere in the winter, he migrated to my front steps meowing for help. This past winter was one of the toughest in recent memory and this resourceful cat found shelter. He reached out for help and I gladly put out a bowl of eats every afternoon. For months and months, I came to know this little cat and appreciated his spirit.

I thought he was feral but discovered I could touch him, brush him, and even pick him up. So, given his willingness to be handled, I tried several times to catch, crate, and take him to the local vet clinic. He displayed great skill at escaping or eluding capture and earned the name Houdini. He managed to escape more than one carrier and gave me quite the look as he romped away. But, he always came back and so I tried again until he was caught!

A local vet generously offered a reduced fee for neuter, vaccinations, and a health check. Once he had all his treatments, he was allowed to move inside. After a month of TLC, I can say that little Houdini is looking smashing. His coat is shiny and soft. He’s gaining weight and his mischievous nature is coming out.

Unfortunately, my house cat of many years had a royal hissy fit when I brought him inside. Sweetie is a classic calico and can be a little nutty at times.  I have had multiple cats before, so I was unprepared for her vigorous rejection of Houdini. She charged him, screamed, and scared herself silly. She is not thriving and time has not reduced anxiety. She was okay until he moved in. She has made her life quite miserable by her behavior.

Houdini is now at Dakin Humane Society in Leverett MA. This is a compassionate adoption center in the Pioneer Valley near UMass Amherst. If anybody wants a charming and mischievous house cat, consider Houdini. He is about 10 years old. Has four white booties with a grey and black striped coat. He’s a little on the slender side still but getting better every day. He is wily, enjoys being allowed outside every day, uses the litter box, knows how to use a pet door, doesn’t scratch furniture, and not a finicky eater. He won’t initiate a tussle, but if the other cat pushes, he will take care of himself. He does not seem to like dogs and prefers a quiet, small household. He will follow you around and show the love for being in a home.

Houdini needs a home. He’s a winner and I am sure will bring happiness to a new family.