| Imagine: It's the first snowstorm of a Northern | | | | vacuumed up the spilled dirt. |
| Ontario winter. A young boy is walking home from | | | | The roots of the plant had dried a little, so I took |
| school when he notices a tiny kitten struggling | | | | out the plastic jug I kept under the sink for watering |
| through the snow towards him. It is obviously lost. | | | | my plants. As I picked it up, the handle completely |
| This scene took place in 1996. The young boy was | | | | broke off and the jug full of water fell to the floor. I |
| my nephew. | | | | was left holding just the handle! |
| He couldn't ignore the shivering kitten so he took her | | | | I hurriedly mopped the floor, watered the plant, and |
| home, even though his father is highly allergic to cats. | | | | prepared for work as I was now running quite late... |
| A makeshift home was prepared in the downstairs | | | | and more than a little annoyed. |
| powder room as far away from my brother-in-law as | | | | I had an appointment that evening after work, so I |
| possible. Inquiries were made in the neighbourhood to | | | | rushed home to take Teddy for a quick walk. As I |
| see if anyone knew where the kitten came from, | | | | unlocked the door, a strange noise met my ears. I |
| but nobody claimed her. | | | | lived alone, so this was a little perturbing. At first I |
| The following day, my sister phoned me and asked if | | | | couldn't make out what it was, but as I opened the |
| I would like a kitten or if I knew someone who | | | | door I recognized it as the vacuum cleaner! |
| would take it. Her husband was having difficulty | | | | I cautiously went into the living room where I had |
| breathing so she was getting desperate. Although I | | | | left the vacuum that morning (I hadn't had time to |
| wanted to help, I had no desire for another pet as I | | | | put it away). It was one of those canister styles |
| already had a big Russian Blue cat named Nikademous | | | | with a switch at one end and I guess Sufi must have |
| and a Terri-poo dog called Teddy. I told her the best | | | | jumped on it and started the motor. |
| I could do was pick up the kitten and try to find a | | | | I have no idea how long it had been running or how |
| new home for her. | | | | long Teddy had been huddled in the corner under a |
| You can probably guess what happened. As soon as | | | | table with a definite 'bad dog' expression on his face. |
| I set eyes on her I fell in love. She came home with | | | | The vacuum had always scared him, and |
| me in a cardboard box and was named Sufi as I had | | | | unfortunately I'd left it near his basket. That wouldn't |
| recently organized a Sufi gathering. She was a | | | | normally be a problem for him, but when Sufi turned |
| longhaired tabby with a definite attitude who didn't | | | | on the motor, I guess Teddy must have been so |
| take long to set herself up as 'queen' of the | | | | startled he peed his bed in fright! |
| household and, despite her small size, terrorized Nika | | | | Sufi went on being Sufi and causing chaos in the |
| and Teddy. | | | | home for a long time, continuing to play with the |
| Nika soon resorted to living in the basement as he | | | | toilet roll and my plants, and to break my ornaments. |
| never knew what the little fur-ball would do next... | | | | She eventually learned better behaviour, but has |
| neither did I. I began to dread coming downstairs in | | | | remained the 'queen.' |
| the morning and coming home from work. I | | | | Why did I put up with all this you might ask! Well, |
| encountered one disaster after another. | | | | Sufi had one endearing quality. From the first day I |
| Things often went bump in the night and I would find | | | | brought her home, she loved to curl up on my chest |
| plants lying on the floor, or lamps or ornaments | | | | just below my chin while I watched TV. A strange |
| toppled over. Sufi once sent her food bowl flying | | | | thing happened when she did this: No matter what |
| from the windowsill where I had put it out of | | | | challenges I'd faced during the day or what she had |
| Teddy's reach. The bowl landed on his water dish, | | | | done to annoy me, my anger simply melted away! All |
| which broke into several pieces flooding the kitchen | | | | I could feel was unconditional love for the little fur-ball |
| floor. | | | | purring on my chest. |
| Whenever a visitor arrived, she leapt onto their | | | | Sufi taught me that when there is unconditional love, |
| shoulder from the back of a kitchen chair... much to | | | | everything is forgiven. |
| their surprise! This became a serious problem when | | | | As of this writing, Sufi is 12 years old. She remains |
| she got bigger as she'd dig in her claws until she got | | | | 'queen' of the household, sleeps at the foot of my |
| a really good grip! | | | | bed, and 'catches' socks and undergarments since |
| Plants were her favourite playthings... except for | | | | she has been confined to living indoors and can no |
| Teddy's tail, which he often wagged temptingly in | | | | longer chase squirrels and birds. She has a unique way |
| front of her. She delighted in batting at it from the | | | | of communicating her displeasure whenever she's left |
| couch when he came to me to be petted. Her tiny | | | | alone for too long, even though I acquired Sassy as |
| claws got caught in it sometimes and because she | | | | a companion for her a few years ago. (Nika wouldn't |
| was so small, he'd end up waving her around! | | | | put up with her and gratefully joined another home |
| Another favourite pastime was playing with the toilet | | | | when I moved across Canada a few years ago.) |
| roll. If the end was left dangling, she jumped up, | | | | But... she also continues to give and receive |
| caught her little claws in the paper, and ran around | | | | unconditional love. Whenever anyone is upset, she |
| until the whole roll was unraveled! | | | | seems to sense it and insists on giving them kitty |
| One other memory is forever etched in my mind. I | | | | kisses on any part of their anatomy she can access, |
| came downstairs one morning to find one of my | | | | then she curls up on the person's lap. It doesn't |
| favourite plants lying on the floor. Not so unusual! I | | | | matter whether it's me, my daughter, or a visitor - |
| was getting pretty proficient at cleaning up after | | | | she treats them all the same way - unconditionally! |
| Sufi, so I popped the plant back in the pot and | | | | |