Desperately seeking friends

By Black and White Cat

This is somewhat of a sad story. I’ve kept silent for many months, but I decided it is time to come out and make my story known.

You see, I live on Glen Avenue close to Bank Street. My only company is my shadow – we are stuck to each other, as you can see in the photo. Among many, my favourite activity is hugging the legs that keep coming by, and I love cuddling, going round and round between those legs, purring and meowing. The next thing I know, hands come down and start rubbing my head, my ears, my back and my tummy (it is sort of funny with my tummy). I feel like giggling and I do giggle in my own way.

I love that baby talk saying you are such a cute cat, what a handsome cat, and some people even pick me up and put their face against mine, rubbing and more baby talk.

I don’t know what happened. All of a sudden, those legs stopped coming. I miss my human traffic, and now I am so desperate. As soon as I hear a footstep, I run to it as if there is no tomorrow! I don’t want to take any chances that I might miss it. I do my usual hugging the legs and when the hands come down, I feel like I am on cloud nine.

I do not understand any of the rules that you humans need to follow, but I am lost without you. Every now and then, I see you folks with your faces half covered, and I am not sure whether you are a newcomer or my good old friend but I am happy just the same to see you. Sometimes I sit and watch all day for any footsteps coming my way and when nobody comes, I go home in tears. I cry buckets, sometimes it’s like Niagara Falls, and I ask myself, “Why me, what did I do wrong?” If I sound desperate, it’s because I am. I feel like I have been abandoned, and it is not good for my mental health. I need all of you.

If you are wondering how I look, I am very cute, black and white, and I am not sure whether I have a name but don’t worry about it, you can call me whatever name you want, I am OK with that. I often sit by the step of the school grounds grooming myself, trying my best to look like some movie star. That is my hangout, we all need a place to hang around. There are times I feel like a royal cat when people take photos of me – it is a good feeling. As you know very well, “looking good feels good.” I am hoping my story gets published, and I hope you read it and drop by. Please, I do need all of you. Don’t worry if you happen to come by and I am not there, I have to do my rounds just like doctors, but I will be back. I don’t have any coffee breaks, just my rounds. All visitors are welcome. You see, what scares me the most is cold weather coming and the long winter. I don’t want to be alone, I need all of you. I am sure you have heard that cats have nine lives, but all my lives need you. My legs, my hands and that baby talk, please come back, I am waiting.

Black and White Cat lives on Glen Avenue in Old Ottawa South and is indebted to his friend Anant Nagpur for bringing his story to public notice.