Henry, The quiet of my 5 former stray/TNR colony then indoor kitties. Showed up one day for dinner and never left. Never took off for long, always came back for the food, water, shelter and his new BFF Ziggy. They became inseparable and continued to be for the 14 years they lived inside my home.
At first Henry was shy and standoffish. Didn’t let me approach. Always ran away and hid. But was a bit of a bully with my other former outdoor kitty Little Girl. Of course when she stood up for herself he’d take off running like the little scaredy cat most bullies are.
At night he and Ziggy would lead each other on a merry chase through the house, up the stairs, over the bed (with me in it trying to get some sleep) back down the stairs and back up again. This game continued until one of them got tired or decided it was time for a mutual grooming session. I loved watching them do that. Could never get a video though. It’s like they just felt the camera pointed at them and stopped. Ditto when they had their play fight sessions. It was maddening!
The very best thing about Henry, though, was eventually he became the cat that had to be the closest to me on the sofa. No matter who was close to me, Henry had to wiggle his way between me and whichever cat (usually Ziggy) was next to me. He would wrap a little front leg around my thigh, curl up close, and go to sleep. And there we sat until it was time for me to go up to bed. Then, of course, he and Ziggy and Little Girl followed and joined me. It was a lovely way to fall asleep!
Then cancer came for Henry and at his age, and though he loved to cuddle with me on his terms I still couldn’t pick him up or handle him, I wasn’t about to put him through cancer treatments. My sweet little former feral (who said they can’t be indoors once they’re adults?) passed away on his own in the basement. That was a very sad way to start my day.
I still miss seeing his sweet little face and cuddling with him on the sofa. It took Ziggy a while but he got used to no longer having his BFF to cuddle with. They were always side by side, intertwined or one on top of the other.
Til we meet again little guy. I love you.