The Return of Sam……

One year ago, our cat Sam disappeared from our house.  Our indoor  only cat was nowhere to be found.  I highly suspect our other cat, Pippin, used his 22lb body and pushed Sam out the window when the housekeeper was there.  My wife tends to not accept this lack of mens rea on behalf of Sam.  Rather, she believes that the cat “made a choice” to leave the feline luxury of a 4 story home for the rustic charm of a northeast winter.  I am not convinced that a cat has the mental capacity to make any choice.  They have the brain the size of large walnut.  A shelled walnut.  Our daughter wrote poignant essays in kindergarten about her lost pet, and we moved on.  Recently, we added a 4 month old kitten to the household.   We had one confirmed sighting of  Sam in his rustic splendor…. and then never saw him again.   Until 2 weeks ago, when my wife saw a cat on the local cat-rescue site that had an odd resemblance to our Sam.  Now, one year almost to the day later, Sam has returned to the fold.  Wife seems to think that as Sam “made a choice” to live elsewhere, he should not be so readily allowed back.  Especially since, with 3 cats and a dog, we are not being scouted for next seasons “animal hoarders.”    I make a point to discuss the potential consequences of  “running away” to the neighbors with our six year old.

I wonder if Sam’s return is a sign.  Cancer makes me see signs everywhere.   Didn’t I start to have sternal pain just when Sam disappeared.  Do I not now have pain relief with Sam back in the house?  Perhaps Sam was my cancer talisman, and his disappearance allowed its’ return.  What does that say about Pippin?  He does look at me with a malice at times…..  I have often thought he is trying to trip me when I go down the stairs….  does my beloved 22lb lovemuffin actually seek my demise??  I make mental notes to watch Pippin more closely…. he is an entirely black cat, and does seem to more actively cross my path than is necessary.

We have too much disposable income, because we have purchased “cat pherenome” diffusers for around the house….  The cats are supposed to be calmed by this, and stop fighting, but all I notice is the chocolate lab taking a highly affectionate attitude towards Pippin.  I also, oddly enough, find myself leaping up to catch moths and have a strong desire to nap in the window sill when the sun hits it.