Cats and Canadian Clouds
All things considered, we know cats are not like people. We don’t regard ours, Miadora and Shy, as daughters, and our nieces will be thrilled to know, we are not planning to leave our assets to our furry companions. But we spent a small fortune to bring our two cats from Brazil.
Despite the fact that with that money we could have paid our rent in High Park Avenue for a few months or pay all our other bills for a (long) while, if necessary, we would do it again. No questions asked. Well, maybe only one: how much?
They live with us since December 2000 and we feel responsible for them. Besides cat food, litter and water, their only demand is a vigorous scratch behind the ears, a little bit of our attention and a small space above a radiator by one (or more) window sill to watch the snowflakes float by.
They came to Canada 3 days after us and, as soon as we rescued them from the Air Canada Cargo building, we took them to a cattery (yes, the word is in the dictionary) in Oakville where they spent the next two weeks. The people at the pet hotel call themselves “a cat spa”. I wouldn’t go that far, but the place was clean, the price (always the mighty buck) was reasonable and the staff seamed to genuinely care about their feline friends.
As soon as we got a place we went to pick them up. We had to rent a car (money, money, money) and when we released them from their private cages (don’t say a word) and they performed the usual room exploration followed by the already expected indignant meows, in no time they were already sitting by our side on the couch.
Now all we have to do is register both cats in City Hall, buy and implant a micro-chip on each one, buy special collars, a health plan, take them to their first visit to the vet…
Man! It’s ok, it’s ok. Easy… deep breaths… one… two… they are our friends. We want the best for them… came on, Fabio! Don’t forget your mantra! Feline furry fuzzy friends… feline furry fuzzy friends…
But at this rate it would be cheaper to put a daughter through college. And give her a car. And pay for the wedding. At least she would be there to take care of us when we go broke.
