In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight…
Wee-eee-eee… wee-um-a-way…
Imbube… imbube… imbube…
Last night, Eric, our blind cat, died. It was quick. He died at peace, asleep. Fourteen good, solid, there’s-a-good-cat, mouse-catching, rabbit-snarfling and pigeon-scaring years.
Earlier this year Mango, Eric’s sister, died. Eric himself is survived by his brother, Sammy, who is now the last surviving member of a very long line of beautiful cats that we’ve been lucky enough to rear or look after. Fourteen years is pretty good for a cat. I suppose I should tell you the story I’ve always avoided telling… because it’s sappy.
I’ve always referred to him as ‘the blind cat’ — but he hasn’t always been that way! Quite the opposite. For 13 years he enjoyed life to the max. But the funny thing is, we don’t even know what Eric did for nine of those years. He disappeared when he was just out of adolescence – we hadn’t neutered him, you see. We figured he’d run off, become one with nature, the woodlands, feral. Days, weeks, months passed — it was obvious he wasn’t coming back.
And then 3 years ago… he reappeared. First we saw fleeting glimpses of a cat that looked ‘a bit like Eric’ — but we assumed it couldn’t actually be him. He’s hardly unique in appearance. We figured it was just another cat. Then, after a few months of skulking about, he just wandered into my grandmother’s house next door… and sat. She fed him. He hung around. Eventually he came back to our house and settled back into his old home, as if he’d never left.
How crazy is that?
And crazier… someone had snipped his balls off. Eric had actually lived with another family for all those years. And then come back to us! What the hell. Maybe he was close-by all those years — or maybe he just went for a walk one day and spotted a house that looked vaguely familiar, or a rabbit hole that he used to frequent… and came to investigate. Who knows, to be honest. I’ve never really bet a ‘pet person’, but in this case… I really would like to have known Eric’s story. Maybe those that looked after him for those 9 years will find my website and get in touch.
So this page is dedicated to you, Eric. Eighth and last kitten of Madonna’s (don’t ask) mighty brood.
And of course, who can forget his most famous escapade: Eric, the blind cat, chooses a competition winner:
We have just one cat now. He’s quite young though, and very healthy (i.e. fat) — he’s also very pretty. But who wants pretty when you can have character instead? Why should I make do with fat-and-lazy when I used to have rugged-and-soulful? Bah.
RIP Eric. You were a good cat.
Related posts:
- The die is cast, the votes counted and the blind cat UNLEASHED!
- Independent adjudication and the phantom sister
- There’s water in the box, so please don’t tell the authorities
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that. Poor Eric. He was a lovely cat. And a cat of mysteries, apparently–very interesting. You have lots of nice photos of him. I also liked his cameo in the frozen peas video.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:56 amYou brought a tear to my eye…..
October 28th, 2009 at 9:08 am*sniff!*
Eric was my hero! He chose ME! We had a special connection, you know.
Fourteen doesn’t seem that old! Mine’s 17.
RIP Eric!!
I think this means you need a new kitten!!
October 28th, 2009 at 10:30 amI love Eric.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:32 amI’m sorry about your cat,
I’m a sucker for pets, and losing one is really sad.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:35 amAwww, that is quite a remarkable story about Eric, and him coming back home
October 28th, 2009 at 12:03 pm(I love that video of Eric trying to find a winner
14 years?!?! Dang dude, that’s a long time.
I’m not much of a cat person, but good pets are few & far between.
Sorry for your loss.
As for his mysterious disappearance…..I think he was off getting some pussy.
HA!
Think about it though. After he lost his balls, what was the point anymore? Time to go home.
October 28th, 2009 at 12:47 pm“Fourteen good, solid, there’s-a-good-cat, mouse-catching, rabbit-snarfling and pigeon-scaring years.” Could there be a better cat life? RIP, kitty.
October 28th, 2009 at 2:57 pmThanks everyone — and Ed, thank you for that genius piece of logic right there. What is the point indeed if you ain’t got nuts or pussy?
Melissa, ever seen the mess that a dead pigeon makes? It’s quite amazing… the whole dining room…
Eleni — I felt the frozen peas video might not be a fitting homage to a dead cat
October 28th, 2009 at 3:33 pmWell that sucks. I’d offer up my older cat, Lenny, who is only 4. He’s crazy. He’s got 6 toes on both of his front feet and is terrified of everything. Especially our newest cat, Rosie Flower (daughter named it). He shits himself everytime Rosie comes near him. And he is neutered, but tries having it on with blankets. Knitted items are his favorite though. But bless his heart, he just can’t figure out what to do with his parts and all. But he tries. For like an hour at a time. Which is kind of annoying when you’re trying to sleep and have a cat humping your leg which is covered with a knitted blanket. And he bites people on the butt. We don’t have many people coming over, that’s for sure. And he really enjoys Goldfish crackers. And he has allergies. And a fear of pumpkins and leaves. You’re welcome to him anytime.
October 28th, 2009 at 4:21 pmWow…
And I thought our cat that only licks the jelly off the food was a problem-case.
October 28th, 2009 at 4:22 pmEric seems like he was a wonderful cat. A bit mysterious at times…but he’s a cat. It’s what they do. Unless they’re attention whores like mine is. I swear, he should have been born a dog. And my dog (recently deceased) should have been born a cat. Eh. Mix-ups happen.
Sounds like Eric had a great life. Y’know. When he wasn’t messing with your mind.
I have a feeling that he was playing with you during that contest. Evil. Genius.
And Sara? Wow. How does a cat become afraid of a pumpkin? Good luck with that one
October 28th, 2009 at 5:24 pmNyx- I’m not for sure but I *think* Lenny is scared of pumpkins because he ran into one once. My father in law grows huge pumpkins and brings some to our house every year. These are really quite large, and Lenny trying to lick himself and walk at the same time, ran right into it, causing it to wobble a bit. He puffed up, starting hissing, then peed. And leaves move, therefore they scare him. He’s also afraid of dust balls. I think anxiety medication is in his future.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:16 pmAs we’re on the topic of pumpkins (… in my cat-just-died blog entry, no less), did you see this year’s Biggest Pumpkin winner? I can’t find a good link, but it was 1700lbs or so…
Which reminds me, I’m balancing a pumpkin on my face later this week! Must go out and buy a decent-sized one…
Nyx — when Eric returned, I think he was ‘done’ with the whole living thing — all the mouse-flinging and rabbit-snaring. 10 years old is around retirement age in cat-years, right?
October 28th, 2009 at 6:20 pmHe came back? Wow, that’s definitely a story. You wouldn’t think that would happen. RIP Eric. I’m so sorry for your pet loss. =(
October 28th, 2009 at 8:17 pmyou made me cry :’(
October 28th, 2009 at 9:06 pmI’m so sorry to hear about your cat! RIP Eric! He sounds like he had a great life though…
October 28th, 2009 at 9:07 pmawww I think my heart just broke a little.
I”m sorry for the loss of cute little Eric.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:18 pmWe didn’t think it was him, MinD. I mean, it looked like him, and acted like him… but we didn’t ACTUALLY believe he’d come back after 9 years. For a few months I called him ‘that cat that’s been stealing our cat food’
Sorry, Stiletto…! But they are worthy tears!
October 29th, 2009 at 1:54 amI have seen the mess a dead pigeon makes, actually. My cats were determined for YEARS that they needed to feed me. Once they dismembered a mystery bird (hard to identify when the torso is eaten) with a two-foot wingspan, and brought wings, feet, and head in to my bedroom for a trophy! How kind of them to give me the best bits, eh? I even actually know how long it takes a decomposing mouse-lost-under-the-furniture to go all the way through decomposition and stop stinking! Now there’s a wealth of stories for another time…. Suffice it to say I think our cats were kindred spirits.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:59 amAnd did those claws, in ancient times, walk upon England’s mountains green….
October 29th, 2009 at 12:48 pm*yodels operatically*
…
Melissa: my favourite was always the bunnies. Only… they would eat everything on a bunny, except for its ears and tail.
So you would see these little tufts of fur — the only sign that they’d been gorging on rabbit. Oh, and their large intestine, which often smelt of poo. Lovely.
October 29th, 2009 at 2:24 pmThere is a special heaven set aside for things named Eric. I’ll say hi for you when I get there.
November 6th, 2009 at 2:10 am