cs

even years of fighting. Seven years of fending for himself. Seven years of survival. I think back on the first time I saw him. Huge, he was and fierce and overwhelmingly dominant. He strolled across my yard like a sailor out on liberty. Yes! This was HIS world, his yard. With feline frankness, he meowed his announcement to mere humans: "I am here now and THIS is my domain."

We believe he was a neighbors' cat. But we quickly came to understand he was no ones' cat. He was wild. He was free. He was king of all he surveyed. We called him C.S. for Colombo Senior. We had earlier taken in one of his pregnant mistresses. Six kittens, all very unique in personality and physique.

We've seen some unique animals in our time. We've rescued over 75 critters over 31 years. We have served feline royalty on several occasions. Colombo was very large, almost as big as a small spaniel.

We'd seen him fight a family of raccoons and WIN! Possums were made for slapping. Any poor Tom that tried for C. S's territory was in for the fight of his life. Even deer would shy from his glare.

Lately though, we'd seen him limping. He looked thinner. Stranger cats were seen more frequently. Debbie noticed his front paw was not looking well. She decided to trap him and get him to a vet. We debated the "die free issue." Life won out.

We were successful in catching him. This in itself was a testimony to how ill he was. The vet said it looked like he had been hit by a car or had been in a terrible fight. His front paw was broken and had fused at the joint. He had major cuts and abscesses on both front legs. One back leg had a nasty wound. The infection was about to kill him. Another day and he would have died. The vet gave him antibacterial drug and steroids and performed a surgical miracle.

He lived.

But he had to be "fixed" and he had to be caged. He could not fight another battle and live. He could not defend himself. For a few days, he stayed in a fairly small cage to heal. He hissed and spat like an angry NASCAR fan whose driver had been put into the wall by a rival. Slowly he healed. Under Debbie's ministrations, he gradually was able to walk. No one could get close to him. As his health improved, we saw the old Colombo again. Ready to charge into battle without a thought of anything but victory. But still sometimes, his legs failed him. The strange look on his face spoke volumes.

If only he would adjust. If only, we could convince him to trust us. If only we could let him taste the spoiled luxury of confinement.

I built him a large cage. His domain had shrunken to half our front porch. He could now sit on top of his house and peer into our living room. He saw us interact with our other cats and dogs. Bowler the lab mix fell in love with him. He would sit at the window and talk to Colombo. The cat just looked at him with feline distain, then, amusement, then one day, he played with him through the window.

Slowly he saw that we were not human demons. He began to "talk" to us. He was ravenously hungry. His weight was coming back. We talked to him every day as we went in and out of the house. Yesterday, he let us touch him. Today, he let me inside his cage. He has discovered the joy of being scratched.

He seems more domesticated now. He is safe. But every so often, I see the aging King. Proud. Indomitable. Wanting to get out. Wanting to be free.

It will break my heart to see him go…one way or the other. ~ CCockman ~

A NOTE from a later date:

He is now in the house and is the best friend of a giant red boned coon hound. The hound actually nibbles on Columbo's head. CS has a breathing problem we are going to take him to the vet this week. what a guy! ~ cc ~

An Update - May 20, 2006

Ok...at three in the morning on Friday, my kitty CS ( the former feral cat) had a seizure from licking the flea repellant from another kitty. This is very bad because he also has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. We had purchased another brand of flea repellant and did not realize that it contained pyrithrins. It can be fatal to cats or other carbon based lifeforms. Glory ( the rescue dog) woke me up by pawing on my face and barking. It heard the commotion and found Gabby (the lick-ee) and CS (the lick-er) in the living room. CS was dying.

I grabbed him up and could do nothing but comfort him and pray. So, I did and he came out of the seizure a bit.

Debbie was hysterical because she realized that the flea stuff SHE bought was the reason. We traveled twenty five miles to an emergency vet. They sedated him and told us not to expect any good news.

The problem is that when I prayed I distinctly heard

"He will be ok" as an answer.

At 8 am, Debbie returned and took CS to our regular vet. He was super pesamistic. He put him in an incubator because his body temp would not register. At 5:30 that afternoon, he called us to say that CS was not going to make it. I asked if we could come pray and our vet (who believes in stuff like that) said sure.

This vet is the absolute BEST ever. HE said he would take CS home with him and care for him at his own home all night.

I knew CS HAD to see me. HE thought we'd given up on him. I knew we had to pray and I had to see him.

When I came to the incubator, the little girl who had been turning him every half hour all day told us that he would not know me.

As soon as I touched him and spoke to his bleary eyes, he responded by meowing and trying to get me to pick him up. She was dumbfounded. We did not want to excite him because of the neurotoxins effect on his brain and heart.

So we prayed very quickly. I am not sure exactly what was prayed but when we left the vet tech was in tears.

I felt a renewed sense of "He's gonna be alright."

Just now, our sleep-deprived friend and vet called us.

His words were: "He is a new cat."

He could not believe it, himself. WE will be bringing him home at noon!

Gabby the lick-ee cat was not herself until she heard me say that CS was coming home. She had been moping all day yesterday and this morning looking for CS. She is now playing happily in the living room. Debbie's tears are drying and she is greatly relieved.

I am amazed at The Big Guy's response and action.

So, publicly and truthfull in the deepest sincerity, I have say: "THANK YOU BIG GUY! YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD HAVE DONE IT!"

You de Deity! ~ cc ~