Steed Fills the Gaps

I adopted Steed somewhere between the years 1997 and 1998 in Chicago, IL. I don’t remember the exact date because that particular time in my life is kind of a blur. Another story for another time. I was looking for a black cat. At a shelter I was shown Emma, Steed’s sister, who is equally lovely in different ways and was about as black as they come. I watched her walk around the room, curious but cautious. I could write another entry about Emma, but this one is reserved for Steed.

Steed was introduced to me as Emma’s brother. Seemingly care-free and playful, he was very different from Emma. They were living in a far too small cage for the both of them on the ground floor of a small house converted to the cat shelter. It seemed that this room was where the young cats were kept. Just as human babies, I suppose people out to adopt cats really want to adopt kittens, the tinier the better. Upon asking if there were any other cats to see, I was led to a basement where cages filled with cats were stacked floor to ceiling. This is where the older cats were sent when no one adopted them. It was as sad a sight as I'd ever seen. As far as I could tell, Emma and Steed were a short time away from this fate, as they were about the biggest kittens on the ground floor. They were about 6 months old or so when I saw them.

The shelter owner preached the virtues of taking two cats instead of one, a theory I was dubious about, but in the end I suppose I was an easy sell. I picked up Steed and held him in my hands against my body. Soft as a rabbit, it was easy to forget that if I was to take him his light-colored fur would be omni-present on clothes and furniture from that moment on. In moments I fell head over heels. I had on a favorite jacket, my orange quilted hoodie that I’ve long since worn to bits and had to dispose of. He didn’t wriggle or try to get away. He simply sat in my hands and began to paw and play with the tag of my zipper. He might have played all day and night if I didn’t stop him. I had to have him, and he came as a package.

Sometimes I joke that I got Steed by default, because I was looking for a black cat originally. But in truth it was Steed who won my heart first, and Emma who captured me later. Through the years he’s brought me much love and laughter, comfort and happiness. He continues to do this, from across the sea, and at the same time is bringing joy, along with his lovely sister, to my parents in Syracuse.

These special times include, but are in no way restricted to:

The way his purrs fill up the room the moment you look his way –-

The way he thinks he’s about 6 inches long even though he weighs about 18 pounds and barely fits on your lap. --

The way he still meows the tiniest kitten meow – and responds when you look at him and say ‘Hi’ --

The time he jumped from the back of the toilet, lost his footing and went straight IN, then out quicker than you could say Friskies –- ( lovely trapped in the bathroom kitty bath-time ensued for the next hour or so)

The way he headbutts your fist if you point it at him –-

The time he had a little poopie problem and I only noticed because he was dragging his butt for about 30 feet across my wooden floor -- (bath-time again)

The time he decided to venture outside onto a tiny 5X5 foot roof on the second floor of my coach house and was too terrified to crawl back in –-

The way he greets you at the door and follows you around the house --

The time he wouldn’t stop eating the poinsettias I was desperately trying to photograph for that year’s Christmas card –-

How he still finds the laundry basket the best seat in the house, and will sit in a box that is half his size --

How he always seems to know just when you need a cuddle most --

:)