Scum (by any other name)

Scum is my cat. You must understand, the moniker given to her or him, (honestly, after thirteen years, I am still not sure and, after all this time, I really do not care. For storied sake, I'll refer to it as a she), I gave as a compliment.

Scum is the first, and probably last, cat I will ever own. I saved her from sure death back in New England. I was moving my belongings into my new apartment through the back door while the old tenant, a soon to be deployed active-duty sailor, was moving his belongings out the front door. Out of the blue he turned to me and asked, "You want my cat? Can't take it with me."

I remember quickly thinking, 'Now how would that look to those who know me?' I'm a dog type of guy. Always have been, always will be. Christ, when I was a kid I buried more dogs out behind the old tar-papered shed, that sat in the backyard of the property I grew up on, than most people own in a lifetime, but that's another story. "No," I said.

"Inside cat."

"No."

"House-broken."

"No."

"De-clawed."

"No."

"Weeks worth of cat food, new flea-collar, half a bag of litter, litter box and pooper scooper."

"No."

This weird look came over the swabbie's face and, without missing a beat, he said, "That's okay. I'll take care of it."

'Now what the hell is that supposed to mean?' His tone spoke volumes more than his actual words. In my mind I saw the cat flying over the railing of the nearby Fore River Bridge, to drown in the chilly waters below. Suddenly, a string of words I thought I would never utter dribbled out; "On second thought, leave the cat. We'll bond." I remember sounding as melodramatic as any 'Good Guy in a white hat' getting the drop on any 'Bad Guy in a black hat' would. The only thing missing was the swell of background music. An hour or so had passed, after setting out her dinner, when I realized the food went untouched & the cat was missing.

I scoured the grounds for an hour or more. "Kitty? Here kitty kitty." A small posse had formed. Murmurs of 'kitty' this & 'kitty' that whispered in the darkness. The search was called off. The small, but dedicated, army disbanded. I returned to the apartment to find the food eaten & the door to the floor cabinet closing. The cats neutral space, her hiding spot, was in the cabinet, under the kitchen sink. Made sense she would know this, she'd lived here longer than me.

I never asked the cat's name. 'I'll find something fitting, eventually. No rush.' Anyway, it's not like cats come when called. You call a dog by name and, whether mutt or pedigree, by the time it gets to you every inch, from wet nose to tail tip, is either quivering or shaking with happiness. You call a cat and the best you're going to get is a look of, 'What?'

Come the second morning, I was enjoying breakfast for the first time in my new digs.

Unbeknownst to me, the cat had jumped onto the counter, settling in to chowing down, licking the Pam from the frying pan. Soon aware, I shooed the cat away. Removing the pan from the stove, to set in the dishwasher, I noticed how clean the area the cat had licked was. Also apparent, was just how much she loved this Pam stuff.

Suddenly, a two-hundred watt bulb went on in my head. I grabbed the can of Pam and made a beeline to the bathtub, the last area since moving in left to clean. I sprayed the tub down thoroughly, especially the nasty ring circling inside, and waited. Sure enough the cat smells the Pam, investigates the source, vaulted in, and licked like there was no tomorrow. By the time the job was done the cat was a few pounds heavier, walked a little funny, and had the hiccups, but the tub sparkled. Scum was born.

That was not a true story. I don't remember why I named the cat Scum. Over the years, friends who drop by and female relations I have invited in, seem to find the name oddly cute, the storied explanation funny. I do believe the tale has shown more than one female, who looks for cleverness, creativity, and humor in a guy, just how well-honed I am in those areas and has aided in my getting lucky on a number of occasions. That is not meant to sound self-indulgent, I just wanted to share with you at what lengths a relatively normal guy, not overly handsome, lacking financial independence and six-pack abs, will go to showcase his strong points.

When I moved to Florida, I drove, and had Scum flown down at a cost of around two hundred dollars. Living with me, which I know is not an easy task, (whether be animal or human), all these years, (my ex lasted only five years), this was the least I could do. I felt then, as I still do, I had flown an old friend down to retire. (Scum that is, not the ex).

~~~

Twenty years, one month & three days. More than seven thousand cans of cat food & several hundred pounds of cat litter. Twenty years, one month & three days. I've wondered, without ever being able to know, how old she was when we became roomies. I could have been rooming with the oldest cat on the planet. Twenty years, one month & on the third day it ended. The longest relationship I ever had & will ever have.

No more hairballs, zoomies, lap naps, prolonged staring at the wall at nothing or shoulder rides. No more reason to be home at any particular time.

I've given thought to getting another pet, but I end up worrying about them outliving me & what would happen to it. Also, I feel I would never find another one like her.

Rest in peace, Scum.