Callie

A donation was made in memory of Callie by Margaret Schultz on Jun 18, 2009.

Callie was recently diagnosed with a hyper-thyroid condition and was scheduled for treatment next week. She didn't make it. My little buddy
is gone.

I first met her when she was a spring-born kitten, one of a large litter. We lived at the end of a country easement. The first house of the easement had several cats that they never spayed and so they had a few litters each spring. When I asked why he didn't get them fixed, he said "Ah, people take 'em, the road gets the rest". What an ass--I was only too happy to relieve him of one of his kittens.

One warm day in the back yard, we spied a mother cat creeping through the tall grass by the creek teaching her brood to hunt. A few weeks later, one of those kittens came to our front door by herself and has been with me ever since. When we divorced, there was no doubt--she got the dogs and Callie came with me.

We've been here in Montlake for 11 years now. I couldn't imagine
moving her to a new house--we have both lived here longer than we've
ever lived anywhere else in our lives. She took a year or two to get used to the 'hood. She got stuck on this roof the first summer and when I put the ladder up to pull her off, she could barely croak due to dehydration. Then a few months later, she did the same thing on a neighbors roof. And she was returned to the house more than once by kind strangers who found her blocks away.

As she got older, she was content with the front porch--she loved and
owned that one chair. And when winter didn't allow that, she always had a warm place on my lap, right here where I'm typing at this
moment. I can still smell her.

When she was a kitten, she lived outdoors; her water was whatever
filled pothole that was in the road. So all of her life, she pawed at her water in the kitchen. This was something we lived with and the mop was always at hand.

I have a gazillion photos of her--she was my favorite subject. I have
a painting of her that Suzy did for me--thanks so much for that. I
will never, ever forget her and at this moment, I cannot imagine that
I will ever stop missing my little buddy.

But I'm glad that she is no longer suffering. Good bye Callie girl.

Chris S.


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  • Margaret Schultz – 6/18/2009
    Comments: Caledonia Poppyseed was indeed a very special kitty. I had the privilege of knowing her and sharing a little piece of her kingdom. She loved tuna fish water and didn't hesitate to crankily communicate her displeasure at being moved once she'd settled into your lap. Her other well-earned nickname: Miss Needles. Because kneading with claws out is the way to make a lap softer, didn't you know. Happy hunting, kee-kee! We will miss you everyday.