Moby knows. He must know. We love him. He accepts comfort from us, when there are loud noises or he’s lost. We get him warm and safe and fed. Surely, he knows he is most loved.
Because we both believe that love is a verb, and only a verb. Love that is not felt by the recipient is not love given. Love is a shared action between beings. Love is active and kind and needs to be sure it’s working.
Love reaches out and checks and gives some more.
Love.
Not a feeling, but an action.
We make sure Moby knows where food is. We put down rugs for him to piss on, because sometimes finding the litter box is just too hard. And we set up steps so he can sit on the sideboard and get to his kettle of water, and get down without excessive distress. And we tap his dish so he can find his food. And we put his meds in the food, so he isn’t distressed by having pills shoved down his throat. And we keep Eleanor entertained when she wants to play, because it bothers him, but she needs to play, too.
Love for all in this house.
I wash the rugs. Dylan sifts the litter. We get the right food in the right cat. Because love takes effort and attention, and isn’t really work at all, when there is love. Because this is our porpoise in life.
Purpose.
Or Porpoise.
Take your pick.
8 comments:
An elegy. The emotion in your words, the unspoken reality, the pull on my heartstrings. When his time comes, he knows he will not make the crossing alone and that he will carry with him - wrapped in - your love and tenderness and compassion every step of his last ramble in this world.
He loves you both in his cat way, which we can experience even if we don't understand it.
This was a beautiful post, Z.
Love in action, giving and receiving. Your post makes me think of my lovely 18-year-old Senior Cat - so many years together, and now I'm trying to cherish him even more.
You and Moby are in my thoughts.
Jxx
That's what we think about our cats too. After our last old lady died earlier this year, we adopted a set of three from our local cat rescue centre. One of them took nearly four months to fully accept his new situation and show that he trusted us and was at ease. SO rewarding!
When a cat loves you, you know you’ve earned it.
Amen to that!
i just caught up on Moby's status. You are so right. Love is a verb. He's a lucky boy to have been the focus of your love. It sounds as though this current phase is special to you all.
to Moby,to you all... xx
i am behind and getting behinder in catching up, and time expires for old cats. i hope as i write this moby is still comfortable.
i hope you go easily through difficult times.
nope, no words for this feeling.
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