-My Cat Orion

Back in 2014,I had adopted an orange tabby from
the animal shelter and he cost $150 as he needed 
to be fixed and chipped.

The next day i went to get him and he had to be in a 
box to get him home and was told he couldn't go outside
for 12 days so he could heal up plus he needed to stamp
new home into his head.

Upon arriving he was pretty scared and immediately 
climbed the ladder into the loft and hid among the boxes.
I headed off to Poker at the lodge and returned late in
the evening and found he had used the litter box.

I made his bowls with food and water and went into the loft
to greet him.
Well he came out from behind the boxes and in a lightning
flash tagged my arm with his teeth and thats how we became
friends...And he would bite me everyday afterwards as he
wanted something,so we were trying to read each other...

He soon started sleeping on the bed and thats cuddle time
but then theres play time..."catch the hand" and boy did he..
I had to let him win anyways cuz if I didn't he would get 
really pissed and throw his ears back and then I was in trouble.

He eats his food and drinks his water and demands his window
is always open so he can come and go as he pleased,after all
it was his house too.

I had a computer table set up along the wall with a big 42 inch
tv as a computer monitor but he ended up knocking it over trying
to open the window so i downgraded to a 32 inch and that worked
out better....

We got used to each others company pretty quick and as it turned
out he was quite bossy....Meow Meow Meow as he would say and he
loved toys and all the attention I would give him.

Orion loved going outside and would spend all day hunting and
carrying on with a few feral ladies meaning they were wild.
He had several girlfriends over the years and most notably a
black and white cat i called Daisy. He was with her for 2 years
before outside life did her in. I would put food and water out for
her and she would come within 20 feet of me but no further.
She never would come inside.

In 2021 my friend Miss Kelly gave me her grandfathers computer
desk with cd trays built in which i took out and set up my speakers
and held my NAS,Network attached storage device "synology"...

At some point as i recall I built him a landing at the window with
a piece of plywood and shelving bracket and placed a clean towel
on it for comfort at the suggestion of a friend so he could have every 
thing he wanted. He could have his high spot and look out the 
window and be next to me....One thing he was constantly doing
was laying across the desk in front of the keyboard telling me
he wanted his rubs and tickles which i gave him whenever he
wanted and the landing solved this.

He has been with me for 10 years and we adore each other.
His landing is still in place although he doesn't use it that
much anymore and in April of this year I switched from the 
old desk to something more convenient which is the unit I
use now. See the desk went from the wall out across the room
and blocks the heat from my ceiling mount heater from getting
to me and the fridge creating a rather chilly spot in the cabin
and my toes would be freezing.

I pulled the unit apart and boxed my stuff up then used 
existing materials to build the desk i have now that goes across
the wall eliminating the cold spot.
Orion still uses the landing but as a rest spot from coming in
from the cold. His bed is at the corner...A bed i bought last year
that is a large dog bed with fleece but he wouldn't have anything
to do with it so i threw it up in the loft bottom up then he took to it
so i brought it down and layed it on the floor up side down.

He sure is a picky cat but now thats his favorite napping spot
and he gets to be next to me within reach for his rubs and tickles.

He loves going to sleep time in the loft as he lays next to me and
gets all the attention he can handle then when i go down to brush
my teeth because i forgot then he takes my spot so i have to curl
around him the other way....its not very comfy for me but ive learned
to just grab a pillow and lay across the lower half of the bed and let
him have whichever section of the mattress he wants.

Often times I get up in the morning and find he has filtered to the
downstairs to his bed....hes been doing things as of late he didn't
generally do for the long time Ive had him..

Hes getting old and pretty fat and doesn't go outside much anymore
but he just likes to sit at the doorway and look outside.
Something out there keeps him in here,maybe a fox is giving
him trouble but not sure..In 2020 he stopped spending time outdoors
and stayed inside for 2 years with the exception of going out the door
a few times each year for a couple minutes.

No more chasing squirrels or giving spruce hens a good chase.
This year starting in April i get up in the morning and open the door
so he can just view the outside but he does go out more this summer
but not too far.As long as the door is open he feels safe at the end of
the walkway just chillin in the sun.

Whatever the case may be hes 12 years old,I got him when he was 2 
so hes an older kitty and doesn't do the things he once did.
Oh he does have a zest for life just close to me,i protect him from
ghosts and the boogyman but hes still a cat.

I know one day probably in the next 8 years his time will come.
Cats generally can live 20 years so we still have a ways to go yet
but i cant help but think that time could come anytime.

So whenever it comes his time to cross the Rainbow Bridge Im
not exactly ready i mean who is but he will get the most Badassed
Pagan sendoff i can give him....A bonfire and some vodka and
dancing around the fire hootin and making primal noises so
he will know that he will always be remembered.

I have taken many pictures and have had many wonderful times
with him,we have quite the life here at the cabin.

He gets to inspect every can i open and loves ice cream and Cool Whip.

I shower him with love and kisses so he know hes very well loved.
I couldn't ask for a better companion.

Peace, BigT