Farewell to A Great Cat, Part 3

My friend and roommate Sinatra, transitioned on Sunday, Nov. 9th, 2014. In memory of this great cat, I am posting an image and a story of his life every day for a week, to honor this great cat! This is part 3 of a 7 part memorial series.

A third story I like to share in fond remembrance of Sinatra comes at a time after we had left the commune and were living in a small town in Northern California. The backyard of the house where we lived was a 500 acre Redwood Forest. It was probably the best transition for Sinatra into domestic life. He had access to the great woods where he could hunt when he needed, but still seek shelter in the house whenever he wanted. While there were many nights he was allowed outside in his younger days, as he got older, we tended to pay attention to our “no outside” privileges after dark rule. While sometimes he would be a grump about this rule, he generally subscribed.

One day, while sitting in my place. It was a super small studio apartment in a 3 story, 4 unit house. I was sitting on the floor next to my bed, reading the local paper. My door was open, since it was a warm Spring or Summer day. Sinatra was running in and out of the house enjoying the beautiful day. After a bit I noticed he was gone for a period of time. I then noticed him come bouncing back into our place with something hanging from his mouth? I couldn’t recognize what it was until he threw it down on the paper I was reading – a small garter snake about 6 inches long. Sinatra proudly looked up at me as I freaked out, jumping up onto my bed, I pointed at the snake as I yelled “that needs to go back outside.”  He scooped it right back up and trounced right back outside with it. That was it, it was all over like that. I never saw the snake again (at least, I don’t think I did), although I know Sinatra probably had a nice gooey snack as I didn’t hear from him for at least the next few hours.

Rest in peace Sinatra, (1996?-2014)

~V