Farewell to a Great Cat, Part 6

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 6 of a 7 part memorial series.

After living in Hood River, we finally made it into Portland, OR. To be exact, Northwest Portland, The Alphabet District. Definitely the most urban landscape where Sinatra and I had lived. We were here for two and a half years. Sinatra hated this place, he had absolutely no space to run around in, compared to the farm in Hood River, and definitely back on the commune. But he tolerated it, and I ended up living there a little too long for my comfort too. I liked the area, but having lived rural before, it was too urban for me too. I lived in a studio building in the middle of NW Irving St. between 19th and 20th Aves. There was a retaining wall 3 feet outside my only window. That space along the building is where Sinatra could run around. He went further I’m sure, but this was his immediate turf. Definitely still had it’s fair share of mice and rats, but different tactics were needed for successful hunting, and I don’t think Sinatra adapted very well? One night he brought home a mouse before coming in for the evening, that mouse ended up living with us for a couple days, until one night while sitting at home with Sinatra, the little mouse popped it’s head out into the open at the wrong time. Sinatra was on it immediately, scared the living daylights out of me. I didn’t know what was happening until Sinatra attacked! It was all so sudden, I didn’t feel sorry for that mouse at all. I did feel sorry that I had to witness it though.

There were also many nights after working in Downtown Portland, I would walk home up 19th Ave and turn the corner onto Irving St. and out would pop Sinatra from the bushes. He was waiting for me to come home, he would walk me home after a long day at work! Isn’t that romantic! My roommate cat waits for me at the end of the block and walks me home! I always thought that was cute!

RIP Sinatra, (1996?-2014)

~V