Real Kato Blog: The Curious Incident of the Cat on the Doorstep

Today was a little bit sad.

When I walked out my front door this morning, there was a kitty on my doorstep. He was dead.

I'm not the type to be freaked out by dead things, but it was kind of a shock to see him there. I think he had been hit by a car, and the poor little guy had made it to my house before he died.

He was a tan-colored cat. I'm not sure what kind. I decided to call him Mocha because I didn't want him to die without a name. It was bad enough that he had to die all alone like that.

I had to go to work so I couldn't do much for him right away. But I didn't want to leave him there so I dug a shallow hole in the backyard and put him in it, and covered him over.

I thought about him all day.

On the way home I stopped at the Home Depot and got some limestone, because I read somewhere that you should put limestone on things when you bury them. The limestone cost three dollars.

It was dark by the time I got home, but I went out back anyway so I could bury Mocha properly. I dug a hole three feet deep, or approximately so. I wanted to dig deeper but the ground was really hard and I was having trouble making any further progress. And it was dark so it was hard to see, and I had a flashlight but I couldn't hold the flashlight and dig at the same time. So I decided three feet would have to be enough.

I had to dig him up from his previous location, which was difficult because I had to dig really carefully so I wouldn't damage him. But I finally got him uncovered and I wrapped him up in a towel, because he looked so cold.

I put him in the hole and covered him with limestone, and then I filled the hole back up.

A little while ago I said I didn't really buy into the concept of heaven, but if there's a kitty heaven, I hope Mocha is there. I said this eulogy for him: I hope that where you are, there are no cars, and no mean dogs, and no vacuum cleaners. I hope that you have sunny windowsills, and soft pillows, and Pounce snacks, and people who will rub your belly. Rest in peace, Mocha.

I've become strangely emotional over all this. I mean, it wasn't my cat, after all. But it just seems so sad that he had to die like that. I guess I just wanted to take care of him because if I were in his position, I would want someone taking care of me.

Permalink 8 Comment

Posted by Ken in: life

Comments

Comment #1 from Timothy Ross (Guest)
2005 Feb 9 - 4:13 pm : #

So let me get this straight...
If I found you dead on my doorstep, you would want me to wrap you in a towel and bury you in my backyard?

Ok.

Does it have to be a good towel, cause like... those are expensive.

Comment #2 from Crouching Hamster (Guest)
2005 Feb 9 - 8:34 pm : #

This just breaks my heart. Now when you go to heaven, there will be warm fluffy cats with you (and you won't be allergic to them).

There is something haunting about this story.

Comment #3 from niki (Guest)
2005 Feb 11 - 9:43 am : #

You are a very nice individual.

I hope you're attached because I know a lot of people who would totally love to have your babies ...

Comment #4 from Ken (realkato)
2005 Feb 11 - 10:16 am : #

Huh. I'm actually unattached at the moment, though I didn't think that this article would be the one to inspire procreation.

Thanks for the kind words. :)

Comment #5 from Kris (Guest)
2005 Feb 11 - 10:31 am : #

I came across your site courtesy of Suburban Bliss, and just wanted to say how kind of you that was. Maybe that kitty had a home somewhere and I'm sure his or her family would be happy to know Mocha got a decent burial from a good person.

Comment #6 from Ken (realkato)
2005 Feb 11 - 10:54 am : #

Thanks, Kris.

I think Mocha was a stray; there are a bazillion strays in my neighborhood. At one point there was a little family of kitties living in the bushes next to my porch, but they got scared and ran off after a couple of days.

Comment #7 from Jen (Guest)
2005 Feb 11 - 8:24 pm : #

That is so sweet, Ken. I'm touched. When I found a dead cat in the road, recently killed (still warm), I took it into my car in a box and took it home with me, then called animal control and had them come get it. I was hoping that whoever it belonged to might at least be able to find out what happened to it, but I have no idea what animal control did with it. Your approach was much nicer.

Comment #8 from Speaker (Guest)
2005 May 16 - 2:52 pm : #

again, touching. closest experience I've had to this was with my own dogs: http://speakerwiggin.livejournal.com/54540.html

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