Love to Dexter

[Not Afraid]

I got Dexter just over 10 years ago from an adoption agency at PetSmart. He as about 5 months old and an adorable little boy. I was right in the middle of absolute HELL in my life. I was getting divorced, my Mother had just died, my sister was taking us all to court over my parents’ estate, the company I was working for went belly-up and I was doing a lot of self-medicating. I had gotten one of the former “our” cats in the divorce settlement and decided Aloysius needed a friend.

Dexter was different from any cat I’ve ever had. I was never a fan of the stripped variety but I wanted something new and different. They had named him “Brownie” at the adoption agency. He was in a cage with a big, cross-eyes black cat. After I held him, I put him back in the cage and he immediately started “making biscuits” on the other cat. He was obviously a friendly boy. I named him C.K.Dexter Haven after the Cary Grant character in The Philladelphia Story- my favorite movie.

Aloisious was not too excited when I brought Dexter home, but within a day I caught them curled up together on a chair. Dex could win over anyone. Whenever I came home, he trotted across the floor very excited to see me. We used to “talk” for him and I know he was saying “Mommy’s home! Mommy’s home!” He’d roll over on his back and wait for me to rub his belly. He never did this for anyone else.

He had some intenstional problems at first and, one day, he got some poop stuck to his foot. You know how nick names evolve? It’s just one of those things. But, after that day poopie kitty became Pookie – is other name – and the name we call him most. It is also the name he knows best. (He also thinks his name is “Cute” or “Turkey”. )

My life continued to be tumultuous – to say the least. I ended another relationship, moved in with another friend and started the long road to attempt to repair and regain my life. Dexter seemed to be the only bit of stability I had in my life. He gave me unconditional love, hours of entertainment, shared my egg mcmuffin breakfasts and, at night, spooned with me in bed with his head on the pillow – like a little human. I had never loved a pet as much as I loved Dexter and, at that time in my life, he was sometimes the only thing that kept me going. It now seems like a lot of responsibility for a little boy.

Slowly, my life got better. Dex rolled with the many moves and the introduction of new brothers (both feline and canine). He has always been a happy, easy going kitty with other animals. He loves all of his current brothers but especially loves Scoundrel. The two of them can usually be found snuggled together in a sunny spot. It is the Ying and Yang of cats – the VERY good and the VERY bad.

I learned today that Dexter has cancer. It is an aggressive form on a sarcoma in his jaw bone. There is no way to operate or treat it. So, for now, I just have to enjoy the time I have left with him and make him as comfortable as possible. Someday soon, I may have to say goodbye to my very first (and best) love, but until then, all of the turkey, tuna and love is his for the asking.