Of course, that lamb was actually a cat. But I bet you already guessed that. His name was MacKenzie, and he was an orange tabby. There was nothing small about Mac, except for his size when we adopted him. At the time his name was Cyrus, and we were unaware that he didn’t meow. He actually made a baaing sound just like a lamb.
He was supposed to be his human dad’s cat. But like most cats, he decided with whom he wanted to spend his time. MacKenzie was my shadow. He followed me everywhere inside and out. And he snoopervised every activity in which I participated.
I actually always associated him with the Robert Louis Stevenson Poem,”My Shadow,” from A Child’s Garden of Verses (1885).
I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
MacKenzie sticking close by in bed.
MacKenzie was my faithful, man-cat companion until he went to the Bridge at age 10 in 2011. He even stayed by my side for five months that year while I was recovering from a broken leg. He was suffering at the time with inoperable cancer in his abdomen, and I think he welcomed the chance to spend his time snuggling next to me.
Since MacKenzie’s passing I have not had a little lamb or shadow by my side until recently. It appears, at least for now, that Astrid has decided to take up that post.
Those of you who follow this blog know that Astrid is our little escape artist. She can sprint through a barely open door before her dad or I even know she has entered a room. And she has bamboozled us a couple of times. We have yet to discover how, when or from where she escaped.
Astrid sitting in my lap and snoopervising while I work on the blog.
But recently she has taken to staying in the house. Even though she has full catio privileges, she rarely takes advantage of them anymore. I suspect it is because Fiona, for some reason, has decided she doesn’t like her. Or because, the last time she escaped, it got dark rather quickly and the skunks and possums were about.
With that said, she always accompanies me to the bathroom whether I am bathing, showering or attending to other needs. She enjoys lying on the kitchen counter or in my lap while I type. Her new form of entertainment is to get under the covers with me. She often will sleep or just as often try to remove my FitBit or any embellishment or buttons on my sleeping attire.
And she doesn’t really meow either. She mostly shrieks like a cat with its tail caught under a rocker.
You are one lucky woman with first Mackenzie and now Astrid. 🙂
Hello Janet,
I don’t think I’ve heard a cat talk like Astrid. *shudder* I just talk… A LOT. I’m told I have a vocabulary of about 100 words. If I’m not sleeping, I’m pretty much talking. Unless I’m pretending to be sleeping.
You just reminded mom of A Child’s Garden of Verses. She LOVED that book when she was little! Now she has to go look for it.
Cokie =^..^=
Oh the kitty shriek! I know that well. Astrid is gorgeous, I almost used that name a few times on kitties. You are lucky to have had not one but two kitty shadows. Crash was mine for a number of years, then he got real sick a few years back and never really recovered. It is a wonderful feeling though isn’t it;That undying love associated with a kitty shadow?
Last time Astrid got out, maybe you brought the wrong cat in?? Heh heh. Mac was really sweet looking.
The little lambs in our lives are so precious, even if they do get underfoot sometimes! The mom’s first cat, Leia, didn’t meow either, she ‘Rah-ed”. And usually only when she was annoyed.
MacKenzie was a beautiful boy and we are so glad he was so well loved by you 🙂
Astrid, you sound like a wonderful shadow to have about 🙂
the critters in the cottage xo
Mackenzie was a very handsome boy.
Wellmthey both sure are lookers!
The mom loves those orange boys…and Mackenzie looks like a great one! Thanks for sharing him with us today.
That is so sweet. We love that pretty Astrid is up to taking over this important honor from your dear MacKenzie. Our angel Graphite was the same way with me — everywhere I would go, he would be there. Moosey has kind of taken up the mantel, which is nice. 🙂
It is sad to lose a beloved cat – or dog – and I share your sorrow. I am now nursing along my 13 yr old tortie, a cat who behaves likes a person. She is in kidney failure and has cancer cells in a cyst on her side. I will miss her dearly when she has to go..
She has been a cat that like Astrid has taken to do, she took every step I took all these years. She has invented different voices for her various requests to me. Now she sleeps a lot more, seems tired, and seems to be in some kind of intermittent pain. She still wants to be with me and sleeps by my head at night. I will part with her when i see that living has become too difficult for her. We are not at that point yet, so I watch her and wait. We give these friends happy lives but their time on earth is shorter than ours so we must part at some point. However their gifts to us of love and fun are very very precious and lasting.
MacKenzie was a handsome boy!
We cats are a bit funny about who we do and do not like,we probably have good reason but are never awake long enough to remember why.
The REAL Maple Syrup Mob xxxxx
PS Astrid isn’t screeching…she’s singing!
We have such a soft spot for orange tabby kitties. Your Mac was a special one. We know your heart sure does miss him. I am glad that Astrid has taken up where Mac left off. Our household is in flux with the absence of it’s lead matriarch, Abby. There are slight changes. And more to come no doubt.
xoxoxo
eye like ta follow mom round two … cept when her leeves for werk eye’m like go for it…eye will destroy…ooopz…eye will watch de houz while ewe iz gone
🙂
tuna of moon
Mackenzie sounds a lot like my sweet orange mancat, Carmine. I think there’s something very special about the orange boys. We can tell how much you love your kitty family. 🙂
Purrs,
Carmine, Milita, and Jewel
Years ago when I was married and the hubby brought his own cat to the marriage (I had one, too), his cat was very loyal to him and followed him around. He didn’t give me the time of day (the cat, that is). Then one day I had gotten a spinal tap and had to come home and lie in bed ALL DAY. His cat never left my side. He watched me all day long. I was touched because I wasn’t “his human.” After I got well, he went back to ignoring me.
Since being away for a week, Banjo has not let me get out of his site. I like it! Except when he crawls into bed with me and leaves fur in the sheets. LOL! Oh well that’s part of loving cats right?
I have a Fitbit too! I love it!
Happy Tuesday!
xo Catherine
Astrid looks so much like our Tootsie. She was Bill’s cat, by her choosing. She was such a funny little thing. We rescued her when she came to us and wouldn’t leave. We found our she had been declawed (all 4). She was with us for many years. Though small, she was very assertive. Great post!
I also had an orange tabby man-cat like Mackenzie; his name was Ashton, and he too passed from cancer at the young age of 9 1/2 years. I always said he was more like a dog than a cat in his ways…so sweet and ALWAYS came when his name was called. It sounds like Mackenzie was quite the special kitty, and I am glad that Astrid is taking over that special spot of being your shadow!
Precious Tortie girl and mommy said she loves Gingers as well. Me, I’m a Tuxie and she loves THOSE too. She loves every furry! xox
I know the joy of having a CLOSE (and I mean CLOSE) kitty companion like MacKenzie and now Astrid. I’ve been lucky like that! Sammy is definitely “my” cat – and while he interacts with my husband he’s in my lap when I sit, at my feet when I walk, and comes to me for whatever he needs, whenever he needs it. I like that though. I know you appreciate Astrid’s self-appointed position as your guardian…..it’s nice to be “the chosen one” isn’t it?!
Pam
What a sweet boy, Mackenzie was. 🙂
Hey Astrid! I like to stay close to Mommy too. Or maybe it’s Mommy who likes to have me close by. Something about being sure I stay out of trouble. As if!
…Tutu
What a sweet story about MacKenzie and Astrid sounds like a character… fitting for the tag-along cat. Over here… we both follow HH around, but it’s not hard to find her when she’s home, cuz we live in a condo.
Have a great day.
hugs, Bugsy and Knuckles
I think when Archie leaves me it will be Oscar who will take over as he always has that look that says I want to be your shadow 🙂 x
It is nice that Astrid is going to take over and be your
close companion. She is a cutie!
Purrs Tillie and Georgia,
Treasure,Tiger, JJ and Julie
Astrid sounds like quite a character – who knew she would consider taking up where Mackenzie left off?
Sweet precious memories of Mackenzie. Gone but never forgotten. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly
Aww, beautiful Astrid.
Well Mackenzie is very handsome. I’m trying to picture Astrid shrieking under the covers while you’re trying to sleep lol… she sounds like a character 🙂
This is sweet. I only follow my human when I decide to and rarely when she calls me 😉
But I love to sit not to far away from her when she is working on her laptop or on the couch watching TV.
Purrs