Silas

We want to say thank you to everyone who has sent comments, cards and emails. Silas was such a shy, unassuming guy he would be surprised to hear how much he is missed. There are some lovely tributes on other blogs and I will try to find them all and post links.

We have just felt very very tired here. Sunday we filmed at the shelter and that was comforting, being with lots of other animals and hearing that many had been adopted. I like to think that taking good photos of them and putting them on tv helps. The shelter had rescued 21 dogs scheduled for killing in Kentucky and they were rapidly being placed in good homes. This also helps to stop puppy mills, as people become more aware and adopt their animals from shelters rather than buying them from pet stores.

It was a huge shock to lose Silas the way we did. I never, ever thought that he would run out on the road so something caused him to do it. His territory was always the back yard, lately he had been spending his days by the pond, catching frogs and bringing them in unhurt into the house (one was found swimming in the water bowl). The place where he was hit was way down the driveway and up the hill. It makes no sense that he was up there. The road is above our house, we have our own little valley below it and a good border of trees between us and it. Our driveway is quite long and goes uphill, only meeting the road at the end. So for a cautious cat, there is plenty of safe space to be out. And Silas had always been a very cautious cat. Especially without Fergus, he could always be found either in the back yard or down the hill in front of the house, which is a wet forest and very safe in the daytime. So we don't know what was happening.

I don't think Silas ever accepted losing Fergus. For days after Fergus died, he would sit on the back porch looking out waiting for him to come back. It was very hard for him. I think he really loved Fergus and Fergus was the leader in everything they did, so Silas was kind of lost without him. If you imagine an unlikely friendship between the star athlete guy in high school that all the girls are crazy over and a the big, quiet, kind of awkward guy who has a killer stamp collection, well that would be Fergus and Silas.

Everyone who knows cats knows that they see and hear and sense things that are beyond us. We believe that Fergus came back and got his buddy. We started looking for Silas on Thursday and I was out in the yard when I am positive I saw a cat face under our tea house. I ran up to it and there was nothing there. I looked over the bank down to the brook believing it was Jakey the Barn Cat but there was no one there. And my mother in law dreamed that Fergus came back to get Silas.

Silas had gotten closer to accepting the kittens. There was no more hissing and a few games of Paw Over Paw were played in each other's vicinity. In time, I believe they would have been friends. But when you have had a Fergus for a best friend, maybe there is just no consolation. Silas was always a quiet guy our Mr. No Trouble to Anybody. He liked a few head pats and some chin scratches and once in a while I would wake up to find him sleeping on my stomach but he was not a lap cat and he was not a cuddler. He had his own gentle way of being part of the family. He took on the job of head Mousekeeper and did it well.

So his passing leaves us sadder and mystified and regretful. He was a truly innocent, gentle soul who didn't ask for much in this world. He leaves a big hole in this animal family and we miss him. Every creature has a part in the family psyche and his part was to be the quiet guy, asking little and giving much. We truly hope he is with Fergus again and someday we will all be together.

Here on earth, Brendan has truly accepted the kittens to an amazing extent, he has been downright parental. He brought them a mouse one night to show them how it is done and he has actually licked Ramona and lets her climb all over him and sleep next to him. We think he is sweet on her, but then, who wouldn't be. She is full of energy too and races around the house like a tornado. They are a great comfort as they are both very loving and rush to be with us and entertain us every night with their wild games. They have all the toys set up in the living room and it is wonderful to see Ramona go through all of them, playing with each. We think Fergus guided me to find them, not so much for Harper, but for Ramona, who needed us to take care of her. I will post new photos soon, that eye is wide open now and has lost the redness.

Thank you all for your kindness and comfort.

The Caturday Clan