A golden cat of many names; Growly,
Tommy, Swami ... who passed away
from mouth cancer on May 20th, 2006
... a fearful, angry stray who hated the
world and then learned to love it. He
came to us spitting and hissing with a
deep gash on his forehead where
someone had thrown a rock at him.
For two years he let us feed him on the
porch, but would not let us touch or pet
him. When we rescued him from a
neighbor's locked basement he finally
let us touch him -- but not without
shredding our hands. Time passed.
We are proud to have brought him into
our lives. For three and half years he
lived as a domestic cat should. Before
his death he learned to purr and play
and sleep without fear. He learned to
curl up next to us and he learned to
trust. He left this world knowing that he
had friends who loved him. He was
able to show that love and gratitude
back. For that, and for everything else
he was, he will be intensely missed.
This picture was taken on the day of
Tommy's passing.
Tommy, Swami ... who passed away
from mouth cancer on May 20th, 2006
... a fearful, angry stray who hated the
world and then learned to love it. He
came to us spitting and hissing with a
deep gash on his forehead where
someone had thrown a rock at him.
For two years he let us feed him on the
porch, but would not let us touch or pet
him. When we rescued him from a
neighbor's locked basement he finally
let us touch him -- but not without
shredding our hands. Time passed.
We are proud to have brought him into
our lives. For three and half years he
lived as a domestic cat should. Before
his death he learned to purr and play
and sleep without fear. He learned to
curl up next to us and he learned to
trust. He left this world knowing that he
had friends who loved him. He was
able to show that love and gratitude
back. For that, and for everything else
he was, he will be intensely missed.
This picture was taken on the day of
Tommy's passing.