Tigger

Tigger came into my life and home in 1996.  I guess you could call him a rescue cat.  I rescued him from a 6 or 7 month old Jonathon.  We  had gone to visit my daughter Tami in Hanilton and when we arrived Jon was sitting on the floor pulling the hair out of this white with orange spots cat.  The really nutty thing was the cat was letting him.  At that time the cat looked to be 4 or 5 months old.  I took the kitten away from Jon and held him.  I felt he needed protection.  One of the first things I noticed about Tigger was the orange spots on him were very close to same colour as Bummer.  I didn't know if Tigger was a male or female and at that time it didn't matter much.

When Tami asked me if I would like to take the kitten home it was a spontanious yes from me.  Paul was with me and he was a real sucker for animals.  I don't know if Tigger had a name but if he did it was about to be changed.  I let Paul name Tigger, names are something I don't take lightly and it might have taken me a few days to find an appropriate name, you know, a name that really fit the cat.  However, Paul said Tigger almost immediately and I let it be at that.  Tigger was in a cat carrier for the ride home, but after about 20 minutes I took him out and held him for the rest of the 2 hour trip.  Tigger was quite passive on the trip home and seemed to enjoy the car ride, unfortunately this didn't last, perhaps the car trips to the vet changed his mind.

When we got home I carried Tigger in the house.  Bummer was home, at this time I think Bummer would have been about 4 years old.  Tigger was frightened and found his way under my bed.  Bummer was very excited about having a cat, he laid down on the floor beside my bed and used his paw to try to scoop Tigger out.  Within the hour Tigger was out and eating and drinking milk.  It only took an other hour before the two animals were playing.  They became best friends.  It was almost love at first sight for these two animals.  I wish I had videos of these two playing.  Eventually Bummer would fall asleep and then Tigger would get up on the back of a chair and pounce on him.  I guess Bummer had a strong heart.

Tigger turned out to be the most affectionate cat I have ever owned or even known.  Even as a grown cat he would get so excited when he was being held that he couldn't contain himself, he would give you little love nips with his teeth, he never bit anyone but he was so happy being held and loved that couldn't contain his enthusiasm,  He purred so loud that I think my neighbors could hear him and gave little love bites to let you know how happy he was.

Tigger only lived 10 years.  He died suddenly of a heart attack in the fall of 2006.  I came home from work and couldn't find him.  The next day I was concerned enough that Leighann and my friend James went looking for him.  He was under the Bar B Q in the garage and he was dead.  I asked the vet the next time I took the animals to the vet for their shots what could have happened.  The vet asked me if the cats eyes were open, his were.  The vet said if the eyes were open then he no doubt had a heart attack.  Leighann and James dug a hole in the back yard and buried Tigger,  Then Leighann made a little cross as a maker for his grave, with his name and the date it. (I love Leighann for this) Tigger lies buried in the back yard at 41 Sturgeon Glen Road in Fenelon Falls.
I loved Tigger and he loved me unconditionally.