Through the Eyes of a Cat

In Loving Memory of Bandit Poole 01/1990 - 3/22/2002

Beloved family pet cat and friend.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Bandit and I was a cat. I was 12 years old as I crossed the path to the Rainbow Bridge. It was a welcomed adventure but it was so hard on the family I left behind. May I share my fondest memories of my family with you?

I first saw the woman I wanted to befriend. Traci was the greatest person in the world. I would stand on the edge of the woods and watch her pull into the parking spot. I would race as fast as I could to catch up to her. I meowed and meowed at her, with hopes of getting Traci's attention. I remember her father telling Traci that she could take me in but under no circumstances was I allowed into the house. That was perfectly fine with me! Each night, I would happily greet her as she came home from work. I would run between her legs and purr so loudly! One day, I wanted to share a present with her. I caught a flying squirrel and I brought it to her. I set it down in front of her feet and hollered at her. Traci stooped down and took a look at the present I brought her. She patted my head and scooped up the squirrel. Traci wrapped the squirrel up in a towel and she was gone again. I overheard her say that the squirrel would survive and it would heal. Oh well, I guess I would stick to catching mice and bugs for her instead. I wanted her to become my mom!

I moved with her to another apartment. We set up house and my place in the house was to protect my friend, Traci. I would make my rounds by going to each of the windows and then finally settling down to sleep on my pillow beside her head. I hated the telephone because it always woke me up. I would secretly go to the phone as it rang, and I would knock it off the table and meow loudly into it. I bet the people on the other end just loved me for it. Of course there was the door bell. I hated that too! It would scare me out of my fur! I used to try to open the door but the handle was so much taller than I. Blasted thing! I kept telling Mom to have it disconnected! Did she listen? Nope.

Mom had several boyfriends and I hated each one of them. I would often stretch out my paw and trip them. I loved seeing them stumble! One time, she had this one boyfriend who I really hated. So one day, as he was sleeping, I ran as fast as I could and I attacked him! I hollered at him and told him to hit the pike. I was finally able to coax Mom into dumping the creep. He wasn't good enough for her. In my eyes, there would be nobody good enough for my mom. I loved her. She did finally meet someone who I approved of but he had to pass the test first. Jeff had to meet all of my strict requirements such as being kind to her, love her, be her friend, and most of all, protect her. Jeff passed with flying colors! Good news for me because I really wanted a dad! Yipee!!

I talked to my mom often and I learned how to say 'Momma'. I enjoyed showing this special talent off in front of family and friends. It always made them laugh! We even shared pizza together which of course, was my favorite! I loved tomatoes, olives, onions, and green peppers. I especially loved the pizza sauce.

Mom was pregnant with her first baby. There were times when she would call to me to settle the baby down. I would gently lay across Mom's belly and purr. The baby would be kicking my poor mom so I thought the harder I purred, the baby would hear me. Sure enough, the tiny baby settled down and went to sleep. What a relief! Do you know how hard it is to sleep when your friend is asking you to help settle down the baby? Finally, the tiny baby came home! Mom and Dad placed the tiny infant into the crib. I peeked into the crib and saw the most beautiful baby in the world! I fell in love with her! I wasn't allowed in the crib with my 'baby sister'. I would sleep under the crib, on the opposite side of where baby Amber slept. Each time Amber moved or whimpered, I would run into the livingroom and let Mom or Dad know. I loved chasing Amber around as she learned to walk. I often enjoyed teasing her. Amber would toddle towards me, and I would run. As soon as she came close again, I would run again! HA! I loved doing that to her! It sure was fun!

A few years later, Mom was pregnant again with another baby. I did the same thing I did with Amber. I would lay across her belly and purr loudly. The baby did settle down but this baby was different. Zachary was born and he was so much different than his big sister. As he grew into a toddler, so did his curiosity. Mom had to be up gates to keep Zachary from climbing the stairs. One day, Mom was in the kitchen and I ran to her, meowing and meowing. Finally she came into the livingroom where I was, and there was Zach, trying to pull down the gate. He gave me such a fright! I knew I had my hands full. I loved racing around the room and then throwing my weight against the bathroom door. It would fly open! I would scare the dickens out of the kids or whoever was sitting on the toilet!

I also enjoyed keeping a close eye when my family were taking their baths. I would sit on the toilet seat and watch them wash their hair or watch Mom shave her legs. One time, when Mom was taking a shower, I climbed between the shower curtain and the show curtain. I would just sit there and watch her feet. I wanted to grab them but I surely did not want to get wet. I hated getting wet! Did I mention my mom nicknamed me "The Old Man in a Cat Suit"? She often told me I reminded her of an old man in a cat suit. I liked climbing in the shower with Dad. I also enjoyed the jump he had when I slammed the bathroom door open! Humans are comical when they are least expecting me to appear! HA!

Anyhow, I loved showing off in front of my mom's and dad's friends. I would come down the stairs to investigate them. I especially loved it when they brought their dogs. I was bigger than their dogs too! I would poof up and step sideways to intimidate the dogs. I hated dogs! What creatures they are!

Dad adopted another kitty and we named her Patches. She is definately a teenager! I had to teach her who was boss and who wore the pants in the family. That was an adventure all by itself! She is learning though. Patches still needs to work on her people skills for sure. I guess she is an OK kitty. I love her though so I cannot complain too much. She amuses me!

Each holiday brought happiness into my eyes. I loved watching my family open up their gifts. I especially loved the Christmas tree! Mom would place ornaments close to the floor for me. I loved to swat them and watch them swing. It amused me! I liked knocking the tiny glass globes from their resting place.

I enjoyed playing the Nintendo as well. The kids would play and I would take my paw to show them where to go. It was fun! I think I loved Tarzan and Mario the best! I also enjoyed watching tv with my family. I would sit on the back of the sofa and watch what was happening on the television. I liked watching commercials and often would try to touch the other kitties in the television. They never responded back to me and I thought they were stuck up. I loved sitting in the window and talking to the birds. They would sing and I had to add my two cents. They never listened of course! How rude!

One night, I was sitting in the window. It was a beautiful summer's night. I heard rustling out in the front yard. I crouched very low and waited for it to get closer. It came up to the window! I howled and puffed up to show the intruder I was boss and protector of my family! My mom came to the window, and there under the bush was a raccoon! I am sure I scared him because he ran away. Then the unthinkable happened. I was snoozing on the couch and everyone had already gone to bed. I heard noises coming from the front door. I crept slowly to the door and realized the noises coming from the door wasn't natural. The person on the other side was trying to break in! I ran upstairs, pushed open my mom's door, and pounced on her head. "Momma!" I howled. "There is someone trying to break in!" My mom rolled over and ignored me. I batted her face, trying to wake her up. "MOMMA! Someone is breaking in! Come downstairs quickly!" My mom finally woke up and came downstairs. I walked over to the door and meowed again. She switched on the porch light and the person ran away. Mom called the police but they never caught the man who was trying to get inside my house! From that moment on, I stayed close to the kids. I would go to their rooms to make sure they were safely tucked into their beds and sleeping soundly. At night, I would lay on their beds and keep my body facing their bedroom doors. Amber and Zachary were my sister and brother. It was my job to make sure they stayed safe.

Whenever my family came down with colds, I would lay at the top of their heads and purr. It always made them feel better because they would fall asleep fast. Afterall, they comforted me when I wasn't feeling very well.

My body began to change as I grew older. I lost my appetite and began losing weight. I just wasn't myself. I told Mom I was sick and wanted to go to the doctor. Mom and Dad took me to see the doctor. The doctor took xrays of my body and showed them to Mom and Dad. It wasn't good news. The doctor said my heart was enlarged and there was a mass around my heart. I was sick. Mom tried to get me better. I didn't struggle or try to get away when she fed me. I know she wanted me to get better. I watched her cry, beg, and plead with me to eat. I just didn't want to eat. Everything I tried to do, became a difficult task for me. I no longer went to the windows or played. I only wanted to sleep and be left alone. I wanted the pain to go away. Yesterday, Mom brought me my food. She took me out from under the bed and kissed my head. I gently head butted her to let her know I loved her. My breathing became more labored and the wheezing was also making it difficult. Mom cried out to Dad. I could hear Mom say it was time. I knew in my heart that Momma was going to make the decision. It was time. Dad called the doctor and she said to bring me back in. I kissed Amber, Zachary, and Dad goodbye. Mom sat with me until it was time to go. I tried consoling Mom by head butting her. I watched the tears flow hard from my family's faces and I could feel their pain. There was nothing I could do as there wasn't anything my family could do. I loved my family. I loved them with all of my heart. They have been very good to me and I know they will miss me as I will miss them. I can only hope and pray that the memories we shared, will soon replace the saddness that encases their hearts. It will take time and only God can heal them. God healed me and I will be asking God to heal their pain and dry their tears. I am not in any more pain but they are. Please help comfort my family for I am no longer here to do so. God, please take good care of my mom, dad, brother, and sister. They need you right now. Please tell them we will meet again one day. And God? Thank you for giving me a very loving and wonderful family. I am a lucky cat!

I will be waiting for them, my family, at the Rainbow Bridge, the place where all of the non traditional family members go. I will wait for them and when that day comes for me to see my family, I will give them plenty of hugs and kisses. We will make up for lost time and rekindle the flame of love we once shared. God once said, " Job 12:7-10 "Ask the animals, and they will teach you."  " My family taught me to love and I also taught my family to love each other and all things connected to life.

I love you, my dearest family. I will be here at the gate of the Rainbow Bridge waiting for you to return to me. I promise.

Please click on Bandit's Memory Globe to return to the main page.

 

This Pet Memorial site
owned by Bandit's Mom.

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