Cat conspiracy

I would say many of us like to believe loved ones who have died continue to watch over us in some way, shape or fashion. Many Asian religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism believe in the concept of reincarnation. Reincarnation takes effect after someone has died and one is “reborn” in some way. Animals are one symbol of reincarnation, depending on who you ask. No doubt, cats are mysterious creatures and have continued to mystify humans for millennia, long after the felines were worshipped in ancient Egypt. I have experienced such craziness. Is it possible I’m experiencing something beyond our world? It’s possible, but you’re the deciding factor.

I visited my boyfriend on Halloween in the hopes of celebrating his first Halloween, which turned out to be a success. Flashing forward several months earlier, his mom had passed away. Along came a friendly tabby, the first of many visits to come. At the time, the tabby was a friendly reminder of the kindness and light that remained in this cruel world. When I pulled up to the driveway on Halloween, the tabby was being pampered by my boyfriend, a smile illuminating across his face.

“It’s my mom Conner,” said my boyfriend. “It has to be.”

After deliberation, we fed the cat some tuna, to which he gradually licked. I think he liked the juice more than the smelly fish itself. As the trick or treating hour loomed closer, the tabby bid us farewell and left. Around 7:00 pm, the tabby returns, this time more adventurous. He explores the house, a stowaway. My boyfriend chased after the cat hurriedly getting the tabby back into the garage.

The visit consisted of pampering and some milk, which the tabby loved even more than the tuna, which lay half-eaten a couple of feet away on the porch. He would roll around on the rough concrete; I’m assuming, to scratch an impossible itch. His tail flailed around excitedly as he hopped and climbed around the garage. Trick or treaters, along with parents, believed it to be our cat. Although we declined, the feisty feline made me wonder where it had come from and if it was indeed “ours” or not.

It was a chilly night with temperatures in the low 40s with piles of leaves lining the neighborhood's streets patiently awaiting its caretaker. It was dark now, with little lighting illuminating the garage. We frequently heard small *tings* and *slams* as the feline climbed up, down and around its obstacle course, exploring its environment. The tabby always returned to our calls and would gnaw on our hands once it wanted our hands to stop petting him. The experience was Twilight Zone-esque.

The tabby left in the night shortly before the kids got back to their homes and parents shut off their lights for the night. Halloween was over along with our visitor, or so we thought.

It was the week of Thanksgiving when my boyfriend sent me a video of the tabby roaming around his house. “I guess I have a cat now,” he said. He says the tabby sniffed the area his mom had passed away at in the home. Maybe it’s a coincidence, or perhaps it’s not. No matter the explanation, the feline continues to visit the house, not every day but enough to let him know someone is always watching.