Bella

by Joan Zawatzky

  Dane is here with his mother again. He has grown a little and is smiling. He runs to me, hugs and pats me.

  He is going to be a loving Human when he grows up.

  ‘How are you, Dane,’ Karen asks,

  ‘I am happy!’ He says.

  ‘That’s wonderful! What’s been happening?’

  ‘I told Misty about the fire next door and he said it was okay to tell you, Karen, Mum, and Dad everything.’

  ‘We have talked a lot about the fire...and he’s sleeping well now,’ his mother says.

  Dane smiles broadly at his mother.

  ‘Dane’s dad took him next door to show him the burned ground, and where a new house is going to be built soon,’ she says.

  ‘Did you see new, green plant shoots coming up where the fire burned the ground?’ Karen asks.

  ‘Yes, and there were some pretty flowers too. There is grass growing over the black. A garden will come back again.’

  Cat Thanks! Dane seems to be almost well now. He will make new friends and move on, just like we cats do. I doubt he will be back to see Karen again. I will miss him.

  Oliver delights in the way catnip affects him. He is in the garden nibbling what is left of the catnip. I hope Karen plants more when the sunshine is back.

  Now he is running through the house to burn up his excess energy.

  ‘I feel closed in, like a prisoner in here,’ he says. ‘There are too may rules in this house. I can’t even make a noise when Karen is busy, and I have to behave in the television room. I need to live a little, experiment, and see the world outside before I grow up.’

  ‘I understand, Oliver.’ I say kindly. ‘I felt the same, wanting to roam, see new places, but when I thought of how Karen saved my life and what a wonderful home I have here, I stopped myself.’

  ‘I know Karen saved me too, and I am grateful. Tony is the best owner I could wish for, but I have something restless inside that makes me want to explore.’

  Cats Above! I knew it. Tony’s blue-eyed cat will give us plenty of trouble before he grows up. It is becoming clearer to me each day that in many ways he is like the dissatisfied, human teenagers who come to seek help from Karen.

  Mia is opening the gate to the garden. She has not met Oliver yet. I leave her to look around our dry garden, while I look for him in the house. He is asleep on the couch. When I wake him, he complains loudly. He stretches slowly and makes me wait by cleaning his face with his paw, before reluctantly following me into the garden. He blinks in the bright light.

  Mia rushes towards Oliver.

  ‘Oh, what an adorable new kitten! Aren’t you magnificent, a beauty,’ she says stroking his head.

  It is silly, but I can’t help it. I amjealous of Oliver. Everyone thinks he is so good looking and they have stopped telling me that I am beautiful.

  ‘You must have a big job looking after him,’ she says to me.

  I turn away and flick my right whiskers in dissatisfaction. I have developed a habit of whisker flicking since Oliver arrived. Mia realises that I am jealous. Somehow, she manages to pet us both and talk to us lovingly.

  Suddenly, a high-pitched bark disturbs us. Honey is running along her side of the fence and barking frenetically. Our voices probably alerted her. I ignore Honey’s barking while Mia continues to stroke me. The pleasure of her touch distracts me, but Oliver races towards the fence and to Honey. I hear a twang of wire, as Honey tries to push her paw through a space in the fence.

  Meeeow, Meeeow, I call to Oliver, but he ignores me. Fascinated by the tiny dog, he tries to squeeze under the gate towards her. I grab him by his scruff and smack his nose with my paw like mama smacked mine. I try to tell him that she is a dog with a powerful jaw, and that she will delight in biting him.

  His grrrrrrrr is loud and he almost attacks me. Honey leaves and Oliver turns his back on me, and then runs inside.

  He is furious with me, but I don’t care. He is still a kitten and has no experience of dogs. I will have to watch him in the garden in future. Honey may mean him no harm, but I am not sure, and I am vigilant. Oliver is annoyed now, but when he is older, he can fend for himself.

  Caring for our young is another important aspect of Catness that I cannot avoid.

  ‘Wake up, sleepy cat,’ Karen says to me, as she rushes towards the kitchen. ‘We are visiting the hospital today. We have two people to call on, Helena and Emma’s friend, Ava. You had better eat your breakfast now, Bella, or you’ll vomit in the car.’

  I stretch, roll on the carpet, and slowly follow her to the kitchen. In the early morning, the house is dark and cold. Rain is thumping on the roof.

  Rat’s! It is not a day to go anywhere!

  Karen has already filled my bowl with my food pebbles. She makes coffee and toast for herself. At the same time, she tidies and prepares breakfast for Tony. As she waits for her toast, she hurriedly dries dishes.

  With all she is attempting to do at once, something will happen. I am waiting for it. Cats do one thing at a time, and well. We don’t rush.

  A cup slips out of her hand and smashes on the floor.

  ‘Out of the kitchen, Bella, or you will cut yourself!’ She says in a panicky voice.

  She grabs the buzz machine to suck up the sharp, tiny pieces. The floor is safe again and I can eat my breakfast. As I eat, enjoying each mouthful, I watch her gulp down her small breakfast. When she finishes it, she holds her tummy in pain and moans. She swallows a white tablet with some water.

  ‘Come on, Bella, we’ll be late.’

  She has my harness, lead and carry box ready. I am used to the harness now and find it less cumbersome. The distance we travel is further than usual, and in the early morning traffic the car constantly stops and starts. Just as well there was no time for a fuller breakfast. Finally we arrive. The unusual fragrance of the flowering trees and smell of the ground tell me that we are at a hospital we have not visited before.

  As we pass through the doors, a Human stops us. He wants to know why Karen is bringing a cat into the hospital, and where she wants to take me. There is a long discussion and more Humans arrive. Karen produces papers from her bag, and we are on our way again.

  This must be an enormous hospital because we walk a long distance, and then go into a small moving space that Karen calls a “lift”. Karen stops to ask for directions and we walk further. As we approach Helena’s ward, I smell a familiar odour. Dog.

  Meow, meow I cry softly.

  ‘Calm down, Bella! We are passing a blind man with his seeing eye dog,’ she says.

  I am confused.

  A Human who helps at the hospital stops to talk to Karen.

  ‘I hope your cat isn’t afraid of the dog. He is a Therapy Dog, and is name is Roger. He has been trained not to attack cats or other animals. He is here often with his owner. Your cat has nothing to fear. These dogs are incredible. They are the eyes of their blind owners, and help them to attend appointments at the hospital, to cross roads, and go to places like the bank. They are loving companions too, and I don’t know what blind people would do without them.’

  I watch the blind man and his dog walk away.

  ‘Is your cat a Therapy Cat?’ The helper asks.

  ‘Yes, and an excellent one, too.’

  ‘We have Therapy Dogs and Cats at this hospital. Both do a great job of calming sick people and giving them affection.’

  ‘Are you okay now, Bella?’ Karen asks. ‘There are many ways that dogs help people and do valuable work. Dogs and their owners have a strong bond. It is different to a cat’s connection with an owner.’

  Cat Knowledge! Learning about dogs to help blind Humans and dog therapists gives me a jolt. The discovery that there is a positive, caring side to the very creatures that make my life a misery, occupies my mind all along the winding passage to Helena’s ward. That dogs perform a similar job to mine as therapists is incredible. There have to be some likeable, caring dogs. Perhaps I will meet a dog that I am not afraid of one day.

&
nbsp; ‘We’re here...at last!’ Karen says, relieved.

  But, we are stopped again, when a nurse asks loudly, ‘Do you have permission to bring that animal into the ward?’

  Karen explains that I am a certified Cat Therapist. We wait, and the nurse asks us to follow her. Helena is sitting in an large armchair and looking much healthier. Karen opens my carry box and lifts me onto Helena’s lap.

  Ah, Karen, so good to see you.and Bella, my lovely friend. I’m so pleased you’ve come!’

  I am pleased to see her too, and purr.

  Helena strokes me, while she explains to Karen that she will be in hospital for about a week for tests, and to try new medication.

  ‘Bella, when you visited me at home your purr and love gave me hope. You have a unique healing gift.’

  ‘Purrs are healing,’ Karen says to Helena.

  ‘They certainly help me,’ she says, while kissing the top of my head.

  Humans do such a lot of kissing. Surely touching noses or a cheek rub is enough.

  There are eight other sick Humans in the ward and they all notice me.

  ‘Puss, Puss, come to me,’ each calls

  ‘Okay, take the cat to them all, but not to the man in the corner bed. He’s too weak to risk picking up an infection from an animal,’ the nurse says.

  Karen clips on my lead and I follow her to the sick Humans calling for me. They all want to pet me and cuddle. I purr for them all.

  Three young doctors learn that I am visiting and rush up to us. ‘Look who’s here...a Therapy Cat,’ one says.

  They take turns in lifting me up, stroking me, and making comments.

  ‘Isn’t she a pretty cat and such lovely, kind eyes,’ one says.

  ‘So good natured too,’ another adds.

  I know all of this, and I will come again if Karen brings me. More important -1 am hungry.

  At last, a nurse finds some food for me and I eat it quickly.

  Just as well, considering my small breakfast!

  Karen leads me back to Helena. I jump onto her lap for a last cuddle.

  ‘Our patients love you, Bella! Please visit us again,’ one of the doctors says.

  ‘I’ll bring Bella again, soon,’ Karen replies.

  I’m inundated with attention and I like it. This is a lovely hospital!

  We are back in a lift smelling powerfully of Humans.

  ‘Now, we have to find Ava,’ Karen says.

  This time, a pleasant nurse helps us to locate Ava’s bed. Ava looks pale and ill.

  ‘Hi Ava, I’m Karen and I’ve brought my cat, Bella, to visit you. Your friend Emma told me how much you like cats, and asked me to bring her.’

  Ava tries to sit up, but she is too weak. She falls back onto her pillow.

  ‘That’s amazing,’ she says in a soft, low voice. ‘I adore cats and Emma knows it. Thanks so much for coming!’

  ‘I’m Greta, Ava’s mother,’ a woman sitting on a chair next to the bed says. ‘Ava’s had a terrible time. Someone spiked her drink at a party and it caused a serious allergic reaction. The paramedics came just in time. Thanks to them, she is still with us.’

  I don’t understand what made Ava so sick, but I know she is in need of purrs and cuddles.

  The nurse offers to bring a towel, so that I can sit on the bed next to Ava.

  ‘Maybe you’ll cheer her up...and hopefully she’ll eat,’ the nurse says.

  With my lead still on, Karen lifts me onto Ava’s bed. I go to the pale hand searching for me. She pats my head, tickles me under my chin and behind my ears with an expert touch.

  ‘Your fur is thick like my cat Lulu’s. Come closer.’

  I move up so Ava can cuddle me.

  ‘What a cute, darling cat! I am so pleased you’ve come. Emma knows I’m crazy about cats.’

  She is definitely a cat lover. I am pleased we are visiting her.

  As I Iie next to her, a tray with food arrives.

  ‘Ava, you must eat if you want to feel better,’ the nurse says. ‘I’ve brought something for the cat too.’

  ‘I’m not hungry,’ Ava says emphatically and turns her head away.

  Ava has to eat or she won’t survive.

  I stare at her without blinking, and place my paw firmly on her arm. I tap her lightly.

  ‘Oh, alright Bella, we’ll both eat then,’ Ava says.

  I jump down from the bed into Karen’s arms, while a saucer of food for me appears on the floor.

  I am in luck...more food. Tasty fish this time.

  At first, Ava nibbles her food, and then she seems to grow hungrier and eats half of it. Once she has eaten, she is tired and her eyes begin to close. She gives me a goodbye pat before we leave.

  Karen is awake as soon as light enters the house. I follow her to the kitchen. She leaves me food, but has no time for cuddles. She cuts thin slices of bread, places food from the fridge on the slices, and fills platters with fruit. Big and small cakes are already on the large table in the dining room.

  Visitors must be coming.

  She wakes Tony. After complaining, he helps by carrying cups and saucers, bottles and glasses into the room.

  ‘We’ll have to put the cats into their garden,’ he says.

  Before I have time to run and hide, Karen lifts me up and gently pushes me through the cat door into our garden. Tony grabs Oliver. She gives us food and water. Then she locks the little door so that we can’t return to the house.

  I stand at our cat door and listen.

  I hear her telling Tony. ‘It’s cool and clear – a lovely day for the cricket match! There was no rain overnight, so the field next to the house should be dry.’

  ‘I’m pretty sure our office team will show the bank employees how to play the game,’ he replies with a laugh. ‘It will be great fun.’

  Cricket! Whatever is it? They are going to a lot of trouble to organise it.

  Oliver and I are cold, and eventually find a spot in the early sunlight. From our garden, we hear noise in the house as Humans arrive. Soon the field next to us is dotted with Humans dressed in white. Until I become bored, I watch the little ball as it is flies, is hit, and caught. Oliver, active as usual, tries to climb out of our enclosure to chase the ball, but I stop him. Instead, he sits on a branch of the half-tree and watches the game.

  I wish the game would end, but it goes on for ages and ages. I try hard, but I do not understand it at all.

  When they take a break for lunch, two men who own cats visit us in our garden. They make a fuss of us both, and feed us treats from inside the house. Then a third man joins them. I sniff him, and sniff again.

  His left leg smells awful. I am certain that he is sick, but he is happy and laughing. He probably feels no pain and is unaware of his sickness.

  I go to him and call meow, meow as loudly as I can, and point to his left leg with my nose.

  ‘Has your cat gone crazy?’ He asks Karen.

  ‘I doubt it,’ she replies.

  I go to him again, call out, and once more I point to his left leg.

  ‘She might be trying to tell you something’, Karen says. ‘Do you have any pain in that leg of yours?’

  ‘Actually, my thigh hurts a bit, but I’ve put off going to the doctor.’

  ‘Perhaps you should see your doctor,’ Karen says. ‘Bella is trying to give you a message.’

  The man laughs about the idea that a cat could be giving him a message. The men return to the field to play their silly game. Oliver and I eat and then sleep.

  Tony’s gleeful shout wakes us, ‘We’ve won...again!

  The sun is asleep by the time Karen opens our door to let us into the house. I am cold and tired by now, and go to the big bed to sleep.

  I dream I am a huge, powerful cat, a leader. I am on the tall mountain, I usually visit, looking down on acres of desert. Around me are smaller cats like me. They are hungry, and call out for food. There has been almost no rain. Food is scarce. On the peak of an opposite mountain, I distinguish another lar
ge, cat leader surrounded by smaller cats. He is mainly white with brown boots. His blue eyes stare defiantly. Both our ears are back, and our claws are sharp, ready for attack. His cats are hungry too. With insufficient food for both groups, it will be a fight for survival. The blue-eyed cat leaps off his mountain towards me.

  I wake in fear as I recognise Oliver as my opponent. What a frightening dream! It is a warning. He could be a threat if I allow him to be one.

  Our garden is bare. The last dry leaves have blown away in the wind and soon it will be too cold to play outside. I climb the half-tree. From my vantage point I can see the empty gardens of houses around us. The Humans and their animals are all indoors seeking warmth.

  A noise at the gate alerts me. It is Mia. Pleased to see her, I rush to greet her. She is dressed in a coat, hat and gloves.

  ‘It’s a very cold day, but I didn’t want to miss seeing you, Bella.’

  Oliver is asleep on the couch and I don’t wake him. I want Mia for myself again. We play with a ball and run in the garden until we are warm and tired.

  I hear a rustle at the fence. A large black tom cat is pacing. He hisses at me and arches his back.

  ‘Ooooh, he’s a bully,’ Mia says, looking concerned.

  I stand erect, stare at him and hiss, and then turn my back on him.

  He walks away.

  A fight isn’t necessary. All I did was stand up to him.

  Mia laughs. ‘That’s how to treat bullies, Bella!’

  When I am not working with Karen, I sit in my favourite spot on a heating vent. From here, I can see out of the window onto the bald grass, leafless trees, or watch the rain.

  Oliver is six months old now. He enjoys being in the wet, cold garden, hunting for mice. When he comes inside, he shakes his coat and sits near a vent to warm up.

  After a long sleep, I call Oliver, but he does not reply. Then I search every room and all his favourite hiding places. I force myself to go into the cold garden to search for him, but there is no sign of him. Half way along the wire fence, there is a heap of earth. Oliver must’ve been digging. After a closer look at the fence near the mound of earth, I notice a hole wide enough for a slim cat to pass through.