Nor - The Gentle Ball of Fur
On Sunday morning, 23 February 2014, Nor die in Alfredo’s arms. He was 16 years old. When David became a flight attendant back in 1998, Julian, a black cat, was the only pet in his condo. It became clear that Julian was quite lonely while David was away on his trips. This is when Nor joined the family back in May 1999.
Noor was from the Tree House Foundation, a non-profit cageless, no-kill cat shelter for strays [now renamed Tree House Humane Society]. For even footing, David wanted a cat that also had his front paws de-clawed. After explaining to the Tree House’s intake counselor that Julian was already de-clawed when he received him, the intake counselor showed David to the upstairs of the Foundation’s Victorian style house. There in a huge room were 30 to 40 cats having free reign all over the place. The counselor introduces David to a brown cat that ignored David.
The intake counselor then presented a cat named Red Baron, a cat that was covered with reddish-gold long fur. This cat was slowly walking in the middle of the room through a line of cats hissing, growling, or raising an armed clawed paw of warning. Red Baron would stop and slowly turn his head at the distressed cat, nod his head as saying, “Peace, man, peace. Be cool, man. Be a cool cat.“ Red Baron strike a chord within David as an old soul hippie minus the round frame sunglasses and red bandanna wrap around his forehead.
“If this cat can deal with these batty surroundings,” David said to himself, “then he can deal with Psycho-Julian.”
Julian and Red Baron’s first meeting did not happen as designed. The plan was to separate Red Baron in the den for a few days while Julian and him got use to each other’s smells and sounds on opposite sides of the den’s door. When feeding Red Baron, Julian slipped into the den. The ole Julian return. He went berserk hissing and howling. His black fur stood up on his back. He jumped in the air and actually climbed the walls and furniture. Julian was defecating leaving little gifts here and there. All this going on while never physically encountering Red Baron.
All Red Baron did was sit there and watch Julian throw his temper-tantrum.
Trying to get Julian out of the den was awfully problematic. David grabbed Julian while he was climbing the window’s screen; Julian let out an even louder yowl. Anyone outside walking by the window might think this poor cat was being skinned alive.
After getting Julian’s hold off from the screen, David clutched Julian with his arms stretched out as the cat blared his sounds and jerking his body trying to free himself.
Red Baron to the rescue!
Ouch! A pain in David’s left calf.
There was Red Baron biting David.
“What the hell,” roared David? “I got this cat to befriend you and he turns on me!”
Red Baron was defending his fellow cat-kind. David drop Julian and stormed out the den yelling, “Fine! Kill yourselves!”
Later that day, while debating if “Red-Judas” should stay or be bought back to the Tree House Foundation, David’s boyfriend at that time renamed Red Baron after Queen Noor, the Queen of Jordan. Nor is an unisex name meaning: “The Light.“ It was a suitable name for this newcomer cat. Something happen because there was an armistice with Julian and Nor. Julian kept his distance from Nor with an extremely watchful eye. In observing and living with Nor, Julian slowly became a friendlier cat. What a friend he had in Nor.
Over time, one could never tell who the king-cat was. Nor would chase Julian all around the house while Julian hissed and yowled; Nor would bounce himself onto Julian making him fall flat onto the floor with a loud thud. At times it sounded as if something crash to the floor and broke; nothing to be found broken or tilted in the house. Then Julian always had the right of way when it came to feeding time and first dibs for my lap. Nor allowed Julian to think he was the King-cat.
Moving from a two-bedroom condo to a four-bedroom house, Nor relished in the wide spaces. Julian on the other hand, took a long while to get use to an endless space. Julian would stay in a few areas. Stairs seemed to be a foreign concept to him. Carefree Nor would change that. He would taunt Julian into chasing him trying to get Julian to see the many different spots in the house.
Nor’s laid-back attitude calmed Julian to become mellow and affectionate to other people. Nor would make an entrance into a room in a graceful bold pace as if he was the star. He cross the room and then, jump up and perch himself on top of a chair’s back. Both of his arms would loosely hang down off the chair. Many times, it looked as if he was on the guest’s shoulders. His grand stroll was showing Julian how easy it was. Many times Julian would come in, not in the same noble way as Nor, but he walked in overcoming his fears.
Nor always had sensitive ears. Pet too close to his ears, he would shake his head.
He was also a big drooler while he purred.
Put both together, his ears and purring, flying spit was imminent.
David used to cry out, “Oh, Nor,” while trying to block his shower of slobber. In time, it was an acceptable fact of Nor; Like a parent with its child; Nor’s sharing of himself became accustomed. It was as Nor was blessing you with his shower.
Nor love to lay on his right side and place his head in the crook of David’s elbow. His paws would wrap around David’s left forearm, and there he purr to calm David. Just don’t go near his ears and he would sleep away the night making a wet spot by his head.
Nor was a gentle ball of fur. Whenever he was at the vet and a painful part of the visit happen, David would hold Nor down. Without missing a beat, Nor would hissed and then start licking David’s hand. It was always as if he understood that David was looking out for his best interest, and
Nor apologizing for hissing.
David’s mornings were always with Nor running toward the kitchen hoping he will follow him and fed him. How Nor love to eat wet food. However, one morning coming home from an all-night flight, Nor did something very odd and kept going to the bedroom instead of the kitchen. Nor wanted David to follow him to the bedroom. In the bedroom, Nor kept going in and out from under the bed. Like most animal who go off into a corner and die, there was Julian’s body under the head end of the bed. Right under where many times they had our nightly cuddles.
David wrapped Julian’s body in a gray towel with his front paws and head hooded and placed him on the floor near the front door. Nor and David had their own visitation. Many times Nor went to Julian’s body and did the cat greeting - an “Ahh” sound that raised up like a question. Only David answered Nor, “Julian’s gone Nor.”
Seven years ago, Alfredo, a person who is allergic to cats and never had a pet, met Nor. Their bond was built mainly from Nor’s goodwill to all things. He didn’t push himself onto Alfredo. Here was just there reminding Alfredo that he was there if he needed him. Alfredo didn’t need a cat. Nevertheless, many times Nor would jump on the chair’s back that Alfredo was sitting in just reminding him that he was still here. He would sit and wait for him. He lay at the end of the bed waiting for him to open up. Nor knew how to get more than just your attention; Alfredo ended up falling in love with Nor. It was all part of Nor’s plan to be agreeable to all who knew him.
Three years ago, a blue-gray kitten was found on Touhy Avenue’s gore at the tollway ramp exit. Being under moving cars, this cat astonishingly made it to the side of the road where David picked up this luckiest-cat-alive. Bringing him home, Nor hissed at this five month old kitten and then straightaway started licking the top of his head. It was as if he was telling the kitten, “I’m the boss and behave. Now, let’s get you cleaned up. You’re going to love it here.”
For a cat, Nor’s friendly laidback attitude was unique to David. Most cats are choosey to who they bond with. Nor liked everyone. He showed his compassion many times sitting in a stranger’s laps to greet them.
Repeatedly Nor showed that he was the underdog for cats. He showed this the first day David bought him home defending the crazy black cat, Julian. If any cat cried out, Nor would come running to help by defending them. Usually, it was to calm the other cat.
He has even put himself between a visiting friend’s dog and another cat. Nor would then bob on the dog’s nose with his clawless paw stopping the playful dog by telling him, “Behave. Stop picking on the cats. Let’s all get along together in peace.” Nor would walk pass the dog to show the other cat that there is nothing to fear about this funny four legged creature. “Peace be in this place.”
His last years Nor continued to be of good spirits in a slower pace. He visited the old lady that lived downstairs, David’s mother. It was the senior home. David ‘s mother sat in her chair and to her left Nor laid in David’s grandmother’s old rocking chair. They sat in silence or watching TV. The two of them slowly climbing the stairs together; Both understanding each other’s age.
Nor’s spirits were good till the end. He loved his wet food and ate every day. On his last day, he did not hide somewhere to die. Instead he came into the room where Alfredo was in as if asking to be held one more time. As in life, his death was to be with others; And like his namesake, Nor still shines bright.
Where Julian had die under the bed, Nor laid in the same spot, but on top of the bed. He was not afraid of the next part of his journey.
He passed away in Alfredo’s arms knowing that he was loved.Add your content here
Noor was from the Tree House Foundation, a non-profit cageless, no-kill cat shelter for strays [now renamed Tree House Humane Society]. For even footing, David wanted a cat that also had his front paws de-clawed. After explaining to the Tree House’s intake counselor that Julian was already de-clawed when he received him, the intake counselor showed David to the upstairs of the Foundation’s Victorian style house. There in a huge room were 30 to 40 cats having free reign all over the place. The counselor introduces David to a brown cat that ignored David.
The intake counselor then presented a cat named Red Baron, a cat that was covered with reddish-gold long fur. This cat was slowly walking in the middle of the room through a line of cats hissing, growling, or raising an armed clawed paw of warning. Red Baron would stop and slowly turn his head at the distressed cat, nod his head as saying, “Peace, man, peace. Be cool, man. Be a cool cat.“ Red Baron strike a chord within David as an old soul hippie minus the round frame sunglasses and red bandanna wrap around his forehead.
“If this cat can deal with these batty surroundings,” David said to himself, “then he can deal with Psycho-Julian.”
Julian and Red Baron’s first meeting did not happen as designed. The plan was to separate Red Baron in the den for a few days while Julian and him got use to each other’s smells and sounds on opposite sides of the den’s door. When feeding Red Baron, Julian slipped into the den. The ole Julian return. He went berserk hissing and howling. His black fur stood up on his back. He jumped in the air and actually climbed the walls and furniture. Julian was defecating leaving little gifts here and there. All this going on while never physically encountering Red Baron.
All Red Baron did was sit there and watch Julian throw his temper-tantrum.
Trying to get Julian out of the den was awfully problematic. David grabbed Julian while he was climbing the window’s screen; Julian let out an even louder yowl. Anyone outside walking by the window might think this poor cat was being skinned alive.
After getting Julian’s hold off from the screen, David clutched Julian with his arms stretched out as the cat blared his sounds and jerking his body trying to free himself.
Red Baron to the rescue!
Ouch! A pain in David’s left calf.
There was Red Baron biting David.
“What the hell,” roared David? “I got this cat to befriend you and he turns on me!”
Red Baron was defending his fellow cat-kind. David drop Julian and stormed out the den yelling, “Fine! Kill yourselves!”
Later that day, while debating if “Red-Judas” should stay or be bought back to the Tree House Foundation, David’s boyfriend at that time renamed Red Baron after Queen Noor, the Queen of Jordan. Nor is an unisex name meaning: “The Light.“ It was a suitable name for this newcomer cat. Something happen because there was an armistice with Julian and Nor. Julian kept his distance from Nor with an extremely watchful eye. In observing and living with Nor, Julian slowly became a friendlier cat. What a friend he had in Nor.
Over time, one could never tell who the king-cat was. Nor would chase Julian all around the house while Julian hissed and yowled; Nor would bounce himself onto Julian making him fall flat onto the floor with a loud thud. At times it sounded as if something crash to the floor and broke; nothing to be found broken or tilted in the house. Then Julian always had the right of way when it came to feeding time and first dibs for my lap. Nor allowed Julian to think he was the King-cat.
Moving from a two-bedroom condo to a four-bedroom house, Nor relished in the wide spaces. Julian on the other hand, took a long while to get use to an endless space. Julian would stay in a few areas. Stairs seemed to be a foreign concept to him. Carefree Nor would change that. He would taunt Julian into chasing him trying to get Julian to see the many different spots in the house.
Nor’s laid-back attitude calmed Julian to become mellow and affectionate to other people. Nor would make an entrance into a room in a graceful bold pace as if he was the star. He cross the room and then, jump up and perch himself on top of a chair’s back. Both of his arms would loosely hang down off the chair. Many times, it looked as if he was on the guest’s shoulders. His grand stroll was showing Julian how easy it was. Many times Julian would come in, not in the same noble way as Nor, but he walked in overcoming his fears.
Nor always had sensitive ears. Pet too close to his ears, he would shake his head.
He was also a big drooler while he purred.
Put both together, his ears and purring, flying spit was imminent.
David used to cry out, “Oh, Nor,” while trying to block his shower of slobber. In time, it was an acceptable fact of Nor; Like a parent with its child; Nor’s sharing of himself became accustomed. It was as Nor was blessing you with his shower.
Nor love to lay on his right side and place his head in the crook of David’s elbow. His paws would wrap around David’s left forearm, and there he purr to calm David. Just don’t go near his ears and he would sleep away the night making a wet spot by his head.
Nor was a gentle ball of fur. Whenever he was at the vet and a painful part of the visit happen, David would hold Nor down. Without missing a beat, Nor would hissed and then start licking David’s hand. It was always as if he understood that David was looking out for his best interest, and
Nor apologizing for hissing.
David’s mornings were always with Nor running toward the kitchen hoping he will follow him and fed him. How Nor love to eat wet food. However, one morning coming home from an all-night flight, Nor did something very odd and kept going to the bedroom instead of the kitchen. Nor wanted David to follow him to the bedroom. In the bedroom, Nor kept going in and out from under the bed. Like most animal who go off into a corner and die, there was Julian’s body under the head end of the bed. Right under where many times they had our nightly cuddles.
David wrapped Julian’s body in a gray towel with his front paws and head hooded and placed him on the floor near the front door. Nor and David had their own visitation. Many times Nor went to Julian’s body and did the cat greeting - an “Ahh” sound that raised up like a question. Only David answered Nor, “Julian’s gone Nor.”
Seven years ago, Alfredo, a person who is allergic to cats and never had a pet, met Nor. Their bond was built mainly from Nor’s goodwill to all things. He didn’t push himself onto Alfredo. Here was just there reminding Alfredo that he was there if he needed him. Alfredo didn’t need a cat. Nevertheless, many times Nor would jump on the chair’s back that Alfredo was sitting in just reminding him that he was still here. He would sit and wait for him. He lay at the end of the bed waiting for him to open up. Nor knew how to get more than just your attention; Alfredo ended up falling in love with Nor. It was all part of Nor’s plan to be agreeable to all who knew him.
Three years ago, a blue-gray kitten was found on Touhy Avenue’s gore at the tollway ramp exit. Being under moving cars, this cat astonishingly made it to the side of the road where David picked up this luckiest-cat-alive. Bringing him home, Nor hissed at this five month old kitten and then straightaway started licking the top of his head. It was as if he was telling the kitten, “I’m the boss and behave. Now, let’s get you cleaned up. You’re going to love it here.”
For a cat, Nor’s friendly laidback attitude was unique to David. Most cats are choosey to who they bond with. Nor liked everyone. He showed his compassion many times sitting in a stranger’s laps to greet them.
Repeatedly Nor showed that he was the underdog for cats. He showed this the first day David bought him home defending the crazy black cat, Julian. If any cat cried out, Nor would come running to help by defending them. Usually, it was to calm the other cat.
He has even put himself between a visiting friend’s dog and another cat. Nor would then bob on the dog’s nose with his clawless paw stopping the playful dog by telling him, “Behave. Stop picking on the cats. Let’s all get along together in peace.” Nor would walk pass the dog to show the other cat that there is nothing to fear about this funny four legged creature. “Peace be in this place.”
His last years Nor continued to be of good spirits in a slower pace. He visited the old lady that lived downstairs, David’s mother. It was the senior home. David ‘s mother sat in her chair and to her left Nor laid in David’s grandmother’s old rocking chair. They sat in silence or watching TV. The two of them slowly climbing the stairs together; Both understanding each other’s age.
Nor’s spirits were good till the end. He loved his wet food and ate every day. On his last day, he did not hide somewhere to die. Instead he came into the room where Alfredo was in as if asking to be held one more time. As in life, his death was to be with others; And like his namesake, Nor still shines bright.
Where Julian had die under the bed, Nor laid in the same spot, but on top of the bed. He was not afraid of the next part of his journey.
He passed away in Alfredo’s arms knowing that he was loved.Add your content here