Life is wonderful [thanks to a little cat with a big heart]

Meet Sapcio: the apple of my eye, the key to my heart, one of the most important living beings in all of the world to me… my Baby. This post will show you a part of me that only those closest to me have seen and know. My family rescued Sapcio (it’s a Polish name pronounced Sapcho) towards the end of a very cold fall 10 years ago. He was the “runt” of the litter and has always been the smallest of the bunch. I guess you could say he picked us because he’d always follow us when we’d walk back to our car. Ever since he’s been my “Baby”. My bed is his bed (he even has his very own pillow) and most nights he sleeps right in my arms as a child sleeps with a stuffed toy, except mine breathes and purrs.

On July 7th, 2010, Sapcio ran away. At first I wasn’t too worried because Sapcio used to run away every once in a while when we used to live in the States, but always came back after no longer than five days. Five days became a week, two weeks, a month, etc. We’d gone on walks all over calling for him, informing our neighbors, hanging up flyers, and calling the lost and found home for cats here in the Schaffhausen canton. When the thought of Sapcio possibly not coming back home entered my mind I was devastated. I didn’t think it was fair that when I finally grew to like living in Switzerland and had gotten enthusiastic about what I wanted to do with my life, the worst possible thing happened. Now, I realize that my family and especially myself think about animals differently from most people; we have five cats and they are considered our family members, we had to pick a living situation that would be ideal for them, and we try to give them the best food possible among so many other things we do for our five boys. So when Sapcio ran away, I felt that my life was ruined and had no purpose; nothing else mattered. I realized that all the times before in my life where I felt depressed were nothing… I had the whole world open for me and at my finger tips and I took it for granted. Realizing that you may never see someone you love ever again is one of the worst, if not the worst, things that can happen to someone.ย They say “home is where the heart is” but I had lost my heart and I didn’t know how to find it.

We went to the vet with one of our other kiddos and I thought I’d ask the vet what to do when a cat went missing even though we’d done everything we’d been told and could think of before. He told me all I’d already heard, but gave me the number to the canton’s “cat house” just in case, adding that it was unlikely that we’d see our cat again. The number he gave me was the exact same number I’d called before except for the very last number so I figured it was the same place just a different area and put it off. That weekend I thought “what if while I’m here waiting and hoping for Sapcio, he’s out there somewhere waiting and hoping, too, but he can’t do anything about it… I can!”. That Monday I called the agency and was surprised that they hadn’t heard of our case before. On Wednesday morning we got a call “we found your cat”. We drove to the town down the hill from where we live and went to the vet where we were told Sapcio would be. I was greeted by a very cheerful woman and led to a room where my Baby was in a cage: thin, battered, and calm. We were told that a woman had brought him in Tuesday, the day after I had made the call. That Wednesday was October 27th, almost a whole four months after Sapcio ran away. It was the happiest day of my life and I’ve been happy non-stop from that day on. Nothing is raining on my parade. I have everything I absolutely need and everyone I love in my life and that’s what matters more than anything; the rest I only need to work towards and I know that I’ll get what I need most out of life as long as I just make the call.

Why in the world did I just tell you that very personal story? Because it’s thanks to my little Baby that this blog exists! After Sapcio left, most days I spent crying and being depressed (I had a whole sad music playlist pretty much on repeat). At that time I decided I needed to do something with myself so I started designing my blog, but it wasn’t until Sapcio returned that I became happy and realized that life was worth living. It was about time I started doing something useful and gave some of my love to others. This blog is as much for me as it is for each and every one of you. Life is wonderful and everyone has something wonderful to share with the world, they just need to realize it.

[Note: Make sure to click “Read more” after these next few pictures to see photos of Sapcio and me! My first photo(s) ever of me on this blog. Just an FYI… if you’re interested.]

The desktop wallpaper I made for my computer for the time Sapcio was missing. Yup, that’s me!:

If you took the time to read all of this (thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚ I appreciate it), I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts and feelings about this post!

Comments

Lena
31 January 2011 - 6:59 pm

I am so glad that you found him, I too have my baby. His name is Mervin, while I have three cats he is rarely out of my sight. I would suggest trying to keep him indoors as much as possible from now on! Cats are much safer indoors anyway, as their lifespan is nearly 5x longer. I am glad you two are reunited!

Eva
1 February 2011 - 12:08 am

Thank you so much for visiting, reading this post, and commenting! Animals truly are amazing. It’s nice to hear about someone else that has a “baby”. ๐Ÿ™‚ Sapcio is actually an indoor cat and I’d only take him outside for a little bit every once in a while to eat some grass or to frolic around. One day he just decided to run for it. No worries, though, I am keeping a close eye on him these days, but he has no intentions of even venturing out on the balcony in this temperature! Thanks again, Lena!

Misty :)
2 February 2011 - 6:05 pm

I remember this. I almost cried reading this post again, even though this isn’t new to me. It still makes me sad to think of how it was when he was gone. But I am REALLY happy he came home! And I’m happy that YOU are happy and living life to its fullest now!! There’s nothing more I wanna see than my bestie to be happy ๐Ÿ™‚

Eva
2 February 2011 - 9:11 pm

Thank you, Misty! ๐Ÿ™‚

Jan~animals & nutrition are my passion
13 February 2011 - 3:36 pm

All I can say is..How can anyone not love animals! OMgoodness Sapcio is gorgious as all animals are! Between my two daughters they have rescued 7 cats and those cats are truly loved! Blessings to all animals on earth!
Jani~whenever I see an animal I have to comment

Jan~animals & nutrition are my passion
13 February 2011 - 3:46 pm

I do have to say your story gave me a chill and a tear or two rolled down my face..you & Sapcio were truly meant to be together..soul mates forever!

Eva
13 February 2011 - 11:41 pm

Jani – Thank you so much for visiting my blog and especially for reading and commenting on this post. You must truly love animals, too, and it’s fantastic to meet people that feel the same about animals as I do. Your words mean so much to me. Thank you, again!

Susan
9 May 2011 - 9:06 pm

Oh what a beautiful baby, and I got teary reading your story. I cannot imagine how painful that was. Thank you for linking me to it…we both certainly understand having furry children.





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