Fat Bottom Girl Said What

The Universe Sent My Mom A Cat

The universe sent my Mom a cat. I say the universe, because I think there was more depth and breadth to the reasons for this than I can attribute to the regular Cat Distribution System.

All cat lovers, and maybe even some non cat lovers, have heard about the Cat Distribution System. I am unaware of exactly how the Cat Distribution System works, as I believe cats want the inner workings of the system to be shrouded in mystery, as cats themselves exist within a magical, mysterious world which humans know little to nothing about. But for the sake of this story, I will attempt to relay my basic understanding of the Cat Distribution System. It goes a little something like this: cat shows up wherever you may be, cat convinces you you need another cat even if you already have one or two at home, you, being none the wiser about what witchcraft has just been worked on you, takes said cat home and envelops it into your fold. That, is my bare bones explanation of the CDS.

The CDS is very effective and accomplishes its mission on a daily basis, in fact numerous times a day, all over the world. But, I think the universe sent my Mom a cat. Let me tell you why.

Said cat shows up at Mom’s house while she is sitting outside on her deck enjoying a warm spring day. Said cat proceeds to immediately jump up into my Mom’s lap and give her copious amounts of affection, while also singing the song of said cat’s people. You know the song, the one that immediately calms your anxieties and makes you feel as if everything is right in the world even though your world is burning down around you. At first, my Mom thinks said cat is just a lovely visitor, so she savors the time spent with said cat thinking said cat will return to her home but hopefully come visit on a regular basis. Said cat is on Mom’s deck the very next morning.

Mom is concerned someone is missing said cat because Mom can’t understand how anyone would let said cat just wander, so Mom has me check the pet lost and found pages in our community. I scour them, but no one seems to be missing said cat. Said cat keeps hanging around, so Mom opens her door and invites said cat inside. Said cat enters and acts like said cat has always lived there, merely returning after being gone on a short trip to another galaxy. I tell Mom that said cat has been sent by the universe.

In my mind there is no other explanation. What else would explain this loving little ball of fur showing up right when my Mom needs her the most?

Because, you see, there’s something I haven’t told you. Mom is dying. I hate even typing that word, but it’s reality. I mean, we’re all dying, but Mom is dying in the particularly aggressive Stage 4 cancer sense of the word. When Mom was initially diagnosed, a little over 3 years ago now, Mom had to let her last cat go in the middle of her treatment. Mom was devastated because she missed her furry companion. Mom has had furry companions for years and it was foreign to not have the constant presence of cat hair and chaos which accompanies cats. My son and I encouraged her to get another cat, but Mom was concerned she wouldn’t outlast another furry companion. Even though we assured Mom we would always take care of her furry companion, she said she wouldn’t get another.

Until the universe sent said cat.

Said cat now has a name. Shugg. Short for sugar, even though she can be a bit spicy at times too, because she’s still very kitten like. Shugg has now been spayed and had her immunizations, and thankfully, has finally forgiven me for delivering her to the vet for all that poking and prodding. Shugg has already provided my Mom with hours of cat cuddles, along with laughter due to her kitten antics, and for this, when it is time, I will gladly welcome her into my crazy cat house.

The universe sent my Mom a cat to help navigate one of the most difficult roads she’s ever walked in this journey we call life. Maybe the universe sent this cat to help us all navigate this path.