Tigger

Awww, Tigger. What can I say about that lovable and gentle man? Everybody loved Tigger–everyone. The vets loved him, the kids loved him, coeds loved him, Stanley love dhim, Ollie super-duper loved him. I loved him. He was the Big Man on Campus, ie Boardwalk Apartments, for many, many years. He had many loves and many adventures in his lifetime. I will never forget the day I first met him with Stella, we were out walking and we heard this loud “Miaaaaaoow” from the bushes and out comes this large ginger cat to say ‘hi!’. From that moment on, he was in are lives–first as a greeter on our walks but then he would come by and play with Stanley from the windows. He eventually came in–ad he’d stay in all day and go out all night. His family eventually abandoned him, but he was pretty much a regular at our house all day and then would gallivant at night. He kept that routine up until the last few years when his diabetes and old age. He was always so docile, calm, gentle and sweet. He loved his food, though. He also loved to purr and head butt and was basically a big love bug. I never liked when I had to let him out, I’d worry so–and I’d go and get him in cat fights. I could pick him right up and he’d never claw or bite. He never, ever did that to me. Oh, how I wish I could hold Tiggy now. He loved me so, he did–but he was more like a hubby than a kid. I never quite could tame in, he always kept his Tom Cat ways. He would even try to jump over fence last year! He was a special cat, and I know he brightened many hearts of the lonely throughout his years as a resident apartment cat. Both Stephen and Gracie, two of the apartment kids, were very sad about his passing and keep pics of him. That’s how much of an impact he had. He was just so loving. I even caught someone taking a pic of him once saying it was for his old roommate who just loved that cat! We moved here in 2010–and I am not sure when Tiggy started coming over regularly but by 2014 he was…maybe even 2013. Some people called him Garfield, two Mexican ladies would even put out fajitas for him! He’d always have that big cry of his at the front door to get in and I’d bolt up and scoop him up. He was a great spooner, he loved his bird videos, he loved playing with strings. He also was the BEST GRANDPA to little Ollie Bird, so gentle and loving–they had lots of snuggle sessions (lots of bite sessions too, but that was all Ollie). I’ve never trusted an animal more–even Stella could snap if I was hurting her–automatically like. But never Tig, he was a great patient and was so stoic. Poor guy was probably never vaccinated, and over the years fought some pretty crazy illnesses where he looked on death’s door. The diabetes really racked him and then, we believe, it was some sort of cancer in the end. He still was as stubborn as ever, though–wanted to do things on his terms–even his passing. Oh, Tigger–the best kisses too–his crazy freckled ginger lip and chin. Huge paws, long whiskers. His passing hit me hard because I wanted help him so. Tigger was named by his family who had him here in Boardwalk, and so that’s what we called him and it stuck. I would call him Tiggy or Tig or pop-pop or grandpa. I hope to see you again–I know I will, we might be an old married couple, though, Tiggy! Below are some of my favorite photos of one half of the “orangies”–beautiful, kind, and gentle Tigger.