Dusty

Dusty is a pretty incredible animal. He has started watching over her at night and is quick to start yelling when she is in distress.

Not many people know the full story about Dusty. Sara got him when she was 5 years old. My mother said that it is important for a child to grow up with an animal and 5 years old is a good age to start caring for one. So, at age 5 I took Sara to a friend of mine who had a new litter of Maine Coon kittens. Her first inclination was to chase around the room trying to catch a kitten. I told her to stop that and sit in the middle of the room. Her cat would come to her. After a few minutes, the smallest of the bunch ventured out from beneath a piece of furniture. He strode to Sara as if he knew where he was going. He crawled in her lap and curled up. Starting to purr I told her that her cat had just chosen her. We wrapped the tiny cat in a wash cloth (yes, he was that small) and took him home.

Once in the house and released the ball of fur took off for the nearest dark space under furniture. Several minutes of peeking and hunting for the little fluff yielded nothing, until from beneath my husbands desk came a faint meow. Sara walked over and squatted next to his computer chair to find the little kitten staring back at her. He had tangled himself in the computer cords and was afraid to move. His big gold eyes almost hovering in the dark mass of wires and dust bunnies that frequented the breeding ground below Tracy's desk. We extracated the small cat and, shaking the dust off of him, one of us commented he looked like a dust ball. That immediatly became his name, as did many variations...dust ball, dusty ball, duster, dust buster, dustaroo, duster kitty, mister kitty, old man and bitch face. The last one was given to him by Michael while Sara was in the hospital. Seems that every time i'd come in the house and he could smell her on my clothes and she wasn't there he'd read me the riot act and bitch at me.

This cat took to Sara like no other animal i've ever seen. She could put him on his back, carry him around by his forepaws, carry him like a baby, cuddle him under covers, wrap him in a baby blanket and put him in a stroller. She'd sleep with him like a teddy bear at night, and a rag doll during the day. The cat's favorite place to sleep has always been ON Sara.

He has traveled from California to Texas and back, San Diego, and many locations in the bay area. He has gone for long car rides and acted as navigator, driving coach, and lap warmer. He's flown back and forth on the airlines, always calm and never medicated. As long as he was with Sara nothing seemed to phase him.

When we got Michael's dog (when was 10) Dusty took it upon himself to school the puppy on the heirarchy of the household. Despite being declawed on the front, he handily nipped at the dogs nose and ears until he showed the correct amount of respect for the cat. I don't think the got along, per se, but they do live together well.

Then came my puppy. Dusty has never shown a maternal/paternal instinct before, but he cared for Gracie as if she were a kitten. He washed her face and ears. He'd stay close when she was cold. He'd go outside with her when she was potty training. He'd play with her until she got rough then get cat on her and she'd settle down. Gracie came to us unweaned, well below 9 weeks, and in danger of failing to thrive. When she was not tucked in my shirt for warmth, she was curled up with Dusty for warmth. The puppy spent several months on gentle formula, cat milk (canned), and baby cereal while her stomach matured and she started to thrive. The whole time the cat watched over her. he'd back the other dog off of her if he was bugging her too much.

This cat has been as large as 21 pounds at one point - not fat - just a large Maine Coon. He hovers between 12 and 16 these days, depending on how healthy he is at the time. At one time during Sara's hospitalization he stopped eating (actually, did a couple of times) and lost a third of his body weight in just a few weeks. His fur got dull. He didn't clean himself as well. he didn't seem to really care about much. When we would take him to the hospital he'd perk up and start eating, grooming, and talking again.

Well, since she's been home the cat has done incredibly well. he is up to 16-17 pounds, eyes bright, coat shiny, and a happy, purposeful stride about him. It took him a few weeks, but he has taken in about Sara and doesn't spend much time away from her. Nightly he is in her room, taking the night shift and cat naps and watches over her. When I come in for her 2am breathing treatment he gives me report, meows at me a few words, goes to the box (in the other room) and catches a big drink of water. He then comes back and takes his place on the chair in her room, facing her.

During the day, when nurses are around, he can be found sleeping on her bed - getting his rest for the day - so that he can be awake for his night shift.

I am amazed at the love this animal shows for her. Her condition is hard for us humans to understand and we have the benefit of information and discussion. He has had to come to terms and find his own way without anything other than his love for Sara to guide him. It means so much to her to see him walk over her, come check her face, and curl up around her feet. She knows he loves her and he is going to help her in any way he can. That equates to "fur therapy". He lays down next to her and she can feel him - his warmth, his purr, and it makes her truly happy. It always has.

I'm just amazed at what an amazing animal he turned out to be. From that scraggly little kitten being drug around by his tail by a 5 year old, to a gorgeous large cat with a chatty disposition and a large heart walking all over the girl he loves just because he can.