Lloyd:

Scruffy, an older tabby cat was making his rounds
to the alleys behind the town restaurants to see
what he could find to eat. Usually the kitchen help
left him some tidbits hidden just for him as he was
one of their favorite visitors amongst the other homeless
cats that had no place to call their own. Other tough
younger cats usually drove the older cats away from their
cozy nests and Scruffy had been driven away more than
once. Tonight Scruffy was visiting the alley of a
fish restaurant. He found his morsels of fish and
ate them savoring the taste as he did so.

The smell of the fish brought back memories of long ago when
he had a home with a kindly lady named Annie. Annie
had loved her Scruffy and had spoiled him. Unfortunately
for Scruffy Annie became ill and died. She was an older
woman and was not in the best of health. No one noticed
that Annie had a cat living with her, so after Annie had
not shown up Scruffy was forced to go outdoors to find
something to eat and maybe someone new to take care of
him, but did not find himself a new home and was forced
to live as a homeless cat. Tonight Scruffy thought that
he would take a walk to the house where he and Annie used
to live. He passed by many homes all decorated for the
holiday named Christmas. As he walked he remembered...

Gigi:

...what his life was like. He remembered what it was like
to always have food. He remembered what it was like to
sleep in a bed. And he remembered what it was like to
be loved. It was hard for him not to be sad when he
thought about his life then and now. When all of a
sudden out of the corner of his eye he saw...

Buddee:

...an old lady sitting on a bench. She was feeding
some birds and as Scruffy drew closer he thought
to himself, she looks so much like my previous Mom.
He walked quietly up to her, trying not to scare
the birds who scattered at his approach. The old lady
looked down and said...

Gigi:

..."Well, hello there...aren't you a handsome fellow?
But, what are you doing outside on such a cold and
windy day?" The old lady reached down and scratched
Scruffy on the top of his head, and...

Lloyd:

..."I was taking a walk to my old home that I used to
live in a couple of years ago. I miss being with my
Annie who used to live here," Scruffy said. "Oh," said
the elderly lady. "I once knew someone named Annie.
Did she live in the cute white house on the corner of
Elm Street?" Scruffy was excited. "Yes!" he said. "That
is where I lived! Some people came to the house and
took her away." "Oh, my," said the elderly lady. "I
remember her having a nice tabby cat named Scruffy. I
thought that he got a new home." "No such luck," said
Scruffy and began to tell the elderly lady about himself...

Sasha Brewer:

...He told her how hard it was to live on the streets.
How there were many nights he couldn't find enough to
eat or how he had to fight for the food. How cold it
was in the winter with no warm Annie to cuddle with or
no fire to curl up in front of. Scruffy told her everything.
The old lady sat there intently and listened. She even
reached down and stroked his fur. Scruffy arched his back
appreciatively and purred. Then...

Spyder & MGD:

...Scruffy began to have an idea. What if this nice lady
could take him home with her? There would be no more
cold nights with little or no food, and he would be
able to give her all the love he had to give. Scruffy
wondered if she would consider taking him home with her.
He started purring his best purrs, and rubbing up against
his new friend, and then...

Lloyd:

...she reached down to pick him up. She held him in
her lap and told Scruffy. "Oh, dear, you poor kitty.
How I wish I could take you home with me. Oh dear.
Oh dear. But, I live in elderly housing and I do not
know if I could have you as a pet. I'll have to check
with their personnel to find out if I could keep you.
Why don't you come along with me while I ask them?"
Scruffy thought it would be okay, so he went with the
elderly lady to the retirement complex where she lived.
She stopped at a building with a nameplate on it titled
Happy Hollow Retirement Center Administration Offices.

The elderly lady opened the door and invited
Scruffy to come in too. Seated at the desk was a pretty
young lady. Her name plate said Miss Kristin Kringle.
She looked up at the two of them and exclaimed, "Hello,
Aileen. Did you have a nice walk to the common to feed
your birds?" "Oh, my, yes!" replied Aileen. "And I met
a dear pet of my old friend Annie who used to live
next door to me before I retired to Happy Hollow.
His name is Scruffy. He is a very nice elderly kitty
and he is looking for a home. I wondered if I could
adopt him and let him live with me?" "Oh, dear," said
Kristin. "I do not know if we can have pets at Happy
Hollow." Just then the door opened again and the three
of them turned around and saw a gentleman and a little girl
come into the office. with Christmas presents in their arms.

"Oh, Dad," said Kristin. "Please come in. This nice lady is Aileen
who lives in unit 25. She was just asking me about keeping her
friend's cat, Scruffy. Here is Scruffy, a nice gray tabby."
"Hello Aileen and Scruffy," said Kristin's father. "I am the
Mayor of Tinseltown. This young lady with me is my
granddaughter Carol; she is my son Nicholas' daughter.
Carol just lost her cat Thomasina a few months ago
and misses her very much."

Carol stooped down and unrolled one of the ribbons from the
presents that she was holding and started to play with Scruffy.
Scruffy enjoyed playing with Carol very much. Carol shrieked with
laughter while Scruffy played with her. "Mayor," said
Aileen, "wouldn't Scruffy make a nice gift for little
Carol? All Scruffy needs is to be checked by a vet
to see if he is OK. He used to belong to a dear friend
of mine named Annie who died and left Scruffy homeless.
He has taken good care of himself, despite the fact
that he is on his own. He is not a feral cat because
he is still tame." "Hmmm," pondered the Mayor...

Shibui:

..."I will have to ask my son's wife, Joy, about that.
She might object to taking in a stray cat." "Oh, Grandpapa,"
Carol pleaded, "can't we take Scruffy with us and show him
to Mommy? If she saw him , I know that she would let me
keep him." The Mayor smiled at his granddaughter, but he
said, "Sweetie, I think it would be best to introduce
Scruffy to your mother later. In the meantime,
we'll drop him off at the veterinarian's clinic
on the way to your house." Scruffy wasn't so sure that
he liked that idea. He wanted a home, not a check up.
Kristin said, "You'll need a box to carry him in. I
think there is one just the right size in the storage
closet." Thinking about being confined in a box made
Scruffy nervous. As Kristin left the room, he...

Lloyd:

...started pacing a little bit. Aileen, seeing Scruffy's
distress began to calm him down by saying, "Scruffy, the
box will not hurt you. Just lay in it while they take you
for a ride to the Vets. They just want to make sure
that you are doing OK physically as you have been outdoors
on your own for such a long time. If the Vet checks
you over it will be for your own good. You need all of
your shots before you can go to live in someone's home.
Just think. It will be worth it if you can get a new
home with Carol." Scruffy thought about this and said...

Gigi:

..."hmmmmmmm...I don't know...it looks awfully dark and
cold and lonely in there...and I hate being confined.
Still, the idea of having a home again was very tempting
and Scruffy was also beginning to realize that he looked...
well...scruffy. Maybe a bath as well as a clean bill of
health from the vet might help to tip the scales in his
favor. So he...

Shibui:

...decided to cooperate. He looked up at Aileen and
said, "I will do whatever you say, but I wish that
you would come with me." Then he jumped into the box.
He was pleasantly surprised to discover that Kristin
had lined it with a soft, fluffy towel. As she put
the lid on the box, Kristin gently said, "Don't worry,
Scruffy. I punched holes in the lid, so you will have
fresh air to breathe. And the clinic is only a couple
of blocks away, so you'll be there in just a few minutes."
As Mr. Kringle bent down to pick up the box, he...

Lloyd:

...said to Aileen, "Yes, why don't you come too. Maybe
Scruffy will be calmer if you would come and we can go
visit Carol's parents after Scruffy gets his check-up.
You can tell my son and daughter-in-law about Scruffy's
history with his former owner." Aileen accepted Mayor
Kringle's invitation and all were on the way to the Vet's.
When they got to the Vet's the Mayor carried the box with
Scruffy in it and said to the nurse at the desk that they
would need a cat leash and collar so that Scruffy could
get out of the box to see what was happening. Receiving
the collar and leash he put it on Scruffy who said to Aileen,
Carol and the Mayor that he recognized this place. Mayor
Kringle then asked the nurse to see if Scruffy's records were
kept there still and sure enough they were. Then the nurse
told the Mayor that the doctor was ready to see Scruffy and...

Bubba Taylor:

...Aileen, the Mayor and Carol all went with Scruffy into
the vet's office. Scruffy looked around the room, the
place looked familiar and there was still that bad smell.
While Scruffy was looking around, the door opened and a
pretty human lady holding a file walked into the room.
"Hello Carol, Mayor and Aileen. My name is Dr. Logan."
Dr. Logan looked at Scruffy, sat next to him and began to
give him chin scratches and said, "This must be Scruffy."
Scruffy started purring. Carol put Scruffy on the exam
table for the doctor to look at the kitty. While checking
Scruffy over, Dr. Logan talked to him the entire time so
he wouldn't be scared. Scruffy didn't like the exam but he
liked the idea of a warm home with a loving family even more.
Dr. Logan looked at Scruffy and said, "All done little man."
Then she turned to talk with the Mayor, Carol and Aileen...

Lloyd:

..."For a cat who has been outdoors on his own for a few
years, Scruffy remarkably appears to be in good health.
He has taken very good care of himself. He is a bit
underweight but with a good home, he will soon fatten
up a little. Looking at his records he was in here
two years ago and he was in good health then. All I need
to do now is update his shots. Do you want Scruffy to
receive a little bit of grooming? His long tabby coat
is a little 'scruffy' and he needs some fur balls removed.
Other than that he is free to go with all of you."

The Mayor, Aileen and Carol were all pleased with Scruffy's
condition. "Yippee!" said Carol. "I just knew that you
would be OK Scruffy." "Yes," said Mayor Kringle to Carol.
"That is good news. Why don't we have Scruffy receive his
shots and some grooming. Your Mom will love Scruffy as
much as we do when she sees how handsome and healthy he is."

Aileen was very happy too and said to Scruffy, "You are a
very lucky cat! Maybe your Annie has been your cat guardian
angel to look over you when she could not be physically with
you. I am so happy for you. If Carol's parents adopt you
I want to visit you now and again as Annie would like that."
"Purrs, Aileen, I would like that too." said Scruffy. "Aileen
is most welcome to visit you Scruffy if I can adopt you. You
are all I want for Christmas. I love you already!", Carol said.

"OK," said the pretty Doctor Logan. "Let's finish with Scruffy's
shots and grooming." Scruffy thought to himself, "I am a very
happy cat even if I do not get adopted. I know that I am still
loved." Everyone watched the doctor give Scruffy his shots. He
was not afraid because of all of the love and attention. He thought
again to himself of his Annie. She must be his guardian angel.
The doctor gave Scruffy his shots then said...

Bubba Taylor:

..."OK, little man, lets take you to be groomed so everyone
can see how handsome you are!" Carol picked Scruffy up
and everyone followed Dr. Logan to another room. Carol
placed him on a metal table; the groomer, Lily, stood beside it.
There were all sorts of unfamiliar objects on the table...

Gigi and Patrick:

...and Scruffy was terrified! He started to whimper and
whine, and tried to bury his head under Carol's arm and
her rib cage. Carol could feel him tremble, so she looked
at him and said...

Lloyd:

..."Please, Scruffy, do not be scared. I get my hair cut often
and I like how I look afterward. You will be so handsome
once you get groomed." Scruffy looked up at Carol and saw
the love and concern in her eyes for him. "I'm just being a
big baby, Scruffy thought to himself. "I will do it. I will
let Lily do what she wants with my fur. I will be brave for
Carol." Lily saw Scruffy starting to relax and gently pulled
him away from Carol's arms and put him on the table. She picked
up a brush and started to comb Scruffy's fur. "Purr," said Scruffy.
"That feels so good." Scruffy settled down peacefully while
Lily brushed him. Then she picked up a pair of scissors and
proceeded to cut off the fur balls from Scruffy's coat.

Scruffy just lay there dreaming about what it would be like to
be adopted by Carol's parents Nicholas and Joy. The very first
thing he would like to do would be to lay in front of a fireplace
and have a long kitty nap after his adventures as a homeless cat.
The next thing he dreamed about was to be held and loved by Carol
and her family. He was awakened by Lily who told him, "Well, Scruffy,
you certainly are a handsome cat now. No one will be able to resist
adopting you. Good Luck!" She passed Scruffy to Carol who gave him
a big kiss and said to her grandfather, "Let's take Scruffy home now!"
Mayor Kringle smiled and said to Carol and Aileen, "Yes! We will take
Scruffy to his new home." The Mayor thanked Lily as they left the clinic.

Scruffy was very content. He thought of his Annie and mewed to her
that he missed her and would she please watch over him as he went to
Carol's home. Maybe his Annie was his guardian angel after all, as he
had decided that day to go home to his old neighborhood. A lot had
happened to Scruffy today. He had found a lot of new friends who
cared for him. Now if he could only find a new home.....

"Scruffy, we are home!" said Carol. All four went into the house. Scruffy
noticed a wonderful fireplace decorated for the holiday with stockings
hung on the mantel and a beautiful tree next to it. The Mayor introduced
Aileen and Scruffy to Joy and Nicholas, who almost in unison exclaimed,
"What a handsome cat! Whose cat is he?" Carol replied, "Ours, if you
want him. I know that he is all I want for Christmas this year!"
Joy and Nicholas looked at each other with questioning eyes, nodded
their heads in affirmation to one another and then Joy replied,
"Yes! He is now our cat!" Joy picked up Scruffy and wrapped him
around her neck like a fur stole. "Yes, she said, I would like this
cat too! He is the only fur that I want for Christmas."

Nicholas, Aileen, Carol and Mayor Kringle felt elated as they watched
Scruffy making friends with Joy. Scruffy felt contentment and he hoped
that other homeless cats were as lucky as he. He would try to get his new
family involved in helping feral and throw-away cats receive new homes.
"All a cat wants is a home, health and happiness," thought Scruffy.

The End

Scruffy's Story was written from December 14, 2000, to
January 21, 2001. It is dedicated to King Putter Catnip,
one of the oldest tabby cats in OCS, who passed over the
Rainbow Bridge in the year 2000.

The MIDI playing is "Stocking" composed by and © Bruce DeBoer
from his Christmas collection.

 

© Older Cats Society