Phantom Felines And Other Ghostly Animals - Gerina Dunwich 2006

Squish and Rameses
Phantom Felines

by Samantha Williams

This last July, I lost two cats—one week apart. One was a great grand-kitten and another was a great-great-grand-kitten. All of the cats I have owned during the past five years have been lineage cats. I have always owned one of the next generations.

Squish had been the “baby” for a long time and she knew she was the baby. When Silver (her oldest sister) got pregnant, Squish got so jealous of her. Silver demanded all of my time and attention because the unborn ones were active and driving her nuts! When Silver gave birth to two kittens, Squish sniffed them and decided she didn’t like them one bit! Silver, while trying to keep her babies warm during those early days of life, accidentally smothered the first one. Silver came running into the living room and got my attention, and I went to see what was wrong. Silver looked at me as if to say, “You can make it better, can’t you?”

After the death of the first one, all of the older cats, including Squish, became a “mom” to the last remaining one, which I named Rameses because of the white kohl lines on his eyes. Squish and Rameses became very close and always together. Whether playing, eating, or sleeping, you never saw one without the other.

My house became assaulted by fleas that drove my furry family and me crazy. We tried exterminators and herbal repellants, but nothing seemed to help. I awoke one morning to find Squish dead. The vet later concluded that flea anemia had been the cause. The efforts the vet had been using to treat the fleas had not been enough to prevent her death.

Exactly seven days later, Rameses took a turn for the worst and I rushed him to the vet. There was nothing that could be done. He died later that night. I buried the two young ones, who were inseparable, side by side.

The next night I had a dream about them. I saw them playing and sleeping together and chasing houseflies (their favorite activity). I awoke and realized I heard crunching coming from the kitchen. I thought for a moment that it must be the other “girls” having a midnight snack, but then I realized that they were all at the vet’s for observation just in case something might happen while we continued to de-flea the house. I took a peek around the corner and saw the two gray faces of Rameses and Squish eagerly munching away at a dish of cat food. They looked up and saw me, purred, and then vanished. I now know that the longing Rameses had for Squish was so great that he had to go and be with her.

I still cry when I think about what I saw, but I know that the two cats that couldn’t bear to be apart were together once again, and I smile, having that knowledge.

This recent Samhain circle, I made a kitty ancestors’ altar to remember all my beloved cats, and I felt every one come by and visit during the Dumb Supper feast we held for them. I have dreamed about Squish and Rameses coming back to me one day. I know that when they do, I will welcome them with open arms.