On New Year’s Eve, 2020, as Martin lay dying, I put out a plea on FB for a home for his cat, Idjit. Martin had adopted Idjit several years before from a friend and, despite my many efforts to get Martin to give him a better name, he always refused.

Idjit was Marty’s boon companion, and went everywhere with him. He loved to ride in the car – unrestrained, despite my cautionary tales – usually on the dashboard where he was King of the World, but also with paws on the windowsill, watching the scenery go by. Although Marty had many pets duringhis lifetime, Ihad never seen him bond with an animal the way he bonded with Idjit.

But the time had come to find a new home for Marty’s cat. He terrorized my cats – not intentionally, but Daisie hated all “interlopers,” and Dollie was afraid of her own shadow – and my bedroom slippers. Idjit had lived in Marty’s room with him, and Marty’s needs had reached a point that it was difficult to keep the cats separate. And, for the first time, Idjit was an annoyance to all of us. I think he knew how bad things were for Marty.

So I sent out a cry for help and for a new home for an amazing, friendly, highly intelligent – and very vocal – Siamese cat. Within a very short time, a young couple who I’d first met through my niece Jennifer, contacted me and said they’d like to take him to their home as a companion to their cat and their two young children. I was thrilled to know he’d be with someone I know and who would appreciate all of his good qualities, as well as providing a good home for him.

Andrew and Cara arrived early New Year’s Eve afternoon with their girl and boy, and Idjit met his new family for the first time. He took to them right away, and although I shed tears as they drove away, I was deeply happy that things had worked out for the cat who would now have a proper name – Hammy – and not a cringeworthy one!

Martin died on January 2, 2021, without ever realizing that his beloved pet was adjusting to a new home. But it was a relief to all of us to be able to give our son, brother, and uncle our full attention without worrying about where the cat was.

Over the past 23 months, I’ve had updates on Hammy’s new life from his new family. He adjusted quickly and brought a lot of joy into their world. There has never been any question in my mind that Hammy had found the perfect home, and I have been very thankful.

Late this afternoon, I received a text from Andrew, telling me that Hammy’s liver is failing – the same organ that failed Martin is now taking the life of his beloved cat. Tomorrow, Hammy will enter his last sleep, surrounded by people who have loved and cared for him during these final months of his life. He’ll be buried in their backyard with other well-loved pets, and his young mistress (7 years old, I believe) plans to paint a gravestone for him.
As Hammy closes his bright, intelligent eyes tomorrow, I’d like to imagine that he and Martin will be reunited in a way I cannot understand. It gives me comfort, even as I grieve another loss, to think that their special bond will endure even the mystery of death.

As my mother often said, it just wouldn’t be Heaven without our pets. Run free, Idjit/Hammy! Run free!