This is Rasta. Despite the fact we live in the OC, he is not wearing a sweater because it’s “cute”.

Rasta was rescued from euthanasia by the vet who was supposed to put him down, because she felt that according to his bloodwork he had many years left, and because the owner’s reasoning of “I don’t want him anymore” wasn’t good enough for her. Apparently, that guy was a real jerk. He called Rasta “Fatty Pop-Eye”. Who names a cat that? And Rasta is anemic, besides. What an asshole.
Then the vet gave him to me, a stranger. She offered to pay for his medical expenses as long as he lived, which I was grateful for, but when the bills began to rack up I didn’t blame her for not returning my calls.

Rasta was first diagnosed with advanced periodontal disease, and his every yawn or meow was like a corpse farting. Unfortunately, due to severity of the decay, I couldn’t afford the $400+ treatment. Rasta and I have agreed that when I win the lottery his rotting teeth will be first thing to go, and in the meantime all of his food tastes like shit.
Then he was diagnosed with chronic arthritis, the type that is stronger than pills and requires weekly injections ($100 each) Guess what I couldn’t afford. Now Rasta hobbles along with his legs severely bowed out and his back legs as stiff as boards. I have to lift him onto the 1 foot high bed. But he’s cheerful.
Then he had bowl problems. Apparently, wet food wasn’t soft enough. He had an enema ($80) and some medications prescribed that he has to take every night ($120). He cries at night because he gets constipated and wants sink water. I guess when he drinks the first time out of his bowl, his rancid mouth contaminates the water and he won’t touch it again. Hence the constipation. I probably change his water four times a day.
Then my poor Rasta got mats. Because of the arthritis, his grooming habits became self mutilating. Every day, Rasta grew self-inflicted dreads. According to the internet, long hairs and Persians are prone to mats. Rasta is half and half. Lucky him. I took him to Petsmart to get him shaved in the atrocious “Lion Cut”. His mats were so thick, they couldn’t shave him, and made a mess of his coat. I had to schedule my partially-shaved/ partially bloodied cat for a vet-licensed grooming. I also bought him a sweater to keep him warm. Afterwards, he slept in my lap while I drove home–too much stress for an old man to handle. I’m never going back to Petsmart.
Today, Rasta is showing signs of feline senility. Normally fastidious, he can’t seem to make the turds land in the box, only next to it. He stares at the walls for hours. If I enter the room and call his name, he looks in the opposite direction. As a result of his disorientation, Rasta has become like an affectionate tick, always at my side and scooting closer and closer until he’s positively mashed up against me. He grooms his sweater and looks sad and naked and confused.
We still do the things we used to do. We go grocery shopping and rent movies at Blockbuster, and Rasta sits in my arms like a baby and looks around and purrs. We love Petco because of the cat towers–Rasta can’t climb them, but he likes to sit in the one shaped like a house. We go for rides, the two of us: People in cars pass us on the freeway, staring back at the cat staring at them from my lap.

But he’s getting old now. I feel sometimes that he’s like my grandfather, growing misty, needing my care and attention like a child. I realized today, after driving home from a vet checkup, that this cat is very important to me. When I pass him off to doctors, I worry. When I pick him up, I am relieved to see he’s okay. Worrying is silly, really: Rasta is good for everyone. He never bites, he never tries to escape, and loves to be petted.
But he only purrs for me.









